There is a First for Everything

       Recently there have been a lot of changes in my life, both big and small. To start Garett and I just finished up winter semester. He took things like Immunology and Medical Microbiology which consist of a lot of large and weirdly pronounced words. Worse I had to try to help him study with flash cards and his hand writing is well....he writes like a doctor.... Between that and trying to pronounce many strange words I am not sure I was too much help. Either way I am very proud of him. I on the other hand took Doctrine and Covenants Part 2 and Marriage 300. I loved my marriage class and learned a great deal which I am slowly trying to incorporate into our marriage. As for my religion class I learned I am never taking an online religion class ever again. It just doesn't have the same feel and is more mundane and not as fun or spiritual.

       School ended and out dearest friends Katy and Sam moved to Utah for the semester. They are missed more than anything! We helped them pack and clean so at least we got to see them for two days before they left but already we are wishing it was fall. Also part of our spring break was heading down to Utah and spending part of Easter weekend with my fabulous parents, my brother Aaron and our good friend Haley. We saw the move "Transcendence" with Johnny Depp and it was thought provoking. It is not a movie I would buy and for the rest of you, wait until it comes out at Redbox but overall it is an interesting movie. More than anything it makes you think and I'd like to think that was the point of the movie; it was to raise questions in the minds of the viewers.

       While home I got some fantastic quality time with my little brother Aaron and let me tell you, he is turning into one incredible young man! I am proud of him beyond reason and I am excited to see where the future takes him. I don't get to catch up with him often but when I do I always enjoy it profusely. Watch out world because he's coming and he is going to do great things! 

       Our break ended far too soon as most do and now spring semester begins. I have survived my first week of classes and Garett has a few more tomorrow. In terms of new things or at least renewing things I am taking advanced black and white photography. I am very excited because I am going to get to do things I haven't done since high school like playing with medium and large format cameras and film and also to edit in the darkroom. Let me tell you, darkrooms were the original Photoshop and take much more skill and creativity than clicking some buttons. 

     More on a new note I am taking ceramics and I am excited and also quite terrified to begin. Once again I am learning a brand new medium and I'm hoping it's at least less scary than lithography and print making. Either way I think it will be fun! Between that and advanced black and white I will be in studios during all my free time. I am also taking 20th century art history and Teachings of the Living Prophets. My religion teacher reminds me a great deal of my U.S. History teacher for high school, Mrs. Ellison (Hannah you'll understand what I mean). He has already proven to be loud and boisterous and more passionate about his subject than any other teacher I have ever seen. I am looking forward to all he has to teach me.

      Finally I am doing my travel this semester. We are going to Antelope Island (which apparently everyone in my family has been except me), Goblin Valley and Moab. It's specifically for photography students and my favorite photography teacher is in charge of it! Already I have met a girl in my group because she is in my ceramics class, so at least when I go to my meeting tomorrow for the travel (Friday) I will know someone. 

       Again in terms of new things Garett is graduating this semester. He is taking Evolutionary Science, Virology, Epidemiology and the Capstone class as well as he is doing an internship with one of his teachers. The big thing is his virology class which will help him decide between that or immunology for what he wants to study in the long run. (Don't ask me the difference, I have no clue!) He's also enjoying his internship and is looking forward to getting some hands-on work. He thought he had more prerequisites to do and would be done next year in March but found out otherwise so he'll be graduating in July. I will be done with my schooling in December and then we'll have to come up with a new adventure. Garett is starting to look into grad schools which is exciting and nerve wracking all at once. 

      Along with Garett finishing his schooling, August will mark our 2 year anniversary. It doesn't feel like it's been that long, I swear it feels like only a few months have passed, and yet life before Garett is a blur. 

     Before I forget, another new thing is that some ladies in my ward have started a book club! I am really excited to take part in this as I am always on the hunt for new books to read (despite that my list of books to read will last me until I die). I just finished "Elfstones of Shannara" which was quite the page turner. For the book club we are starting with the book "The Help" while I am also planning on starting the "Goose Girl" series (thanks Catherine). 

    I think this semester is going to be a fun one filled with many new experiences. I look forward to all the learning I'll be doing and hope to have some fun along the way. I hope you are all doing well. Congratulations if you read this whole thing and I hope you have a great weekend! Also I now have Saturdays free for friends and family that want to catch up with me. I would love to hear from y'all!

Love y'all,

Meg

Year in Review of 2013 (Part 1)

I know it's half way through February but it's never too late to reflect. Most of this is from last year with a few from January so enjoy!

(Also these are in a random order so just go with it).

This fall Garett and I got to meet our all time favorite author Brandon Sanderson!

He's very laid back and very nice and just a cool guy.

Also he is not as nerdy as he looks. 

Sometime this year Garett made me a traditional African dinner (though with much more meat than they would have had). It consisted of meat drenched in soup mixes, fried cabbage and sadza (which is like a mix between mashed potatoes and play-dough). You pinch it into a small bowl and scoop up the other food with it. Also it has the consistency of peanut butter without the nice flavor and VERY messy. Apparently you only eat it with one hand so the other one stays clean to grab your cup with.

We celebrated our 1 yr anniversary in August and just 2 weeks ago celebrated 18 months of being married.

Man does the time fly!

During the 7 week break we went to the sand  dunes with out friends and played Betrayal at the House on the Hill!

Also in the summer we went to Yellowstone with my parents for a weekend trip and got lots of love from a bison. 

Out best friends Katy and Sam got married! =D 

I took intro to Studio Lighting and learned I never want to have my own studio, but also learned some fun stuff:

Like textured lighting

 How to shoot glass, which is evil but slightly less evil than metal spoons. 

Had an AMAZING Christmas break with my family where we saw and fell in love with the movie Frozen and had lots and lots of fabulous family time. 

Also I have been growing my hair out and Garett grew out his very attractive beard!

I got my first smart phone and immediately loved snapchatting with my little brother and friends from back home!

Garett's mission president became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and gave his first talk in General Conference in October! Also I got to meet him for the first time in April and let me tell you, he is an awesome, powerful yet funny man. 

I was on track for spring and fall where I took lithography and watched people build a teepee in the middle of campus. 

Got addicted to Community! Thanks Sam! Anyone who considers themselves even slightly nerdy should watch this.

Saw the edge of a storm.

And enjoyed some lovely rainbows after long days at work.

 Fell in love with our popcorn maker!

 Tried out bangs a few weeks ago.

I like them some days.

Also watched the Superbowl this year with friends and ate WAY TOO much, but it was totally worth it!

Remembered my deep deep deep love of Mexican food and places to eat that have "taco" in the title. 

Trimmed Garett's beard

And got taught my this awesome lady for 3 weeks during my studio lighting class. Hoping to take portraiture from her in the fall! Her husband was eh...(he was my main teacher)

Overall is was a fun year! One more post soon to come to finish off this year in review!

Pictures Mania and a Little Taste of Life Thus Far

Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile, midterms came all at once and then nothing else really happened.
Life's just kind of been up & down & up & down & up & down these last few weeks.
So here is what I've been doing these last few weeks.

We had to do a book cover for photography.
This is what I did & not to sound boastful, but it rocked & I got an A+.
Thanks Jenny for being such a good sport =]


We did straight scans.

and scan-o-grams.
Not going to lie, I kind of hate this one, so don't judge me too harshly. 

Our most recent assignment:
Pictorialism 

 Before:

After:

I also did engagements for my old roommate Jaide.

And a photo shoot of this sweet boy Nathan.

 

How cute is he???

Anyway that's all I've done photographically.
It's been a lot of fun =]

Hope you enjoyed it
I know I did

Enjoy a snack,

Love you all,

Megan

What Keeps Me Busy

So this is the part that keeps me busy and I love it. The rest...eh.
But this is what I enjoy.

Below is called a Hockney after Mr.Hockney.
The idea is that you take pictures from close up & far away with different lighting but put them together so the brain can somewhat make sense of it.

Below is called a panograph. Much like the Hockney but taken from only one point and you use transparencies to overlap them to try and make them fit (sort of).

This is a motion sequence.
Not a very good one, but it was fun all the same.
Plus any excuse to take pictures of my cute sweet nephew.

And this one is probably my favorites.
It is based off of Uelsmann, who might be my new favorite artist of all time.
You should google his work like RIGHT NOW!!!!

& GET THIS he does this ALL IN FILM!!!!!!!!
Did you google him yet?
If you haven't you won't know why I'm freaking out, so seriously go google him.
(just be a little careful, he might have some iffy stuff. Most of it is fine, but just be cautious)

Is he not amazing?
Gosh he is probably the coolest photographer ever!!!!
I mean that is ALL FILM, no Photoshop or anything.
You can't get anymore natural & legit than that.
He uses anywhere from 3-10 projectors to do this.
Anyway sorry for freaking out but he's just too cool for his own good.

Sadly we're not as cool s him so we did something similar but digital & photo-shopped.
But still it was fun. 

Anyway that is what I've been working on plus some of my own stuff but I'll post that in another blog.

Have a great week!!
Happy Memorial Day!

Smile =]

Meg

I'm alive I swear!!!

Hey so basically this is just to let y'all know I'm alive. Sorry I don't blog much anymore. I went from having too much time to do nothing to wishing there was 10 more hours to every day. I'm baking in school, I love my classes, they just take up a LOT of time.

My favorite class by far has to be Lithography. For those who don't know what it is, here is a link to sum it up for you. And if you're too lazy to even read the link, basically it is making images with (what started with Bavarian Limestone) but we are using aluminum plates. Unlike printmaking, it is not an intaglio process. So it is not etched with acid. Honestly I'm still not even TOTALLY sure how Lithography works, but generally it works with oil and water and the science behind the two. And man there is A LOOOOOT of chemistry in it, which is odd because out of all the sciences, chemistry was probably my worst subject. We're still learning.

It helps that our teacher is an overly hyper lover of and Master of Lithography. Apparently he doesn't get to teach it much though so he is OVERLY thrilled that he is getting to now. He's pretty nerdy when it comes to Lithography, but it's good because it helps us students to want to try. I think it is going to be really hard, but really fun. Oh and apparently this is the FIRST EVER Lithography class at BYU-I. My old print making teacher is really hoping we can keep this class in the future. So I feel a little like a guinea pig. Please pray that we can keep this class, I think it's going to be really cool & really fun. =]

My 2nd favorite is of course digital photography. It is definitely taking me a little out of my comfort zone but it is pretty darn fun. (The assignments are more abstract rather than traditional). The teacher is very enthusiastic which helps. In general it's the crazy happy teachers that make the classes awesome. The teachers really make the class. If you love what you're teaching the students will too.

I'm also taking The Middle East, which is awesome. I'm learning more about the Arab cultures and I love it. I have such a great respect for them. I'm taking Origins of the Universe which is alright, got to go to the planetarium on campus. Didn't know we had one until yesterday. Not going to lie, I got pretty dizzy from it. Lastly I'm taking Doctrine & Covenants Part 1 which is a lot of self taught studying with a little class insight.

All in all school is good, just very time consuming. Thank goodness for no classes on Fridays, though it doesn't mean I'm not on campus on Fridays, still am just working on my own though.

So that's life, sorry for no pictures. I'm in the middle of 3 projects right now, I'll hopefully have some pictures up next week. Thanks for listening. Sorry this was a little long. I just like really weird art classes.

Keep dancing,
if you haven't danced today,
DO IT NOW!
Megan =]

Happy Happy Happy Happy

Do you know what makes me happy?

Taking pictures!

And I got to take LOOOOTS of pictures today!

And now I am thrilled beyond reason! =D

I am happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy!!!!

Though I will never do such a large photoshoot again unless the people are wearing outfits that work together. It is too hard to get a wide range of pictures that fit peoples personalities within a short range of time without people getting bored or complaining. Plus you don't get to know the people as well when working with so many. Lesson learned.

Nonetheless it made my day and now I have warm fuzzy feelings. =]

Check the pictures out here.

I'll be adding them over the course of the next few days.

This only reconfirms my love of what I do. Man I am glad this is what I chose to do for a living. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life. Thank you Julianne Smoot for inspiring and my family for supporting me in my choice. =]

And thanks to my wonderful friends that have encouraged me and let me work with them to better my skills. Without y'all I would not be where I am today. I have much to learn but y'all have taught me a great deal. Thanks for your support!

Love you all!

Camera's make me happy
People make me happy
Happy happy Happy
Meg

No Place For Words

Here are some experiments and sites I have been blessed to behold. Rather than telling you about them, I will allow you to embrace them as they are. No thoughts, no words. I hope you enjoy these. Take your time, scroll slowly and see them how you want to see them.

Thanks for your time,
Meg