Tag : creative projects

The Inner Lens Guest Judge Artist Feature | Sonia Epple Fotografie

Please welcome our Featured Artist for last month’s Inner Lens theme, Sonia Epple Fotografie!

Hi Sonia, please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a photographer with all my heart and passion, at the same time wife and mom of 3 beautiful, lovely and amazing children!
I’m a cosmopolitan, born in france, half english, half german and I lived in different countries. Quite complicated, but I love diversity and colorful life stories.
I went through a lot in my life as two of my fathers died while I was growing up, but I learned that there is always good in life and that when you look close enough you can find beauty everywhere.

How do you incorporate emotion into your photography work?

To show different emotions and moods is my main focus, because I believe that emotions and mood will speak to people watching the pictures in the future. Pictures that don’t do storytelling are not timeless and won’t be appreciated so much I believe. It’s the raw emotions that make you stop and look at a picture again and again and that even speak to your soul.

What has photography taught you about your own emotions?

They have taught me that art feeds the soul. When I take pictures it actually helps me deal with my own emotions. I am able to create something out of my soul and sometimes I realize what I am actually longing for by looking at something I have just created.

Has photography ever provided a healing outlet for you during a difficult time?

Absolutely. Photography and Art is my way of dealing with what I am going through in life. The last year hasn’t been easy. We have had quite a difficult time as a family. My mum got diagnosed with cancer early last year and had to undergo treatment. My father died 10 years ago and we still have a little brother that we needed to take care off while my mum was in hospital. At the same time we had difficulties with our middle son who was diagnosed with a brainstem auditory processing disorder and our oldest son dealing with a early childhood traumata. All of this was a heavy load to carry for me and my husband and still is. But I have realized that taking pictures really has helped me to let go of the darkness that I was sometimes feeling. Being able to put all those feelings into my art was helping me let go off them and see life more positively. When I actually look at those pictures that really speak from my soul I can actually make my soul understand that it’s ok to feel that way and then also find a way to those happy moments again. Does that all make sense? It does to me – I hope it encourages the one or the other to also use photography as a way of a healing outlet.

Please share five favorite images with emotional meaning for you.

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“my soul needs love”

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“the veiled bride – lost, confused and blind”

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“Silence is an enemy Against your urgency So rally up the demons of your soul – green day”

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“awake my soul – mumford&sons”

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“too many decisions to take – smoke is coming from my brain”

Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us this past month, Sonia!  To see more of Sonia’s work, please visit her website: www.soniaepplefotografie.com and be sure to follow her on Facebook, Flickr, and Instagram!

THE INNER LENS ADMINS | SILLY

Here are our admin team’s favorite “Silly” shots for February. 🙂  Please be sure to visit each of these ladies’ pages and share the love! <3

 

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photo credit: Lucy Baber Photography | http://www.lucybaberphotography.com

maryslone

photo credit: Mary Slone Photography | http://www.maryslone.com

silly - Sonia Epple Fotografie

photo credit: Sonia Epple Fotografie | www.soniaepplefotografie.com

Silly- Elaina B. Photography

photo credit: Elaina B. Photography | http://www.elainabphotography.com

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photo credit: Kapuschinsky Photography | http://www.kapuschinskyphotography.com/

THE INNER LENS TOP TEN | JANUARY ADVENTUROUS

“It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves – in finding themselves.” – Andre Gide april

April Kraus Photography

bonnie

Bonnie Hussey, Photographer

erin

Erin Letts Photos

julie

Julie Moses

little farm

Little Farm Photography, LLC

miranda

Pixel Perfect Memory

mqn

mQn Photography

sarah joos

Sarah Joos Photography

terri

Terri Collins Photography

And this month’s winner is…

joni

Joni Burtt Photography

THE INNER LENS ADMINS | ADVENTUROUS

This year, we are doing things a little differently here at The Inner Lens.  In addition to our monthly prompts for photographer submissions (in case you missed it, January was “Adventurous”), we will also be showcasing the work of our brand new, very talented Admin team!  Please be sure to visit each of these ladies’ pages and share the love! <3

 

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photo credit: Lucy Baber Photography | http://www.lucybaberphotography.com

Adventurous.C.Kapuschinsky Johnson

photo credit: Kapuschinsky Photography | http://www.kapuschinskyphotography.com/

Adventurous

photo credit: The Gilded Fox Photography

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photo credit: Emily Rainsford

Elaina B. Photography Adventurous

photo credit: Elaina B. Photography | http://www.elainabphotography.com

 

maryslonephotography

 

photo credit: Mary Slone Photography | http://www.maryslone.com

 

SoniaEppleFotografie January2015

 

photo credit: Sonia Epple Fotografie | www.soniaepplefotografie.com

PHILADELPHIA FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER | LETTERS TO OUR CHILDREN OCTOBER 2014

Dear Chance,
I woke up one morning recently to realize my baby is almost a toddler. How has this happened so quickly? We are getting so close to the one-year mark and my mind is completely unable to process this fact. With each new milestone, you reveal a bit more of your budding personality. We are getting to know you now, and it is incredible. You have preferences and desires now, and you definitely let them be known. You can cross the room in the blink of an eye, and you move with purpose and intention. You might not use actual words yet, but you do communicate with us. You also like to test us and seem to have a bit of a mischievous streak. Best of all, we are getting to see your sense of humor and your wonderful playfulness.
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Now that I have children, fall is quickly becoming my favorite season. I look forward to this time every year, because it means that we get to do fun seasonal activities like pumpkin picking, hay mazes, Halloween costumes, and jumping in giant leaf piles. You “helped” us decorate the house for Halloween, and you and Theo danced to the Halloween music on Pandora as daddy stretched the giant spiderweb over the front patio. You laughed as the wind blew in your face on your very first hay ride. You even snuck more than your fair share of crunchy leaves into your mouth before I could put the camera down and come scoop them out of your mouth. 😉 Next year, you’ll participate even more…but this year was special because it was your first.
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We also made a trip to the farm in Virginia this past month, and you had a blast playing with Theo and your cousins, Meriwyn and Marlon. You and Marlon are so curious about each other, and he loved playing with you and your brother. I so wish that we lived closer to your cousins, but even still it’s amazing what a wonderful bond you all are forming when we do get to visit a few times a year.
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My sweet boy, just you wait. The holiday season isn’t over yet…there’s still plenty of fall fun in store for next month, and then we get to celebrate your birthday and then Christmas! I am so excited that you get to join us in our traditions this year! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. 😉

Love you my sweet boy,
Mommy

Each month I participate in a blog circle with a group of other very talented photographers and mothers from around the world. Please keep clicking through the circle by visiting the blog of Allie Shellaway.

The Inner Lens Guest Judge Artist Feature | peek photography + design

Please welcome our Featured Artist for last week’s Inner Lens theme, Dawn Schaefer of peek photography + design!

Hey Dawn, please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Dawn, the photographer-designer-all-around-creative-rain-loving-girl behind peek photography + design. I am a family and child lifestyle photographer living in the Great Pacific Northwest. When I’m not taking pictures or obsessing over typography, I am busy chasing my three year old little man (otherwise known as my muse, my inspiration, my heart). I love that photography provides you with a memory on paper – something you can look back on years from now and remember exactly what point you were at in your life.

How do you incorporate emotion into your photography work?

For me, light and the seasons play a huge part in giving an image a certain feel. I find during the summer months, my work has a feeling of joy, happiness and an overall carefree tone. Then comes the rainy Pacific Northwest winter and my images take on a darker, more intense and moody feeling that comes with the short, gray days we experience here in Seattle. I find during the winter I am doing a lot more with black and white conversions vs. my bright, colorful images of summer.

What has photography taught you about your own emotions?

I’m a super emotional person. I need to have some sort of creative outlet to express myself – be it photography, design, drawing or dance. Its easier for me to pick up a camera or sketchbook than openly convey how I feel – which is good and bad in its own way.

Has photography ever provided a healing outlet for you during a difficult time?

I’ve never needed photography as a healing outlet, but it is the one thing that is mine and only mine. Its a personal connection within myself that I, alone, own.

Please share five favorite images with emotional meaning for you.

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I am obsessed with pictures of my son’s feet. I believe they tell a story – where he’s been, but also where he’s going… and it’s so rare they are this clean!

 

 

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His cautious little fingers exploring the world around him reminds me just how delicate life can be.

 

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Such a perfect contrast to my winter images – the pure happiness and joy conveyed in this springtime shot makes my heart soar every time I see it!

 

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The light, the rain and the moodiness all came together so amazingly for this shot. It’s one of my all time favorites and so perfectly represents the winter here in the Pacific Northwest.

 

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The warmth and the calm of this dreamy morning-time image reminds me there are peaceful (yet short-lived) moments in motherhood.

 

Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us this past week, Dawn!  To see more of Dawn’s work, please visit her website: http://www.madeyoupeek.com and be sure to follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and her brand new collaborative project, Boys Will Be Boys!

THE INNER LENS TOP TEN | WEEK 6 SAD

“Crying is cleansing. There’s a reason for tears, happiness or sadness.” – Dionne Warwick

Here are your Top Ten for the theme “Sad”.

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicola-Stewart-Photography/691213830919176

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/JoniBurttPhotography?fref=nf

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/CapturedMomentsBySarahJane

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/heatherearlephotos

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Image credit: Lerin White Wheeless

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Image credit: Kari Lockett

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/clickfamilyphotography

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieMorganMedia

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethjamisonphotography

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And our winner for this week’s theme is Rubylee Photography.  I love the posture, the pop of red, and the dark muted tones.  Thank you for sharing!

The Inner Lens Top Ten | Week 5 Angry

“When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.” – Thomas Jefferson

This week’s Top Ten may not be the happiest bunch, but they are certainly inspiring!

 

Jayne Cho

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https://www.facebook.com/melinanastaziaphotography

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https://www.facebook.com/pixelperfectmemory

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https://www.facebook.com/sharoncovertphotography?fref=nf

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Lauren Materacky

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Laura Beth Davidson

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Elaina Borchelt

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https://www.facebook.com/CarlaMaePhotography

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Connie Elmore Whitlock

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And this week’s winner is by Kari Lockett.  That pink, cloudy sky behind that stark silhouette are just so striking to me!  I see not only anger, but also rage in this image.   I hope it was cathartic to create for this week’s theme.  Thank you for sharing, Kari!

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The Inner Lens Top Ten | Week 4 Surprised

“Whatever precautions you take so the photograph will look like this or that, there comes a moment when the photograph surprises you. It is the other’s gaze that wins out and decides.” – Jacques Derrida

Surprises can be fun and lighthearted, or they can be deep and even heartbreaking.  There was so much talent and heart shared during this week’s challenge.  Here are this week’s Top Ten for “Surprised”.

Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/melinanastaziaphotography

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/everydayphotobliss

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/lynzibergphotography

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/JoniBurttPhotography?fref=nf

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/3CatsPhoto

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Act-Naturally-Photography/149530258482528

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/erinkonrathphotography

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/erinsouthwellphotography

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Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/OneBoyPhotography

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And this week’s very moving winner is Leigh Davis.  Thank you for your vulnerability Leigh.  This is exactly what this page is all about…opening up to parts of life that can only be best expressed through our art. <3

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Philadelphia Model Headshots | Jen

As always, my model Jen was a complete joy to work with. She is just the sweetest person, plus she’s just absolutely gorgeous!!
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