Laura Jane http://virb.com/laurajane New York Institute of Photography. This year I started doing a 365/Photo-a-Day project on flickr. It has greatly improved my skills, and is one of the main influences in why I became so interested in photography. If you live in the Lehigh Valley and are interested in a photo shoot, please don't hesitate to contact me. ]]> Virb 2.0 (@laurajane) en http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7162062 ]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:09:57 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7162062 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7162061 ]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:09:55 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7162061 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7162060 ]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:09:54 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7162060 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7161196

Portrait 2

]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:05:05 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7161196 DSC_0042e http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7161195 ]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:05:04 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7161195 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7161194

Portrait 1

]]> Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:05:02 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7161194 So "500 Days of Summer" really was good. A little confusing and sad, but... http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7145890 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:47:02 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7145890 Finally got around to renting "500 Days of Summer". Hopefully it's as good... http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7143351 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:29:45 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7143351 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7123906

So I've decided that I'm going to try another project this year, since the 365 didn't really work last year. My goal is to take 100 self portraits. It may eventually turn into 365 but it's not going to be 1 every day. If I do make it 365 I'll try for 7 a week no matter what day. I think I'll be able to do it now that I know more and have lighting.

I'm surprised at how much I like this picture because it's so simple and was pretty much an accident.

]]> Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:09:28 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7123906 Hmm... I think I managed to make my horribly mismatched room somewhat... http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7099449 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:29 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7099449 Favorite Favorites of 2009 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7086745

1. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobiashibbs/4188738069/">Joseph</a>, 2. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennyjames/3917686572/">Lydia</a>, 3. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sealegssnapshots/3958016147/">I want to go out with a bang (365/365)</a>, 4. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thememorytree/2475660738/">Sarah</a>, 5. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephisahat/3690516645/">Untitled</a>, 6. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplexpressionsphotography/3828086748/">A Girl and her dog.</a>, 7. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adalie/2538849177/">Six</a>, 8. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobiashibbs/3819757854/">Rory III</a>, 9. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sealegssnapshots/3740149766/">the thrill of the hunt (296/365)</a>, 10. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/liza_/3704225715/">Waiting for a plane 187/365</a>, 11. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/popestvictor/3260930619/">blood:water mission//there is hope</a>, 12. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/colinhill/3533413346/">Untitled</a>, 13. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771986@N03/3344557314/">Bigger</a>, 14. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jarrettfuller/4028974137/">Where do I go from here?</a>, 15. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anneacaso/3079901227/">.free.</a>, 16. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geekyglasses/3722088193/">Rain Puddles Reflect</a>, 17. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradi/3174952826/">Pastime</a>, 18. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doublegrr/3311177160/">GLAM</a>, 19. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gempics/3370225430/">79/365: peacock feather</a>, 20. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theproletariatdesigner/4069464797/">The artist at work</a>, 21. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurenmarek/4220839140/">into the west</a>, 22. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/casienserio/4193314838/">candy shop</a>, 23. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/honeyandjam/4103244795/">avocado</a>, 24. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garrettderossett/4097515414/">Untitled</a>, 25. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theproletariatdesigner/4041673224/">The client- family portrait</a>

]]> Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:43:44 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7086745 "A queen is never late. Everyone else is just simply early."- Princess... http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7085136 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:28:48 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7085136 Favorite Self-Portraits of 2009 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7083320

1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/4159362132/">Untitled</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/4099022779/">Untitled</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3936077790/">Untitled</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3978257505/">Untitled</a>, 5. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3917206860/">Untitled</a>, 6. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3860128092/">Untitled</a>, 7. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3832358424/">I Have Found...</a>, 8. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/4211813963/">Untitled</a>, 9. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3721637771/">Answer Me With Silence</a>, 10. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3705774616/">I want you...</a>, 11. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3696608098/">Many Faces</a>, 12. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3535116616/">Untitled</a>, 13. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3413617284/">Untitled</a>14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

]]> Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:16:10 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7083320 My Favorites of 2009 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7083319

1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3655166145/">Qavah</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/4099022779/">Untitled</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/4096501425/">Tucker and Jonas</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/4036294586/">mom</a>, 5. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3682348610/">kathryn & dawn</a>, 6. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3986019018/">Untitled</a>, 7. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3986020394/">Untitled</a>, 8. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/4159362132/">Untitled</a>, 9. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3936076002/">Untitled</a>, 10. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3895218656/">Untitled</a>, 11. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3802086210/">Untitled</a>, 12. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/3721637771/">Answer Me With Silence</a>, 13. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/29319937@N06/4126920176/">Emily</a>14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

]]> Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:16:09 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7083319 Mom http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7067957

I had my first "official" photoshoot today. Official meaning someone that I didn't really know contacted me through my website asking for a shoot. It was with a beautiful family that hadn't been all together in 10 years because they live all over the world. I forgot to ask them if I could post some pictures online, so I'm posting this test shot of my mom for now.

]]> Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:11:20 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7067957 Jesus is not the reason for the season. http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/text/7050502 Yesterday while riding in the car to my grandma's, I was doing a lot of thinking about Christmas and all that goes on around this season. Mainly I was thinking about how frustrated Christians get that people don't keep Jesus in Christmas. Everywhere you go you hear people saying, "Keep Christ in CHRISTmas," and "Jesus is the reason for the season." I mean sure it's great to strive for those things, but how come we don't hear Christians getting this frustrated at people who don't keep Christ at the center of every day?

I know I'm going to sound like a scrooge, but I'm not, I love Christmas as much as you do. No one knows the date when Jesus was born. It wasn't recorded in the Bible, nor did people celebrate his birthday. Celebrating birthdays the way that we think of was not even a part of Jewish culture. The other day I was reading article in Relevant magazine the other day about this topic. I'd like to quote a section from the article that stuck out to me.

"And in the early years of Christianity, that specific day was celebrated as the birthday of the Persian sun god, Mithras. The religion built around this deity Mithraism, had become a major rival to the Church in fourth-century Rome, and December 25 was a big party day for the pagans whom Christians hoped to convert. Which posed a problem: How do we convert these guys if we immediately make them give up their favorite feast? So, even though the early Church hadn't really bothered to observe Christ's birth at all, Pope Julius I chose Dec. 25 as the official feast day to honor Baby Jesus. And what a coincidence that this date not only competed with rival religions but made it a lot easier for new converts to drop their paganism while holding on the day's merriement, feasts and fun. The papal pronouncement became official in 375 A.D. Suddenly Jesus had a birthday." Stealing Christmas by Jason Boyett

Christmas was intended to make it easy for people to become Christians. It put out the message to people that Jesus didn't have to be a part of everything in their life. To me it seems like this was the beginning of putting Jesus in a box. This way of thinking said that Jesus didn't have to transform your life, which goes against everything that Jesus ever taught. Matthew 13:33 states, "He told them still another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." Yeast takes over the dough. It transforms it into bread. There's no such thing as bread where half of it has been affected by the yeast and the other half hasn't. It just doesn't work that way. Jesus is like the yeast. He takes over your life and no area should be left unaffected by who He is.

So what does all this mean for celebrating Christmas? Of course we should celebrate Christmas. But should it be the only day when we focus on Jesus? Of course not. As Christians, we should be getting as frustrated with people not keeping Jesus the center of every day as we do with people who don't keep Jesus the center of Christmas. Certainly, I don't think that I know exactly how to do this, nor do I always remember. It's as much a challenge for me as it is for you.

So remember, Jesus is not the reason for the season. He's the reason for every day.

This has nothing to do with the note, but this was written using Omniwriter, which is an awesome new word processor. It made writing so much easier and fast.
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]]> Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:38:19 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/text/7050502 Jesus isn't the reason for the season. He's the reason for everyday. http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7048451 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:42:13 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7048451 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7028166

I look kinda dumb, but in a strange sort of way i like this picture. Maybe it's because my eyes look so green. I don't know. Anyway, Merry Christmas!

]]> Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:06:36 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7028166 Merry Christmas http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7028165

I just threw this together in a few minutes because my mom still didn't send out our Christmas cards. So it looks like we're going to have a picture in them after all. It wasn't my original idea, but it was hard enough to get everyone to do this picture so I don't think that wrapping ourselves up in lights wouldn't have gone over too well.

]]> Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:06:35 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/photos/7028165 I'm so addicted to flickr it's ridiculous. http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7023473 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:31:48 -0800 http://virb.com/laurajane/posts/status/7023473