[ eM ]

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 16:04:00 +0000

It's been two years, almost, since my last update. Two years since I took the plunge, and then seemed to plunge right off the edge of the world. I had forgotten about Murphy's Law, and how when there is an opportunity for something to go wrong, it will go wrong. I am ever an optimist, and I guess I just assumed the best and forgot to prepare for the worst. In this case "the worst" turned out to be that both of my computers, and all of their sacred data, died a spectacular death shortly after our move. I am still without a computer, but have been able to temporarily cobble together an eyefi card for my camera, along with a tablet with a copy of Photoshop Touch for editing. It's a lit more pared down than what I'm used to working with, but I have been able to make it work. In fact, I even got hired on by a new Nashville magazine called Main Course, where I have written a few articles and made photos for a column of my very own. Other happenings over the last couple of years include:

Contemplating Ophelia's Roux

Attending the rodeo, twice!

Watching the coldest winter of my life invade North America

Learning to let go of stress

Playing in the kitchen

Finding a new pool to call home

Watching my daughter continue to grow into an amazing girl

And... here we are again; Autumn.

I've struggled a lot these past couple of years with my own personal journey. I moved to the Nashville area with every intention of hitting the pavement and getting both feet in the door to the career that I want. Having no computer has meant that I have been cut off from any real means of making that happen. And it has also made me question a lot of big things, too; like...what do I actually hope to accomplish with my work, anyway? It's something I'm still mulling over. As the lyrics go, "you can't always get what you want, but you might find you get what you need."

In the meantime, I have several personal projects that I intend to finally make time for. It's way past time to crawl out of survival mode; peel myself out of my comfy hermit crab shell, and get back to work by whatever means necessary. I look forward to seeing where it takes me, and I hope I see you along the way!

Tennessee Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:36:00 +0000

We have landed safely in the Nashville, TN area! We're about an hour south of Nashville in a little town called Shelbyville, though we have a Lewisburg address. We're pretty deep in the center of horse country, and there is field after field of horses and hay and gorgeousness.

I am a little harder to get ahold of right now because we currently do not have internet at our house. If you want to reach me, send me a text or call on my cellphone at 828-246-8135. If I don't answer right away, it's possible that I'm buried under a box somewhere and you maybe should send help. ;)

Talk to you as soon as I can!

One last trip down memory lane

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:03:00 +0000

This week is my last as a western North Carolina citizen! With each box that is filled with the memories of our lives here, taped up, loaded onto a truck, I take another step toward whatever fantasic adventures await me in Nashville, TN. I will miss these mountains that I have held so dear for so long, but I plan on embracing Music City just as hard as I can! I am so excited to see the new places and faces that make up such a wonderful city, and getting down to business in our new home.

Tea Time

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:45:00 +0000

I really enjoy the process of brainstorming an assignment and watching the many ways it morphs from one idea to the next. The colors, shapes, texture, and light leading me ever down the path to The Shot on the journey through The Land of What If. Here are some ideas I came up with for tea!

Tree of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 21:09:00 +0000

I spent about an hour photographing this necklace; it was a purchase I made while down in Florida in October. It had reminded me of the great big tree at the end of our road that all of the neighborhood kids used to go hang out and climb. Great big live oak with massive branches hanging low to the ground. I wonder about that tree a lot still; if it's still there, what kind of shape it's in, if I'd still have the courage now to climb as high as I did back then. How many neighborhood kids have called that tree their own personal "The Tree" since I was a kid? Maybe one day I'll see it again! Until then, I have this necklace to remind me of it.

Amy and Denise

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:03:00 +0000

Amy is one of my oldest friends, stretching all the long years back into our childhoods. We lived on the same street from ages 7 to 14, sharing our growing pains, barbies, and chasing our little love interests of the moment. She was such a fantastic friend to me, and I was heartbroken when we moved away; it was a sudden move and I'm not sure that I even got to say a proper goodbye to anyone. Almost a quarter of a century later, we meet again in my "new hometown," where I finished growing up and into the person that I am supposed to be. It's funny how time can change a lot, but some friendships are unchanging. Love you, Amy! Thank you so much for everything.

Hangin' Out

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:41:00 +0000

I got to hang out with one of my best buddies and fellow commercial photographer in Atlanta, Keith Taylor. We went out to my favorite hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and spent a large part of the day. Afterwards, we grabbed some lunch at the best BBQ joint on the planet, and then went out to Cataloochee Ski area to see what we could see. Happened upon a gorgeous sunset and some horses roaming around before we headed home. It was great being able to spend the day with someone so dear to me that I respect and admire. Check out Keith's website here: www.keithtaylorphotography.com

Overlooking Waynesville, NC in autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:25:00 +0000

I was commissioned to photograph the overlook on a piece of property purchased by my client; he planned to make a gift of it to his wife to remind them of their property as they live in Chicago. I have lived in this town since I was about 13, and had never seen this particular view of my town, and loved the chance to see it in the fall. Thank you so much for the opportunity, Robert, and I hope you enjoy your print!

Mr. Frog's Soul & Creole Kitchen in Asheville, NC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:06:00 +0000

I had the honor of photographing award winning Chef Vijay Shastri of Mr. Frog's Soul & Creole Kitchen in Asheville, NC. Vijay is also not only one of North Carolina's four certified sommeliers, but a fantastic story teller. I had a great time photographing him as we chatted away about the food industry and about his life. He sent me home with some lox that my 10 year old daughter became almost immediately addicted to! Thanks so much, Vijay!

Yellow Branch Farm in Robbinsville, NC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:22:00 +0000

I spent a few hours on Bruce and Karen's cheese farm, working on the book assignment, and learning about cheese making. The cows were so docile and smart, each coming to the milking room at the call of their own name! Bruce was a gracious host, allowing me to photograph him at his home farm, and then Karen let me taste samples of their delicious labors before I left. I highly recommend the basil cheese they make; that stuff is amazing and probably more than a bit habit forming!

Early Girl Eatery in Asheville, NC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:52:00 +0000

I photographed John and Julie, owners and operators of Early Girl Eatery in Asheville, NC as part of the book assignment that I am working on. Early Girl has always been one of my favorite restaurants just based on the outside of the restaurant alone, but they also have a fantastic menu and food philosophy in working with our local area farms to get the best and most fresh ingredients. Definitely well worth a visit if you love great food and a friendly atmosphere!

Things we saw in Florida!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Our family went on a weekend trip to the Tampa, Florida area, and here are some of the things we saw! I am originally from Lakeland, Florida and had not been back to the state since moving here to western North Carolina with my parents when I was 13 or 14. Despite the crushing humidity, we had a great time and so many things reminded me of my childhood there; Spanish moss, giant bullfrogs, palm fronds, endless skies, and lizards. And of course, the crashing sound of the ocean waves!

Jake's Farm in Candler, NC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:10:00 +0000

I spent a couple of hours at Jake's Farm this morning, photographing Chris and Missy and their wonderful organic fruit and vegetables. These are some of the photos I captured while on assignment for an upcoming farm to table history book by an Asheville, NC author, Rick McDaniel, to be published by The History Press in April of 2013.

From the Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Some photos of the delicious things that have been going on in my kitchen lately!

Palmer in Cataloochee Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Palmer Gilliland is the Great [x4] Grandson of Cataloochee Valley founder, George Lafayette Palmer. We had a great portrait session at his ancestral home in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

The Dempsey Wardwell Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:53:00 +0000

I had a wonderful time capturing the special moments of Shavonne and Ben's wedding day, and wish them the best of luck and love for many years to come!

Steeplechase Old English Toffee

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:22:00 +0000

Last week I was honored to be one of the few that have been invited to catch a glimpse of the inner workings of Steeplechase Olde English Toffee in downtown Waynesville, NC. I spent two days photographing the process of the toffee being crafted, and then photographing the finished deliciousness, all the while cloaked in the heady scent of chocolate, butter, sugar, and other fine ingredients. The thick slabs of toffee stacked on plates on the second day were a spectacular sight to behold, begging to be devoured! If you haven't yet visited Steeplechase Olde English Toffee, run, don't walk. I am told that on mornings when the fog is hanging low and toffee is being made, the scent of this time honored family recipe fills the air in the valley and it becomes an involuntary action of passersby to stop in their tracks and file in. Who could resist? The shop is located at 235 Pigeon Street, and you may find them on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SteeplechaseToffeecom/153525426515.

Click to see more photographs from my time at Steeplechase Old English Toffee:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/externalfocus/sets/72157629735065003/

What's Cooking?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:46:00 +0000

Here are some of the things that have been going on in my kitchen lately!

Next week I'll be photographing all things toffee with Steeplechase Toffee in downtown Waynesville, NC, and am very much looking forward to it! Barb and Michelle have graciously allowed me the opportunity to not only photograph their wonderful products, but to get some behind the scenes in the kitchen, as well! Fair warning, though: you won't be getting any insider recipe secrets from me - you'll have to go straight to the source and taste for yourself!

Got AYSO?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Soccer season is upon us! It's portrait time! Contact me if you're living in western North Carolina and want to schedule a portrait session for your own little [or big!] soccer star!

email: em@emthomasphotography.com
phone: 828-456-5892

Double Cherry Walnut Brownie

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Yum. I mean, seriously: yum. I made these brownies last week, deciding to spruce up a box mix I had laying around. I really enjoy taking food that anyone can get their hands on at a fair price, and making it into something really special. I added in chopped walnuts, dehydrated cherries, and then topped it off with cherry pie filling, which sent it so over the top that my teeth hurt just look at it. Ohboy was it good. I think a lot of people see food as some sort of chore that they have to "get through," or worse, opting to pick up something from a burger joint [if those things even really qualify as burgers] because they don't want to make the time to cook, and it doesn't have to be that way! Your food is only as special as you make it, and you should have confidence in yourself that you can do a good job. Hey, sometimes it doesn't go well; I recall attempting to make a peanut chicken that came out so horribly that I made jokes about it for weeks. It was not edible, and we ended up ordering pizza or something. It happens! But don't give up.

I started getting involved with food at a really young age; I remember baking cookies from scratch when I was maybe 7 or 8 and home alone, and my mom coming home and absolutely freaking out that I could have burnt the house down or wounded myself. For about 5 minutes I don't think she believed I'd actually made perfect Russian Tea Cakes right out of the gate, but I showed her the recipe and the utensils I'd used, and of course the smell of fresh baked cookies was pretty undeniable. It was a simple recipe, and as easy as following the directions. Anyway, the point is, I have always approached food in a very fearless spirit of experimenting and adapting recipes to suit my own tastes and according to what I happen to have on hand. I am never going to be a chef, and that's okay too; you don't have to be one to enjoy cooking and playing in the kitchen. I think a lot of people don't see it in that way, and therefore it becomes the mundane same-menu-every-week kind of affair that would bore anyone.

This year I have also decided that I am going to be trying a lot of foods that I don't have experience with. I began with conquering a childhood aversion to brussels sprouts which have become my new favorite vegetable, I steamed and attempted to eat my first artichoke even though it didn't go very well at all, I have some fennel in the fridge which is going to make a lovely fennel and blood orange salad, and then I am going to try mint in a non-dessert food. After that, who knows? I have raised my children in this same spirit and they are wonderfully open to trying whatever is put in front of them. My 9 year old daughter's favorite tv station is Food Network, so perhaps she will become the chef of our family!

Play with your food!

Leftovers!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:16:00 +0000

One of my very favorite things about cooking a big meal is ... leftovers! It's probably not coincidental that some food just tastes better the second day, because not only do the flavors really get to meld together, but there's very little work involved! I decided on Reubens for our leftovers, and throw my own little twists into it. I like mine with smoked gouda, a leaf of red cabbage, a layer of sauerkraut, the ever necessary corned beef, and a bit of Dijon or course brown mustard. Throw it all together on some rye and pumpernickel and either grill it on a panini press, or have it cold. I had mine as a late lunch and decided to have the leftover brussels sprouts, baked potato salad, and par-boiled carrots, celery, and onion. I'm all set for lunch *and* dinner, and ready to go hang out with a glass of wine and a good movie!

lemon sugar cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:07:00 +0000

Well I can't seem to stop playing with the color yellow, and lemons in particular, this month! I made these ridiculously delicious cookies yesterday; I'm usually more of an oatmeal + chocolate chip kind of gal, but I think I have underestimated the versatility of the simple sugar cookie. They were a hit with the family, and I am looking forward to creating other flavors with them in the kitchen!

Also, over the last weekend I switched over my photography facebook page from my old site to the new. The url still says External Focus Photography, but I just thought it made more sense to change the page rather than make an entirely new one and expect everyone to make the change with me. The url is a little strange, so I may end up making a new page eventually; I haven't decided yet. For now, you can find the page on the sidebar on the right, or by clicking this link:

http://www.facebook.com/ExternalFocusPhotography

Stadium

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:20:00 +0000

I did this conceptual food piece today; signing up my youngest son for soccer put me in the sports frame of mind, and then my husband happened to want some bratwurst and sauerkraut for dinner, so it was a perfect opportunity.

Baseball. The green background represents the grass in the outfield; the white plate represents the infield diamond; the food represents the bases, and then the white cloth off to the side would be the stadium seating and audience. Is it too far fetched? I don't know. Sometimes my brain goes on these little jaunts and I'm just along for the ride, however unwilling I may or may not be!

Pizza: The Hawaiian Sink

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:07:00 +0000

There are relatively few meals that I can think of that you can add almost anything into the ingredients list and it will still taste like a slice of perfection. Pizza is one such bearer of deliciousness. I call this pizza The Hawaiian Sink because you put on some pineapple, and then throw everything else at it, including the kitchen sink! The ingredients could be anything, really; I had intended to fry up some spicy crumbled sausage and put on some shredded ham, as well, but dinner was relatively late in happening last night and this photo was on the elaborate end of the scale. Turns out that the pepperoncini stood in just fine for the spice and salt factor. Of course, any pizza could be made entirely vegetarian, too, and still satisfy this meat lover! What are some of your favorite pizza ingredients?

Mellow Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:27:00 +0000

I think I've been a little in love with the color yellow this past week! The weather has been miserable here, starting with gorgeous 70 degree sunshiny warmth, a day of tornado warnings, and now snow. Yellow has kept me happy, though; it's sunshine and daffodils and egg yolks and lemons and the ubiquitous color of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" smiley faces across all languages. I love that we naturally make these kinds of associations with colors or smells or objects and can be instantly transported to another point in time.