Some of my projects are as simple as taking a photo per day- some as complex as defining a specific task to be completed at a specific time each day. I’ve found it to be a way to capture my life in the most genuine form. Most people document thier lives in some way- photographs on happy days and scrapbooks of birthday cards- but I am interested in capturing all of my life- not just the happy times. I want to preserve even the mundane, because that is what the bulk of my life is made of. Needless to say I have photos into the six figures, video footage that would run months, and piles and piles of books and papers. Most of it has not been compiled or archived in any way-eeek!

This really is just a long rambling way for me to introduce what I wanted to share today. I have been working on these monster piles in my house of projects that I have carried with me through several moves and have not completed. This process of clearing the house and finally doing (as opposed to just shuffling around) has unearthed some really fun memories- and I just wanted to share a tiny collection of some of my july 14ths from the past.

My small sampling of July 14th’s past:

07-14-94 My 15 year old self likes this quote, “The work I do today must be important, I’m wasting a day of my life for it”. Notice the totally awesome spelling of waisting.

July 14, 1995. My 16 year old self is in Germany shopping, eating at McDonald’s, and going to her first (and last) discoteque.

July 14, 1997. I’m newly graduated-from-high-school and I’ve just purchased my first pager. My bff’s and I get portraits taken at SEARS at the mall. We thought that we were cute? Really?! Holy smokes we need makeovers!

14 july 04. In 2004 I took a photo of myself as I left the house each day- noting the time and where I was headed. Here I am on my way to work at good old Red Robin.

14 July 2006. Ending a crazy 3 day, 3000 mile journey roundtrip from Spokane, WA to San Diego, CA and back to do paperwork for my new teaching gig. I took a photo of each time I refueled- these were by far the worst pictures of the set- the first is mile 2738 at 5:30 in the morning in Lima, MT where I paid $2.949 per gallon. The second is in Missoula, Mt at 8:14 in the morning where I spent $27.74 for my tank of gas at mile 2966. When I got home I finished up a painting, took a shower, and attended a friends wedding. It was a loooong day.

14 July 2007. In 2007 I took a self portrait everyday and I wrote myself a to-do post-it the night before. I was getting ready for my own wedding (the budget, skirts, and costco trip) and photographing a wedding. I think that I missed my ten year high school reunion on this day. Did I blog? no.

14 July 2009. I photographed my breakfast for my entire 30th year, noting the time and location of each morning meal. Looks like it was almost 1pm when I had this meal of rasberry jam covered toast! And, we went to see the latest Harry Potter at the midnight screening, where both Jack and Garth fell asleep before the end of the movie. I love that my journal entry has a to-do list for the next day and the things listed as still things that are on my to-do lists a year later: make bow ties, update website, clean house.

There are gazillions more journal entries and photos- I won’t make you yawn by listing every year. There’s also a mountain of video footage that I just don’t have the time to format right now, but it’ll get done in the future. I know, you’re really wishing that I had the July 14th footage of me brushing my teeth, or serving tables, or whining about stupid boys. All in good time my friends. =)

So what am I doing this year? I am photographing myself as I come home each day this year, noting the time and place I was coming from- it’s been interesting so far. When I did the leaving the house series in 2004-ish it was perfect because in that time I graduated from college, got my first apartment in a new city (with awesome teaching job), and then traveled to lots of cool places- all documented in a simple photo per day. This coming home series is equally awesome as this year will see my bringing home a new baby, packing up and moving to hawaii, and many more things that’ll surprise us all, I’m sure.

Other random projects that are out and about to see:
Laura in mirrors. Just what it sounds like.
I drew on my church program during church for an entire year.
twentyfour. A day in the life of me, from 12am to 12 pm, filmed a little bit each day, in chronological order. (squished here into a few minutes). I think this was 2000- you can see me glued to the tv on September 11th.

Can you tell that I get all fired up about this? I love it. Lots of archiving and compiling to come- I bet it’ll take years though.

Better get to it.

Happy July 14th everyone!!!

elle

I’ll be wearing stripey socks & sweaters & scarves everyday this month to raise awareness about stripes. What will you be doing?

Hi friends and neighbors-
I made a little stop motion video. I’ve been talking about it here for quite some time- and now it’s time for it’s grand debut! I made it to enter the HP You on You contest and waited to post it here until I knew if I was moving to the next round- and I am! I am a semi-finalist which means my video will be posted on the contest site this week along with 19 other vidoes. Youtube users can vote for their favorite videos all week and the top four move on to the finals. Please take a moment to head over there, watch some videos, and give me a thumbs up. You can vote once per day today through Sunday! There are some pretty rad prizes to be had. =)

The contest site is here. Click on “View and Vote” in the upper right hand corner. You’ll see all 20 semi-finalist videos for this week. My little video has a doll (wearing a teeny tiny handmade dress!) in front of a map. You can also access my video straight from its youtube page here. If you think it’s super duper, please give it a thumbs up! It’ll make my day.

All ya’ll really are the best!
xo
elle

I haven’t been this excited about a project in a long time. I’ve been losing sleep over it for days (that spinning mind that won’t wind down) and you should have seen me tonight- I was just outta control with adjusting lights and getting Garth’s opinion on exposure and white balance and the background color.

I am making a stop-motion short film.

These are from the tests tonight, but they are so darn cute. I had decided on the color on the last one, but after looking at them on my computer I’m really digging the color on the first- do all ya’ll have an opinion? Please chime in! Leave me a comment with your vote or you can send me an e-mail at elle@xoelle.com. You’re totally the greatest peeps ever.

xoxo
elle

You might want to take a seat. =)

(This commericail is brilliant, it made me want to purchase a Cabrio, and I did!)

love and peas.
elle

We are leaving shortly for Spokane via New Orleans/Salt Lake City. Garth is doing the dishes and I am packing and we should be on the road within the hour. I hope to be able to update from Spokane, but if I don’t, know that I’ll spill when I get back!

lots o’ love.
laura. =)

I love photographing weddings. It is an honor to be involved so intimately with a bride and groom on this most precious day. I invite myself to all of the events. I nudge my way into the brides dressing room and I get to know the names and smiles of all of the bridesmaids. It is like my sister or my best friend is getting married, but my only job is to photograph.

I love that I have the excuse to stare at people and examine in detail what is happening. I get to witness the tender moments between the bride and groom in their first few hours of marriage. I love that they trust me with thier memories.

This is the first wedding that I’ve shot since my own wedding and it made me miss my Mr. awesome much. It also made me a little jealous of Stephanie and Brian. My wedding was miraculous and it went be all too quickly. It is now like a sweet dream that I try to recall in detail, but can only remember the lingering sugar on my tongue. I remember my wedding day like I do my childhood: faded bits of moments puncuated by vivid sparks of images. These images are of course, the moments that my photographer captured.

How lucky I feel to be able to use my camera as a butterlfy net to capture those vivid sparks for Stephanie and Brian. You can see more of their wedding day at my Stephanie & Brian set on flickr.

much love all,

elle

I have edited myself halfway through 6 gigs of photos that I took last week in Logan, Ut at my dear friend Stephanie‘s wedding. This photo ended up on my camera when Stephanie insisted that I be in one of the photos. Someone in the crowd clicked this for me and I am so glad that they did. Stick around to see the best of the best- as always.

xo
elle

Rad street art in my neighborhood reminding me to fill my time with the things that I adore: hard work, magic, making, and my two boys (both currently sleeping at 1 in the afternoon!)

I love you all too- I’ll have an hour of you please. =)

xo
elle