[Wake Forest University]
ever seen a Wake volleyball game? nope? stop reading this and go put it on your calendar.
Wake Forest took on Virginia Commonwealth University last night in a rapid fire match. and let me tell you, these women are machines.
standing on the sidelines it was as if i were observing a choreographed dance... something designed for the stage filled with dramatic sways, deep lunges.. arms draped expressively from an over extended back bend
[Winston-Salem, NC]
over on the other side of downtown-- past the dilapidated tobacco factories, the old Moravian settlement, and the arts school-- my dear friend and independent film director Lindsay Thompson recreates Le Cordon Bleu in a cottage hidden behind curtains of ivy. it's ecclectically decorated with a blend of antique furniture, film posters and reels. a wall of books lines at least two rooms.
i've been told it's pretentious to use the word ecclectic and to say 'film' when 'movie' would do. i've also heard it's prententious to keep company with artists and to reference Le Cordon Bleu.
but you shouldn't speak when a song will do.
lately i've been finding my way back to the darkroom. i say that as if i've been there before, i haven't. rather, i've spent much time sunning myself on the rooftop of digital photography and finally decided to trudge to the basement and see what this building stands on anyway. (forgive the pathetic analogy)
the photo above was taken a week ago but came to life last night in a pool of chemicals and red filters... as did the image below. though there are many frustrations in the backwards move from digital to film, i've finally found myself at home in the darkroom so long as i'm armed with a full playlist of indie rock to soothe my impatient fidget.
i won't be shooting anything professionally in film, but stay tuned for some of the finer (rougher?) moments scanned here for your enjoyment... a less "insta" gram.
[Outer Banks, North Carolina]
Song: Belly of the Lion, John Mark McMillan
You can lose your soul in the concrete riverbeds
Rolling with the flow of the currents of the walking deads
Five o'clock comes and you're a rolling stone
the moment i merge onto 40 east my heart skips a beat. it skips most beats. it skips the entire pattern of beating and jumps directly to the song of the sea. that is to say the rythmn becomes a sort of sway.. not the rythmn of the tide but the constant stir of the waves.
this image, contrary to sound judgement, was shot on the way home to the Outer Banks this weekend. i guessed at the focus as all passengers soundly slept... the straight road stretched on for miles upon miles. a pale yellow mercedes hauled a pair of kayaks-- "super car" on the vanity plate.
[Wake Forest University]
song: So Hard to Find My Way by Jackie Greene (because sometimes indie rockers need a day off)
He walks around with his hands in his pockets, got a picture of his baby on a chain in a locket
he needs her love so bad, but she’ll never know cause he won’t ever tell her
Poor Richard’s got himself a banjo he’s missing four strings but he ain’t even bothered
he says: “sunshine gonna come my way, look out kid this might be my lucky day
we're gonna cut to the chase on this entry.. predictable song choice, predictable sentiment. but who says you can't be a little expected sometimes? not everyone likes surprises.
the other evening i set out to get a couple of images for an assignment. (apparently, this night photography thing is a hit.) anyways, i grabbed the nearest available model (friend) and set out to capture a couple iconic Wake Forest buildings in their night time glory. Zach did a terrific job looking like a natural nighttime stroller and i even think we got some ok shots, even if his hands never did leave his pockets...
[Wake Forest University]
[Wake Forest University]
a page full of kiddos isn’t what you’d expect from an entry titled Oktoberfest-- in my defense the lens is just magnetically drawn to free spirits. those unconscious of the camera... or perhaps those uninhibited enough to continue to move about regardless. here at Wake Forest University, it’s the season to celebrate Oktoberfest and to celebrate (?) mid-term examinations.
during this time each semester my mind beings to reel at a toppling rate. i feel like i’m on my way to placing a check next to “live your dreams” on my bucket list-- even though i do pray it’s just the beginning. but somehow i get stuck in a cycle of panic that dreams won’t repay student loans, or worse, that i’m following the wrong one. the last statement is not founded. in fact fretting at all is unfounded. who ever achieved his dreams in a worried state of psycho-paralysis? perhaps this is an unusual environment to pursue a career in the arts. perhaps, it’s an unusual choice to study political science in hopes of working in photo-journalism... but perhaps, and with much confirmation, this is exactly where i’m supposed to be.
and you are exactly where you are supposed to be. and we’re put here at this time with purpose and for preparation for the good things that are to come. and our dreams come from a spirit, that leads us.. knowing just exactly where we’ll go.
to that, i think i’ll purpose a toast. happy October, my friends.
the rule of law. the Nuremburg trials. can perpetrators of genocide be punished under law? or would that hurt the precedence of the rule of law?
can the hungry be fed. can the weak recieve care. will our welfare system buckle under the weight of our parents? our daughters. our sons.
[Winston-Salem, NC]
i spent the afternoon on assignment at El Buen Pastor-- an after school program for Latino children whose parents are learning English as a second language. after an hour of tutoring provided by volunteers from the university and surrounding community, a few of the students gathered for a pick-up soccer game. the boys were energetic and super friendly. they welcomed us warmly to join their game. eight year old Eric, even offered to include me in a photo as pictured to the right.
for more on the ministry, check out www.elbuenpastorlcs.org/
que Dios le bendiga,
lauren
[Boone, NC]
Alexis and Peter are an electrifying couple. they each made their way from the coast to a state school in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, in pursuit of the Lord, adventure, and perhaps a little education along the way. Peter is a wilderness EMT, on his way to be a paramedic this November-- and is simultaneously wrapping up his undergrad with hopes of heading to med-school. Alexis’ heart overflows for the handicapped and is well on her way to becoming an educator. together they teach English as a second language as volunteer tutors and mentors. they both love, love the outdoors, people, music, travel, and of course, each other.
talk about a power couple
[Winston-Salem, NC]
some weeks have themes. in fact, i’d be willing to bet that on any given week there is at least one organization that has named it “insert social cause week.” growing up if we’d ever complain we had eaten say tacos for lunch and they were again served for dinner, Mom would declare it (in jest, of course) taco week.
what is it about humans that must lay claim on seemingly unclaimable things.. take the moon, for example (remember that controversy about the US planting the flag on it?) or in this case weeks. who gave you that week anyway?
i think i’ll take this week, and claim it for dreaming.
a handful of recent creative endeavors of mine have sprouted from dreams. the project above included. in fact, the three dreams that are treading the waters of my current memory each thematically included lightbulbs. bulbs breaking, growing, shining, changing... and apparently inspiring a fun chandelier for our newest place.
here’s to living your dreams
cheers,
lauren