Shrigley Photography

Karlie. The Church. The Sofa. South Philly

2011-09-19T19:28:00.000-04:00

Karlie.

The church.

The sofa.

Karlie and I ventured to South Philadelphia where she remembered an old, abandoned church that would be a perfect backdrop for our shoot. Signs on the door read a little something like this, As of 18 August, if no one starts to clean in up and repair it, the city will make it their's and consider it condemned in 30 days.

And that will be the end of a legacy, if you ask me.

Sad. It's beautiful. It's green with yellow doors and red trim. I've never seen one quite like it. Yet, this neighborhood doesn't have the money to fix it up. So, down it comes.

Then, we found a sofa. A SOFA! In the middle of a lot where a row house use to be. That's right. Someone has a sense of humor. I love it. I told Karlie, "Sit on the sofa. I'll take five shots then get your ass off." Just in case someone saw us and didn't like us on their sofa. City life can be territorial like that.

As we were at the sofa, a lady drives by and yells, "Chillin' in the ghetto!"

We totally were.

More photos to come...

I am not a blogger.

2011-09-18T19:56:00.000-04:00

Truth. I'm no blogger. As a photographer, I expected my life to be attached to my camera. I suppose this is impossible, since the wave of the future is blogging, having and maintaining a website, and seemingly endless self promotion. I feel like I spend far more time in front of a laptop posting my photos. I don't post often. Honestly, I don't like to. I suspect I would like my work to just promote itself. I would love it if my photos could magically pull out a soap box and promote away. I'm not comfortable doing it on my own. I'm not one to shove it down your throat. I feel that you either like it enough to hire, like it enough to fancy, or dislike it completely and never give it a second thought. If it's the first two, thank you. Seriously. Thank you. If it's the latter, that's fine as well. Not everybody gets everything. I probably wouldn't like you anyway.

Just kidding.

I have a huge backlog of photos to post. Thanks to my friend Fallon, I will do so. She's been complaining that I never update my site and it's getting boring. For those of you who follow me, here is some much needed relief. For those that don't, oh well.

Here is a little something I've been working on. Yet, another site. This one is cool. It is sort of my photos on that soap box. Check it out. Leave feedback, if you want. http://shrigleyphotography.zenfolio.com/

Exposed Heart

2011-07-19T00:09:00.005-04:00

Poem by the strikingly beautiful Fallon Robinson:

I lay my swords down and surrender.

Blurry-eyed and figuratively defeated.

There was nothing for me to grasp onto.

He induced me with his laughter.

And I drunk accordingly to its beat.

What else was I supposed to do?

But I could not commit to idolatry.

My sickening heart and exposed stomach.

Had bigger plans for me.

If only I were perspicacious.

I could sharpen my mind like a tool.

The devil comes through in hazy doses.

I ought to leave here and keep my

Hands to myself.

Tension and tolerance blind my faith.

But my exposed heart knows better.

If only needles were attached to his jet blue eyes.

I want them to pierce me day and night.

Why play the devil’s fool with fair weather?

Because it’s enticing and mischievous.

Because the unknown is not knowing.

Rapture will always triumph.

I know his firm, sexy grasp when I feel it.

It envelops my worries and reservations.

Curse the temptation while I hold

My own hands out in front of me.

And equivocate my obscenities.

Desire is what raptures me.

And I know it when I see it.

He’s waiting closeby and I

Will be there when he’s ready.

Somewhere In Between

2011-05-22T21:51:00.006-04:00

Somewhere in between birth and death-

Life goes on. People graduate. That's exciting. We find the balance we seek. That's exciting too. We also find the answers to the questions in our lives. All in good time.

Graduation reminds me of how life changes, how much we grow. How far we come. Do you know where I was a year ago? Two years ago? Three? Four? Where were you? Are you better? Feel worse?

If you are worse, no worries. Better times are yet to come.

If you're better, hang on. It gets even more exciting.

If you don't know, take a look back. I bet it's fascinating.

Stop for a moment. Take it in. Graduation is a good reminder of this. We should probably stop every so often and perhaps, just for a moment, celebrate it. In a cap and gown. Big grin and all. Life simply isn't about birth and death.

What started this?

1. Friends having babies and other friends losing grandfathers. That's right, friends PLURAL losing grandfathers PLURAL. You know who you are. You know I love you.

2. Working like a crazy person preparing for graduation. Not my own, I've graduated. But while I was standing in line waiting to pick up regalia for a speaker, I had some time to think about birth and death. That was a long line. I definitely found a few key notes of my own.

3. And Lady Gaga helped too. On the Edge of Glory and Born this Way. Seriously considering staying up until midnight to download her new album.

Hold Fast

2011-05-03T09:27:00.001-04:00

nothing grand,
just a reminder...

Days of the Week

2011-04-09T17:21:00.003-04:00

editor's note: once a week i am going to have a very special writer/editor/friend fallon robinson, co-write on the website. this week, she wrote a column while i took a photo that was inspired by what she wrote. next week, we reverse rolls. i take a photo first which she bases her column on. we swap every week. enjoy.

The days of the week are spatial and temporal. We ought to measure ourselves. We actually like the shift of time and use its abstractness to plan, reflect, and measure. This brings me to the topic at hand. Working time is imperative to days of the week, and vise versa. Clock in, clock out. Pre-work mental stretches, after shift cigarettes, the joy of Fridays. Fridays are rarely a joy for me like the rest of the city. I guess modernity makes use believe that a heightened sense of excitement comes with the week's end. And with the week's end comes obliteration from the realm of reality of ourselves or a flighty escape into momentary pleasures. At least that's what modernity would like us to continue with. Sunday is the day of rest. No matter what I end up doing on the weekends, be it working or momentary obliteration, a sense of heightened ambiguity reaches me of God's seventh day of creation, his day of rest. We relapse with planning, reflecting, and measuring. The days swing back to Monday and the integral jumping off point is put back in perspective. The world sinks back into its mild anxiousness and reduces, renews, and reinvigorates for the week's obstacles.

All business center around the seven days. Waitresses make small talk with their customers about how they haven't had a day off in almost two weeks. An angry homeowner shouts at the bank teller about how he's waited almost three weeks to hear back about a loan. The newspapers tell you to wait until next week to wait for the conclusion of their story on violence and assault in Philadelphia's school districts. I highly advise against blaming the days of the week for your wait. Too many people make the days of the week their scapegoat. If we did away with Gregorian time, we would have only ourselves to blame for the waiting. This is what I find most interesting about these calendar days. It is almost as if an weight gets put on their imaginary existence, and our mentalities abide by their coming and going. My advice; start replacing the days of the week with the word 'time' and see how ambiguous it all starts to look. "I have to wait until next 'time' to get that shirt that was on sale," "I will ask out that guy next 'time' I see him to get that cup of coffee." Our decisions become limitless and our anxiousness, diluted. I'm as much a slave to the weeks and months as the next person, but hey, we all need to measure somehow. Man, I really can't wait until this weekend so I can start my to-do list for the coming week and plan my next ambiguous plan of action . . .!!

Random. Objects. Random Objects.

2011-03-31T13:55:00.006-04:00

I had better post these before I'm completely tired of them and move on. And I'll spare you the lame excuse why I haven't posted since last month.

This "Oi!" has recently been spray painted over. It now looks horrible with said spray paint. Mind you, the color doesn't match the building. Owners, what were you thinking? Should have left the word up. Nice work.

I guess chalk hearts are cute and fun. Right? Sure. Why not? We could all use a chalk heart in green.

It's spring. Honest. At least according to the calendar it's spring. The weather seems to have kicked us back to the beginning of winter. Possible snow tomorrow.

Yes, I said the "S" word. Sorry about that.

Two Sets of Balloons

2011-02-17T10:18:00.012-05:00

One More Photo...Of Snow...

2011-01-30T12:16:00.004-05:00

...of course, if we get that snowstorm they're calling for this week, there might be lots more snow photos.

Mid-Week Distraction

2011-01-27T18:45:00.009-05:00

Yesterday's weather in Philly went a little like this:
Snow Part I, Rain, Sleet , Snow Part II (in copious amounts).

Rittenhouse Park, Yesterday Afternoon Before the Rain.

Side Street, Second Batch of Snow

Locust Street, Late at Night Snow.

Absolve

2011-01-22T13:54:00.001-05:00

On January and Snowpocolypse 5.0

2011-01-13T11:11:00.000-05:00

"GEIGH", the words from the part- time co-editor of my columns, full-time friend and buddy Fallon Robinson.

"The weather is SO GEIGH."

Sometimes, one must invent new words to describe a feeling, a situation or a circumstance. She invented the new word because it would try to snow and stop. Try again. Stop. Repeat. Felt more like a telegram and less like Snowpocolypse 5.0.

Remember telegrams? Maybe. I'm probably too young for telegrams but I think they should make a comeback. Same with suspenders, watch fobs, fedoras and black silk stockings. But, who am I? There's email now, belts, cell phones that tell time, ball caps and who wears stockings? Maybe a few people. I like style. I think ball caps are boring.

Getting back to the snowstorm, or the impending wanna-be snowstorm. It's making January interesting. I mean, I like January. At least I want to like January, but admittedly since the first I am a solid undecided on this month of January. As was the weather, a solid undecided on what it wanted to do. So was I. I don't want to go into specifics, not pertinent. I will say my month has been a little bit like this:

"Something good. Something bad. Another something bad. Something really good. Something super good. Something not so hot."

So here I am, 13 days into the New Year and I'm afraid I still can't make heads or tails of it. See where I'm going with this?

Oh, it doesn't matter. I'm not sure I have a point.

GEIGH.

Mummers Parade, 2011

2011-01-02T12:28:00.008-05:00

...this is one of the craziest events I've ever seen in my life...

A Year in Photos, 2010

2010-12-30T12:04:00.028-05:00

A look back at 2010, photographically.

Enjoy! I know I did.

Thanks for reading.

Lacey's back!

Cake Cutting! Tim & Malcolm

Waiting...

Married!

Portrait Session with Michelle...

... turns into a slight fashion session...

best cafe ever deserves an honorable mention...

Lucky View

Lucky to view the storm...

Lucky View at Night

One more shot of snow never hurt anyone. I'm guessing...

Love Park

Photos with Kacey

NYC Central Park, 110th Street while visiting Jeni and Tim

AND I got to shoot a play!

Alex (Juliet)

James (Romeo)

Promo Shot

Tiny Dancer

2010-12-23T06:58:00.003-05:00

Notice of Application for Demolition

2010-12-22T08:38:00.014-05:00

According to my friend, Kacey P., this church is going to be torn down soon. She's not happy about it and even attended the town hall meeting to save it.

I decided I wasn't done with it either, so I took photos, the only thing I know to do in a situation such as this.

Now I'm going to shut up and let the church do the talking.

Peace out.

Friday Night Lights

2010-12-10T17:37:00.006-05:00

How to identity a Friday night in Philadelphia:

#1 Date Night.

There are tons of people on dates. The town goes from business to pleasure at nearly the drop of a hat. Poshy restraunts are full of couples dress smartly to impress their significant other, afterwards they fill the streets with laughter (sometimes fighting, depending on the alcohol consumed). Perfume fills the air along with the "clip, clip" sounds of heels. Often times, I can't help but think the girls dress better then the guys (oh yeah, that's a hint...) and there's so much sexual tension on the street one hopes that something goes down between the couple just for relief.

#2: Traffic.

Oh my God. The horns are blaring and annoying in a mad rush to get home as fast as humanly possible.

I mean, to a certain extent, who can blame them? Everyone has been busting their asses all week to get to Friday. It's time to go home. But seriously, the car waiting for pedistrains to cross the street while laying on your horn; the walking couple older then the Revolution and their geriatric yorkie do have the right of way. Just an FYI. Honking your horn will only get you dirty glares from the couples on their dates.

Civic Duty Calls

2010-12-08T20:25:00.006-05:00

You'll have to excuse me. This column won't be about much of anything.

I'm a little tired. A little busy. I've been working and hanging in there and doing well and coming home absolutely exhausted by the cold weather or work (which today was also cold), perhaps both. And please excuse my run-on sentences and incorrect usage of grammar including my mix up of tenses. I don't have the mental capacity to handle much. If it weren't for spell check, I'm not sure I'd give a damn about that either. I've been ready to jump into bed by 5pm and can't wait for it to be 10 so I can just start thinking about going to bed. I want to read and write and edit photos and watch football and if I had more then two arms and a set of eyeballs I would be all over this.

My absence this past week is not out of neglect nor laziness. It is one of civic duty. And quite frankly, it has left me just a little sleepy.

So have the things I've mentioned above.

But no one gets ahead by not doing nothing, right?

I managed to grab some photos even though I could not bring my camera with me (you know that fussy civic duty rule).

And now, I will manage to post some.

Oh, and I have been gulping Trader Joe's Cinnamon Cider. I highly recommend this stuff.

Appreciation, The List...

2010-11-25T08:12:00.022-05:00

I woke up early this morning and decided to take a walk and think.

I was preforming my normal routine. Brushing teeth, combing hair, getting dressed...Running through my head all that I want to accomplish today. Running through the list of things I'm thankful for. I've been doing this every day for a while now. It keeps me grounded.

I took photos (which also keeps me grounded). I walked down the middle of 16th Street because it was blocked off and I could. I watched a parade for two minutes. I stopped at Starbucks (and remembered why I don't stop there anymore). I bought a newspaper. I called Mom. I took more photos. I sat in the park. I watched the snow.

And thought of my list... in no particular order, of what I'm thankful for.

(photos i took this morning, from rittenhouse and back.)

the frog that sits in rittenhouse. he's looking quite festive...

rittenhouse

..handsome men

...lattes

...argentinian wine

...good stories

...imagination

...raw talent

...my apartment

...heat, when it's cold

...cold,when it's hot

...beer

...art

...education

...newspapers

...food

...movies

...books

...the 40's

...fashion

...cameras

...hair

...the guy who yelled at me in the park

...my coffee maker

...condoms

...pillows

the apple store seems...naked...

in the middle of 16th street...

...science

...faith (need not be the religious kind)

...units of measurement

...moving on

...moving up (to the east side)

...humor

...the periodic table of elements

...food

...my homegirls

...my homeboys

...scarves

...the ability to read

...logic

...love

...cheese

...my camera

'dirty cart'

...free samples of makeup

...perfume

...my hair

...starbucks not being the only coffee shop in the world...

...but being open on turkey day

...location, location, location

...the concept of europe

...laundry to do

...a room to clean

...a job to do

...a job well done

...music

...quiet

...sight

...smell

...scientists

..artists

...mathematicians

...cartoons

...saying yes

...saying no

...lessons learned

...the hard way

...the easy way

...the right way

...the wrong way...it teaches.

...black and white

...the grey area

...work

...culture

...sex (be honest, it is worth being thankful for)

...sharing thoughts

...sharing knowledge

...history

can you see the snow?

the proof that it did snow. it's on my bag...

...you, reading this

and i don't thank you enough

happy thanksgiving

Ignored?

2010-11-25T00:10:00.001-05:00

On The Romantic Life In "Killadelphia"

2010-11-10T17:24:00.010-05:00

I've been told, as a single girl living in Philadelphia, (or Killadelphia, and I hope I spelled that right) has the number 1 murder rate in the country. Or at least as far as cities go. Or maybe it's both. Being that I'm the single girl, I choose not to consider either form of the equation. And this little tidbit of knowledge was brought to my attention once again last night by my boyfriend.

We were talking on the phone late at night when he had to take another call. He told me, "Hey, let me call you back in 10." "Okay, fine." I thought. While he's doing what he needs to, I'm going to grab a shower, as I usually do at night (helps me sleep, a different post for a different time.)

I suppose I took more then 10 minutes because I walk out of the shower and I am left with about 5 text messages and 3 missed calls. The text messages go a little something like this:

" :( "

" double sad face )::("

"Respond in some manner within 2 minutes or I'm calling philly pd to your address"

" are you there "

"And safe?"

"Okay you have 10 more minutes because you may be in the shower"

That's 6 text messages in the matter of a few minutes, or my shower time. I called him back and wondered what it was all about. He reminded me, ever so gently in his protective way, "Baby, you live in Killadelphia."

Why does everyone keep telling me this? I understand I live in a big and dangerous city, but so did he. I proceeded to remind him of the things that he has done in this city that were not safe to which he responded, "I have a pit bull."

I am going to bet you can see me rolling my eyes from here. Not in the "bite me" sort of way, but in the "perhaps he's right and I'm not willing to admit it." sort of way.

Living in the city, for me, is a far different experience than it is for many. I am so lucky to live in a safe part of the city. There are tons of cops and lights and fancy houses. I never forget this. I've lived in dodgy areas before, or "transitional" areas, as many like to call them. Why is it so much different for me? I suppose it's my perception.

My favorite time to walk around is...pretty much all the time. The most charismatic is between 3-5pm on a weekday. I see people carrying around brown bags filled with food and a nice loaf of french bread poking out of the top. They carry bottles of red wine and I imagine them taking the food back to their poshy homes on Spruce or Rittenhouse Park to make a fancy Italian dinner with someone they love.

I hear phone conversations of wives calling husbands, husbands calling wives, mammas and papas calling their babies at home, "What time are you leaving tonight? I want to see you before you leave." "Give daddy a big hug for me and tell him I'll be home from work soon."

I can not believe the amount of beautiful men that exist in this city. I've had more great stories about men here then any other place I've lived. To add, in the past several months I've met two of the best men I've ever met in my life.

For the girls who don't believe romance exists, a Frenchman flirted with me yesterday on the street. (How much did that make my day? I've seen him a few times before at my favorite cafe.) After I had just moved into my apartment, some dude yelled at me in the park to cheer up (I wasn't sad, just tired of moving!). We ended up having a beautiful and passionate love affair that still continues to this day. He's also the same guy that texted me 6 times. And once, I had a friendly gentleman come up to me in the middle of the street and tell me that he thought I was pretty. He wasn't trying to be dirty or rude, he told me for no good reason. Us girls know the difference... These are just a few short stories. I've got tons more.

I haven't even mentioned the dude with the fancy moustache. I'm keeping that one for me.

Please note, I'm not bragging. I don't consider myself to be more attractive or more pretty then the average girl. In fact, a little less so because I don't have their style (See the girl in the above photo.)

What I'm trying to say is life really is what you make of it. I've made mine romantic.

And that is my romantic life in "Killadelphia".

Yearning to be Outside...

2010-11-02T14:58:00.011-04:00

It all started yesterday while I was working, or actually just about to start working when I...

How do I say this in a nice way? I had to...um...be sick in the bathroom.

The first time it happened, I brushed it off as something I probably shouldn't have eaten or didn't agree with my breadbasket. I went out and called my Mom, whom I haven't talked to in a while. It's still always good to hear Mom's voice. I told her I was working but I was starting to feel sick. She's so great. She gave me some advice and told me that if I physically felt fine, then I should be good to carry on for the rest of the day. And I did. I felt fine. However, my stomach was telling me something far different.

Jump to about twenty minutes later. I was sick again. And I didn't remember eating THAT. I was lucky to be able to excuse myself and run (RUN!!) to the restroom...later on I might not be so lucky. At this point, I had to tell my boss that I may have to leave.

I didn't want to leave work. I love to work. I have two rules for leaving work. Either I'm being 'sick in the bathroom' or I'm running a fever. Reluctantly, I left work early dragging my sorry ass to a drug store to pick up liquid and crackers, talking to Mom on the phone the whole way. Then home, where I changed, got sick again and laid in bed all day and slept.

Today, I dragged my bum out of bed and voted. I was glad I did. I met a totally cool girl in line, Julie. Then I found out that I was at the wrong voting station. The people at the stations are always so nice. Really, the nicest people I talk to all year. Julie and I chatted for a bit, then we went our separate ways. She had a cup of coffee from my favorite coffee shop in Philadelphia, so I decided to chance it and go there, since I needed energy for my voting place. And if I had to be sick again, it was going to be with something worth tasting a second time around. The barista was nice as could be, making me laugh. There is this classy older woman that goes to the cafe who wears totally flash hats from the 40's, she smiled and waved at me. It might have something to do with the fact that I complimented her on her hat one time. Then I left for my actual voting booth, where the women again, were so sweet (they were handing out chocolate and stickers!)

I'm longing to be outside but happy for what I got today. I have my voting sticker on my cell phone and the smell of laundry coming up to my apartment, because I have to do SOMETHING.

Today I leave you with a photo of the Drake Hotel, a heart drawn on the laundry room wall and my voting sticker.

October

2010-10-31T19:30:00.006-04:00

I'm always a little sad to see October end. And I don't feel like explaining why. Let's just start and end with it being my favorite month of the whole year.

On Sadness, Social Media and Carrying it all with Me.

2010-10-28T12:07:00.007-04:00

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia

On Sadness--Recently, I've started to carry my camera with me everywhere I go. I've been told to do this a million times by my friends and other photographers, but for some reason, I never ended up bringing it with me. "I already bring ENOUGH with me...I walk the city streets with an extra how-many-pounds and I don't want to carry anymore!" "It's pouring rain!" "It's too hot!!"

Then one day, I was sitting in the park talking to a friend of mine. Beth is wonderful,sweet and probably one of my best friends in Philly, but going through a very tough time. So much so that I walked away from that conversation completely drained. So much so that it was hard not to come home at the end of the day and take a long nap, there was too much work to be done.

Later that night, I'm talking to another friend of mine, clear across the country, telling him about how horrible I felt and I couldn't understand, for the life of me, why. Being the brilliant person he is, he told me exactly what was troubling me.

Empathy.

Apparently, I was feeling my friend's pain. And I wasn't when I first got up in the morning. "You have to learn to let it go." he, very wisely, told me.

"How do I do that?" I asked him.

And then, the slap in the face came along..."You should take your camera with you wherever you go. More then likely, your art is your release."

I guess it's time to take the hint.

So I did. I brought my camera with me the next day, and I snapped away. Snapped at anything that I felt like was good shot. I shot for no reason. I shot something that I knew wasn't going to work just to shoot it anyway. And I did end up feeling better, and getting some wonderful photos. All the while Beth was talking, I was snapping, yet still listening to her. (This listening bit is still important, but also important to keep my sanity...) In fact, I took the Green Balloon photo while talking to her.

Ever since then, I've been bringing my camera everywhere. I just have two rules. Never at night when I'm around by myself on places such as South Street (don't tell Mom I do this..) AND when the weather is too unreasonable, such as biting cold and torrential downpours. Oh, and when I go grocery shopping. (City folk WALK to the stores, which is why we shop frequently. Or at least why I shop frequently. Who wants to carry 20 pounds 13 blocks...or 5 for that matter?)

On Social Media--I have a few thoughts on social media. I'm not good at it. I'm such a private person. I don't like giving telling anyone anything about me until I know them. Reality shows just befuddle me and then some. Why would anyone want a camera following them 24/7? In my opinion, one can't put a price on privacy. Or personal freedom. Well, at least mine...

A few months ago, I closed down my facebook and twitter pages. I hardy wrote on my blog. I totally pulled a Greta Garbo on the Internet world. In those months, I've come to find that Greta Garbo's ways don't quite work in 2010. I would love it if they did. Perhaps one day when I'm older and have lived the life I've wanted to, I can disappear into the New York City countryside and be underground with my beautiful man and huge Newfoundland dog. For today, in order for a photographer to promote themselves, twitter and facebook make excellent tools to do so. Plus, I am sharing my photos with the entire world.

I guess I can live with that.

Lacey Fashion Shoot, Part II

2010-10-24T00:31:00.003-04:00

Tim and Malcolm's Wedding

2010-10-16T23:20:00.025-04:00

Just as the summer started to sizzle, my amazing friend (and I do mean amazing if he's willing to be my friend) Tim called me and said he had a question...

Since he was getting married, he was starting to make arrangements for his wedding. He said he had one of two options for me. First, I could choose to be the photographer. Which was fine and dandy by him if that's what I wanted. Then he said that he would prefer if I be his Maid of Honor instead.

The offer was a little too good to refuse. Since it is my great, amazing, bestest guy friend in the whole world. He said I could pick my own dress. Something pretty and black that had repeat sensibility. "No paying homage to Lady Gaga" Tim said, after I offered to walk down the aisle in replica her great bubble outfit.

Now, for the long awaited photos of Tim and Malcolm's Wedding. With little cakes and big cakes and a really bitchin' photo of champagne glasses ...

Cake Cutting.

I told you there would be little cakes.

Chef Erik.

Message from God...

My "Sartorialist" shot.

Champange Glasses on Fire.

Gift Boxes...

Flower girl, Ring Bearer and the Mother of one of them...

Ring Bearer's Burden.

Step by step instructions on how to cut your wedding cake.

Catering by Toki Underground - Erik Yang, Executive Chef and Owner
Cakes & Confections by Bakette-Heather Wade-Benderly

Yeah, So What About Those Wedding Photos?!

2010-10-07T19:13:00.003-04:00

It's been a long time coming.

And now you have to wait just a little while longer. I've been wrapped up in so much editing this week that my eyes are boggling inside my head. Between the wedding and the play I have so many photos to go through I'm not sure where to start.

Naturally, the beginning, as my mother would say.

There will be some, I promise. And others. It takes time (and properly working eyeballs) to put this all together. So thanks for hanging in there with me.

No. Really. Thank you.

The Pigeons Ate Well

2010-10-06T11:05:00.004-04:00

It was dark. It was rainy. Dreary. Soggy. Just the very beginning of the rain, there would still be three days more to come. As I was walking through the park, on a mission to find someplace warm and dry to edit photos (copious amounts of photos, mind you) I saw someone feeding the pigeons at Rittenhouse. It was one of those moments where one couldn't help but smile, just a little. That was all the more warmth there would be for the day.

I apologize, I didn't have my camera with me. I took this photo with my cell phone. Crappy cell phone camera for a photographer, I know. That'll teach me.

My Friend, The Sun

2010-10-04T14:44:00.009-04:00

My friend, Min, has a personality that radiates pure light. She came to visit me for the weekend. Before she made the trip we were talking about the weather, which raining and chilly. I told her to make sure she brought some warm clothes as I wasn't sure how long this current weather was going to last. She responded, "Don't worry! I'll bring the sunshine with me." To which I replied, "Min, you are the sunshine."

Well, she wasn't kidding. The closer Min got to Philly, the sunnier it became. By the time I went to pick her up from the station, I needed sunglasses.

Not that I have anything against the rain. To be honest, I'm quite a fan.

It remained flawlessly beautiful until she left Sunday mid-morning. As she was leaving, the clouds started rolling in from the Northeast. Not long after, it started to rain.

Min is the sunshine. .

Back in the Saddle...

2010-10-01T13:21:00.013-04:00

This was a rough summer.

I'm not usually at a loss for inspiration (sometimes words, but not inspiration). This summer was unusually hurtful. It was hot. It was humid. It was full of bad hair days, sweaty shirts and drinking far too much water, then beer to forget how hot it was. The economy was down and out, it seemed to me there were more homeless people in the park then normal and even if you did have a home, you were still cranky because you had to leave it for the heat. Whatever, I was in a funk. I don't like the heat. I don't like humidity and I was trying to hard to just find a tiny scrap of something that would inspire me to shoot again.

Anyway, I will admit, it was a fun summer. It was full of care-free moments that I haven't experienced since I was a teenager. However much fun it was, it was endlessly frustrating and stifling. From photography to life in general.

I was desperately seeking some way, any way, to get out of this horrible funk? Projects, work, inspiration. I wanted it all.

We get what we ask for.

Quite frankly, this is the busiest I've been in quite some time. Between shooting for a play (Romeo and Juliet) AND wedding work, I've been non-stop. If you want my humble opinion, it's good for the soul. I like to be busy. I like to work. I want things to do and places to go.

Most of all, I like to see the final destination of my work. You know, we take the photos and edit them and send them on their merry way, but what do the clients do with the photos afterwards? I've not been lucky enough to see that most times. However, with this play, I've been privy to see my photos on flyers and invites and posters.

Look! See! It's totally gratifying.

From nothing to more then I can handle. No complaints here.

"Change is good, right? I mean, traffic lights change."

2010-09-16T13:43:00.004-04:00

I've come to the decision, after a long, hiatus from posting, blogging and photographing, to change my website. To make it pretty, special, professional. It's time to define my image (I think it's long overdue, if I'm honest with you.)

With this said, please feel free to find me at my flickr account and you can also find me (and LIKE me!) on facebook at Shrigley Photography. I'll come up with the widget soon. Also making this blog (or website, which ever I decide it becomes) more usable.

Corner

2010-07-20T12:47:00.001-04:00

The Red Wall

2010-07-17T01:40:00.000-04:00

Point of Convergence

2010-07-16T23:54:00.001-04:00

Sneakers and Jeans

2010-07-16T23:44:00.001-04:00

Love You Philly

2010-07-10T21:17:00.000-04:00

Down Came the Rain

2010-07-10T20:52:00.002-04:00

"Hot" is an understatement if you are describing the current weather in Philadelphia. Humid, scorching, boiling, pointless, painful and unnecessary are also good words. Needless to say, the rain yesterday was the biggest relief since winter. I've been killing for two inches of snow for months now.

This photo is blurry because it was raining THAT hard. God, it felt good. It's like you're waiting for something important to happen. Waiting...waiting...waiting.... and it finally does when you least expect it. The temporary relief from the heat would certainly qualify.

Hotel Window

2010-06-16T23:24:00.002-04:00

I took this a few years ago while visiting South Carolina with a friend of mine. I'm surprised I didn't post it sooner, considering how much I liked it when I took it. It was the middle of the night (or sometime very early in the morning) when I woke up and saw how the light was coming in through the curtains and fell in love with the patterns from the curatin. I felt my way around the very plush bed (which I'm still surprised I crawled out of) and found my camera, took the photo, and went right back to sleep.

And I'm totally not kidding about that plush bed part. To drag my ass out of that for a photo is dedication if I ever heard of it. ;)

Train to Jersey

2010-06-16T00:58:00.000-04:00

The distorted look is due to the very thick glass (at least I think it's glass...) windows on the train.

2010-06-16T00:12:00.002-04:00

And now for my winter backlog of photos.

2010-06-13T11:23:00.008-04:00

Flipping Through Pages

2010-05-22T20:27:00.003-04:00

Juvenile Behavior

2010-05-22T20:20:00.003-04:00

Grown Up Field Trip

2010-05-22T14:56:00.002-04:00

Newsboy

2010-05-22T14:47:00.003-04:00

Auctioneers

2010-05-22T14:40:00.001-04:00

Copy Cat Knitters, Salty Knitters, Whatever You Call Yourselves...

2010-05-08T13:59:00.006-04:00

Thanks to Abby and CircularWaffles for their help in solving the "WTF Cozies" for random objects mystery. They have struck Rittenhouse Square again and I've got a few photos. By the way, I would like to note here that I'm totally for this and find it sad when people do so (in an official or non-official capacity). I hope these photos honor the process in some small way--

2010-03-21T16:04:00.003-04:00

The WTF Cozy for Tree Trunks.

2010-03-12T23:40:00.001-05:00

I'm noticing a trend...

Texture I and II

2010-03-12T21:36:00.002-05:00

A WTF Cozy for Bicycle Racks..?

2010-02-25T20:01:00.006-05:00

I am going to be totally honest with you, I have no idea what this is and am craving an explanation. It's a bike holder, but someone has made sure it's staying warm for the winter (and tonight, it'll need it..) I think it's just...funny...I had to run up to my apartment, grab my camera, run back out and grab a photo. People were looking at me like I was just a little crazy (and I didn't have a jacket on either, so that might explain part of the crazy looks...) But seriously, this is just too cool.

Reading at La Colombe

2010-02-23T19:22:00.002-05:00

Parisian Cafe in Philly. Much <3 to this place.

La Dame de Rittenhouse

2010-02-23T19:06:00.001-05:00

Epic Snowstorm*

2010-02-08T14:35:00.012-05:00

See that outside the door? Oh, yeah you can't see anything because it's all white. That's the snow...

I don't think this last photo really shows how much snow there was, but I love the color and the design of the building behind the railing. Just thought I would mention it...

*Depending on what your definition of 'epic snowstorms' is, I suppose. From what I've heard, 2 more inches and this will be the snowiest winter Philadelphia has seen. The total for this storm was 28.5 inches (that's 72 cm of snow for the metric speaking crowd, if my math is right). And yes, we're due for more tomorrow (that's Tuesday into Wednesday...) I need to think of new ways to take photos of snow...

More Lacey

2010-01-31T01:47:00.002-05:00

Beach Photo for the Winter Months

2010-01-30T22:26:00.000-05:00

Portrait of Lacey

2010-01-24T15:40:00.003-05:00

My first attempts with Lightroom. It's a beautiful program. I was missing out.

Reading Terminal

2010-01-21T14:15:00.003-05:00

Love Park II

2010-01-21T13:59:00.001-05:00

City Hall With Kacey P.

2010-01-21T12:51:00.006-05:00

"Love, Philly"

2010-01-19T18:34:00.004-05:00

Love Park, Philadelphia, PA

Lexie

2010-01-19T18:13:00.002-05:00

I shot this photo over the summer. I can't believe I never posted it to my blog. Anyway, the room I took this in is notoriously bad for lighting. But at the end of the day when the sun goes down, these wonderful, warm streaks come in and light just one wall beautifully. I had my niece (she's two, and good at it might I add) stand next to the wall while I take her photo. I only took two shots. They're both just like this. Really, that's all the more I needed. It was that gut feeling of knowing I had the shot I wanted.

Black

2010-01-18T22:19:00.002-05:00

Grandpa's Gift to Grandma, Through Dad's Eyes

2010-01-12T12:27:00.003-05:00

I had laid my Father's old sunglasses on my desk one day without realizing it. When I looked down, I saw that the reflection of the lamp on my desk, the one my Grandfather had given to my Grandmother (and then she gave to me). So, I grabbed my camera and took the picture.
Hence, the title.

Carnival

2010-01-12T11:14:00.001-05:00

Christmas: Union Station

2009-12-24T17:23:00.001-05:00

An older photo I took last year while living in Washington, DC.

Umbrella

2009-12-19T16:38:00.001-05:00

Snow in Philadelphia

2009-12-19T15:14:00.003-05:00

Help-Portrait Philadelphia

2009-12-13T00:20:00.003-05:00

I brought my laptop and ended up working at the printers, so I only managed to grab a few photos.
And for the record, I always have fun when I take photos. But today, I enjoyed it even more.

Little Model

2009-11-28T12:56:00.006-05:00

Atlantic City, New Jersey.

2009-11-28T12:35:00.006-05:00

Sending Love

2009-11-20T12:15:00.002-05:00

Pennsylvania Historical Hospital

2009-11-20T11:53:00.006-05:00

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/

Lacey

2009-11-19T19:31:00.003-05:00

Phillies Stadium

2009-10-22T14:33:00.003-04:00

Astros v Philies, 28 September 2009

I'm the first to admit, I'm not much of a baseball fan. Honestly, I'm football (both versions) girl myself. But my very good friend Min came to visit me in Philadelphia and we went to a Phillies game. Since this is my first year as a Philadelphian (and this is my first visit to a professional game ever), it's been fun to watch them rise to the top (and now heading to their second World Series). I also have a little more of an appreciation for the sport ( having a beer and hot dog at the game certainly didn't hurt ;) ).

I didn't go to the game that clinched the title last night, but I did manage to hit up Broad Street after the game and have some possible crowd shots coming. More to come...

Tonight's Sunset in Philadelphia is Brought to You by: Monet.

2009-10-19T18:57:00.001-04:00

Somewhere in Virginia, There Was a Wedding...

2009-10-18T22:47:00.010-04:00

Father of the Bride

Portraits of Lexie

2009-10-16T13:11:00.006-04:00

Puddle Happy

2009-10-16T13:08:00.001-04:00

Train Station Art

2009-10-05T22:33:00.000-04:00

Traffic

2009-10-04T22:26:00.000-04:00

Taking South Philadelphia by storm...

2009-10-02T22:05:00.002-04:00

Nearly Two.

2009-10-01T22:43:00.006-04:00

Fireworks from the 4th.

2009-10-01T22:26:00.003-04:00

Movement at FDR Memorial

2009-10-01T22:04:00.000-04:00

CIty Hall

2009-09-14T02:10:00.000-04:00

The Drake Hotel

2009-09-10T15:43:00.004-04:00

The cool part about this building is that it usually looks this mysterious just about every night, not to mention it's right outside my bedroom window.

Working Girl

2009-08-30T10:25:00.002-04:00

Memorial Day Parade, Washington DC 2009

2009-07-16T16:42:00.000-04:00

2009-07-16T16:14:00.000-04:00

2009-07-16T16:13:00.001-04:00

2009-07-16T16:13:00.000-04:00

Lacey Garcia Fashion Shoot

2009-07-16T16:07:00.002-04:00

2009-06-10T21:18:00.001-04:00

2009-06-10T21:12:00.001-04:00

2009-06-09T09:27:00.001-04:00

Fashion Shoot I

2009-06-08T22:19:00.003-04:00

The start of many fashion/portrait photos to come.

Union Station

2009-05-21T02:32:00.001-04:00

Ike and Tina

2009-05-21T02:09:00.005-04:00

Perhaps my crowning achievement in bird photos...

Min

2009-05-21T02:08:00.001-04:00