Tag: stories

Marseille & Aix-en-Provence: the fast version

So you might know that I spent November of 2015 in Marseille, France. Since then I’ve done nothing but sing praises for the south of France. Everything there is a little bit brighter–mainly because, unlike in Paris, the sun actually shines there. Instead of my normal post where I ramble forever about how gorgeous everything was, I’m going to hit my hard and fast favs of this little region.  Continue reading Marseille & Aix-en-Provence: the fast version

French: A Language And A Way Of Life

 

Bonjour! Parlez-vous français? Ouais, moi aussi! J’aime les chatons, aimez-vous les chatons?

I could probably keep going for three more minutes talking about cats or the weather before scrambling for my pocket dictionary. I’ve been taking French for around a year and a half, starting in my sophomore year of college. My university, like most, requires three semesters of a foreign language.

Continue reading French: A Language And A Way Of Life

What You Learn Without A Camera In A Different Country

I’ve been incredibly blessed to travel quite a lot in the past few years, and in a few weeks I’m going to set off again to Switzerland. Most times I’ve been able to take my handy dandy Canon 60D with me. This past summer I wasn’t able to, so I had to get creative when it came to memory making. Of course, all phones these days have some pretty nice cameras on them so I was still able to capture some pretty buildings and sunsets. I was also able to experience the countries differently than before. My face wasn’t always constantly behind a lens; it was in the sun or in the moonlight or singing along with a band. I learned more about how to pronounce ‘Je voudrais steak at des frites” and less about ISO numbers. I focused first on eating my food, not taking pictures of it. There is a lot more to culture than the way a country looks, and I was lucky enough to learn that this past summer.

I did of course take some photos on my phone, so please enjoy them.

Cheese ready to sell and sample in a Swiss market (taken on phone)
Bike path in Cologny Switzerland where the tip of Mount Blanc is sometimes visible (taken on phone)
More food available at a farmers market (taken on phone)
View of Lake Geneva at sunset (taken on phone)
Buildings in London (taken on phone)
View of London (taken on phone)

Meeting People- Let Them Inspire You.

Meeting people is an important part of work in media. I have been blessed to know some incredibly creative people, including one of my best friends. Recently, she launched her own photography company, while she already co-owns a production company. She inspired me to a think about life as a college student. As a student, we juggle midterms, one or two jobs, career experience and that extra credit project our professors ‘highly insists’ on is about as easy as turning down the music when Taylor Swift is playing.

Where is the time set aside to breathe and actually do what we love to do?  It’s difficult when we have so many obligations pulling on our social calendars to think about setting time aside for what we really love.

However, that is exactly what Corynne Hogan does! All while in her sophomore year at college. Her photos bring us incredible moments that are so relatable. Need proof? That moment during the guitar solo of our favorite band’s concert when we pushed our way to the front row. Her photos have been used by concert venues and high profile bands before. Our best friend laughing in a field of sunflowers or drinking out of their favorite coffee mug? Her photos capture genuine smiles that make us envious of the joke she probably cracked before hitting the shutter. The relaxed behind the scenes music video photos? She’s got those because she was also there filming the music video. The indie photos with intricate lighting from sparklers and colors from smoke bombs? She’s got those down on lock.

So with that inspiration form Corynne, I will strive to do more than just what is expected of me.

 

You can read my original blog post here.

London

Cathedral in London
View from the Eye of the City
Cathedral in London
Tower of London Interior
Tower of London Guard
Street that inspired J K Rowling
Pillars and architecture of London
Beautiful windows and curtains
Sky Reflected in dome

London, such a great city. It’s super amazing how it can be filled with such amazing history and also be so modern. When I was here, I was with my family. First lesson learned, when you’re traveling with a group of people, don’t be selfish. Maybe you don’t want to go to the London Tower but your group does, just be selfless and go with them. Then try and see if you can do something you really want to do afterwards. The second lesson is that you should do your research about where you are going. Look up the old antique bookstores, the statues that you want to see, the bus routes. If you do your research, it’ll be a much smoother trip. Lastly, and possibly most important, your plans will most likely go wrong. Something will go wrong. You have a group of six but you can only find taxis for five people. There is a event happening in the garden you wanted to take pictures in. You have to be flexible. I cannot stress that enough.

Belgium

Beautiful light shining into a Catherdral
Silvius Brabo is said to have killed a giant and threw his hand into the river, which is where we get the name ‘Antwerp’ May//2013
Belfry of Bruges in May 2013
Buildings in Antwerp, Belgium
The golden light shining on the Cathedral of Our Lady Antwerp
Classic picture of a bike leaning against the door of the Cathedral of Our Lady Antwerp.

Belgium was another amazing country. It is one of my favorite countries I’ve ever been to, and by that time I had been to a few. There were so many huge buildings there that looking nothing like buildings I had seen before! You can sit there pinning the pictures on Pinterest of places and think they are beautiful, but thats very different then being right underneath them. I found myself overwhelmed to take super gorgeous pictures, but (1) don’t pressure yourself to take the kinds of pictures you see everywhere else. Try taking things from a different angle or of everyday objects that are slightly quirky. The photo of the yellow bike against the door I almost didn’t take. Now, it’s my favorite photo I’ve ever taken. (2) Try to learn about the history of where you’re going. I didn’t know anything about Belgium and it’s history so when I was there I asked as many questions as possible. You should also always (3) look for unique things in each city you go to, find out what makes each city special.

Rome

Photo of the Vatican City from the Cupola of the Cathedral // August 2012
Map of Rome
Birds eye view of Rome
Architecture in the Vatican City
A local man waits to walk across the street in Rome
In Venice, the main point of transportation is either walking or boats

Rome, the eternal city. This city was the first time I felt overwhelmed by the history. I remember being astonished when the tour guide told me that the stones we walked on were so old the apostles had walked on them. I just took a moment and thought. Having tour guides were really great for when we went to the museums. I didn’t know much about art history then, so it was really great having someone to explain to me why Michelangelo used so much blue paint. My dad and I were on this trip together, and before we ordered food he would look up how to order in Italian. We usually butchered the words or forgot them, but the local waiters seemed to appreciate our effort.