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.

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.

cowtown christmas

Christmas is in full swing. That is an understatement I realize, it having been "Christmas" since probably October. I am not the one to complain to though, because I love it. Being the sentimental sap that I am, instilled in me diligently by my Mother who we decorated our tree with every year to Bing Crosby and the claymation Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on the television, I totally enjoy the holiday. I'm not one of those over the top Christmas fans like the neighbors and their extravagant light show set to music, you just dial in the station in front of their house and watch the show...no I celebrate the quieter moments: the tree lit up alone in the living room, a fire going in the fireplace, a cup of hot chocolate, and making and wrapping gifts. Just a fraction of the holiday that I love. Anyway, here are a few festive shots from downtown cow town to help usher in the blog to Christmas and all that I love about it.

the holidays

...and before I knew it, the holidays were upon me. And now, the New Year is ever so close. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Below are some pictures of my Mom's Christmas decor that photograph beautifully. Best wishes to everyone during this holiday season. Thank you so much for those of you that helped make this year my most spectacular ever. I've been blessed to have been kept so busy. Here's hoping your Christmas, and New Year, are exactly what you make it. So make it amazing.

It's a New Year!

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Happy New Year. I hope everyone had an amazing holiday season. So, where have I been? Well, first and foremost I got married on December 13th, and spent the following weekend celebrating in New Orleans. Soon Christmas came and I spent the holiday season at home with my new family and our extended families. Then came our official honeymoon which was spent in New York. So, for all those who follow my blog and have been waiting impatiently for new posts-brace yourselves-because I've got a lot to share. The holidays have been amazing for me and I can't wait to sift through my huge library of pictures to document it all and share it with you. So, without further ado, here's my first image: taken on December 11th in Louisiana, just two days before my wedding. I grew up in Louisiana and for my entire twenty nine years I had never seen snow like this day. It was beautiful.