Photos

I made the committment at the end of the semester that I wouldn't let the summer fly by without going out and taking photos. Last summer I said I would do this and I didn't (for one reason or another). So on Wednesday I went out and shot. I love doing this...there are no requirements, no parameters...just me, the camera and whatever I can find to photograph. Here are some samples.

dance of the sprinklers

Book Class

For Maymester (an entire semester crammed into the month of May) I am taking a class called "Artist Books." I LOVE IT. I have enjoyed making books for a long time...now I get to learn new techniques. Here is a photograph of the journal I made for the class.

Today we also learned the basics of printmaking (which is a lovely art media)...tomorrow we learn accordion folds (I love you Japanese Lotus Book!). I am enjoying it, although it is pretty intense.

Quote of the Day

"Sometimes the universe celebrates with you. And just because you don't have someone to share the celebration with, doesn't make it less beautiful."

(Don't remember who said it, but they said it well!).

Whew!!!!!

The semester is over...whew! Less than a week and then I start another class.

Here is some work I did this semester.

Dream Camera

I'm sure along my photography way, I will discover more equipment, particularly cameras, that I will want. A LOT.

Currently, my dream camera is the Hasselblad 500 C/M. At Watkins we are able to rent equipment for free. This past weekend I finally figured out how to use the Hasselblad and had an absolute blast taking photographs with it. In fact, my style of shooting completely changes when I shoot with it. It's great that we are able to try out this equipment before we go buy it.

I'm off to do some schoolwork with thoughts of the Hasselblad...

To Do

Things I have to do before April 26:

• Write an 8-page paper on a contemporary artist
• Write a presentation on the "Future of the Printed Book"
• Write a 750 word essay on the "Future of the Printed Book"
• Write a 750 word essay on whether or not credit is too easy to obtain
• Write an essay on why I chose to attend art school
• Write an essay on my educational and career goals
• Print 10 photographs and present them in a hand-made book
• Edit and revise a 10,000 member media database
• Take 24 photographs with a medium format camera
• Eat
• Sleep

So much to do, so much time (if I don't procrastinate).

Au Revoir Original Bumper

Remember my car accident a few months ago? Well, I finally got the whole thing settled and took it in to be repaired yesterday.

Upon picking up my newly cleaned and repaired auto, I spent some time with my friend Shelly. On my way home, I was driving next to a pickup truck. I noticed that it was carrying a bumper. "Hm," I said to myself. "That one is silver like my car." Upon further investigation, I realized that it was crumpled in the same spot as mine was. They sold it to someone who was evidentally going to fix it and resell it someone else.

It was then that I said, "Au revoir original bumper. Thanks for serving me well."

Easter Photographs

Here are some pics I took at a friend's house on Easter.

The fabulous Wallicia Smith.

Dog Fever

It's crazy how throwing a ball to a friend's dog sometimes makes you want to get one....





Brewer, you're the best friend's dog I've ever had!

Tea Party

I was invited to Julie's daughter's 4th birthday tea party as the official photographer. The girls were all dressed up and pretty cupcakes were the big hit!

Latest Graphic Design Conquest

I feel as if I have been sitting at my computer all week.


I designed brochures for Uhri Photography this week which was so much fun...methinks melikes graphic design!


Here's the version that I emailed to my contact list.

Little Miss Sunshine

I just finished watching "Little Miss Sunshine" which has now become one of my favorite movies...not only is it incredibly funny, opens with "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens, but it totally illustrates the fact that you can totally suck at something but your family still thinks you're great.

Trapped

I have recently discovered (again) what can happen when your back is up against the wall...trapped, with some big decisions to make. To me these are life's most defining moments. Will you tie yourself to fear or will you do what you can to survive, to unleash yourself from the things that bind you?

I am amazed at resilient people who have encountered the severest of obstacles and survived. I recently finished a book called "Tomorrow Will Be Better" by Zdena Kapral. It is her personal story of survival in the midst of the Nazi takeover of Czechoslovakia. Her family survived through WWII as the Russians and Nazis used their home as a battle ground...then moved to India to be caught again in the middle of the Civil War. Zdena, her husband Alex and two daughters survived and eventually came to the United States, where we take freedom for granted. Zdena's story of survival and the triumph of the human spirit is touching (and hit close to home with me). What is most amazing is her resilience in the midst of cruel circumstances that put her back up against the wall...and she fought to survive and free herself from fear.

So what do you do when your back is up against the wall???

Humility

I was looking through my journal tonight and came across this poem.

Humility

Humility is perfect quietness of
heart.

It is to have no trouble.

It is never to be fretted or vexed
or irritated, or sore or disappointed.

It is to expect nothing, to
wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against
me.

It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am
blamed or despised.

It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where
I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace
as in a deep sea of calmness when all around and above are in trouble.

~Item from The Christian Evangel
November, 1918

YUMMY

Last night I woke up on several occasions with a very sore throat. It could be due to the fact that since the weather has been nice, I have been sleeping with my windows open...but then again, I was so exhausted last night, I tend to think that a cold is trying to get me. I REFUSE TO GET SICK ON MY SPRING BREAK.

This morning I got up and sprayed my throat with Chloraseptic, the "Soothing Citrus" flavor. Soothing Citrus? Are you kidding me? More like "Gag-Me Citrus." Whoever thought throat spray that is attempting to taste like an orange would actually be soothing and refreshing must be shot...

Reaching Out

This is one of my favorite photographs that I have ever taken. In photography, sometimes simplicity is the ultimate characteristic of beauty.

Whew!

I got my grade tonight in Photo II--remember that project where I felt I got a harsh critique?


I got a "Superior" on content, printing and concept. WOOT! So it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. That darn mind of mine sometimes blows things out of proportion. Ugh.


Here is a photograph of my photographs. There were 11 prints, so photographing each individually is quite the task. Hopefully you get the idea from this photo.

When a Little is Not Enough

I'm a big fan of Jared Miller's and the work he is doing in Rwanda. He started a nonprofit organization called Sisters of Rwanda which assists thevulnerable women of Rwanda, specifically those who make their living as prostitutes and/or have been sexually abused, widowed or orphaned. If you have been a long-time reader of my blog, you know that my heart is HUGE for the people of Rwanda, especially since I sponsor a child who lives near Kigali through Compassion International.

Yet I am in a constant state of thinking that what I am doing is just not enough. I look at Jared's work and especially his heart and am saddened that I cannot do more...that I am NOT doing more. By supporting this young girl, I am only helping one. "What else can I do?" I often ask myself.

Is my little enough?

Rolling Mill Hill

At the suggestion of my very creative friend Melinda, I went on an adventure today to take some photographs at Rolling Mill Hill, a new community development downtown, formerly Nashville General Hospital. She joined up with me to take some photos as well. Here's a sampling of some of them. I love to shoot on crystal clear days! By the way, the buildings are actually kinda creepy--like an old mental asylum or something. It was difficult to convey that in the photos, especially on such a beautiful day.

All photos copyright of Michelle Uhri.

Artistic Critique

One of the most difficult aspects of being an artist is taking critiques from others, specifically when the critique veers toward the negative.

Last night I turned in a project for my Photo II (Color Photo) class that was pretty harshly critiqued by my instructor and my advisor (in front of my classmates). I might note that I have to thank my classmates for being so positive about my project. Their comments were the good ones.

I have to admit that I took a big risk, though, in what I turned in. We were given the choice between shooting one roll of film each day for seven days OR doing a project about our family. I chose my family because the projects I have done in the past about them I have been really passionate about. My project consisted of 11 prints paired with text (that's where I took the risk). Pairing photographs (or any art for that matter) with text can make or break the project. The text was written on vellum and overlayed on top of the photographs. One comment that was made was that it was "too much like a Hallmark card." What can I say? I'm a sap when it comes to my family.

I came home last night feeling disappointed and defeated. I go back and forth between being glad that they were honest (because that makes me a better artist and photographer) and being totally dejected. So last night before I went to bed, I made a deliberate decision to not let this affect me in a negative manner. I need to pick myself up by the bootstraps and forge ahead.

Thank God today is a new day!