I'm Back!

As an apology for my absence, this will be an extraordinarily long post. Among the things I did while I was not posting this blog was a quick trip to Iowa for my sister's high school graduation. 

My sister does NOT like to photographed. My sister was photographed A LOT that weekend before her graduation ceremony, by my mom, new brother-in-law, grandmother, neighbor, friends and me. So this was an excellent learning experience for me as a photographer and sister.

After the ceremony, my mother wanted a picture of my sister with her diploma. This request was met with serious protests from the subject. I approached my sister with a creative solution...and a bribe. So we tottered out to the lawn with camera, diploma, robe, and kitchen chair in hand, took this shot (is it still called shooting from the hip if you are holding the camera above your head?), and she didn't have to pose for any more photos that weekend.

The lesson learned was: most people feel uncomfortable formally posing for a photographer. Give them something to do, preferably something fun, something else to focus on rather than the camera. Also, bribes totally work.

We have a tradition in my family. You receive a handmade quilt from grandma when you graduate high school. My grandma has 8 children and a dozen grandchildren. When I say handmade, I mean, made by hand. See below.

One more reason my grandma is awesome: she wears hats like these to graduation. She is kind of like the queen. A really useful queen, who can make quilts, and preserve food, and do absolutely anything.

My sister met her best friend at age 3, and it was love at first sight because they were both dressed as Pippi Longstocking. They still do everything together. Including playing with matchbook cars. Did I mention they are both 18? I want to be as cool as them someday.

On our last day, my dad took advantage of all the extra bodies in the house to get some yard work done. It took 6 people and 3 brooms to cover up the cherry tree. It was a pretty silly affair.

The obligatory Grant Wood shot. No smiling allowed.

It was a wonderful trip. I miss my family and Iowa already.