Hi y’all, and Happy Lunar New Year!

A few years ago I stumbled across an article by David Sedaris in The Paris Review called A Number of Reasons I’ve Been Depressed Lately. I love his work, and the article was quite funny, enumerating in his usual hilarious tone all of the things that had left him blue. But lately I’ve been weirdly happy. Like, in just the best, somewhat (seemingly) unexplainable good mood. After a really tough two (who’m I kidding, five) years, it’s a really, really welcome change. So I thought I would make a similar list of A Number of Reasons I Haven’t Been Depressed Lately:

One. Back in December I joined an online yoga studio and it’s the best thing I’ve done in a very long time. I’ve gotten pretty religious about both yoga and meditation again and it really has made such a difference. I know it’s not for everyone, and I’m not one to preach. But I feel 10,000% better on days I do it.

Two. I’ve been consistently sleeping well for the first time in what feels like forever. Seriously, the thing no one tells you about motherhood is that you are signing away good sleep for… well basically forever. The yoga and meditation are probably helping too.

Three. February has arrived and here in my new city that means that spring will be arriving soon too. A spring that I don’t actually have to wait ‘til summer for? Yes, please! AND on top of that I’ve discovered a few places around here to go and enjoy the nice weather that will be arriving with it. In fact I found one, appropriately, on New Years day and I can’t help but feel like it helped set the tone for the year. You can see some photos I made there in my post Between Every Two Pines… below.

Four. I have trips planned! After two years of staying mostly locked away I’m finally venturing back out. This spring I’ll begin hiking the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail, and later in the year making another trip back to the beach in St. Augustine, along with my dad and sister this time. We used to spend a week there every year when I was growing up, and the three of us haven’t been back together in many, many years. I look forward to it for so many reasons, including being able to photograph it again.

Five. Parenting wins. After joining the library and instituting Wednesday as “library day” both boys have decided that it’s their favorite thing to do/place to be in our new city (besides Ben & Jerry’s, duh.) Both have also decided that eggs with roasted vegetables is their new favorite breakfast. I have no idea how I accomplished either, but I will absolutely take it.

Six. Saving the best for last. My office/studio/darkroom buildout is DONE! You see that picture above? That is a picture of a VERY happy me sitting in my new, and finally finished, studio. I’ve been completely preoccupied with the light in the space and how good it feels just to be in there. I’ve moved most of my things in, leaving a little more than half completely empty for shooting, projects, etc. It’s been less than a week and so far it’s been used as a portrait studio, yoga studio, meditation space, as well as a space for an origami art project and a “mega balloon dance fight.” I’m not even exactly sure what that last one is, but the boys sure seemed to enjoy it.

I hope this email finds you each feeling just as good! And if not then I hope perhaps you’ll find something here that might help perk you up. As always you know how much I love hearing from you, so write me back!

kg

RECENT POSTS

A LESSON IN LETTING GO

A couple of years ago an expired roll of Kodak Tri-X found it’s way into my film stores. Expired rolls are a mixed bag; they usually turn out, but the results tend to be somewhat unpredictable. They can be magical, or disastrous. But it’s that unpredictability that makes them so fun to shoot. It’s a way of inviting another element into your work; one that you have absolutely no control over.

I spent nearly two months using it, not wanting to waste a single frame. I shot the last frame and advanced the film expecting it to pull against the lever letting me know to rewind it. But it didn’t. I thought perhaps I’d been graced with an extra frame. It happens occasionally. So I took another. And it advanced again. And again. I felt a pit in my stomach as I opened the back of the camera to discover that the film had never caught on the take up spool, and the roll was still entirely empty. I hadn’t made a single picture.

There was nothing to do but let go of all of the images I had thought I had made, and accept that they didn’t exist. I felt a wash of disappointment, but at the same time relief, and even a little excitement. We rarely get the gift of a second chance.

PEONIES, UNSEEN

Y’all know I love to share things with you guys that I don’t share elsewhere. Before deciding to make the pictures of the peonies on film, I had made a ton of images of them using various combinations of digital cameras and lenses. I hadn’t really been taking photos of flowers much, as I began to focus my photography elsewhere. But the way their delicate petals seemed to almost glow against their dark foliage in the fading daylight was mesmerizing, and I couldn't get enough. I never did decide what to do with the images, and so they’ve just been sitting on my computer. But I know many of you first found and followed me from my nature photos. So who better to share them with than you all?

AT THE MOMENT

LISTENING TO

Having my office and studio set up means having my turntable set up too. Lately I’ve been spinning a lot of Postal Service while I organize my space.

READING IN

In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer makes a strong case for reconnecting to the natural world, and learning how to listen to the stories and lessons it has to offer. I’ve also been having some fun picking up Rob Walker’s The Art of Noticing every so often and thumbing through it.

THINKING ABOUT

I’ve been enjoying Rainn Wilson and Reza Aslan’s podcast Metaphysical Milkshake since it debuted a couple of years ago. But this episode with Nick Offerman is one of my favorites from the current season.

CRUSHING ON

I met Caroline Murphy in her studio (which she happens to share with my friend Pete) right before moving last summer. I immediately fell in love with her work, but lately I can’t stop thinking about it. I think at some point I’m going to need something of hers hanging in my studio space.