Anne's Weblog

Last weekend I attended a salsa/samba-workshop, which was really fun. It was cool to learn new dances and to be able to swing my hips, which are quiet stiff as I have to admit. I don’t like that fact too much, but I think it is a common problem in western countries. Dancing salsa and samba require that you are flexible in your hips, your shoulders, everywhere to be precise. Learning these techniques – we trained a long time to roll and swing the hips – might be very helpful for an overall new feeling of your body. At least I think, I am walking with way more grace after the ten hours of dancing.

And that’s where it gets ugly. I can’t remember if I ever in all my life did sports for ten hours straight on two days and don’t be misleaded, dancing really IS sport. After the first day I was a wrack, but I paid for the second day as well, so I managed somehow to get out of bed and go back to track. And it was really hard to complete the day. Today my body is sore everywhere. Even in parts where I didn’t know that I had muscles. But on the other hand it is an amazing feeling to accomplish such a task. I had a lot of fun, even though it was kind of a masochistic fun, I have to admit. I am proud of myself now. I managed it somehow. I don’t know how to be honest. But there seems to be much more strength in this body of mine than I guessed.

Yesterday were elections in Germany and unfortunately the wrong parties – from my point of view – won. I see bad things coming towards us and I am not sure if I really want to live in this country in the coming four years. I still hope it won’t be too bad, but in the end I know that’s false hope. Neoliberalisms reared it’s ugly head last year and I really can’t understand how people can fall for it again. Stupidity? Maybe, but still the voter decides… With just 70 % it’s not very legitimate though. We will see what the next four years are bringing, but I can’t imagine – even with the big fantasy of mine – that it can be positive.

On Thursday will be my first day in the new job and I really can’t wait for the new challenges.  That will be good, I am sure.

That’s it for today. Hope you all have a great start to this new week.

Today is my mom’s birthday! She’s definitely the best mom on this planet. I really, really couldn’t imagine my life without her. She’s not only my mom but also my friend (although sometimes she mixes those two roles up a bit too much). I know when she’s around nothing can go wrong. She is the reason why I am able to take risks, because I know she is my safety net. I couldn’t have gone on that long journey without her help and her visit in Costa Rica was definitely the most special time on that trip. She is my rock.

I’ll never be able to give back all the things she’s doing for me, but I try. Every year on her birthday my sister and I cook a lot of special food for her party. Last year one of the dishes was Jamie Oliver’s Spicy Pork Ribs. I don’t eat meat, so I didn’t taste it, but everyone was completely smitten. The mixture of orange juice, lemon juice, spices and honey seems to be a blast. For today I am looking for an equally amazing dish. I am not quite sure yet, but maybe I am going to make some Roastbeef? Anyone having any suggestions? It has to be something that doesn’t need to marinate all night long and a cooking time less than four hours. Thanks for helping a girl out!

I wish you a great day! Celebrate

It was a little bit complicated to get to the workshop in Essen on Saturday. I waited for the train at 10.15 am and when the doors opened lots of policemen were inside the train. Obviously the wagons were full of soccer fans, who were drunk and loud and awful. They were right on their way to a soccer match. At the next station were fans of the opponents, who were greeted with a lot of 4-letter-words. It was pure chaos. All of that caused the train to arrive much later than expected, so I needed to take a taxi to the location. But there is a big construction side next to it which means, the taxi couldn’t stop, which led to the driver driving in circles around it to find a place to stop, which led – of course – to a higher price. Well, that’s life.

Right in time I was there. The location is an amazing combination of a restaurant with an art scene. Artists can use the rooms for free and have the chance to present their craft to a big audience that’s coming for lunch, for meeting or just for a cup of coffee. You pay 5,50€ entrance fee which contains a flatrate for non-alcoholic drinks, including cappuccino, latte macchiatto and any other speciality you could possibly ask for. They have amazing food, lots of veggie options. Like tarte with plums and goat cheese. Pure bliss!

But on to the workshop. The teacher was a funny guy, who talked a LOT! He spoke about one theme, jumped to the next, went back and forth. It was hilarious! In this chaos of information there was so much useful stuff, incredible. I think I learned a lot, or let’s say, I’ll learn a lot when I start digesting all of the information he gave us. It was just so much that I couldn’t put it all in my brain that day.

We started with history of portraitures and he gave examples of known photographers in the past. He started at the first photo that was made on asphalt and ended with living legends like Irving Penn. Then we went to the studio which was in the basement. At first we started photographing each other to learn nailing the exposure in a studio situation. His idea was to build a studio on a low budget. He tried to give us ideas how to create a great environment and great light with cheap equipment. Instead of using the biggest flash systems, he bought spotlights/floodlights that construction workers use. Together with some white fabric (with security gap to the hot lamp) you can create a very big softbox which puts some flattering light on your models face.

He had a lot of ideas for different backgrounds, different ways to put your light etc. It was pretty interesting to see how one can create really cool portraitures with simple equipment. He said, that with 150€ you can build a pretty well going studio when you are just a little talented in building things. But you don’t need to be a real expert, Tim Taylor is good enough

Then came Julia. She is such a beautiful and interesting person. She looks quite normal, apart from her red hair, but when she is in front of a camera she’s working her magic and she’s absoultely stunning. She really can rock it! It was so cool to have someone in front of your camera who’s able to help you creating the photo. Some of the attendees didn’t like this part, because of the model. They wanted to learn how to take good portraitures of real people and not of a model.

For me it was an amazing day! I like photographing my friends and family (if they let me, I mean), but it was incredible to work with Julia. I always enjoy photographing interesting people and she was! And the advantage is that you can use these pics to build your portfolio. Especially in the beginning it is nice to have some rocking pictures. Later on you should be able to replace them with new amazing photography, but especially in the beginning I find it very helpful.

Ok, I had an amazing day and I can recommend the workshop highly. Check it out here.

And here some pics of fantastic Julia. Enjoy!

March 2001: I’d finished High School the year before and started a training program. In March I couldn’t take anymore and stopped it. So there I was without a job, but I didn’t want to be unemployed till university started. A friend of mine worked in a communications agency and told me that they are looking for new employees. Nothing fancy, just typing in data. I phoned them and could start the next day. Even though the work was stupid I enjoyed my time there, mainly because of all the great people I was able to work with. I met a lot of great new friends and every time I was there, I had a bunch of awesome people around me. We worked, we laughed, we chatted. It was a perfect students job.

December 2004: The company lost the biggest client in my section of the job. Almost everybody in my department got fired, except me and a second colleague. I don’t know why I was singled out, but I didn’t ask too many questions. I was happy that I could stay. But it was a hard time to see all my friends being fired, including my sister, who worked there as well. Strangely some people, like my then boss, didn’t understand why it was a sad moment for those of us who where allowed to stay as well.

June 2005: A new project started, which caused a major change in my work. From now on I wouldn’t type in data anymore, but be a writer. I was supposed to write articles for a new website of my town. For the first time I could do something really productive here. Something I liked, something that gave me a new perspective. I was already working as a freelancer for a newspaper at that point, but that I could also start writing in my main students job was great!

Since May 2006: I usually worked 15 hours a week. But then two colleagues ended their work in the agency and I was supposed to take over. How could I work my stuff and their stuff in the same amount of time? Nobody of my bosses seemed to grasp that. And so they put new work and new work and new work on my shoulders. It went on and on till September 2008. I was in my final exams, I had to write my 100 pages thesis, but still they put pressure on me. Everytime I said I couldn’t anymore, they said: “Well, then we have to hire a new employee and if we do you won’t have the chance to work fulltime with us when you’ll finish university.” And I bought it. I was so unhappy in 2008.

October 2008: I finished university and started my biggest adventure. I left all and everything and traveled six months in Latin America. That was so needed! I enjoyed every moment of my time abroad and I wish I could leave again. For the first time in three years I was truly happy. I smiled every day, didn’t shed a single tear (well, I did once, because my mom and my sister visited me in Costa Rica and it was very sad when they left again) and was in a constant good mood. Fantastic!

May 2009: I came back to Germany and asked my old boss, if I could start working again. She told me: “Well, now we have a project and you can help me with it. That takes a month. But afterwards I can’t promise if you can work here any longer.” That talk was very frustrating, because I worked there for eight years! I mean, they shouldn’t be that mean. Right? A week later I talked with my boss and said, that if she can’t give me a perspective, I needed to search for a new job. She offered me a job, but said: “It’s not a real perspective for you. This is not what you studied and not what you really want to do. We are going to do this as an ‘transition’, but you should start searching for a new job.”

September 2009: I got a new job offer! The green party offered me to work as secretary general in my town. A big chance! I was so happy when they said, I could have the job. Even before I knew it was a definite “go” I told my boss about it, because I wanted to be fair. But her reaction blew me away. She was so nasty, talking bad about the new job, the new people and said, that I would do a big mistake. And then she said: ” You’ll see very early that you made the wrong decision, but I am not going to hold open your position. If you go now, I will employ someone else and you’ll be on the street when you find out how horrible this job is.” She really disappointed me with that speach. But she also strengthens my decision. Who wants to work with a boss who is that nasty? It’s just sad that my time here will end with a bad touch.

Coming October 2009: I’ll start my new position and I am HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY! I can’t wait for this new challenge. And the best: I need to work 25 % less and get 25 % more money. That’s not too bad, right?

VIRTUAL CHAMPAGNE for everyone! Yay!

My friends gave me a flower for my birthday a few weeks ago. It’s a hibiscus. When they gave it to me there was one blossom, which was already dead. My friend was very sad because I only had a green plant now and the blossom was so beautiful, she told me. I’ve been told that they are only blooming for a few days before the blossoms die. But it had a lot of buds and so I hoped. Although I am not a good “flower mum” I did my best. And it worked. On Saturday the first bud opened and a big blossom in a fascinating color came to life. This shiny yellow! Oh, that is so fantastic! I truly love it. And then the second surprise on Sunday, when a second bud opened. Now I have this amazing flower on my window sill and everytime I enter my kitchen I see the color and I am happy. Even now, while I remember my little baby my heart is filled with joy. Strange, how the little things can have such a big effect. I truly love it.

Enjoy the pics of my favourite flower (at least for now, because usually I prefer sunflowers. Just in case you need to know it )

In the end, everything worked out. The workshop took place and I was there as well. The speaker was amazing, he was entertaining and you could say he knew his stuff. First we spoke about pricing, the pre-meeting with the bride and the groom and equipment you have to have. It was great to learn about all this from an expert, who’s shooting successfully. He’s not only a wedding photographer, but also does a lot of commercial stuff and nowadays a lot of teaching everywhere in Germany.

He gave a lot of posing tipps and explained all of them, why you do this and what’s the reason to do that. It was sooooo helpful and really amazing. When it was my turn to pose the model I once again found out how much work it is and that it isn’t as easy as it looks. Especially not, when you don’t have a professionell model, who knows how she looks good. But with the help of her and the teacher I could get some nice shots, at least I think so, which I want to show everyone.

So here are my very first photos with a bride. Hopefully not the last ones. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

I was never an inspired cook. I hated cooking, especially for myself. But – even though it is myself who says so – I was pretty good. I can cook everything when I have a good recipe. When I was in Latin America (as a vegetarian) I cravedgood food. Not that they don’t have food there – even good, but it’s all about meat. In all and every dish people put bacon, ham or whatever. It’s really tough to find dishes that are veggie-friendly. While not able to eat good meals (although I cooked myself every now and then) I fantasized about them. I dreamed about cooking pasta, curries, soups… It didn’t help, that I still read the fantastic recipes of Ree Drummond. They are mouth-watering to say the least. I wantes to try cauliflower soup, Pasta with Eggplant or the amazing cake recipes. I tried a lot since I am back at home and they are truly (I am not lying here) wonderful. I loved every single dish I cooked.

Last week she revealed that her cookbook “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” is finished now and it can be preordered at Amazon (.de and .com). I am sure it will be a helpful source for everyone who is battling in the kitchen. The cover is colorful and it looks like a lot of fun. You can check out one spread of the book on her Facebook Fanpage. It sure looks fantastic.

Tomorrow my wedding photography workshop will happen. At last. I do hope though, that everything works out fine, because we had some problems. Again. Until now I don’t have any information about the workshop or any material. I only know that it’s going to happen. Let’s see what’s on…

As you might know I read Scott Kelbys Blog. Every Wednesday he ask guest bloggers to write about their passion for photography. Two weeks ago, he asked Jeremy Cowart to talk about his new project. Click here to see the video. The name of the good cause is Help Portrait. To learn more click here. I think it is an amazing idea to jump on the train and do something good with your passion for photography (or any other occupation as Jeremy states, they need webdesigners, video artistst, stylists etc. to make this happen). A lot of people already do, everybody who would like to join them, make sure to check out the website or follow them on Twitter.

That’s it for today. I’ll keep you posted about tomorrows workshop and if it really takes place and if it was worth all the hassle.

While on vacation in Latin America – especially at the end of the six months – I started thinking about what I want to change in my life to keep the good spirit in it.I had a lot of ideas. I wanted to go out more frequently to see the world and not doing the same every day. I wanted to meet friends more often, go to the theatre, the museum, the opera… I wanted to live more outside of my appartment than I did before. But I can’t plan to meet friends more frequently, because they need to have more time (or dedicate more time) for meeting as well. Either my friendships are changing to something less than friendship or they are all busy at the same time, but this is something that I can’t achieve.

Now I am back in Germany for four months and even though I did a lot of things (like attending the Photo Walk, two workshops, museum, my first shooting etc.) I am not satisfied with it. Because in the end nothing changed too much. It’s only one or two days that I went out, but it’s not a differentlife style. Also I wanted to start paying my living with writing. And what have I achieved? Almost nothing. I sent in two articles to two contests (nothing heard so far) and last week I sent an article to a magazine. I also wrote some pages for my report, but it’s not as much as I wanted to do. My goal was to write one page a day for the report and one page a day for several articles. Means I am pretty lame.

It is very frustrating to come back with a lot of new ideas and inspiration and then don’t do anything. Until last week.

Don’t dream your life, live your dream.

That’s a quote everybody knows, right? And I want to do that NOW!

Last week I started with a Photoshop course, because I want to master that tricky program for future use. The first day was easy. I hope it’s going to be a little bit more challenging tomorrow. I also started a Portuguese course, because I fell in love with Brazil and I so want to go back as soon as possible. I do speak some Spanish, but that doesn’t help at all with portuguese. I want to be able to speak with people there, so it’s an even better experience for me.

Two weeks ago started my two sports courses. Tuesdays it’s aerobic and Thursdays Latin Moves. It’s fun so far, especially because one of my resolutions was to do more sport. I especially like Latin Moves because I always wanted to learn Salsa and Co.

From Monday to Thursday my life is busy now. After the different courses I have time to write on my pojects. That’s cool for me. I prefer having a lot to do that the other way around. I enjoyed last week, even though it was tiring as well. But in a good way.

I think I am on my way…Hopefully.

P.S.: On Thursday will be the wedding photography workshop, hopefully as well. I haven’t gotten any information yet. Bad signs again?

I am subscribed to some photography blogs. The first blog I read was the Pioneer Woman, who is an amazing photographer (and cook), who shares willingly what she learned on her road to photography. It is incredible how much she does for others, not only does she share her secrets, but she’s give-away-contests, where you can win a DSLR for example, and she also created the Pioneer Woman Action Sets with help from Doug for Totally Rad Actions.

On of the contributors to her photography section is Jodi from MCP Actions.  She has amazing video tutorials to a lot of tipps and tricks in Photoshop. Every video I’ve watched so far was an incredible source of wisdom for me. She also creates actions for Photoshop to enhance your photos in an easy way. Among those are free actions as well, like her magic blog it board or touch of light/touch of darkness. Amazing!

I don’t remember how, but from there I got to Jessica Claire, who is a wedding photographer in California. She’s amazingly talented and shares so much of her life and her art. It’s fantastic. Somehow I found my favourite photographer at this point. Jasmine Star. Her blog is truly incredible. She’s in the business for just three years and she blogged all the time of her Ups and Downs, her personal life and her way to become a pro. She’s so giving! She’s not only organizing and hosting the OC SmugMug for free! She’s also writing helpful stuff on her blog. She blogged about her tipps and tricks, what kind of post-processing she uses, how she achieves the typical Jasmine-Star-look, how she uses natural light as well as off camera lightning, or about her marketing efforts etc. Even how she organizes her papers or how much she charges for a CD with negatives. You can follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.  I love the discussions on her fanpage, because they are so incredible helpful.

Why do I love Jasmine Star? Because of her giving. I think that’s a wonderful trait, because so many pros are afraid of giving away secrets and here is Jasmine, who’s giving away so much of her knowledge without fearing that she might get some competition, but realizing that this makes her special. She is building on her uniqueness, and (as Dane Sanders puts it) when you build on your uniqueness nobody can compete with you, because just you can be you.

One day Jasmine blogged about a boudoir shoot of hers and I was instantly smitten. I wanted to learn more, so I googled it and came up with the Boudoir Divas.  Marissa Bouchér and Kimberlee West are so incredible, it’s just not possible. Their motto is: Bring boudoir back and bring curvy back! They think every woman is beautiful and they want to help her (regardless of shape and size) to feel as beautiful as she is. The pictures they are taking are so cool! It’s amazing! I wish I could effort their Paris workshop, but at this point it is not possible for me. Hopefully in the future. They also created the Posebook with their favourite poses for all women. Incredible.

The Divas blogged about their favourite albums, which is KISS. One of the owners is Kevin Swan, who’s doing incredible video tutorials. And now we are coming to the title of this post. One of the videos is about using Adobe InDesign to create your albums. I watched it yesterday and it’s really amazing what you can do with it. I’ll think I’ll try the test version and then see if I like it. Not that I need to design albums at this point of my life, but maybe in the future?

These are just a few people that ahve caught me with their passion for photographer and her way of giving freely to aspiring photographers. It’s good to know that this kind of passion and love (both for the art and the people)  still exists.