Bright Lights Bigger City

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I typically tend to avoid touristy areas like Times Square, but I happened to be here last Friday night with my camera in tow, and I decided to take advantage.  As much as the crowds can be crazy and frustrating, there is something about Times Square that fills you with energy and excitement.  The bright lights.  The big city.  It makes you feel as if you are a part of something really magnificent.  So I took the opportunity to dive right in there with the tourists and take some photos.  I hadn’t really taken any night shots since I started my photography class, so I experimented with what I had been learning, and here is what I came up with.  Hope you like.

And now for a little tune to put you in the spirit:

Bright Lights Bigger City – Cee Lo Green

Happy Hump Day!

XO,

Gina

{6} Lately…

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Lately I’ve been…

reading  Still reading Book 5 in the Harry Potter series…I can’t seem to stop falling asleep on the subway lately, which is cutting into my reading time.

writing  Been taking lots of notes in my photography class.  Weird to be using a notebook and a pen again.

listening  Of course the Maryland girl has to listen to a little country every now and then.  This song is a bit of a morbid love ballad by The Band Perry, and I can’t get enough of it.  Check out “Better Dig Two.”

thinking  About my spiritual self.  It seems this is the time of year that I tend to look inside my soul.  Today is Ash Wednesday (if you didn’t already notice from the photo above), which is the start of the Lenten season.  It makes me think about what I can do to be a better person, and what I can do to help others.

smelling  Citrus tea that my boss has been brewing daily in the office.

watching  Still on my “Race to the Oscars,” and I have seen all but two films now that have been nominated for Best Picture!  I have to say, there has not been one that I have disliked so far.  Last night was Lincoln to celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday.  It was a fantastic film, and I have a feeling it just might take gold at the Oscar’s.

wishing  My butt buddie, Erin, a speedy recovery as she is undergoing Lasik eye surgery today.  Love you Munchkin!

hoping  For warmer weather on the horizon.  I’m pretty much done with cold and snow.  Unfortunately, I do not think I am going to get my wish just yet…

wearing  My “Hi” “Bye” heart sweater with leggings and combat boots.

loving  The genius behind Oreo during the Super Bowl a couple weeks ago.  Did anyone see that Twitter ad during the blackout?  Pure genius.

laughing  At my husband and neighbors this past weekend as they attempted to invent a live version of “Frogger” with this Makey Makey invention kit.  Just picture a grown man with 4 children jumping up and down around the room Dance Dance Revolution style while listening to techno music.

wanting  The doctors to come to a diagnosis for my Uncle, so he can start getting the treatment he probably needs.  He has been at Hopkins for awhile now undergoing tons of tests.  Love you Uncle Johnny.

needing  Rest.  It’s been a busy couple of weeks.  While I love keeping myself busy most of the time, I am looking forward to a little downtime at some point.

feeling  Optimistic.  I will leave it at that.

craving  This shade of MAC lipstick – Rebel – Did you know MAC recycles?  If you return 6 empty MAC products, you can get a free lipstick!  I think I just may…yay!

clicking  I have been click click clicking away on my camera since I started my photography class a couple weeks ago.  So far, I have already learned a lot, and I am looking forward to learning even more.

What have you been up to lately?

Love,

Gina

***I was inspired by Tina of Like Ordinary Life to create this post, and she was inspired by Lauren of siddathornton, who started The Sunday Currently.

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#14 Take a Photography Class

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This was me on my birthday this past summer.  So excited for my brand new camera.  Cameras have always excited me.  Ever since I was a child, I loved taking photos.  I remember I got my first camera in Disney World when I was 7.  I went around that park taking photos of everything I could.  Back then there was no such thing as digital.  So we took our photos to CVS or Ritz Camera to get them developed, and it was always exciting to remember what pictures I had taken or which ones turned out properly.  My passion continued through middle school and high school.  I would bring my camera to field trips, recess, prom, and other school dances.  I brought my camera to college documenting football games and sorority functions.  I loved having a physical memory to hold on to.  I had albums for days.  And I still have them.  Memories locked up inside books that I could flip through at my leisure.  People always ask me how I am able to remember everything so well.  Well, I think it’s because of my photos.  I can remember where we were or what we were doing or even what we were wearing, because I can see the photo in my mind.  Eventually photos became digital, and I started taking so many photos that I could not keep up with my albums.  They were starting to takeover my room, and I had no more storage for them.  Luckily, Facebook was invented, and I have since been storing all my memories on the computer.  As much as I have always loved taking pictures, I never had a good camera until this summer.  I would try to take artsy shots with my point-and-shoot, but they never really turn out how you want them.  When I decided that I really wanted to start blogging more often, I realized it was finally time to get a nice camera.  The only problem with that is…I don’t really know how to use it.  All this money for a beautiful new camera and lens, and not a clue of how to get the most out of it.  Which is why I decided to sign up for a photography class at the School of Visual Arts.  This is something I have wanted to do for a long time (bucket list/great adventure item #14!), and I am very excited to embark on this journey.  It might be tough, and I may get frustrated, but I cannot wait to learn and become completely enthralled with this craft.  Today is my first class, and I am not quite sure what to expect, but I know I am definitely looking forward to it.  I am hoping to be able to share with you some of what I learn on this blog, and most importantly, I am hoping my new skills will show in the photography I continue to post.

Happy Wednesday Everyone! 🙂

Gina

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2012: A Year in Review

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Ringing in the New Year in Playas del Coco, Costa Rica!
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Hiking in the Cloud Forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica
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Three Italianos Reunited in Brooklyn!
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Valentine’s Day Surprise at the Mary Poppins Show! I dressed just like her without even knowing.
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Celebrating Zack’s 31st at crazy Mehenata Bulgarian Bar
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OAR Concert with Jack and Sammy
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14 inch hair chop! Bye Bye. Thanks Nikki!
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Sweetlife Festival at Merriweather in MD featuring Avicii…AMAZING.
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Seeing Emily Blunt and Jason Segal at the premiere of 5 Year Engagement at the Tribeca Film Festival
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SKYDIVING!!! Thanks to my amazing husband – he surprised me on our one year anniversary with this bucket list item.
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Dad FINALLY visits us in NY. With Zack, Mom, and cousins at their pasta shop in Brooklyn
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DMB Concert and Upstate NY trip
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Virginia Beach trip with friends for Shirin and Shahrum’s wedding
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Testudo came to Zach and Jessica’s wedding! Go Terps!
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Happy Birthday to ME! Love my new camera!
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Girl’s Weekend in OC for Katie’s Bachelorette – Seacrets is crazy!
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Family vacation in the Outer Banks, NC
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Surfing Competition in the Rockaways
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Dewey Summer Send off on Labor Day Weekend
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A Naval Academy Wedding for Megan and JoJo
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Visionary Art Museum Wedding for MaryBeth and James
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Trip to Montauk for Mike and Abby’s Big Day
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Katie & Adam tie the knot at Sagamore Farms
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Running with Patrick and Melissa for my late dear friend John Petrovick. “Inside all of us is HOPE.”
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Thanks to Gabbi for helping to raise money for John’s cause.
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Camping trip with Erin and Rai to French Creek
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End of the season pic with my JV High School Girls Soccer Team
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ASHS 10 Year High School Reunion – man time flies
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AC trip for Alex’s Bachelorette!
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All my girls at the 5th Annual Pollard Potluck
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Christmas Morning at Mom and Dad’s
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Alex and Seamus get married to end the year!

It may seem like a lot of photos, but this is just a small snippet of what took place in 2012.  There were so many more fun memories of this past year.  There were also some sad moments as well.  I have learned a lot this past year, and I know that I am truly thankful for the family and friends that I have.  I am incredibly lucky for the support and love that I have received this past year, and I hope I was able to return the favor to all of you as well.

I wish you all a Happy New Year’s Eve.  Please stay safe tonight.

Bring on 2013!

XO,

Gina