merry christmas!

As we pack for Louisiana this will be my last post until after Christmas, so to all of you out there who still read, have a Merry Christmas! Thank you for your devotion, I hope you and your families enjoy each other, the holiday, and the season. May God Bless...

christmas in new york-cont'd

The holiday is getting close now. The presents are all wrapped, the stockings are hung, and now we are in pre-preparation for our trip to Louisiana for Christmas. The only question is how in the world are we going to fit all of these gifts into the CR-V? Anyway, another NY shot. Later.

city of lights

Last year the family vacation spot was Disney World. We bought tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party where the Magic Kingdom is literally lit up like a Christmas tree and it snows on Main St. As we walked around the park, taking in the sights and rides and complimentary hot cocoa and cookies we turned a corner and came upon this sight. The entire street looked as if it was made up of Christmas lights. It was awesome. This photograph was all I could come back with, I hope it does it a little justice.

magic

It hardly ever snows in South Louisiana. Okay, it never snows, but in December of 2008 about two days before my wedding it covered the state. I'm sure there are those northerners who can't stand the stuff, there can be too much of a good thing. It can't be denied though that snow is incredibly photogenic. It transforms the landscape into this beautiful purified simple line drawing of all the familiar settings you see everyday and makes them new again.

christagram!

In case you haven't noticed, instagram is an app you can get on your smart phone that helps us regular folks take artsy fartsy fancy phone photos and share them with the whole entire world. I'm not sure I would shoot a wedding with it, but it takes me back to the greatness that is analog photography-you remember film don't you? Anyway, here are some shots taken last Christmastime that you could find originally on my instagram account. Oh, and hey, if you're not on instagram you should check it out...it's free and it's fun. Who can argue with that?

the morning of...

This was last year's Christmas morning, presents layed out like a spread sheet all orderly as we take turns giving everyone a present at a time, until all are openned. It's all about suspense...

13 days and counting...!

Faced the mall today for one of the last few gifts we need. I worked on our Christmas card this evening...an annual tradition to make each year's card better than the last. The coffee's on and the excitement of the coming holiday is seeping into everything. School is nearing the end and the boys have endless guesses on what it is wrapped under the tree. To quote Sam the talking snowman, "I love this Christmasy time of year."

mmmm...sugar cookies.

This is an image I've had in the photo library for a while. It's one of the pictures I plan on using for the Livingston, Louisiana project. One of the best parts of the holidays is of course the food. This cannot be denied, but one of the better parts is my Mother's food which I have on high authority is better than most Mother's food. Sorry, it just is. My mom makes these sugar cookies every so often, more often around the holidays, and more often when us boys where in the house. I prefer them without powdered sugar, but she usually finishes them off with it and every now again, she'll add chocolate chips for buttons on the gingerbread men or the snow men shaped cookies. Either way, they are a part of the holidays in the Hayman household, and they are the best. If you doubt me, just ask my best friend. They're his favorite too.

crescent city wreath

This is a re-post of one my favorite images taken in New Orleans during this holiday season. I don't know who hung a wreath on this dilapidated aged building, but I thank them, because I was able to capture this image and take it home, forever captured, forever remembered.

big apple-big ornaments

Christmas in New York-continued... More to come!

crescent city tree

I haven't been many places in my life. New York on my honeymoon where I was the typical camera toting china town wandering gotta see a Broadway show tourist, and loved every minute of it I might add; and other than a quick drive through Nashville, Tennessee I've never left the states that border the Gulf of Mexico. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida. Seen them all, but not much else. But New Orleans. New Orleans is one of those cities that you wish commanded as much respect as New York, but at the same time you realize that would ruin the city. New Orleans with its unspoken charm and gritty street scene, its erotic Bourbon St., its sobering Cafe' du Monde, the Mississippi River, and all the history of the South finding home in this city that sits in a bowl underneath the sea level. Christmas here just can't be compared with Christmas anywhere else. It goes without saying though, because anytime of the year can't be compared with spending even a weekend in New Orleans, no matter what the season is.

gifts from home

I always hear these Christmas tales of woe: an uncle who once painted his niece a painting for Christmas and her response-the moral of the story-was one of selfish brattyness. She hated it because it wasn't what she asked for. It wasn't a Barbie-doll house or Susie-go-potty-a-lot. Again, the stories are meant to teach the value of time, care, and thoughtfulness that go into the art of gift-giving. This year I've taken the story to heart and am doing just that: making most everyone's gift. It's partly because people like my homemade gifts, partly because I enjoy making things (the creative process and all that), and partly because I usually make more than one for myself to keep. So I guess there goes that selfish bratty moral of the story edge to it, huh? Well oh well. Here's a work in progress, a snow globe with a junk-car...it's soooo Livingston Parish.

city snow flakes

This may be a repeat image, but it's one of my favorites from New York during my honeymoon. The snowflakes were synchronized to Christmas music playing on the street stretching high up to the top of the facade of the building. It's a pretty picture, but really can't capture how awesome it was to watch in person.

december 2nd...

Just in case you missed my post yesterday: Holga, inflatables, Christmas, film. Okay, carry on.

december 1st...the countdown begins!

Things I love: my Holga medium format camera, shooting film, Christmas time, and those big overblown inflatable figures that can typically be found in front of car lots. Well, let's combine all those things in one image and call it done.