Sunday wisdom

LMJ had a great weekend. One in which she did very little and that was ok and important. The list could go on, but in this sunny Sunday I prefer to leave you with wise words from wiser people than moi même, albeit not much!  

both pieces of wisdom via i can read (which by the way is an absolute *must* follow!)

dreaming away in Oxford

I love Oxford. Sometimes, I need to remind myself of it. Today is as good a day as any and I even have excellent news. I am the proud winner of a spot at Shooting the Breeze - a film photography e-course! Yes, me. Moi. Myself. And I.

I had been flirting with the course for ages, then it opened, and Suzie had this giveaway and I won. Oh life is so good, don't you think? It starts in September and I really cannot wait! Thank you very much, Suzie.

How about you? Would you like to join me there? I bet you would! It would be great to have your company there.

notes from a Tuesday

Monday was not my finest day for inspiration, but thanks to inspiring Mondays I went to bed feeling a bit better about life and the world and myself. It took me 24 hours to realise the positive effect of ::inspiring Mondays::!

Tuesday, however, was a much better day. Not only did I realise how inspiring Mondays can be, but I was also made aware of the fact I have an amazing set of people around me. People who will stay up late to tell me it's ok, people who tell me how brilliant my foot news are when they're just ok, people who make me laugh because.

Tuesday was also excellent because I got to see my physio and he is awesome. If you're ever in Oxford, I'll give you his number. I went in in pain and came out pain free and walking fine. With a few recommendations. Joey is not to do her 45 minute morning walk until further notice. Joey is not to stay still with her leg up not moving at all either. Joey is not to run until she feels no pain at all for 3 consecutive days. Joey is to drop the little pout and the very annoyed face. Joey is to giggle when her foot is tickled.

Tuesday finished by the river in great company. Pout abandoned. Annoyed face forgotten. The world has been put right!

To finish this post, I would like to let you know that over at These Moments we're having a giveaway, a brilliant exciting one. I could tell you how I helped organise the whole thing, but that would be a lie; the true engine behind it all was Kate! I suggest you go over there and enter your comment. Who knows, you may even win!

::inspiring Mondays::

A Monday is a Monday and like most days ends up being what we make of it. Or rather, what we make of whatever happens to us, as not all that happens is our choice or is within our control. I tend to be a glass half full type of person, it makes me happier and I am all in favour of what makes me happy, but even I have to admit that some days are just a bit longer than others. Today, and today could be a Wednesday, even though it isn't as I'm sure you've noticed, is one of those days. A day for which coming up with something inspiring takes a long time and requires deep thought and concentration. I'm sure by definition this means I will then enjoy it more once it's all written below as proof of my amazing luck!

LMJ is a glass half full type of person. The silly kind, not the annoying one. The type that is happy only the foot hurts rather than the whole body. And today we will leave it here, shall we?

:: photography. my own little world of it.

:: photography. the way it makes me feel.

:: my Nikon. all mine. 

:: the calmness of Oxford. at times. 

:: watching life go by on a bench.

:: enjoying what you have. 

:: friends.

:: home.

How was your Monday? What has been inspiring you today?

::when I grow up I want to photograph like...::

NATHALIE CAUSSELALANNE PHOTOGRAPHIE

I came across Nathalie's work at her blog, lumière du matin, which is one of the most peaceful and beautiful blogs I've ever seen. Her photos are delicate and happy... I find it difficult to put into words how inspiring they are, but I really want to pick up my camera and go wander around capturing flares and sunshine and beautiful details.

She was an obvious choice for me because looking at her images I immediately wanted to know how she captured light in such a glorious way. Fortunately for LMJ and readers, she agreed to be featured here and tell us about her photography and what inspires her.

* 

Thank you so much Joey for asking me on your beautiful blog, it is a pleasure for me to be here.

I make photography and love capturing light with analog cameras such as an Hasselblad, a Semflex (wich is a french medium format camera from the 1950s) and a Canon AE1. I also own a digital reflex camera but rarely use it. I was thinking about selling it at one stage but now have decided to keep it. I had a little "incident" during my holidays where I was visiting a beautiful place in the South of France. For a strange reason, I was not able to put a film in my camera, it would not just work. My digital camera was in the car parked miles away and I really missed it then !!! So I have in memory some photos "not taken" that day, somehow they feel very special ...

To me photography is a meditation, "letting go" so the slow process and mystery of working with films correspond fully to my sensitivity. I love the way it brings magic into my life. Furthermore, this is where it all started for me when I was younger. A few years back, I have renewed with my first love. I would say that photography is a therapy also. I call it my "art de vivre", a french expression which can mean "art of living". I can say that I am positively addicted to photography!

As for finding inspiration it is everywhere to be found : nature, travel, places, exhibitions, cinemas, books, magazines, creatives, other photographers, living  ...

I am currently working on 3 different on-going projects which I hope will become books and cards. "Silence" which is a contemplative approach where I photograph the lake I have been going on holiday since my childhood.

"St Emilion" is a little village near Bordeaux, it is famous for its wine and very touristic in high season. I wanted to explore this village through the seasons, early in the morning when all is quiet and find the poetic details of the place which may be overlooked while there are a lot of people around. The third project is about light in the South of France and for the moment, it is called "Lumière du sud". These are growing little by little and can be found on my blog and portfolio.

Apart from that, I have been wanting to take portraits, I am actually craving for that type of photography, so this is my fourth project !

I love working on projects, they give me a sense of direction, a way of crafting visual stories ...

* 

After reading Nathalie's thoughts on photography and seeing her images once again, I really want to go back to France and see all these places she talks about. I want to absorb the light there like a little plant doing photosynthesis. With my camera, mind you!

Luckily for me, until I am able to go to France and fulfill my plan, I can visit Nathalie's shop. I'm sure you're keen too!

Thank you very much for being part of my growing up in photography path, Nathalie :)

Nathalie Causselalanne Photographie in links

blog: www.lumieredumatin.wordpress.com

portfolio: www.nathaliecausselalanne.com

shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lumieredumatin?ref=ss_profile

playing with yellow

It's good to have friends who are happy to let you photograph them when their top happens to match a very cool graffiti on the wall behind them. And they pretend to read a magazine while you play around with camera settings and improve your photography. And then they even let you use the photo so you can tell the world of your journey through photography. Yes, it's good to have friends like mine. Yay, my friends. Yay, me. Yay, photographic journey of discovery!

::inspiring Mondays::

Today is a great Monday. Yes, I could do with another Sunday attached to yesterday to be even happier. Yes, I could do with another Sunday to have a bit of a lie in. Yes, yes, yes, but all things considered this is a Monday to remember. I am happy and light and the world is filled with colour. Just thought I'd drop that in there as I may be returning to a colour theme pretty soon. Hint.

I like hands. I like to photograph them and see how they move and admire them. I like how some are strong and I like the delicacy of others. My parents have the most beautiful hands, really complementing each other. Dad's are strong manly hands, always neat and clean, chocolate brown in the summer; Mum's are delicate and beautiful and naturally tidy. What I love most about hands is how they add to what people say, how they sit quietly in people's laps at times, how they can make you feel so welcome with a single gentle touch, how they tell a story.

:: an amazing weekend.

:: warm gifts in the post. I should be attempting at photographing these at the weekend, the parcel deserves it.

:: Harry Potter final film tonight. Wands ready. I don't have a wand, but I have an imagination.

:: playing with photography and Pedro. good fun.

:: laughing from the belly. do you know that? it's funny. and genuine.

:: planning world domination through cuteness. it's hysterical, I tell you. even if not successful!

:: showing off Oxford to Asia. feels good!

:: sending one word texts to Nicky. you should try.

What is inspiring you on this July Monday? Do share below so we can all smile (and/or laugh) too.

Little note: the photo represents this summer in the UK in more ways than one... yes, it rains... yes, we still enjoy life and its colours ;)

perfect Sunday

It's amazing how many *AWESOME* things fit in a Sunday. Even better than the awesomeness of the panda, if you ask me. Way better!

:: cuddles with JJ in the morning. lots of cuddles. rain means cats, even posh ones, want more cuddles. fine by Joey!

:: 8 mile run with the boys. yes, you've read it correctly, 8 miles. that is 12.9 km. 2.9km more than I had ever run before. yuppiiiiii!

:: opening parcel from dear friend from home to discover a friendship kimidoll (it's red, by the way!) and an old-school letter. I love old-school letters. the handwriting, the detail, how the paragraphs fall, love it! it made me laugh and feel warm inside and created this little knot in my throat from happiness.

:: meeting up with a good old Portuguese friend from Brizzle. the beautiful thing about good friends is that regardless of how long it's been since you've last seen them, when you meet it's like you've been for coffee the day before. I laughed and was silly and laughed a bit more and discussed meaningful things and talked about very meaningless ones and enjoyed every bit of my afternoon. a little bit of Portugal in my Sunday. a warm one. and he even let me practice my portrait photography.

of writing

I could sit at this desk for hours on end and write away, sipping cups of chamomile tea as the rain fell outside... oh I could...

via Interior Photos

the Oxford route

A while ago I mentioned I had a very special request you'd know more about yesterday. What is it?, tell us LMJ, I can almost here you ask!

I did a guest post, yes, moi même, for the blog lifestyle F for Fabulous. Yes, I did. I was really surprised when Fenny asked me to write a guest post for her; I immediately said yes! When I sat down thinking about the post, it occurred to me the most obvious thing to do was take the readers on the same itinerary I take friends who visit me. Once that was decided, I had to look at the photos I had and work out the ones I needed. This alone took me on my very own journey through Oxford... and I had the chance to fall in love with it once more. Over and over again.

Thank you Fenny, for the opportunity! Hope you like the post!

Say hello to JJ

Hello little people of the world. 

Je suis JJ, the most beautiful cat in the UK. LMJ and I spend a few weeks a year together; when my MS goes on holiday LMJ moves in to make sure I keep my standard of cuddles and attention. I am adorable and I'm not afraid to say it. I am pretty good company too and can engage in a few conversations here and there. Mainly I meow and LMJ cuddles me more; it works for both of us. I wasn't much help for this photoshoot, I kept interrupting and bumping against the camera, it really wasn't on my priority list to pose today. I think LMJ did get a few more photos though, so keep checking so can you look at me adoringly. I know you want to! 

Yours truly

JJ

Tuesday daydreaming

I'm house sitting this week with JJ, potentially the cutest cat in the UK. I'm pretty sure he would remove potentially from the previous sentence. JJ is a bit self important but so adorable that it really doesn't matter; clearly, LMJ and JJ get along beautifully!

JJ's photo is a work in progress (WIP), as well as a to do list that could keep us going here until the end of August. Or September, depending on how slow we're feeling. In the meantime, instead of actually labouring away on ticking a few items off the list, LMJ is daydreaming... isn't daydreaming just wonderful? So much fits in your dreams. And all dreams are better with a cat around to cuddle! 

Looking at photographs is making me daydream more... have you been looking at the These Moments Flickr group and blog recently? I'm always astonished by the quality of the images I see there, the delicacy of everyone's moments, how differently we all see the world and how much of a common thread there actually is. 

Lightbulb moment here: I will write daydreaming on my list! Clap clap LMJ, that's genius. Clapping over. One item ticked. Now, what's next?

::inspiring Mondays::

Monday is here again and all I can think of is that we're already getting closer to the weekend. Isn't that great? I think it is!

I like red doors. One day, I would like to have a red door. Preferably attached to a house. I imagine it in wood, old and heavy, and red. It will be big. People will come in through it and smile. I will smile every single time I look at it. I will also remember when I dreamt about having a red door and smile a bit more. Oh, happiness...!

:: excellent weekend with E.! ♥♥♥

:: classical music concert, E's idea. brilliant! ♥

:: planning world domination through colour with cococita :D

:: sunshine. and heat. yes. yay!

:: another 10K. a whole minute faster. Go go me :P and my running partners did ever so well!

:: ice cream. ♥

:: Oxford is pretty.

:: wandering around Oxford with E.

:: watching the F1 with the boys, J and Nicky.

:: watching the tour de France. reminds me of being little and watching the Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta (I like it better in Portuguese).

:: photographing. ♥

:: house sitting with JJ. he deserves a photo soon. and so do you, he is a gorgeous cat!

What's inspiring you today? I'd love to know, feeling curious today!

Blackwell revisited

Yes, this post has no photo. Yes, that is deliberate and part of yet another cunning plan by LMJ. Nicky has responded to LMJ's request and we are now all able to enjoy a post by him on Blackwell. Yay! How much do you like me for that? I obviously wanted nothing to distract from Nicky's post and kept this a photo free post. That, or I may have been busy editing photos for other projects and ran out of time. But for the purposes of this post, let's stay with the first option. So... over to Nicky's blog now!

weekend beigel

I have this thing about bread... there's nothing better than fresh warm bread in the morning with a little bit of butter and a nice strong coffee. There just isn't! And don't get me started on the smell of bread... LMJ just loves the whole thing, yes she does. 

When wandering around Brick Lane, we all sensed this smell... a bakery... where?, but oh where was it? Our little noses took us to here... the Beigel Shop, where they have not only the best beigels (let's keep the spelling consistent here!) this little belly has ever tasted, but it also smells like a proper bakery. Yes, the real thing! And there are people covered in flour baking away and all, but they are out of focus because they moved just to annoy LMJ. She'll have a word next time she visits. Not impressed about that. But all can be forgiven with one of those beigels... hihihi... yes!

So if you are in the neighbourhood or if you can get to the neighbourhood, I would strongly recommend a visit to Brick Lane and this Beigel Shop. You'll find it, it's the one that has the real smell of yumminess. And save some room for curry later while you're there. Have a good weekend everyone!

growing up on a Tuesday

Some days you grow up a bit more than others. Not physically, as LMJ can tell you. I look at this little snippet of sky and think of parties and its leftovers, of blue summer skies and ingenious ideas. I think of how fragmented life is even when we don't see it. I think about how it's always worth to look up for good surprises can be anywhere. So I'll just keep looking up. LMJ suggests you do the same :)

::inspiring Mondays::

Mondays are no day to do cleaning and sorting, LMJ! And so I have done none of that, for I'm not one to disobey popular wisdom! Instead, I have been sorting photos. Yay! I've done the most recent ones bar Brick Lane and the family holiday portraits. Not bad, LMJ, not bad. Little pat on the back for LMJ. 

I love London. I like it's moody sky and diversity of peoples. I like the imposing and grandiose buildings and its little streets filled with colour. Odd that this may sound, I feel welcome in London. London was my first experience in the UK and I have always wanted to come back, it has always been such a friendly place to me. In spite of what people say. Yes, London is beautiful and big and small and busy and quiet and I love it.

The photos are a little bit of what Brick Lane represents to me. I have read the book by Monica Ali. When the sun rises, it rises for everyone. Brick Lane is having the power to look up and smile, when you may think you don't have many reasons to do so, especially when you think you don't have many reasons to do so. Brick Lane was one of those books that made me think and feel; the real Brick Lane did the same.

:: wandering around Brick Lane ♥

:: Vivian Maier's exhibition

:: E. is coming to visit in 2 days! ♥♥♥

:: learning to live with my photographic style :P

:: best running mates ever. are mine. Nicky and J.

:: sitting on the grass.

:: did I say E. is almost here to visit? yay! ♥

:: a very special request of which you will know more about on the 15th July.

:: ice cream ♥  

What has inspired you this Monday? If your answer is nothing, have a little bit of ice cream and try again :)

reading

Welcome to Oxford, where reading is a pleasure which can be enjoyed anywhere at anytime. 

I had a great weekend which did not involve any reading but included a huge amount of walking, a fair amount of running and a great load of fun! My weekend photos are not even on the computer yet, I decided that would be the treat I would give myself once I had looked at my spectacular backlog of photos and even more spectacular backlog of housework. This evening I looked at a few photos, tomorrow I will consider the housework. LMJ is on the ball, beware messy room for your time is up!

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend!