Jillian Schantz Photography: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

February Pic of the Day!

So February has come and gone already! Whew...everything has been moving so fast. I say this every month, but it's true! Time moves too fast!

I've decided to reformat this project a little bit and use it and present it more as a narrative of the past week of my life.

I took this on Thursday the 23rd. I have a pile of books that are waiting to be read, but alas, they must stay next to my bed until I can get to them. When I was younger I was a huge reader, but within the past year or two, I've had trouble starting and finishing them. Is it possible to have a reader's block?

I think so.

I took this photo Friday morning before I went to work. These sandals are my old/new sandals. If you follow this blog at all, you know I have a connection with shoes. These are special ones for sure.

I got them for a trip to Europe in 2004. I never really wore them after it, but now they have returned back into my life and I love it!

I'm particularly fascinated by how my foot pattern has changed since starting yoga. These shoes definitely reflect the changes I've made in the way I hold myself.

I took this photo in the wee hours of Saturday morning. My work schedule this month had me coming back home around 11:45 at night. This pretty much sums up how I feel when I get off work.

I really didn't want to take a picture but I knew I needed to do it. I've found it's in those moments when you really don't want to do something that it is the most important to do it.

I'm glad I did.

It was beautiful here on Sunday morning. Spring definitely made an appearance. All the plants are starting to bud. I am looking forward to this next season and am really starting to get excited about Summer.

On Monday, I spent some time with my friend Jennie. This is her cat Paulie. He's got a bit of a 'tude in this moment but it's quite endearing. I especially love his expression next to the purple flowers.

After hanging out with Jennie, I went and saw my friend Joseph. This statue was hanging out in the backyard. I was immediately attracted to it.

I had to work on Tuesday and today I am traveling so this image and the next are also from Monday -- but who is counting? They're just small details right. =)

This last one is a lovely portrait of my dear friend Joseph. I love him. I think he is an amazing person with an amazing soul. You can see my homage to him here.

I asked him, "Joseph, can I take a picture of you making a wish and blowing on a dandelion."

He said, "Yes."

That is why I love him.

Unfortunately none of those pics actually turned out well, but at least a solid portrait prevailed.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

13.1. Check!

Last weekend my dad came in town to run the Austin half marathon with me. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

I cannot begin to tell you how much running has changed my world. For years, I used to think that it was an impossible task. I'd tell myself that running simply wasn't for me. It was something I could not do.

Well, I now know that was only in my head and through the process of it I learned that if I want to run, damnit, I will run.

You will never be able to do something you tell yourself you can't do.

All you have to do is try -

And then keep trying -

And then, one day, you've done it.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Bad News Bears

I got some bad news today. My lens needs massive repairs. Moisture got into the lens and now fungus has ruined the inside of it. This makes me very, very sad.

Today has been full of ups and downs. I went for a long walk today across town in the rain. So many things have changed and yet so many things are the same. My dreams and aspirations are changing. What I thought I wanted, I don't want now -- or maybe it's more like I never knew what I wanted to begin with and I keep finding out what I don't want.

It's funny how comfortable I feel when I'm lost.

Photography has been such a huge part of my life for the past 7 years. I studied it in school, shot on my own, dabbled in freelance. It's always been something that I could rely on as an escape. It's been a place for me to dream -- to explore.

Lately though, I've been sitting on a plateau -- not too sure how I got there and not too sure what step to take next. I can't find my place and I'm having a hard time expressing what I want and how I feel.

I need a break...maybe this lens situation is a blessing.

These Shoes

These were my favorite pair of shoes for a very long time. I loved them. I loved them so much that I kept them after mold started to grow in them. There were holes in the bottom of their soles from the amount of sheer traveling we did.

I bought them my first month here in Austin from Tyler's on the drag. We went to countless classes together, went to Mexico twice, spent summer's in Plano.

Yup. Good shoes.