Opposional Blogger Syndrome

A new version of the DSM came out last week and I've found a name for my affliction, Oppositional Blogger Syndrome.

The characteristics of this syndrome are repeated and sporadic bursts of blogging, with promises to never again let so much time lapse between posts.

There may also be promises of grand and excitingly creative daily posts (e.g. photo blogging).

No offense to anyone to who's reading this but let me be honest, I'm not doing this for you and that one other reader out there. I'm doing this for me because I desperately need to find a way to channel daily creativity. Some might say that's ridiculous considering I'm a professional photographer but shooting for a job is more about problem solving then creativity.

Maybe signing up for a daily online photo + journaling prompt is in order.

I'm thinking of doing this: The Poetic Eye, Point & Shoot Journaling: Daily Inspirations

New Katrinka Site--Tis Live!

The Amazing Shanda, of Pixel Soup Creative, just launched the new Katrinka site she designed. I love it.

Please check it out!

http://www.katrinkas-secret.com/

A Generation, past.

My Grandmother, Helen, my mom's mom, died yesterday.
I rarely saw her, was never close to her and therefore didn't know her well so to say I'm mourning would be dishonest. I do however feel sad for my mom, my Aunt Sheila and my Uncle Jess.
They lost their mom and that, regardless of your age, has got to be so hard.
Sometimes I think about my own death. Leaving this world will is something I fear becuase it means I'll be leaving my Xander alone in this world. Regardless of how old he'll be, a grown man I hope, it makes my heart hurt.


Helen, my Grandmother.


My Mom, Sheryl, and my Grandmother.

01/15/2010

Xander's school does an annual MLK march but this year it was canceled because some whackjob called the middle school next door threatening to kill kids.
Recipe for canceled march = SWAT everywhere + buildings on lockdown +o ne stupid psycho with either a love of prank phone calls or a serious mental disorder, potentially both.
So the march was inside the school, which was a bummer.
I had planned to be the MWAC (mother with a camera) with the mad professional flare and skills but alas, I only made the 5'o'clock news.


Love, it's good!


This boy is apparently haunted by vampires. Peace is all he wants you blood suckers!

01/14/2010

Today was grey. You get that. Today was also a helicopter day.
We often have these in our neighborhood.
I have to figure out whether how I'm going to pick up Xander given SWAT is surrounding the school, which is right next to his.

01/13/2010

My client Kate at my studio.
Canon 5d

YesToDay. A Delayed Project Start.

I'm pretty confident the readership on this here blog is non-existent and that's okay because I'm writing and posting images here for myself--if someone decides to watch, swell and consider this a big old welcome shrug.

So after many years of looking for a project I have one, a very simple project.
A photo a day.

I've titled my project YesToDay--tis a combo of Yesterday and Today (posting a 'yesterday' image is my slacker safety net) additionally, this title serves as motivation, a JustDoIt of sorts, Yes (I have to do this) ToDay.
Disclaimer: I'm a quality over quantity sort, but for 2010 producing quantity, no matter how crappy, is the goal, and just so you know, there will be crap.

Because we are now 13 days into 2010 I'm going to post what I have of 2010 here in this post.


01/01/2010.  Sleeping off last year.
iPhone


01/02/2010. Ice cream as a we broach the topic of what's to come. "Xander, I think today is Saturday and the day after tomorrow is Monday. Do you know what happens on Monday? Vaca is over." It was really Sunday.
iPhone.


01/03/2010. The ManChild is a huge fan of puddles. He wears his helmut in case he falls into the puddle. iPhone.


01/03/2010. Plain and simple. The sun, a welcome sight.
iPhone.


01/04/2010.  What's the deal with street shoes? I decided I should at least aknowledge it, after passing it by for over 2 months. Turns out this shoe is currently occupied.
iPhone.


01/11/2010. This is a view from a playground around N. Lake Union (aka Vultan Land). The spire in the background holds a special place in my heart.
When I was in Jr. High, this place, I think it was then called The Temple, was a club of urban legends. The sort of legends that would make anyone put down Judy Blume's book Forever. Yes, they were scandelously juicy tales.
iPhone.

Hot Santa in the Village! December 12th

Gretchen & Todd's Wedding

Just a few days after I returned from Ghana, I had the chance to photograph Gretchen and Todd's wedding. My good photog pal Sandy helped me out--thanks S!
I have never photographed a church wedding and what a church it was. Architecturally it had a sort of mid-century Scandinavian vibe with tons of windows--that said, the light was amazing! And with that Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the Mr. & Mrs.!

The Back Story, Gretchen & Todd

seemed so long ago.
And Summer is when I did Gretchen and Todd's engagment photos. Their session was really unique, it was on their sailboat! Holding on while focusing and composing required a lot of very careful shifting. Thanks to Todd for showing me the ropes. Pun totally intended :)
I also shot their wedding, which you can here.

Kevin, Seattle Senior Portraits by Christina Mallet

A couple of weeks ago Kevin came to my studio to do his Senior Portraits. It is always super fun to work with High School students. The Seniors that come to me are all about doing something very different from the 'standard' Senior Portrait, which means I get be super creative. Yeah Me!
I also love that I can be my flip-goofball-sarcastic self and they get it. :)
Thanks to Kevin's mom for ferrying Kevin, from Sammamish, into the city, no small feet on a weekday.
And with that Ladies and Gents, I present Kevin!

Ghana Gallery

I've finally done something with my photos from Ghana, take a look.

Mazel Tov Jonathan!

Back in August I had the opportunity to photograph Jonathan Sievert's Bar Mitzvah. It was a fab event and I really enjoyed capturing the guests dancing it up at his Museum of Flight celebration. After leaving the party, I couldn't help but wish there could be some sort of official 'rite of passage' celebration for Xander. Mind you, I have years and years to think of something that would be fitting but given we're Goyum, a Bar Mitzvah is sort of out of the question.
Okay, back to the topic and hand--The Sievert's amazing Party. Thanks to Sievert's for choosing me to document the day and a big shout of to The Almeleh's for referring them my way.
Lastly, Mazel Tov!

Sarah

Sarah and I are friends, have been since Jr. High, where we did lots of questionable things.

She's all grown up now, which I guess means I am too. I digress...

Her new bambina, Alexa, was born at the end of August. So let's give a warm welcome to Alexa! Yeah Alexa!

Interview with a Vampire, A La Katrinka

http://katrinkas-secret.blogspot.com/2009/09/interview-with-vampire-la-katrinka.html

Copy Cat in The Hood

New blog post byway of Katrinka! Check it :)

http://katrinkas-secret.blogspot.com/2009/09/copy-cat-in-hood.html

Vote for Me!? Pretty Please...

Now that I'm all big time... ha ha... I've been nominated for King 5's Best in the NW.

If you vote for me you will earn many good karma points :) http://best.king5.com/christina-mallet/biz/492917

Back In The US

Pre RIP Mooshi

I'm a cat lady and Mooshi has been my cat for 10 years, ever since he was a very unattractive kitten--he had to grow into his eyes if you know what I mean.

Turns out Mooshi (aka Mooper, Super Mooper, MoBerto, Wicker F*cker Upper, MooMoo, MoMan) has cancer. We're leaving for Ghana, for 2 weeks, on Tuesday, and this complicates things. See, his prognosis is not good.

Me to the Vet ,"Like six months, right?"

Vet to Me, "I'd call that a long shot".

So I'm now preparing for our trip, getting ready for Xander's 3rd birthday, finishing up all of my work, and now trying to spend some quality time with Mooshi, which isn't really very easy since he can't walk very well and he appears to be in pain.

We had to put Mooshi's brother, Sushi, to sleep in Boston, before Xander was born. We took him to the vet for what we thought was a slight illness and walked out with an empty cat carrier. That was traumatic, for everyone. I hated the fact that his last hour was one of stress as they poked and prodded him to find out why he couldn't breathe. I wish we had taken him home and had the vet come to us but we were in shock and put him down then. I know we did the right thing but I can't help kicking myself for not making his last few minutes calm and peaceful. I feel like I never really had a chance to say goodbye to him because the process was so sudden.

So, with Mooshi, I've decided to call in a vet who specializes in home visits. I want MoMan to be peaceful and calm with me by his side.

I took these photos of Mooshi on Tuesday, before I got the call from the vet regarding his biopsy.

Oh dear, I'm puddling up.

Nicole & Graig's Wedding

I've done a good job of keeping my photog calendar filled with a variety of photographic genres and gigs so I never get pigeon holed or typecast as a photographer shooting only in one genre. This keeps me fresh and having fun, always. Case in point: I had the opportunity to photograph Nicole and Graig on Thursday, August 6th. Molly, my friend, assistant, and former bride asked me to capture their day and it was quite the unique experience.

First, I had never met either Nicole or Graig and when I did, they looked smashing. Being in black tie and a wedding dress makes a great first impression. ;)

Second, I didn't actually photograph their ceremony. Only Mormons are allowed inside The Temple, so I had to wait outside. I thought this might pose a challenge because the ceremony sets the mood for the event and gets everyone on the same page. Thankfully everything worked out, no doubt in part because Nicole and Graig were so chillax that it made doing a quick read on how to best photograph them a breeze.

Lastly, the temple is an amazing location! The fountains and gardens are spectacular--capturing love birds being love birds in a fab setting is always a pleasure!

And with that very long winded preamble, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Nicole and Graig!