I Wish I Had More Common Senses

New York Women

2012-01-12T23:01:00.003-05:00

"So B, how's it been going in NYC?" you might want to ask me. Seeing as I've been gone for a very long time now, it's only safe to assume I've been super busy doing lots of amazing things. The truth is, I've been studying, working, and not really realizing that I live in such an amazing city. What's it like to live in NYC? It's a constant reminder that I am not a New York Woman. You know, the perfect woman who has everything under control, manages to work at the top of her game, spend time on all her hobbies, eat healthy, go to the gym, and spend all the time she wants with the people she cares about. Yeah, that's not me, I can barely wake up in the morning. But you know what? At some point over christmas vacation, I came out of my work-induced, self-deprecating coma, shook myself off, and realized, that 2012 is going to be different.
How? Well let me tell you one thing, I'm not going to try to be the perfect New York Woman, trust me, it's impossible and I'd only be wasting my time.
I know that sounds negative and you might be saying "what do you mean B? You're beautiful! Smart! Motivated!" Well shucks, thanks for the love, but hear me out:

This year I resolve not to hold myself to such a ridiculous standard.

I will accept the following:
I write papers at the last minute.
I can't work out every day.
I like to eat carbs/fat/sugar.
I will probably never lose those last 10lbs.
Sometimes, it's just too late at night to brush your teeth.
I spend an irrational percent of my paycheck on clothing.

Instead, I will change little things
I will make time for friends.
I will save some money.
I will work out at least once a week.
I will do what I love, and express my creativity more.
I will go to museums, try new food, and cook more often.
I will keep in contact.
I will stop sleeping 12 hours a night.
I will wash my face more often.

Because in the end, that's what all New York Women have in common, we all spend our entire lives knowing that someone out there has things more under control than we do.
So this year, I'm just going to accept that, and just be me, and probably, not even the best possible version, but I'll try pretty hard.

Have a good year!
Love
B

Big Bad Wolf

2011-11-03T20:01:00.003-04:00

So I have a great model lined up that I'm really excited about and I wanted to make the best of it and go all out. Here's my moodboard. It seems a little creepy but that's probably because there's a child singing hauntingly outside my window.

Click to Enlarge
Photos by Myself, Federico Erraand Justin Violini.
It's been a while since I've worked with a male model this will either be a ton of fun or a disaster.

Peas in a Pod

2011-10-21T22:18:00.001-04:00

Park

2011-10-21T22:16:00.001-04:00

Bubbly Interlude

2011-08-31T20:47:00.002-04:00

Compressed 02 from Kim Pimmel on Vimeo.

Love
B

The Looking Glass Room

2011-08-28T21:27:00.002-04:00

So yes, bedroom is tiny, but I love it!
(The main poster above my bed is actually a publication by Benjamin Critton)
Much Love to All,
B

Shelter From The Storm

2011-08-28T21:09:00.004-04:00

These have been around for a while but I'd never had a camera on me before.
Hope you all stayed dry!
Love
B

Oh, Mama Rock Me

2011-08-15T13:03:00.001-04:00

So as you can probably tell by now I've been so busy all summer I've been unable to upload photos. Now inshallah I'm back in action and rearing to go.
Apologies to the beautiful Elissa that this wasnt up sooner.
Also check out her new blog Matt and Elissa Try New Stuff. It's hilarious.

Love
B

Abby

2011-08-15T12:55:00.002-04:00

Personality award winner du jour.

Love
B

Hot Town, Summer in The City

2011-08-15T12:20:00.005-04:00

Went for a walk up the Highline on Friday. What a beautiful place.

Love
B

What A Thing To Do

2011-08-14T19:15:00.002-04:00

I <3 Xavier

B

Poetic interlude

2011-08-12T10:03:00.001-04:00

I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary.

- Margaret Atwood
(from http://tiggmanje.tumblr.com/)

90's Sports Ad

2011-07-27T21:19:00.003-04:00

So I took these photos and was tweaking them, and I wasn't sure at all where I was going with them. When I finished I asked Ben what he thought. He pointed out a 90's Nike Ad vibe which I guess I had noticed but hadn't been focusing on. Normally I go for a sensual nostalgic weaker feel, and less of a physical show of power, but Elissa's strength was an opportunity too commanding (and beautiful) to pass up. This shoot taught me that I'm really only comfortable capturing a very specific body type. Hopefully I can get Elissa back into the studio and work on that.

We Are All Made Of Stars

2011-07-22T23:29:00.001-04:00

We Run This City

2011-07-21T14:25:00.002-04:00

It's been SO LONG

2011-07-14T19:15:00.002-04:00

But I have such good excuses.
For instance, this is what I'm doing with my life:
READ IT
Much Love,
B

In the cold days / in winter / when the sidewalk is a lake / and the street is drowned / this girl has come / from her old house to await him.

He who had told her to wait / but he has gone away / and forgotten / and she withers away / in winter.

I have loved you in summertime / I have loved you in winter /I awaited you in summertime /I awaited you in winter / Your eyes are summer / My eyes are winter / and our rendezvous my love / is beyond summer and beyond winter.

The strange one passed by / and gave me a message / my lover had written / with his tears /1 opened the message / whose letters were lost / and days passed / years estranged us / while winter had erased / the letters of the message .

Musical Interlude

2011-06-19T17:52:00.002-04:00

I just moved into my new room for the summer and work begins tomorrow!
This song came on my itunes while unpacking, I thought I'd share I love it so much. I can completely identify with this girl.
Much Love,
B

Back Soon

2011-06-13T11:20:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the brief pause, I've been spending too much time trying to find the Pineapple in every episode of Psych.

James

2011-06-08T11:18:00.000-04:00

Much Love,
B

NYC

2011-06-06T22:38:00.004-04:00

So I've been MIA for a bit, switching things up, running around. Pretty soon I'll have a full time job and look back on this period in my life as "those were The Days" but for now, well I'm glad to have a schedule coming up in the near future.
I drove down to NYC on Thursday and went to Boston on Saturday. It was uber last minute and I was trying to figure out a way to make things more interesting/photographic for myself. On the bus I had a bit of a brainstorm and came up with a little plan. If I've been frustrated at my inability to recreate the passion I felt for Beirut in NYC and NH, then why not just RECREATE Beirut in NYC? This might not make too much sense. I'm not pretending NYC is Beirut or that I'm a tourist, I just took the exact lens I looked through in Beirut, and applied it to NYC, sort of like an adobe Lightroom Preset.

Anyway, this is what I came up with.
Love
B

Flowers

2011-05-27T22:05:00.002-04:00

300th post!

2011-05-26T22:21:00.003-04:00

For my 300th post I've decided to reveal to the world how scary my father truly is.

The ones that Swept me off my feet.

2011-05-21T13:48:00.005-04:00

If you haven't read all of these I highly recommend it.

Today I Am: 21

2011-05-18T22:02:00.000-04:00

But I'm not a day older

Rainy Slow Day

2011-05-15T20:30:00.002-04:00

Today was a slow kind of day, Listening to slow music all day inspired this picture.
(Don't forget about my 365! (Shameless self promotion!))

Well it's the only thing that I could do half right

2011-05-15T13:59:00.001-04:00

Happy Rainy Sunday!

Black and White

2011-05-13T21:10:00.001-04:00

Light and Self Portraits

2011-05-13T19:36:00.003-04:00

Had a little fun with a red dress. And this may be one of my favorite self portraits I've ever done.
I've been creating Moodboards recently, I'm not one to plan ahead on anything creative but this may have converted me.

Clare

2011-05-11T11:29:00.003-04:00

The other day I was having a large amount of trouble with inspiration, so I called up Clare and demanded a photoshoot. She was a great sport seeing as I had absolutely no idea what I wanted out of the photographs whatsoever. While I owe her another shoot, we certainly had a lot of fun, and I'm glad I got some good images from it.

Much Love
B

Back to B's Basics

2011-05-09T23:11:00.001-04:00

I felt kind of empty handed today when taking photos but musing through my ten or so takes, I noticed this little gem. It feels very typical of my style, and that feels good every now and then.
To just be myself.

Love
B

Silliness

2011-05-08T20:50:00.002-04:00

My sister and I both have a misplaced childish tendency, which people often misinterpret as us being ditzes.
But it makes for a very fun photoshoot.

The Slightly Less than Ordinary Princess Ophelia

2011-05-08T20:27:00.001-04:00

And other such references...

For My Mother

2011-05-08T17:59:00.003-04:00

Halfway Down The Stairs.

Halfway down the stairs
Is a stair where I sit:
There isn't any other stair quite like it.
I'm not at the bottom,
I'm not at the top:
So this is the stair where I always stop.

Halfway up the stairs
Isn't up, and isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery, it isn't in the town:
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head:
"It isn't really anywhere! It's somewhere else instead!"
-A.A Milne

Do you know YOUR mother's favorite children's poem?

Love
B

Family

2011-05-06T21:16:00.003-04:00

I think they think I'm odd...

(mother not included because she was gardening, but I do have something special coming up ;) )

Back to Backlight

2011-05-04T16:48:00.003-04:00

So it's been a while, but today I packed up my stuff, called Lucy, and went to the studio. Earlier I'd been working with a window in my house that was providing some interesting light, so naturally my mind went to that same place when I got to the studio.
Here are a few takes that I liked, and the best of the selfies that I did while waiting.

Let's hope the weather clears up, I can't wait to get back outside. Either that or I may just have to figure out how to waterproof my camera.

Stay Dry,
B

My First Attempt At Levitation

2011-05-02T22:17:00.005-04:00

"My First Attempt At Levitation"

Today was a day for playtime.

Sunshine.

"Flowerbed"

And levitation practice.

Love,
B

Monster

2011-05-01T16:59:00.003-04:00

I'm having a ton of trouble with this image so I'm just going to sit on it for a while.
For now:

I'm off for a run

Much love,
B

May Flowers

2011-05-01T11:11:00.002-04:00

Rabbit Rabbit everyone!
Do you know what time it is?
Time for glamour shots of SPRING!
We are now in my favorite month, ever.
So please enjoy.
In fact I am not asking you to enjoy, I am commanding you to enjoy.

Much Love
B

Lost in Thought

2011-04-30T14:09:00.003-04:00

So here we go. I give it about 4 days. I'm starting the 365 project.
The site is 365b&co and the subjects will be myself and people I know. I hope to expand my style, and improve my comfort in front of the camera. More and more I'm realizing the handyness of being able to photograph yourself. Especially if there's no one else around.
Anyway, check it out.
I'll put a link on the side, or you can check it here.

Words of Note: Silly

2011-04-30T13:22:00.000-04:00

Colorful Introspection (and Tribute)

2011-04-30T10:59:00.007-04:00

People are always mentioning to me how dark my photos are. Which is true. And ironic. I wouldn't call myself a dark person, in fact I can get pretty silly. My favorite photographs tend to be the upbeat imaginative images that hint at a deeper story. I like to be playful. Scratch that, I LOVE to be playful. My self proclaimed inner animal is after all, a Tiger Cub. Which is why it's interesting that I do, in fact, take some very dark photographs.
One of my favorite plants around my house (other than dandelions and dogwood) is a pink bush that blossoms in the early spring and has very delicate sticky flowers. Naturally I photographed it, and Naturally the end result came out as follows:

A very typical image for me to take.
And yet there was something more I wanted to do with the image. Although I could be completely satisfied with the original edit the whole reason I love this plant is because it's always a little burst of color in the dreary early spring woods. And this is where, once again, Liberty came into play...
A few months ago, Liberty gave me a very generous gift of her best Lightroom editing presets. (For those who don't understand, once a photographer gets to a certain level, they tend to do the exact same thing to every photo when they edit it, so instead of going through every step they set up a "Preset" which is a button you click on that automatically does tweaks the photo to what you would have done without all the steps). So for fun, I played around with some of Lib's presets, and BLAMO, I got this image:

And I fell in love. It's quirky, it's not perfect, It could certainly be improved. But it's experimental, and it's my first step. I'm not saying I'm a changed person, or have a completely new style (let's face it, this is sort of Lib's preset afterall) or even that I'm looking for a new style. But I AM going to try new things. I'm going to keep that Dark Side I've cultivated, but try and show you all that childish, fun-loving, playful me that some critics have been doubting.
So thank you Liberty, Once again, I gush over your talent and get all inspired. But what are friends for if not to inspire?

Much Love,
B

(for those of you seeking inspiration I have been using mymodernmet.com recently and it could be what caused my little color epiphany)

Words of Note: Pretend

2011-04-28T23:35:00.002-04:00

No time for photos today, so a guest spotlight!

Photograph from Vectroave (they also have many more photos)

Every now and then, browsing the web, (more and more on MyModernMet, I come across that one artist that makes my heart stop. I know it when I see it because I always have the same routine. I look at all of their photos, stare at a wall and feel depressed about my own photographic skills, go back and look again at all of their photos, bookmark the page, share a link on Facebook, Google the photographer to make sure I haven't missed any photos, then pick up my camera and do a particularly lousy photo-shoot in which none of the photos I take end up being good enough to load onto my computer.
Well this is one of those instances.
Lissy Laricchia's art is so amazing and light yet meaningful, it really captures the feelings of Pretend, Imagination, Childhood, and all those things I adore. I don't want to gush too much about her, so I'm going to get back to looking up more fantastic photos.
In the meantime
I think you should all check her out
Lissy Laricchia

Much Love
B

Slow Spring Afternoons

2011-04-27T17:43:00.001-04:00

Dog Days of Spring?

Words of Note: Forgiveness

2011-04-27T17:24:00.005-04:00

Less about photography as an art and more about two captured moments.

B

She's BACK!

2011-04-25T20:08:00.002-04:00

We <3 Lucy
(I've even entered this image into a photo contest)

B

Boredom

2011-04-24T20:26:00.003-04:00

Lately I've been going through a streak where I absorb more art that I produce. Which I'll blame on rediscovering a fast internet connection after living in Beirut, and also on having only myself to photograph. Although I'll try my best to share with everyone the awesome things I start online, I am still chugging along with photography although I apologize that I have only myself to photograph.

Also, please enjoy
A Tribe Called Kifer, which makes me want to hop in a plane and go join Liberty for the rest of the spring.

Much love
B

If You Drink Too Much From a Bottle Marked Poison

2011-04-23T13:49:00.002-04:00

"It's almost certain to disagree with you."

I found a little inspiration from my favorite book this weekend.

"Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but she could not even get her head through the doorway; "and even if my head would go through," thought poor Alice, "it would be of very little use without my shoulders. Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only knew how to begin." For, you see, so many out-of-the- way things had happened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible."

Much Love
B

Cheesy Love Songs

2011-04-21T21:52:00.001-04:00

"I was born when she kissed me,
I died when she left me,
I lived a few weeks while she loved me."
-Bogie, "In a Lonely Place"

Maybe Poses

2011-03-25T23:01:00.002-04:00

Stop. Smoothie time

2011-03-24T21:20:00.003-04:00

1 cup frozen blueberries
3 tbs vanilla yoghurt
Pinch Salt
Half cup Soymilk
Two packets Splenda
1 Bannana

Blend.

Yum, and be awed at the color.

A True Queen

2011-03-23T10:18:00.001-04:00

Rest In Peace Elizabeth Taylor, A woman who commanded respect on the screen, and in style.

Boredom

2011-03-22T22:16:00.001-04:00

Much Love,
B

Pulled Apart

2011-03-22T18:00:00.000-04:00

Mooo?

2011-03-20T21:08:00.000-04:00

LOVED the white eyelashes and great bug eyed cow.

How to Be a Lady

2011-03-18T10:08:00.003-04:00

“Speak in French when you can't think of the English for a thing—turn out your toes as you walk—and remember who you are!”
(Through the Looking Glass)

Alice in Wonderland, Theda Bara as Cleopatra, Trinity, Dr. Harlen Quinzel (Harley Quinn), The Honourable Daphne Suzannah Diana Joan Guinness

(all images from google)

Words of Note: Falling

2011-03-03T09:00:00.003-05:00

"Would it be possible for me to see something from up there?" asked Milo politely.

"You could," said Alec, "but only if you try very hard to look at things as an adult does."

Milo tried as hard as he could, and, as he did, his feet floated slowly off the ground until he was standing in the air next to Alex Bings. He looked around very quickly and, an instant later, crashed back down to the earth again.

"Interesting, wasn't it?" asked Alex.

"Yes, it was," agreed Milo, rubbing his head and dusting himself off, "but I think I'll continue to see things as a child. It's not so far to fall."

-The Phantom Tollbooth

For Every Action

2011-02-19T11:55:00.001-05:00

Oh Maybe, When will you learn?

Toys

2011-02-16T16:30:00.002-05:00

Alone with Myself

2011-02-16T15:41:00.003-05:00

Anyone want to model? I'm getting tired of self portraits...

I'm just sayin...

2011-02-15T19:00:00.004-05:00

Shouldn't the "New Queen of Pop" know her pop culture references?

(images from http://belleoftheballfashion.blogspot.com/, http://brilliantmcsexyass.blogspot.com and http://www.knuckleheadhumor.com/)

Ladies and Gents

2011-02-12T18:52:00.002-05:00

The Maybe

Boids

2011-02-08T20:35:00.001-05:00

The Only Problem With NH

2011-02-08T17:25:00.004-05:00

Is the Giant Squirrels...

But in all seriousness, this little guy was having a feast on our balcony this morning. He let me get very very close (NH squirrels, unlike NYC squirrels, are VERY easily frightened).
Good thing he was storing up for the winter, It's COLD out there little guy!
(although, it looks to me like he's been storing up food for a WHILE.)

Single Ladies

2011-02-07T12:10:00.001-05:00

Playing around with a slightly more sinister view of V-Day

Stay warm!
B

After the Ice Storm

2011-02-06T10:46:00.001-05:00

So much Ice I was on Scenery Overload, So I decided to Zoom in for a bit.

Stay warm!
B

When You Miss a Place.

2011-02-06T10:21:00.001-05:00

You look for reminders of it everywhere.

I only later realized I had subconsciously photographed one of the largest international symbols for "Middle East"

This is My Mind Turned Off

2011-02-03T09:06:00.001-05:00

Home is where your closet is.

B

Biding My Time

2011-01-31T11:48:00.001-05:00

Here are some images of Beirut I took before leaving. I wish I had known I was leaving when the city was more stable I would have gone photo exploring a lot more.
Much love to all,
Stay dry,
B

Dear All...

2011-01-25T05:09:00.004-05:00

I regret to inform you that this year abroad for me has taken an unexpected turn. Due to various situations, political and other, I will be returning to the United States this friday.
However do not fear, I shall have this blog up and running again in two weeks time, and I shall have a blogging companion along with me. Her name is Maeby, and I'm sure she will have lots to say/chew on.

Beirut has become my second home, and I appreciate you all not questioning my decisions during these next few days. They are going to be very rough for me.
Thank you all for your support,
Love
B,
Little Miss Tichvinsky

Back in the Pool

2011-01-19T08:46:00.002-05:00

I've had a really hard time this past week because I sprained my foot and was unable to work out at all. So instead I went to the gym and photographed what I consider to be the building I spend the most time in at AUB.

Beirut Blues

2011-01-14T20:43:00.001-05:00

A Week Without Sanity

2011-01-08T06:56:00.001-05:00

Habiibi, elbi, aumri, you might be thinking to yourself. What is my dearest B doing these days in the far-off land of Beirut? Well the answer is probably a lot different that you expected. For the last week I have been on a quest for my sanity.

It is rainy season in Beirut. Which means that we have been put through one long ongoing thunderstorm. I am reminded of the song from Winnie the Pooh “The rain rain rain comes down down down”, in which the hundred acre wood floods and piglet gets stuck in a honey pot. Which has nothing to do with what I’m talking about unless you want to compare me to piglet and my homework to a honey pot.
Let’s not go there.

Anyway, my Christmas was spent with a lovely Lebanese Christian family who was very gracious. I had a real Christmas. (About which I will elaborate on to anyone who wishes, however, there truly aren’t that many cultural differences between the way we celebrated and the way I celebrate at home) Upon returning from my wonderful holiday I was met with what has come to be my largest fear: An empty pill case. Frenzied, with little time to spare, I ran to the post office and found, to my horror, a summons to customs. My sanity was in Beirut, being held at some far off building. A building which I would only find a week later.

The next few days I spent drowning in everything but the pool (but pretty much exhausted whenever I made it to the pool). Everyone at AUB right now has massive amounts of papers and homework and exams and book reviews etc. Students run from one building to another, with little time to dry our clothes in between classes and waiting for the worlds slowest baristas to get us our coffees. During a sunny break one morning, I forced myself to find some free time and tried to get to the main post office in Hamra.

After an hour of waiting in what you couldn’t really call a line, because lines do not really exist here, I got to the desk and asked where my package was. “At the Airport” she said, and threw the slip back in my face.

Three days without pills and I could feel it slipping away; My thoughts were located somewhere behind my head, trying to catch up.

The rain cancelled the big rugby game that we have all been waiting for, and nights were spent at our little quiet bar “By The Way” with beers and darts. Social interaction was limited to talking in the library and brief lunches at Hummus man. There we mainly sat in the little hole in the wall and complained about work or the rain as we watched Wasam prepare our Fatih, Hummus with meat, and eggs that a small group of us has come to hold as home cooking. A close friend took a plane back home, and the rain barely stopped to let us say one last goodbye.

And then, this morning, I called the taxi service. After asking almost every person I knew where the customs building was, I figured I just had to go for it. I trudged to the main gate in the pouring rain, barely holding on to my thoughts a week into no medication. My tiger striped umbrella clashed fully with my only clean outfit left, and my feet hurt in my Docs with no dry socks to spare. The taxi took about half an hour to find the place and when I finally arrived I had to sit with a hijabi lady who closely inspected ALL my pills and the prescription I provided, asking for translations of words such as “Oral contraceptive” that she did not understand. I wasn’t about to explain that in America almost every girl my age is taking those, and not to judge me for an assumption she was making. She judged me anyway.

Then I had to run from building to building in the rain proving I was who I said I was and that I needed the package. I will no longer complain about bureaucracy for getting into classes, compared to this customs adventure.

My taxi driver, (god bless him) drove me from building to building, even when the rain had quieted down. And laughed each time I got in and he asked “Khalas?” knowing the answer was “not yet”. Then I had to face about three military men behind unmarked doors in large warehouses who signed various things and asked for various sums of money based on lord knows what while I tried my best to translate my justifications into Arabic. Finally, they handed me my papers (about 20 different stamped things), and my ripped apart mailed package. I didn’t even wait to leave the building to take my meds for the day.

As I got outside I saw blue sky and heard the taxi driver playing Fairuz. Somehow, after a week, I found my sanity. I also found myself wondering if I could just hand my Lebanese teacher all the papers from customs and get my final exam waived, as I feel like I already took a language exam today. With much more dire consequences.

Now it’s time to finish all that homework.

Much Love
B

Not Over Yet

2011-01-03T15:44:00.001-05:00

Rabbit Rabbit

2011-01-01T09:10:00.004-05:00

Photo courtesy of a friend.

My resolutions:
1. Don't take flack from people who think of "ridiculous" as a negative thing.
2. More photography
3. Just keep swimming

Lights and Music

2010-12-26T04:33:00.001-05:00

Candy Coma

2010-12-24T16:41:00.006-05:00

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Material Beirut

2010-12-21T07:51:00.002-05:00

It’s not hard to think of Beirut as a materialistic city. Just to walk in, look around, and pass it off as yet another city that has fully embraced “westernization” and our material obsession. Honestly, I thought the same way for a while. Being someone who notices fashion and details, it was clear to me from the start that the clothes people wear in this city are not proportional to Lebanon’s per-capita average income. (I have already mentioned the large inflation in this city, in a previous post). (Don’t even get me started on the cars…). However, as time goes by, and I learn more and more about Beirut, I’ve starting realizing that perhaps, materialistic, is the exact opposite of what this place actually stands for.
Yesterday in class my teacher pointed out to us that it was a common practice, when you compliment a Lebanese persons clothing (mostly accessories) for them to offer it to you. Of course, she pointed out, you always refuse. We laughed and the subject seemed over until she added “Sometimes however, they will really give it to you, and then, if they insist, you must take it.” As materialistic Americans, (or rather I should speak for myself) as someone who hoards items and never lets go, it shocked me that someone could so easily give away a handbag or a pair of sunglasses. So she clarified. “The war is still fresh in our memories, people lost family, loved ones, friends, we saw them die in front of us. What is a pair of sunglasses compared to someone we lost in the war?”
That’s when I started to get it. I’m not saying that there is no materialism here, no coveting of clothing or judgment based on wardrobe (that exists in every society I’ve seen so far). What I’m saying is, maybe I judged too quickly, I saw things from an outside point of view. When you consider the clothing that you see on the streets of Beirut, Chanel, Hermes, Lacoste, Manolo, everything perfectly tailored to the current dictations of “a la mode”, you should also consider the streets people are walking down. The buildings here, the old ones that haven’t been renovated, are full of bullet holes, bomb blasts, the majority of them are missing huge chunks of foundation. The sidewalks drop of in the middle where random piles of dirt and rubble take over. You can be walking down a street and all of a sudden a building just isn’t there, in its place is an empty lot, full of rubble. Not all of this is due to war, but I’m pretty sure the bullet riddled buildings and the Holiday Inn, are good reminders.
Life disappears quickly and the people you love and the life you enjoy may be taken out from under you. So why not wear the most expensive pair of shoes you can possibly find? After all, what does it matter if you spend a little extra on shoes? When you go out clubbing, and enjoy the people you love at an expensive restaurant, it becomes pretty clear. You can’t put a price on living your life to the fullest.

So have a Merry Christmas,
And shop till you drop.

(Also, this is a brainstorm of a photo essay that I want to do at some point. If you are in Beirut and are interested in helping me out. Drop a line.)

Today I Feel:

2010-12-20T17:09:00.000-05:00

Dear Speedo, I mean Santa...

2010-12-19T13:02:00.006-05:00

So you may have noticed, my posts have been sparse recently. That's because this week is the final push to christmas vacation (read: one week of sleep and photography) and I've been trying to get in some time with my friends who will be leaving at the end of this semester.
In the meantime, you can read my christmas wishlist...

Comme Des Garcons for Speedo Training Suit

Price 70E

Blue Aquabeat Underwater 2GB mp3 player

Price 115E

Hasselblad 503cw medium format manual camera

Price You don't want to know

LZR Women's racer Limted Edition Blue Speedo

Price 320E

Ah, to live in the fast lane...

But honestly, if I get hugs for christmas, I think I'll be just fine. :)

Have a Merry Christmas shopping season!

(All photos taken from Speedo.com) (Other than the Hassleblad, which was from google)

These little kittehs were models

2010-12-10T19:03:00.002-05:00

New Litter of kittens and I'm having a lot of fun watching them grow.
They are born to be models.
Got to Love the AUB cats!

Sour Ruins (Sur)

2010-12-07T17:17:00.004-05:00

True, Baalbek is amazing. I won't contest that. But there was something about Sour that made me want to stay for hours.

Saida Souk

2010-12-07T17:12:00.002-05:00

I had never been to an authentic souk before. I've been to markets, in fact the market is my favorite thing to visit. But a real old souk covered and everything? It was certainly an experience that I can only describe through photos.
I still recommend visiting one. It's quite something to be in a maze of alleyways with little hole in the wall shops selling everything from raw meat to dora the explorer backpacks. I wish I had more time to see it. Plus nothing says culture quite like being shot at in the butt with a pellet gun by a 6 year old arab boy. Next time you're in Lebanon, go to Saida.

Saida Ruins

2010-12-07T17:10:00.001-05:00

Seeing the Sights

2010-12-07T16:57:00.004-05:00

I'm not quite sure why, but the last two weeks I took a brief hiatus. It may have to do with the fact that I went to Istanbul, got Sick and then recovered two weeks later only to find myself in full on midterms. Even after midterms though, I have to admit, I was thoroughly uninspired.
It happens sometimes.
I have found however, that when apathy occurs, there is only one way to cure it; I read children's books, travel as much as I can, and try my best to keep on task.
After a week or so, here I am.
Back and ready to resume a normal inspired, motivated, enthusiastic lifestyle.

So the following are some pictures from my trip to Saida and Sour (or Tyr as it's called in English). Both in the south of Lebanon on the water, we had some great seafood, saw some Abbasid(?) and Roman Ruins, and explored both a soap factory and an old but still very much alive souk.

Enjoy,
Much Love
B

Where is Old Man Winter?

2010-12-06T08:20:00.003-05:00

Nowhere to be seen.

Words of Note: Passion

2010-11-30T17:40:00.001-05:00

So I've been sick. For the past two weeks. I'll be working on some new stuff after I catch up with all my homework, I've got some pretty good ideas actually that I'm burning to turn into photo shoots. I've discovered a new Magazine which I can't wait to share with the world, and my love for Tavi (http://www.thestylerookie.com/) and Susie Bubble (http://stylebubble.typepad.com/) grows stronger every day.
But that's not what I'm here to talk about right now.
Right now I want to share with you all perhaps my most passionate cause.
Everybody's got one. They're all quite noble. But for some reason, my own personal cause (one which is normally on a back burner) has taken a front seat in foreign affairs recently and I could not be more delighted.
So if there is ONE thing you do today.
Or ONE link you share on facebook, or with your friends, or via email, or just talk about.
Let it be this:
http://www.globaltigerinitiative.org/
The Global Tiger Initiative.
Because what kind of world do we live in when we let our most feared and awed creature die out?

Seriously.
This may seem weird. But this issue stands very near and dear to my heart.
So help out.
Or at least read up on it.
‎"If we can't rally to save the world's most iconic animal, how are we going to save the rest of the planet?" -http://bit.ly/9cSIgK

Big hugs to all,
and please,
Save the Tiger.
For Me.
B

Interplanetary Mosquée

2010-11-24T07:25:00.003-05:00

Not all of these photos look like the title, but there was a little hint of everybody's favorite third grade planet diorama that I thought was an interesting take on creation...

Just Like a Coloring Book

2010-11-24T07:20:00.001-05:00

Words of Note: Home

2010-11-23T13:31:00.004-05:00

This will be yet another Thanksgiving spent away from my beloved NH. Although I'm a few days early, I just need to take a moment and remember the beauty that is the cold months in this beautiful state.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you are. After all, Thanksgiving just may be America's Greatest Invention.

The Birches:

When I see birches bend to left and right

Across the lines of straighter darker trees,

I like to think some boy's been swinging them.

But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay.

Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen them

Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning

After a rain. They click upon themselves

As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored

As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.

Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells

Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust--

Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away

You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.

They are dragged to the withered bracken by the load,

And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed

So low for long, they never right themselves:

You may see their trunks arching in the woods

Years afterwards, trailing their leaves on the ground

Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair

Before them over their heads to dry in the sun.

But I was going to say when Truth broke in

With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm

(Now am I free to be poetical?)

I should prefer to have some boy bend them

As he went out and in to fetch the cows--

Some boy too far from town to learn baseball,

Whose only play was what he found himself,

Summer or winter, and could play alone.

One by one he subdued his father's trees

By riding them down over and over again

Until he took the stiffness out of them,

And not one but hung limp, not one was left

For him to conquer. He learned all there was

To learn about not launching out too soon

And so not carrying the tree away

Clear to the ground. He always kept his poise

To the top branches, climbing carefully

With the same pains you use to fill a cup

Up to the brim, and even above the brim.

Then he flung outward, feet first, with a swish,

Kicking his way down through the air to the ground.

So was I once myself a swinger of birches.

And so I dream of going back to be.

It's when I'm weary of considerations,

And life is too much like a pathless wood

Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs

Broken across it, and one eye is weeping

From a twig's having lashed across it open.

I'd like to get away from earth awhile

And then come back to it and begin over.

May no fate willfully misunderstand me

And half grant what I wish and snatch me away

Not to return. Earth's the right place for love:

I don't know where it's likely to go better.

I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,

And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk

Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,

But dipped its top and set me down again.

That would be good both going and coming back.

One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.

-Robert Frost

(Peanuts and Jan Brett's Annie and the wild Animals found on google.com)

Istanbul vs Beirut (part 1.5)

2010-11-22T15:34:00.003-05:00

I had originally intended on going out and doing some photographing of Beirut with a distinct eye for what was NOT Istanbul about it. However, I have caught some form of cold, and have been bedridden all week. Luckily the cold is letting up just in time for midterm exams, and I should be on schedule, oh in about a week and a half.
For now, sadly, all I can provide for Beirut's counterargument is older photos.
I'll get more, I promise. Once I recover from what my friends jokingly call the "Cat Flu".

Istanbul vs Beirut (part 1)

2010-11-20T10:05:00.004-05:00

I'm still not sure what makes me prefer Beirut to Istanbul (which seems to be everyone's favorite). Of course I loved Istanbul, and I had a wonderful time. But I'm starting to realize just how much I love Beirut.
Perhaps I will one day be able to communicate why.
For now, here's Istanbul, with a little help from Liberty's gifts:

Home Sweet Beirut

2010-11-18T16:06:00.003-05:00

I love returning to a place you are starting to call home. I got out of the airport and a group of men came at me and Christina and started yelling that they had taxis. Without looking at any of them I asked How much to AUB and someone said "50" I laughed and walked away. Two of them followed us, one said "35" I laughed again, one said "30" I laughed and said "20" the man rolled his eyes and said "25 is standard price lady". I handed him my bag. Driving back we passed Ahmadinejad's welcoming face right next to a D&G Banner. A few moments later we were whipping around a U turn down a one way street.
And I let out a sigh of relief as I walked in my door.
Sometimes, Home is the strangest thing.

Cityscapes, Istanbul

2010-11-17T01:49:00.003-05:00

Two more days in Istanbul.
Much Love
B

Tramways and Metros and Food Food Food

2010-11-14T16:02:00.001-05:00

I really could get used to this exploring and eating business. Yesterday Lioba, Emily and I went to the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Baazar. It’s hard to describe my first full day in Turkey. This place is full of stuff, as my friend Jess pointed out, there is no real rhyme or reason to it, it’s just full of stuff. I think perhaps that is why I like it, because in a way, Istanbul is what my room would be if it were a city. It just feels like I’m exploring my own bedroom.
The Hagia Sophia was wonderful. Immediately upon entering I began taking note of the light and the architecture (which is not hard to do when the room seems to be made of gold). I’m still working on the photographs but it really was a breathtaking sight.
That night we tried to brave the Tramway. In essence, the Tramway (which is a one line above ground metro system) should be easy, especially because I pride myself on my metro navigational skills. Well I was wrong.
We got on the Tramway, having bought three tokens, and got to the end of the line. There, we had to switch to the underground Metro in order to get to our destination. We got off the tram, walked down into the Metro, and the trouble began. Emily’s card, for some reason, doesn’t work in Istanbul, we’ve tried everything, it just doesn’t work. Lioba and I have cash, but only in a combination of Lebanese Lire, Dollars, and Euro. Well guess what. In order to switch from the Tram to the Metro, you have to pay an extra token. Which we didn’t have. Which you can only buy from automated Turkish machines. In Turkish Lire. So we decided to walk. We went back above ground and realized that we were in the middle of a highway system, and that no one knew how to walk to where we were going from where we were. So we went back underground and withdrew Turkish Lire from the ATM. Apparently, Turkey, just like Lebanon, has issues with giving small bills out of ATMs. Whenever you withdraw money they give you the largest bills possible. Which the Token Machines don’t accept. So we had to ask a guard to give us change. He took this as us not understanding how to use the automatic Token Machines. Once he got change he walked us over to the machines and pointed at the slot for bills, and then showed us the bill, and then inserted the bill into the slot. He then turned to us and said “Where are you from?” to which I replied, “America” and immediately regretted it when he rolled his eyes. Lioba was quick to interject that she was in fact “from Germany, if that helps”. And we never used the Tram again.
For dinner, we ate at Saray, where we had wonderful puddings, made friends with most of the waiters, were given free tea, and returned to today, where they greeted us again, (there are pictures of Saray desserts below).
Today we met up with our other friend Christina, looked at rugs, and walked back towards Saray. We walked over the bridge, to the Galata tower and then through the backstreets and up the main drag. It was breathtaking. My favorite parts about exploring cities, are never the tourist areas, but instead the dense areas and the back alleys. I just like it more when it’s bustling and not necessarily made to be shown off.
We had a great time today, and in a way, spent the day moving from restaurant to restaurant. We had a type of Turkish Ravioli called Hala which was ridiculously delicious, and had desert at both Saray (right after dinner) and then at a patisserie near the Hostel.
I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring, but tonight, we are all dead to the world.
Much Love
B

Hagia Sophia

2010-11-14T15:37:00.001-05:00

Blue Mosque

2010-11-14T15:30:00.002-05:00

Knowing The Right People

2010-11-14T15:16:00.004-05:00

One of the best things that we've done (and certainly the smartest) in Istanbul so far, was making friends with the owners of this place. It's called Saray and it's honestly the best place I have eaten in a VERY VERY long time.

I have to give credit where credit is due, this wonderful developing process I've used to make (impossible I thought) these dishes look even MORE delicious, was created by Liberty Kifer.

Enjoy!
B

Basilica Cistern

2010-11-13T11:04:00.003-05:00

This one's for Lee

or just ALL THIS INFO
Much Love from Istanbul,
B

Lets Play Spoons

2010-11-13T10:57:00.001-05:00

Istanbul Kittehs

I Am Here

2010-11-12T14:42:00.001-05:00

I have laughed so much today that the back of my head is sore.
Where to begin? I am in Istanbul. I got into a cab with Emily and Lioba at 3:45 after sleeping on Emily and Lee’s floor for three hours. Lioba and I separated from Emily at the airport to get on a different flight. It took us a good 15 minutes to get past the passport desk. Apparently the man who extended my visa stamped the wrong place. Or something like that. The airport was empty, except for people boarding a plane to Jiddah wearing nothing but towels.

…

Yes, nothing but towels and white clothing.
Perhaps I should clarify, because I wish someone had been there to clarify for me. By the time we got to the terminals it was morning prayer time, so the people in the towels had just performed ablutions and had not yet prayed.
Mystery solved I hopped on the plane (more like walked like a zombie onto the plane) and promptly fell asleep.
The hostel is really cute. The man at the front desk is nice and every day at 3:00 they have pastries coffee and tea. There is no curfew, and we have a private room. From the roof you can see the Blue Mosque.
I never knew there could be so many Mosques in one place; well there are, and they are beautiful. Most of them see to be modeled off the Hagia Sophia (which I saw just the outside of today).
Interesting fact, the consecutive dome system in the Hagia Sophia (and other such mosques) is the Byzantine Era equivalent to the flying buttress.
Anyway, soon after settling into the hostel and meeting up with Emily, we all set off.
I didn’t have culture shock when I went to Lebanon. I know it sounds strange, but I just sort of went with the motions and accepted everything. I think it’s because I was expecting to go through some serious culture shock, so when things weren’t a complete 360 I felt like it was manageable.
Interestingly enough, I am having reverse culture shock.
We realized walking through the streets and having men try and talk to us in a very friendly way, that we seemed very rude to them, because we were just ignoring them, (being used to offensive cat calls and not a nice hello). We also cross the street whenever we feel like it, walk in the middle of the road, and try and barter with taxi drivers when they obviously have meters in the cars.
In a way I am glad that my first trip was to somewhere outside of an Arab country. I now realize that I do in fact want to speak as much Arabic as I can, and that I only have my time in Beirut to do so.
I can’t really describe Turkey, I will put some pictures up in the near future. It’s a big place, well organized and laid out (I never though I’d appreciate that so much). There is wonderful food (I actually at a fish today, I’m talking head and all, that’s NEVER happened before…), great architecture, and nice people.
Which I guess gets me back to why I’ve laughed so hard.
First of all Lioba and Emily are amazing, but there are other great people in this city too.
Men here, shop owners and restaurant people, stand in the street and tell you that they have something to tell you. They want to talk to you. You are beautiful. Please come eat at their place/buy their food, etc.
Well we passed one particular rug store near our hostel and a man yelled out “Hello! I am here!” to which Emily replied: “Yes I can see that.” And we all burst out laughing. He yelled after us as we kept walking “My name is Charlie!” and then we turned the corner.
Four hours later, we walked by the same rug shop and Charlie was leaving for the day “Hello! I am Charlie! I am here again!”. I can’t do the situation justice. It was hilarious.
But the best part was later, walking down the street back from dinner, exhausted, three men walked by us in the other direction and one of them yelled out “I am here!”. At the exact same time all three of us looked up and said “Charlie?”. It wasn’t Charlie, and once again we all burst out laughing. We kept walking and then three minutes later the men walked up behind us and the one from before said: “well if you wont come to us, we shall come to you!” (I should elaborate, many different men have approached us on the street before, and we agreed later that this man was actually being genuinely nice.) When we didn’t answer he turned to his friends “oh! They are European!”
Once again we burst out laughing.
He talked at us for some time, gave up, said goodnight, and left us on our way.
And now I am at the Hostel asleep.
I am sorry this was so long.
I’ll put up pictures to make up for it.
Much Love
B