mid-century modern

I'm quite taken with interiors of all kinds, modern, cottage, beach chic, and the likes. But my heart is true to 50's + 60's modern, especially Charles and Ray Eames, and I get this all from my mother- can one inherit taste? As a teen I spent a lot of time at MOMA. Growing up in New York City, possibilities for exploring are endless, and I loved spending weekends, or afternoons strolling around MOMA. In college I took so many art history classes for my major in studio art that at one point early on in my photography career I thought I wanted to be a designer, or interior decorator. In college I spent time studying all of the mid-western architects, I was just an hour from Chicago and some of the best examples of Frank Lloyd Wright homes.  I spent a short time in the mid 90's working at a very hip design firm, that was led by two men who met while they worked at Charles and Ray Eames' studio in Santa Monica, I learned even more about deign there, while cataloging Pantone colors, textiles, and organizing their slide library. While I realized then, that it may not be the career for me, it was a very influential and amazing experience.

The light was so perfect in my parents new apartment, I couldn't help but photograph it. I like old and new, but am always particularly interested in Swedish and modern design. If every home could just have at least one room with floor to ceiling bookshelves....don't you think? (oh, and a Eames chair).

xoxokate

exposure

unmade bed 

I am definitely drawn to both dark and light styles of photography, but recently I've been interested in bright white light. Since my bedroom has early mid-morning southern exposure, I thought it would be a good place to start. It is so bright and soothing to me in the wintertime.  What type of light do you prefer? Dark and shadowy (ahh the drama), or light and airy? Since it has been absolutely freezing the last several days, I have been looking for inspiration indoors. I like this white filtered light. For more on light, exposure and interesting wedding lighting you can read further here.

ex·po·sure 

n

1. The condition of being exposed, especially to severe weather or other forces of nature: was hospitalized for the effects of exposure.

2. A position in relation to climatic or weather conditions or points of the compass: Our house has a southern exposure.

3.

a. The act of exposing sensitized photographic film or plate.

b. A photographic plate or a piece of film so exposed.

c. The amount of radiant energy needed to expose a photographic film.

fresh start

13 things:

 1. explore new art
 2. less is more
 3. dont be afraid to try things differently
 4. stop comparing
 5. listen more + better
 6. turn off the computer + pick up a pen
 7. sit quietly
 8. take time
 9. spend it wisely
10. use the past
11. risk your heart
12. be vulnerable
13. allow things to happen

How about you?

grateful for the light

There is a rare moment, when the light hits things just right, and there is a slight chill in the air, hinting at what is to come (winter), but the grass is still warm enough to lay in. September. What's your favorite time of day...year? Do you notice the light? Mine lately is just before sunset--I love sunspots, and warm filtery light (especially this last shot).

back to my roots

NYC

When I was very young, I was given a camera. I was allowed to walk the neighborhood on my own and I would bring my camera along. The first shots I ever took are of the street sign where I grew up,  the newsstand on the corner of Broadway and 83rd, the restaurants that lined Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues on the Upper West Side. It was the 70's, people got "mugged" (not a term you hear anymore).

Quieted by the touch of a button, frozen in time for a brief moment. Drawn to strangers, the architecture, and what was familiar . I had the opportunity once again yesterday, and I felt a bit nostalgic. For the city (my city).

xo

color inspiration: pink + orange

Todays color inspiration, pink and orange. Could you think of a more festive color combination? It screams party! On this somewhat cool rainy-ish day in June, I slipped on my pink tired and true Jack Rodgers, to brighten up my morning, and picked some pink peonies for the house. The orange roses are from my dear friend Carolyn who grew them herself. Lucky me, it was my birthday last friday, and she brought them just for moi!

PS-my dresser always seems to sneak into my photos. I like the image in the background, its my parents in London. The other image, my little sister and I in my moms garden, around 1972.

color inspiration: blue + gray

Finding inspiration everywhere I look...even a cloudy, gray, rainy day. As the sun began to set I looked to the sky this time for some color inspiration. The clouds appear to be clearing....if you look closely you can see the drop of rain that landed on my lens while I was shooting.

color inspiration: red

Couldn't resist snapping a few shots yesterday. I was so inspired by this color, I actually bought some tomatoes and basil so I could make my favorite pasta for dinner. It is almost summer people! Enjoy the rest of the sunshine this weekend in the Northeast! 

Toes: Essie Clambake, Dress: J. Crew

the happy dance

From top to bottom: Bode smelling (or trying) a California Poppy, Daisies, flower arrangement w/ lilac, salvia, and peony, creeping phlox,  Peony (tree).

What a  beautiful time of year, it makes me do a happy dance (even though I am home with a stomach bug and not outdoors enjoying). 

Enjoy the sunshine and the weekend-

xo

fine tuning the heart

There are few things in this world that make me happier then my garden, and my dogs.

the easiest pasta ever.

I am not the fanciest or best cook, but I do love it.

One of my favorite and easiest go-to dishes is this pasta my sister showed me how to make about 15 years ago. It is basically a bruschetta served over fresh pasta. I made it last night in a pinch (starving hungry) with limited ingredients in the fridge, I always seem to have Penne on hand. In the summer, I grow my own basil and have tomatoes in my kitchen garden. I also live a stones throw away from an organic farm, so finding heirloom tomatoes is very easy.

coffee + instagram

Marty's

Washington Depot, CT.


My biggest morning inspiration? Well, that would be a double latte, and well, on those oh so special occasions a side of coffee crumb cake from Marty's cafe in Washington Depot..with well, a side of CT magazine for a little browsing drooling over all the gorgeous kitchens this month. And to top if off... my new iPhone with mega mega pixels, for those moments I don't want to lug around those ten pounds of equipment. The icing foam on top? Playing around with Instagram. Follow me if you would, I would love to see your pictures too!

my inspiration (or how it all began)

                                                    My grandmother, circa 1937

                                             My grandfather, Arkansas, sometime in the early 30's.


                                my mother, her grandfather, and my grandmother. 1938


                                        My Mother is in the foreground, with sisters, friends (I think neighbors). 1947


Little Rock, my mother is in the middle with her dog, my aunts on either side with my grandparents.

Some people ask me why it is I started wanting to photograph people. Growing up, our apartment in New York City, the walls were covered with pictures on every wall, in every corner of the house, the hallways were lined with these old black and white portraits, (long, long hallways, if you have ever seen a pre-war apartment in New York City you know what I am talking about). I loved looking at the black and white images. Of course every picture tells a story, but for me it wasn't just the story, it was the fact that these images always made me want to know what the conversations were, and I loved that very few of them were posed, or staged. They seemed of the moment, and candid, before it was a catch phrase. Both my grandfathers were amateur photographers. My paternal grandfather; more serious about his art, he was a painter, a photographer, and a furniture designer. I was sorry I never knew him. I do know him through his art,which hangs in my home studio today. My Maternal grandfather is the one who taught me about cameras. The first camera I played with was his old Pentex, and I still have it. These images , what we now call, "lifestyle" photographs, are my inspiration. I chose the few that spoke to me (or that I already had scanned). My grandfather (except for the few he was in) took all these pictures. I think my great grandfather (pictured) took the rest.