“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”
-Ansel Adams
Just With A Camera
The Chaos of A Dreamer
Follow me on Instagram at @agirlnamedleney
I mentioned last week being challenged to dream bigger.
And so I've been doing just that.
It tends to be a little bit chaotic, my dreaming.
But in the best sort of way.
In the messy, do-and-think-and-create-anything-and-everything-as-bigly-and-beautifully-and-out-of-the-box-as-you-possibly-can kind of way.
Without order or rules or sensibility or practicality.
Because that's what dreams are supposed to be:
Big
Beautiful
Out of the box
They don't often make sense, and sometimes require you to go off the beaten path a little bit to go after them.
But that makes them that much more rewarding when you achieve them.
Don't you think?
Alex's Visit
Remember I mentioned a dear friend visiting me last month?
Well this dear friend is named Alex.
She and I have been pen pals for five years.
She's one of the kind of friends I've mentioned before.
She and I have been pen pals for five years.
She's one of the kind of friends I've mentioned before.
I miss her already and only wish she lived just a state or two closer so I could see her more often.
Here are a few photos from our adventures during her visit.
There were lots of them.
I rather love being a tourist in my own city.
There were lots of them.
I rather love being a tourist in my own city.
Places Pictured:
The Discovery
I Gotta Say You Look Real Pretty All The Way From New York City
My heart's been aching for New York City quite a lot lately.
Maybe because I just read this book.
Maybe because I haven't been in over a year.
Maybe because this song keeps coming on my iPod.
Maybe because of Meagan's stunning photos from her most recent trip there.
Maybe all of the above.
But I need to go back soon.
I'm thinking in the fall I'll make a trip there.
My favorite season in one of my favorite cities?
Yes please.
Besides, I still have to take care of this to-do list.
Yes please.
Besides, I still have to take care of this to-do list.
A Summertime Playlist
Shot with 35mm film/ Minolta x-700
Because music is sometimes what makes moments more tangible
////
1. The Only Place - Best Coast
2. VCR - The xx
3. Blood - The Middle East
4. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
5. Temptation - New Order
6. Can't Hardly Wait - The Replacements
7. Sea of Love - Cat Power
8. The Times They Are A-Changing - Bob Dylan
9.Howl - The Gaslight Anthem
10.They Can't Take That Away From Me - Billie Holiday
11. Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darrin
12. That's What's Up - Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros
13. Jammin - Bob Marley
14. Hold On - Alabama Shakes
15. Crazy - Hunter Hayes
16. Close Your Eyes And Count To Ten - Grouplove
17. Midnight City - M83
18. Pilot Me- Josh Garrels
Olivia
Meet Olivia.
This cutie hired me to take some fun portraits of her a few weeks ago, and we had such a lovely time wandering around the city and finding photogenic back allies and colored walls.
She's pretty much one of the cutest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. On top of her super adorable vintage style, she brought along her ukulele to the shoot.
Right away I knew we were destined to be friends.
And I mean hello, she's wearing overalls...
Obviously we're kindred spirits.
She's pretty much one of the cutest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. On top of her super adorable vintage style, she brought along her ukulele to the shoot.
Right away I knew we were destined to be friends.
And I mean hello, she's wearing overalls...
Obviously we're kindred spirits.
......................
Check out more here.
Check out more here.
Interested in getting some portraits of your own done?
Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com
Home Away From Home
A photo from Liverpool, England
By the beginning of next month I will have travelled to Georgia once, Hampton once, Tappahannock once, Charlottesville once and North Carolina not once but four times.
All in the span of a few weeks.
Needless to say I've been getting pretty good at living out of a suitcase.
It's funny the little ways you make places here and there temporary home away from homes.
Whether it's by making yourself a cup of tea before bed, a familiar routine.
Or putting your journal on the bed side table, a familiar sight.
Or listening to a certain song as you get ready for the day, a familiar sound.
Or wearing that one sweatshirt that's your favorite, a familiar feel.
Or talking to a friend who somehow seems to embody all of these qualities into one big feeling of home.
I do love traveling.
But I also love my home.
Dorothy was right when she said there's no place like it.
I Had A Dream
Long walks in the dark
Through woods grown behind the park,
I asked God who I'm supposed to be.
The stars smiled down on me,
God answered in silent reverie.
I said a prayer and fell asleep.
I had a dream.
//Dream by Priscilla Ahn
I've been challenged to dream bigger lately.
(Matthew 19:26 after all)
I'm not sure what that looks like quite yet. But that's okay. I'm excited to find out.
If you could do anything, no limitations, what would it be?
What are your dreams?
A Happy List
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A HAPPY LIST//
overalls. painting overalls. red lipstick. batman t-shirts. nighttime walks. nighttime walks barefoot. conversations you have while sitting in the middle of the street. empty pages being filled with blue ink. tomatoes. italian seasoning. fire escapes. impending vacations. scarves. reading in the grass. mail. new sheets. those just-at-the-right-time-hugs. outdoors smelling like fall even though it's july. bunny whiskers. scruff. guys with scruff. freckles. the beach. coming across a favorite quote in a book you're reading. video messages from friends far away. writing to friends far away. day dreaming. an organized desktop. paperclips. fridays. callused fingers. ticklish knees. dinner at midnight.