Ampersand Pumpkin, originally uploaded by criana.

When ever we get around to carving a real pumpkin again, I’m so doing this.

I typically host a fall foliage tour every year, I’ve been doing this since 2002. I love the fall season and I enjoy showing people around the New England area. This year got quite hectic and then couple it with bad fall allergies, I ended up resting and sneezing during October. Last years tour we had great color and several covered bridges of Vermont. I’m always amazed too by the generosity of establishments. We’re usually a group of 16 people minimally showing up looking for a meal and to hopefully sit together.

Here’s a few snap shots from that trip.

MUJI chronotebook 1, originally uploaded by ? China ? guccio.

Simple, elegant and to the point. Each page of the has an illustration of an analog clock in the middle of the page. On the left facing page it’s AM and on the right facing page it’s PM. Each day you can shade or draw lines off of the time slot.

The blank page leaves you open to draw an image, make notes as large as you need and constrained to ruled lines.

I love it.

Great write up here and more photos here

Found this via MostlyLisa’s site.

I’ve been toying with the idea of buying a strobe and umbrella, along with a diffuser. Last weekend I saw a photographer and assistant up at Topsmead using I think a reflector working with kids.

I found this video to be really helpful in explaining how to use a diffuser and reflector to get the best results.

Funny story around this button. At my work we had a bell at the front desk, about a week after it was placed there it “walked”, and considering how small the company is, it walked out the door. My bet is on the disgruntled FedEx guy.

The bell was replaced with a Yahoo button. So whenever someone comes into the building, they press it and someone comes up front. I laugh each time because it’s the person going “Yaaaaaahooooo ooooooh” that resonates through the building. I wanted one!

I went on eBay and found only one up for bid. I clicked “watch this item”. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to spend money on it. Last Saturday I was sitting on the couch with Craig, I had my iPhone in hand while were watching TV. I got an email notifying me that the auction was about to end. I decided to try out the eBay app for the iPhone. It said 54 seconds remaining, I looked over at Craig and said, “Can I buy a Yahoo button on eBay”. He said, “sure if you want it that bad”. I refreshed the page, it said 24 seconds remaining, I figured at this point no way was I going to get this. I put in my bid, hit submit, and won the auction!

Now to most this not a big deal. For me though, it is. I sell mostly on eBay, when I do buy I go for Buy It Now auctions. Now I’m the happy owner of a button that says “Yaaaaaahoooooo ooooh” and my cats look around like the walls are talking.

This weekend I was back in the darkroom. I’m still amazed at how much I love printing black and white photos. I’ve started experimenting the 4 blade enlarging easel to create square prints and borders. More and more ideas keep popping into my mind of prints I want to try.

Photographer at work, originally uploaded by criana.

When we were walking up the path I saw these people up on the hill doing a photo shoot. I quickly snapped this pic, it seemed like the perfect scene.