Livin' The Good Life

It is easy to let the cold winter months get the best of you. I know I have recently. It is important to keep yourself grounded and centered, getting swept up by life conditions is the easy path. Frustration, anxiety and self loath are easy emotions to feel. I found myself recently getting swept up by outside forces, forces that are really not that strong in their entirety. I had to remind myself, what real life is. What real frustration feels like. The path to my re-awakening started with a link sent to me by my friend Brownski.
http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=view&id=1730&Itemid=257&type=&selectedIndex=11&bandwidth=high
I looked through these amazing, eye opening photos and was taken back by how selfish I had become. Me, me, me. haha, funny how easy it is to slip away from reality.

Next, I started reading some magazines and flipped through some books I have about developing countries. My heart hurts for this world sometimes, but educating myself along with the growth of the Internet fuels my desire even more. Globalization and technology have both expanded and deadened our consciouses. With articles, stats, pictures and videos I can see and almost feel the other side of the world. But still cannot find the best way to impact it in a positive and driving way.

Tonight I watched the documentary The Reporter, it is about Nicholas Kristof. He is my personal hero, and watching this film inspired me again. The hope I had lost came back through his experiences and compassion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSsHMSuX6t0

This documentary is on HBO on demand right now, I urge ya to check it out.

If it inspires you, maybe we can talk. In the mean time, check out my Skreened store, all the profits go to Kiva.org

Never heard of Kiva? Check it out!!

http://skreened.com/ducksauce/livin-the-good-life

Portrait of a Culture
For this project, I really wanted to step outside my comfort zone. Exploring the world of photography has really helped me broaden my horizons. Last weekend I visited The Easy Riders Convention at Vets Memorial. When I first walked in, I was a bit overwhelmed. I walked around clueless until I finally worked up the courage to ask my first sitter to take a picture. The more pictures I got, the more comfortable I felt. After about 20 minutes of wandering around I came across Rich “The Lube Guy” from Quaker Steak and Lube. I got to talking with him, and he took a liking to me. He told me,” I studied Art back in the day, back when a 4 finger bag of weed was 15 bucks. You know dear, we didn’t have scales back then.” I decided I liked him too. The rest of the show, he escorted me around and introduced me to everyone! I quickly went from lost college student to VIP photographer from The Ohio State University. I am very satisfied with the outcome of this project because I ended up capturing an entire culture. At the end of the day, I asked Rich “The Lube Guy” what one word he would use to label his people. His reply, “There isn’t one word, all I can tell ya is, don’t let the gift wrap fool ya.”

Easy Rider

Click here to view these pictures larger

From my book, "America The Great, Where You Can Choose Your Own Fate."

Click here to view these pictures larger

PORTRAITS

Click here to view these pictures larger

On that griiiiiind, yo.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jennacarelly?ga_search_query=jennacarelly&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

So, I am really on my grind lately. By this I mean, makin' sh*t happen!
With this comes anxiety. So many deadlines, projects etc... and I need to work at the bar just to make ends meet. Hopefully i can catch my breath soon. In the meantime, check out my etsy, it is a work in progress! I'd love feedback!

This is a creative endeavor

Last week my friend Joe attempted something extremely ballsy, stand up comedy. Yes he lost a bet, but boy did he rock it. It made me think, could I do that? I dont think so. Imagine yourself, center stage with a group of your peers expecting to laugh. Frightful. I am very proud of him for doing this, and I hope he does it again.

As for me, Ill stick to my own unique creative endeavor... stay posted.