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April 11, 2014

image by Rebecca Siewert Photography WELCOME! I am Katie, a photographer, momma and wife based in Kelowna BC. My love of photography stems from a desire to tell my clients’ stories in a real, honest way. My blog space stems from a love of many things, the good, the bad, the beautiful. I believe life is an adventure and hope you’ll enjoy my thoughts along the way.

WELCOME! I am Katie, a photographer, momma and wife based in Kelowna BC. My love of photography stems from a desire to tell my clients’ stories in a real, honest way. My blog space stems from a love of many things, the good, the bad, the beautiful. I believe life is an adventure and hope you’ll enjoy my thoughts along the way.

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There is something so beautiful about the trees in Africa. Something beyond the natural beauty. They are the meeting place for their communities, a reprieve from the sun, a place to take a break and reflect. Beneath them so much life happens. So many connections and resolutions. It got me thinking about the places every community has that are sacred meeting spots. The places we come together to unite. The coffee shops, and sports arenas and hiking paths and churches/temples/mosques. Where are the meeting places that are sacred to you?

Just sitting here trying to figure out something witty and wise and thought provoking to go along with this photo from today, of myself trying to look thought provoking and wise but actually I look hangry. #youwinsomeyoulosesome #selfiefail #myphoneisaniphone4becauseIdroppedmynewoneinthelake

That feeling of the last days of June and the taste of the long stretch of summer ahead of us. Tastes like rocket popsicles with some sand, smells like coconut suntan lotion, sounds like laughing so hard no sound comes out and feels like that moment before the heat comes on and everything’s quiet and no one is telling you what to do. Defining freedom.

If travelling has taught me anything, it’s that our likeness outweighs our differences. Our skin, our culture, our houses may look different but most of us are looking to be seen, to be heard and to feel connected. This image of Hannah preparing the corn kernels for pounding reminds me what I was thinking during our morning together. There she was prepping food for her kids, multi tasking and getting them dressed, fed, thinking about work and I kept thinking “this is what happens in my house in the mornings.” We are different, I have been blessed with privilege and opportunity not afforded to many, but the underlying current of forging our paths and doing our best is there. This print is available for sale.

I have a hard time trusting the process. I feel like we’re conditioned to think life needs to be laid out in front of us like this sweet, clean paved provincial park path where any time there is debris, it is whisked away by some park attendant. But then you hear about the trail blazers and the people who “have it together” and you start to realize they’re scared shitless of walking into the bush but something urged them forward anyways. So onwards friends. Into the wilderness. Down the dark paths and fingers crossed it leads us to greater things.

Boop.

You know those instagram couples who take those totally amazing selfies? We not them. But if it’s about selfies or fun weekends I’ll take a good weekend any day.

Adventures lay ahead this weekend.

Oh June. Every year you just sneak up and bite me in the ass. Pretty little, vixen.

Weekending...

I’m always so surprised when people respond to suicide by saying it’s a selfish way out. The sentiment is not only a cruel remark for survivors to have to wade through, but it shows a lack of awareness about the nature of mental illness. Imagine the agony one must feel to end their life? To think they haven’t considered their loved ones is so short sighted. I read a beautiful analogy recently and to paraphrase- “suicidal depression is like being on the top floor of a burning building. There comes a point where jumping to your death is only slightly less terrifying than being burned alive.” Until we truly start to understand mental illness is, in fact an illness, and not something a person can carry on and muscle through, we will continue to lose people. We have to stop expecting perfection and start seeing our own humanness in each other.

I’m starting a new series on here called- Shit my kids say that makes me laugh. Because I know I post a lot of feely stuff on here, but I actually don’t take life quite as seriously as this account may lead one to believe. And also I kind of do. So first up: Smith- dad I don’t know how to tell time. Chad- that’s ok sometimes I can’t tell what time it is on that clock either. Smith- actually I can!!! I know that when the big hand is pointing to a number it’s time to eat. Me- this explains so much. The end.

I sometimes think there’s too much emphasis on “focus on the positive” “just be happy” “think positive thoughts” and I understand the sentiment. But I think there’s a difference between cultivating contentment and sweeping the “negative” emotions Under the rug. If I’ve never experienced sadness can I ever understand happiness? If we shy away from one do we ever really know the other?

I’ll take one of everything please.

Remember when we went to Seattle?

If freedom could speak I’m pretty sure this is what it would say.

Dusk. When everything that culminated starts to fade away and you know you can’t hold onto it so you just sit back and let it go. Also known as surrender.

You guysssss I just don’t know about selfies. I feel weird about them. I also feel weird about pictures of myself on my instagram feed because I like to hang back behind the scenes and just watch what everybody else has going on. I feel weird because I wonder if I post it is everyone going to be like- oh look at her thinking she’s looking all that” and “ooooooh why is she wearing that hat?” And then I think “wow this is the stupidest thing you’ve written on here yet” so maybe delete it. Or maybe don’t and just let everyone know that pictures of yourself make you feel weird even though you are in the business of making pictures. Ok but here is the actual point- being seen, in a photo, in real life, doing something that is just a little outside your comfort zone or maybe way outside your comfort zone, those things are strangely scary. But in a good way yes? Push share. Feel weird. End story.

@projectgrowghana new website is live 🙌 This project changed the way I look at the world in a way that I find difficult to articulate. But at the heart of that change was realizing that when we really and truly LISTEN to the needs of those around us we are trying to support, change is possible. Being able to see each other, not for the circumstances we are in, but for the people we are at the heart of it- that is motivation behind this organization. To witness, to listen and to support where they can. It’s a simple structure and it has lasting impact. Check it out. I’d love to hear your feedback. Link is in my bio or better yet check it out on your computer www.katienugent.com

Pause. Stay little, stay wild. Long weekend is here.