The Unedited 206

I was approached by Sony late last month to be one of 2 Seattle participants in their The Unedited 206 project. Similar projects are happening in major metropolitan cities throughout the U.S. Did I mention I WAS APPROACHED BY SONY? It's true! Once I got past the, "Whoa - Sony wants to see what I shoot" part, and agreed to their long contract and conditions, I moved on to feeling as if the world was sitting on my shoulders. Imagine how difficult it would be to shoot 50 photos (no deleting or editing) that depict "the 206" in your own eyes!

I'm known as being the go-to girl for all things Seattle, but I didn't want to include a steam of 50 typical Seattle scenes. The Pike Place Market, Washington State Ferries and Space Needle are fantastic - don't get me wrong - but I wanted my viewers (and Sony's) to understand the various threads that make up this truly dynamic city that I love. So I approached the project from an atypical standpoint: Behind the scenes. Tiny snippets of what make the city tick from my point of view. But to do it in 10 days? That'd be a challenge!
Diving into the project, I had a general idea of things I'd shoot, but no idea how I'd be able to get the perfect perspective on the first shot every time. While I've taken photos that I've loved in the past, I've also taken dozens of shots of one thing just to find the one perfect photo. The framework of the project allowed me only once chance - and I'd have to make it work!

The folks at the Sony store were great when I arrived to pick up my new NEX 5r. One of the girls at the store gave me a few ideas, and showed me some shots of the city she'd taken as inspiration and wished me luck. I headed out the door with camera in hand, and a bzillion ideas swirling through my head.

Last summer I purchased a fabulous DSLR Sony camera as a birthday present. Having all the bells, whistles and options for unlimited photographs (a huge step-up from my old point-and-shoot) opened a door for me. When I first saw the NEX5r, I didn't expect to love it. The body's small. It's fully electronic. It just didn't look like it'd offer anything near what my DSLR could. Boy, was I wrong! Not only does the NEX have every feature of my Sony Alpha, it also has some amazing built-in options too: Downloadable apps for the camera (and my smartphone) which allow me to use my phone as a remote shutter control, and allow me to immediately download photos wirelessly to my phone. Also, it has some great editing apps on the camera itself that let the images be modified before they're even downloaded! And with 16.1 megapixels? The images couldn't be more clear. Take a peek:

Mostly what I've learned from this is that Sony has some amazing cameras (and that I should never judge a book by its cover and that I can't wait to get out and take more shots of Seattle. Likely in the future, I'll try to make more albums of my photos with a distinctly clear theme. It's fun just imagining the possibilities!

Disclaimer: As mentioned above, I did sign a hefty contract with Sony. The images from the project are theirs to keep (but I've been given permission to share a few, too). Now that the project's over, I'll keep the camera and its fabulous accessories (including a sweet telephone lens, too).

A Rich New Year

One could easily qualify the success of their New Year's Eve based on obvious things: an evening at a swanky hotel, a list of visited restaurants from here to tomorrow, a soiree that'd have the most socially-elite green with envy and a fireworks show that'd rival that of any global city. On the surface, that sounds like one fantastic New Year's Eve celebration, right? Indeed - the choices I made for this night on the town were perfect. But what really made it exceptional were the connections. Not the schmoozy/business type connections, but those with real meaning.

Of course the best part of the night was spending time with my hubby, Mike. I appreciate how happy he is just following me around as we trot from restaurant to restaurant and place to place. He noticed it too:

The warm welcome from sushi chef Hayeong as we sidled up to his sushi bar at the W Hotel's Trace Restaurant. Hayeong immediately remembered me from his sushi-making class, and had a real interest in knowing how (and if) I was able to use my skills at home.

The friendly banter with Chef Kevin at Blueacre Seafood as we poked a little fun back and forth about my comments earlier in the month about his old sous chef Anthony (at Steelhead Diner) and how I'd thrown down the gauntlet by saying that Anthony's Potatoes Minneapolis would give Kevin's a run for the money.

The warm hug I received when we bumped into Travis Rosenthal and the pride he had in showing off his new rum bar Rumba. He absolutely beamed when sharing the details that'll make his foray into rum successful.

The secret smile of satisfaction I hold for Herschell Taghap and his ability to 'make it happen' when I came whining to him a day before New Year's about how I couldn't get a reservation at Cuoco until after 9:30pm  - and his ability to magically find me a spot at six o'clock!.

The the friendly welcome and ear-to-ear grin of my cohort-in-menu-searching, Ryan, as he flung the door open for us as we arrived for gala at Chihuly Garden and Glass.

But my favorite part of the night? Meeting my friend Evonne downtown and having her join us for beignets and drinks at RN 74. Evonne is one of those special people who you know from the minute you meet them that you'll always be friends. She's one of those folks that "gets me" (and I think I "get her", too). Her brain seems to go the same place mine does - whether it's snapping ridiculous photos in hotel room entryways or standing in awe of a view on the San Juan Islands. She's one of the good guys and she knows the power of a connection.

This year I plan to nurture these connections more. To develop them and appreciate the positive things that I bring to them (and them to me). These connections are what can make (or break) a day. Big connections or small. An afternoon walk with a friend, or a kind smile for a stranger. I'll connect.