Olmo Ling

I first met Tempa Dutke Lama and his wife, Iris, about three summers ago on a whim.  I’d heard through friends that there was a great Buddhist meditation gathering going on in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh and my interest was inexplicably piqued.  Once I attended and heard Tempa speak, I felt the little head belonging to my soul nod in agreement at his words.  To say Tempa is a wise and compassionate soul is an understatement.  And, if like does indeed, attract like, he has attracted to himself many considerate, benevolent and fascinating people.   The people who attend the meditations are just as vivacious and fascinating as Tempa himself.   I wish I could spend more time at the Olmo Ling Center, but I offer what I can, when I can and as often as I am able to.  In this event it was in the form of photographs (nota bene: Tempa is quite the artist himself and the Olmo Ling Center is filled with his beautiful paintings).  

On this day, Febuary 5^th, Tempa had just come back from a trip in Tibet and India and these photographs are from his welcome home ceremony.  It was a lovely night, catching up with people I don’t see often enough and listening to words and sounds that my heart comprehends immediately with no translation.  If you have the time or desire to visit the site, please do: http://www.olmoling.org/

Also if you are curious about the innumerable benefits of meditation (other than the nebulous abetting of the ever rampant depression, anxiety, and stress and the improvement of the immune/nervous system), itself, here are a few links:

http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/05/100-benefits-of-meditation/

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/meditation-0505.html

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200304/the-benefits-meditation

 Enjoy.

xoxo km

Snow Day! (sneak peek)

When it snows, you have two choices: shovel.  Or make snow angels.  

So excited to share more from this snowy day shoot.  Frozen toes and noses were definitely worth it!

xo km

Soirees and such... (liz + kevin)

soi·ree also soi·rée  (swä-r)

n.

An evening party or reception.

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[French soirée, from Old French seree, from seir, evening, from Latin sr, at a late hour, from srus, late.]

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This past April I turned the ripe old age of thirty (eek!), so I’d like to think (or at least pretend) I have accumulated some memoire-worthy history, having tread—sometimes stomped-- the beaten path of these years, these three decades.  I have held an assorted variety of jobs for weeks or years, known a lot of storied, strong and radiant people, lived in lots of distinctive little towns. And, if nothing else, I can honestly say I have been to a lot of “events” in my life.  An event, while a broad term, is often exciting, and requires quite an amount of preparation and general ‘getting readiness.’   There are all sorts of things to consider with events—lighting, silverware, food, music, dress.   I have been to openings, weddings, cotillions, concerts, proms, galas, fundraisers, hoedowns, dances, jamborees, raves, block parties and field parties.  House warming parties, baby showers, need I go on....  A wide range of soirees if I do say so myself.  And finding myself in the field of photography opens even more doors to these luminous gatherings.  So I feel kind of lucky.

Regardless of whether or not I may be a festival connoisseur  of  sorts, I can always check in with that  instinctive radar we all have.  Deep down we can all feel how a get together is going…some call it atmosphere, a vibe, instinct or ambiance. Taking the temperature of the room. Whatever you want to label it, you can feel it when you’re there.   And without sounding too doting or adoring, I do believe Kevin and Liz’s wedding was one of the most charming, homespun and bubbly events I have ever had the pleasure of attending.   While Elizabeth is my cousin (our fathers are brothers) I have not had the opportunity to see her, or her sister, often as of late.  At least not as much as I would have liked.  We’ve crossed paths a spattering of times since my mother passed away and she and her sister lived all the way up in beautiful Vermont growing up and I lived all the way down in central Virginia.  However, when the opportunity arose to photograph her wedding I don’t think I could’ve said ‘yes, please’ fast enough!  A chance to catch up with long lost family and breathe in the beauty of New England.  Did I have to think more than a few moments…not so much…

My father, who resides in Scottsdale, flew in separately to Connecticut to meet me and we drove the rest of the way to Vermont, to the wedding at the amazing Skinner Barn.  The edits on the photos have taken me longer than forever, but I wanted them to be perfect and delicious and I wanted to do Elizabeth and Kevin justice to all the amazing details and thought they put into that day.  A million origami cranes, oak tree seedlings at every table, food and drink to die for, great live music, Green mountain scenery and atmosphere to take your breath away.  If the photos don’t convey, this wedding was truly one of the down-homiest, beautiful and downright fun “events” I have ever been to, working or not, family or not.  I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed my trip.   The first couple are of the rehearsal the day before.  

Oh, Liz and Cait, I'm sure Gram was smiling somewhere.

    xoxo km