Finding the Light

*Warning: Photography geek-out ahead.*

Yesterday an online photography workshop that I signed up for began. It's a four week workshop on natural light by Brooke Snow done through the Rock the Shot Forums. Each Tuesday a new lesson is posted with several videos. After one session I'm already loving the workshop, and definitely think it was worth the money.

The first session covers "finding the light." Lighting is everything in photography. Brooke says, "Find the light first and the location second." She proves this point during one of her demo videos when she shows how she took some awesome head shots while standing in a bathtub. Sounds crazy, right? Well there was a window, which allowed for great natural light, and the white walls and tub are natural reflectors.

Her talk about natural reflectors and absorbers was really helpful. They were concepts I knew but hadn't thought about in some of the ways she mentioned. I find the demo videos to be extremely helpful. Some of these concepts have been explained to me before, but actually seeing how she set up her shots helped me a lot. Sometimes I just need to see it for it to click. I'm a visual learner (which shouldn't be surprising).

Each week she also gives us an assignment. This week she told us to focus on "catchlights." Catchlights are those highlights or "sparks" you see in a subjects eyes. They add life to the photo and draw your attention to the person's face. One of Brooke's demo videos focused on shooting with natural light while indoors. She showed us various ways to use windows. Since I haven't done many indoor portraits, I decided I wanted to try it out...but I didn't have anyone around at the time so I decided to attempt a self-portrait, and I'm glad I did.

I love the way my self-portrait turned out. I used the window to get good lighting on my face, and I was able to achieve good catchlights by looking out the window toward the bright sky. I love this photo because I feel like it captures my emotions right now. It's kind of hard to explain how...and I feel like any way that I try to explain comes out sounding cheesy, so I'll just let the photo speak for itself. :)

If you read this post, thanks for bearing with me in my photography geek-out. I could go on and on about the things I learned just in that first session, but for everyone's sake I won't do that (anymore than I already have). I just hope that you'll be able to see my growth as a photographer through my photos. :) Also, I confess to a love of learning, and I love that I can go through this workshop at my own pace since I can save the videos and materials. Okay, I'm really done geeking-out now.

What do you think of my self-portrait?
Anyone else out there have a love for learning and photography?

Camera Backpack

I've been looking for a camera backpack for a little while now. I admit I'm picky. I want something that doesn't scream, "THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CAMERA BACKPACK, PLEASE MUG ME!" Maybe that's an irrational thought, but I'd rather not advertise that my backpack has expensive gear in it. Also, I want to blend in as much as possible when I move overseas...not that a petite, blonde, American girl will be able to blend in well in S. Asia...but I can at least try not to stand out.

Anyway, as I was searching, I came across this backpack which I fell in love with...but it's a bit out of my price range ($429). It's just so pretty.

via Ona

My family took a look at that backpack and helped me search for more reasonably priced options. My dad found some National Geographic backpacks that I'm seriously considering. Still pricey, but much more reasonable. Any good camera backpack will be somewhat pricey...you have to consider the cost of what it's protecting. Here's my favorite of the National Geographic backpacks.

via National Geographic

I do own a great camera bag. I absolutely love my Kelly Moore bag, but while great for many events, it isn't the best for travel.
Here's the Kelly Moore bag I own:

via B&H

I obviously like gray camera bags/backpacks. Gray is one of my favorite neutral colors. If anyone knows of any other camera backpacks similar to what I'm wanting, let me know in the comments! I'm still searching. I think I take after my Dad in that I enjoy doing the research before making a bigger purchase. If I'm going to spend the money, I want to make sure I love the product. (Not trying to be materialistic, just trying to make sure I spend my money wisely.)

Prayer Cards

This is my potential design for my prayer cards as I prepare to head overseas. Let me know what you think, and feel free to shoot me an email if you would like one once I get them printed. I need to have 100 people committed to praying weekly for me while I'm overseas, so if you'd like to be one of those people just comment with your name and email address. Thanks!

A big thanks goes to my friend Kara for taking some awesome portrait shots for me. It felt weird being on the other side of the camera. ha Glad she was willing to trade services with me, and I look forward to doing a family session for her!

*Edit: Added Sojourn's logo to the back.

Productivity-ish

I realize I already posted once today, but what can I say, I'm in a blogging mood...and I was playing with my camera, so you get a photo post.

It's spring break [I mean spring reading days], and while I am getting to relax some, I have a lot to do. I need to do two site visits and reports on Christian ministries in the city for my church action in community class, and I can't use my own church. I know one place I'm going to use, but still need to come up with another. I've also been put in charge of the backdrops for VBS...I'm hoping I haven't bitten off more than I can chew by agreeing to this. I think I have it under control now, but I was stressing out earlier today. And, of course, I always have reading I need to do for classes. Seminary reading never ends.

While I have a lot on my plate, I was fairly productive today.

1. I brainstormed ideas for the backdrops, did some research on how to best build them, and emailed the people I needed to about the ideas.

2. I did sprint sets with Laura...it wasn't pretty, but I survived. Also, my knee didn't give out. I consider any run where my knee doesn't give out to be a victory.

This is my post-run, I survived, face:

3. I went to Target after my run [ok, maybe not the most productive thing], and bought this immersion blender with a gift card and some surprise money from an Easter package my parents sent me.

4. I also used a gift card to enjoy this iced caramel macchiato...I admit that I prefer my favorite local places, but free is free.

5. I cooked dinner for my roommate and me. Tried out this recipe for "Crispy Black Bean Tacos," and they were delicious. I'll be making these again.

I still need to clean up the cooking mess though...anyone want to volunteer? I enjoy cooking, but hate cleaning the mess up...especially since I don't have a dishwasher or disposal. Bleh.

I was also productive earlier during my break in that I had a portrait session done for my prayer cards by my friend and fellow photographer, Kara. Kara and I are trading services. I'll be doing a family session for her soon. I love the two photos from my session that she has posted on fb so far. It will be hard to choose which one to use for the cards.

Hopefully I'll continue my semi-productivity the rest of the week. I would like to finish my last semester strong, but it's so tempting to just quit sometimes. 

He is Risen!

Easter Sunday is a wonderful celebration of what Christ did for us, and that the grave could not contain him. My church knows how to celebrate. We sang some of my favorite songs today including Absent from Flesh, Death in His Grave, The Power of the Cross, and a new arrangement of the hymn Up From the Grave. We also got to shout, "He is Risen Indeed!" a few times, AND it was a baptism Sunday, which is always a celebration. I love that Sojourn has someone read the person's testimony to the church before they are baptized.

Click here to see my church's service recap, including some of my pictures.

Here are some of my favorite photos I took of the service yesterday:

Our fantastic band lead by Jamie Barnes
 ©Allison Rushing

View from the Balcony
 ©Allison Rushing

Our East Campus Pastor, Kevin Jamison
 ©Allison Rushing

Communion
 ©Allison Rushing

Baptisms
 ©Allison Rushing

Worship
 ©Allison Rushing

The band getting into the music.
 ©Allison Rushing

Benediction
 ©Allison Rushing

Yeah, I kind of love my church, and by "kind of," I mean, I love my church a whole, whole lot. 

I also love my community group (Yes, they're included in my church; therefore, already loved, but they get even more love.), and got to have a wonderful Easter lunch with some of them at Laura's. Laura is an amazing cook...she and my dad are my main cooking inspirations. 

Here's a little collage of the deliciousness we ate:

Nom, nom, nom.
 ©Allison Rushing

Warm Weather & Goodbye Thoughts

I'm ready for it to actually feel like Spring and to see sites like this. I want to see the Dogwoods blooming and the sun shining. It looks like it should finally warm up this week. Let's hope it's actually true. I think I speak for most of Louisville when I say I'm tired of wintry weather. I'm not a fan of winter. Cold weather is just not my thing. I am from Mississippi after all. 

Backlit Pink Dogwoods in the Spring ©Allison Rushing

On a different, but kind of similar, note, it's finally spring break for me...or Spring Reading Days as the seminary calls it. It's hard to believe that it's my last spring break. Knowing that I'll graduate in May is bittersweet. I'm excited about finishing school, but at the same time, I'm used to being in school. I've been in school pretty much my whole life. 

Goodbyes are hard for me. I've seen how God has been faithful in the past when I've made big transitions like moving to Louisville, but I'm still nervous and sad to leave my wonderful community here. You'll probably get tired of hearing me talk about how hard leaving will be, but that's a huge thing on my mind right now, and it helps a little to write about it. I'll talk a little more in one of my next posts about my upcoming move to S. Asia, and how God has lead me there. While I hate that saying goodbye to Louisville will be so hard, I am blessed that my time here has made it hard to say goodbye.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." –A.A. Milne

Fresh Start

Decided to give this blogging thing another go. This isn't my first time blogging, but I decided to go for a fresh start because I hated my old design, and it was just easier to start over, so welcome to Adventures of an Allison!

These posts will be, simply, whatever is on my mind...photography, school, travel, what God is teaching me, etc. I tend to be a sporadic blogger, so I apologize now for that, but I'm going to try to be better this time around.

I'll use this first post to tell you a little about myself. I'm sure if you're reading this, there's a good chance you know me, but maybe you'll learn something new. :)

I feel like my life has been an adventure, hence the name of this blog. I currently live in Louisville, KY, and am in grad school as a seminary student. The decision to come to Louisville was made a week before I moved here...as I said, my life has been an adventure. I've been here since Fall '09, and have come to love this place. I'll be graduating in May with my M.Div., which is both exciting and scary. I feel like I've been in school all my life, so it's weird to think about being done soon. In fact, I don't let myself think about leaving Louisville and my friends here because, while I'm excited about the future, I'll cry if I start thinking about saying goodbye to people here.

Once I graduate, I'll be in Louisville through the end of June, then home to Mississippi for a few weeks before moving to Virginia for two months, then off to S. Asia for two years! I'll save that story for another post.

Some basics facts about me:
Name: Allison
Family: Parents (Lane & Judy), and two younger sisters (Lindsey & Taylor)
Education: SBTS working on my M.Div.; Mississippi College, B.S. Graphic Design
Location: Currently in Louisville, KY but from Ridgeland, MS and soon to be in S. Asia

Favorites:
Color: Teal/Turquoise
Book: Harry Potter Series...I love fiction in general. I'm trying to make myself reread the classics I had to read in high school now that I'll enjoy them more. Rereading Pride & Prejudice now.
TV: Bones (I'm a sucker for Crime Dramas...weird?), New Girl (Should I admit to liking it as much as I do?), Gilmore Girls (Miss it!)
Music: Sojourn (my church has seriously good music), NEEDTOBREATHE, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, Ben Rector, Mumford & Sons, the Lumineers, etc.
Food: I'll try just about anything once. I'm not picky. I grew up eating good Cajun, so that's definitely a favorite.

Other miscellaneous facts: My church is wonderful. If you live in Louisville, you should check out Sojourn. I'm at the East campus. Joining a community group is a great way to get to know some people and form great friendships, see:

Also, I love photography. Check out my work on Flickr and on my FB page!

Anyway, that's a little about me...hope you enjoy the blog! I look forward to getting back into blogging.  Feel free to subscribe to keep up with my posts. :)
–Allison–