Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

I was unsure what to expect, as I’d never been to a gun range before or shot a gun for real. (Somehow, I didn’t think the BB guns and pellet rifles I shot… and taught children to shoot… at summer camp really count in the grand scheme of things.)

Upon arrival, Daryl told me he was going to let me shoot a round or two… and I told him that it was perfectly OK for him to take all the rounds because I needed to get good photos of him. But then Daryl told Gordon, his instructor, and I was roped into shooting after I had the photographs of Daryl for the article.

225 reporter Daryl Moore practices his shot at the Baker Range in Baker, La., on Fri., July 27, 2012. Moore went through the concealed carry handgun permit process last year and has written a story about his experience for September 2012′s issue of 225. (Photo by Erin Parker/225)

So after Daryl was done with his rounds, it was my turn. I was a bit terrified — I mean, I’d never really shot a gun before, and it was something that wasn’t on my life list of things to do. But after some instruction from Gordon, I was ready to go.

I handed off my camera to Daryl, requesting a few photographs of the experience because it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t and because I was convinced no one would believe I actually shot a gun otherwise.

It was a good time had by all… and turns out, I’m not half bad a shot!

To read Daryl’s article, read Carry out: The trials and tribulations of securing a conceal and carry permit.

To learn more about the conceal and carry course Daryl took, visit Gordon Hutchinson’s website.

I’ve known Matt and Anna for quite some time now. Matt was a co-worker of mine at the Hattiesburg American, and I met Anna through him on the sidelines of a Southern Miss football game. The two of them are wonderful, and I was honored to photograph their wedding in Anna’s hometown of Columbus, Mississippi last December.

It was a beautiful day, and looking back on their wedding photos makes me smile.

Happy anniversary, y’all! May year two be as exciting as year one… and may there be many, many more!

In celebration of being back and kicking this thing off right, I’ve got several links to share with y’all today.

Photography

• Urban dance photos, y’all. (Thanks for sharing these, Chase Jarvis, and for making such beautiful images, Jordan Matter.)
• Jasmine Star is offering some awesome free marketing advice in her most recent Shooting Star video.
• Earlier this week, the New York Post ran a photo of a man who was pushed into the path of an oncoming subway train, then struck and killed. There has been a lot of buzz Alex Garcia’s explanation of ethics with The Ethics of Front Page Doom was an interesting read that made me think about what I would have done in a similar situation, as well as what I value as far as ethics are concerned.
• This week, I’m really soaking in Becka’s rules for work from home balance and beginning to think that I need to set “office hours” daily.
• Justin and Mary, as always, have some fabulous advice on not comparing yourself to others and appreciating the now.
• Jamie’s observation on the photo industry over at A Man to Fish is something I’ve noticed, too, and I love his conclusion.
• Feature Shoot has a list of some original holiday gifts for photographers. Which of these would you like?
• I really need to check out HBO’s Witness, which gives a unique perspective into the lives of conflict shooters around the world.
• George Steinmetz‘s images of extreme deserts from above (found in his Desert Air book and exhibit) are stunning.
• Looking for a roundup of the Best Photography Blog Posts of 2012? Photoshelter’s got you covered with an incredibly comprehensive list broken into categories. (Be still, my organization-loving heart!)
• If you are not following the Maddie the Coonhound blog, you need to be. I giggle at the sweet photos of Maddie and try to imagine Lucy being OK with anything her owner asks her to do for the photographs. Especially this or this.

Odds & Ends

• Yep, I think these Cranberry Rosemary Spritzers need to be made this weekend.
• I absolutely loved Freaks and Geeks, and these photos of the cast reunited after 10 years makes my heart happy.
• Do you know about Striking Truths? If you don’t, you should because they are putting out some beautiful work that is inspiring every day.
• If you haven’t seen Jimmy Fallon, Mariah Carey and The Roots performing “All I Want for Christmas is You,” you need to fix that immediately. Stop what you’re doing and watch it now.

Here’s to a happy weekend and to more successful blogging this month.

This week has been a good, albiet crazy, one, and I’ve got some great links to share with you today:

Photography

• Photographer Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse has taken scenes from WWII and photoshopped them onto streets of today, making for some amazing images.
• The 24-Hour Project from Andrew Kufahl and Nicole Jolly looks amazing! I’d love to do something like this.
• Sometimes, we all need a reminder that things don’t work out 100% of the time, and we can’t be on our A-game 100% of the time, either. I needed to read this advice about it today. (Thanks, Zack!)
• Henry Horenstein‘s honky tonk portraits are pretty fabulous.

Odds & Ends

• Having a rough day? Emergency Compliment is here to help you out.
• I need to make these muffins immediately.
• This week, I found a video of Tom Hanks performing a slam poem about Full House. (Yes, that Full House.) And his son, Colin Hanks, has been performing #tinyguitarsolos as good things happen for the Giants in their post-season. LOVE.

And that’s all I got for today. What about y’all?

Happy, happy Friday, everyone! This week has flown by, and I am thrilled it is almost the weekend because this weekend is the final weekend of the State Fair of Texas… and it’s the same weekend I am checking it out with one of my friends from Baton Rouge. It’s going to be awesome.

I’m a little light on links this week for y’all, but the links I do have are quality stuff:

Photography

• Y’all know I’m a sucker for photos with any kind of pattern, and these images of commuters Berlin Central Station are fabulous.
• The National Geographic Photo Contest 2012 is in full swing, and y’all have until November 30 to enter! And while you’re contemplating what to enter, check out these beautiful photos from last year’s competition.
• A funny, behind-the-scenes look at a quirky photoshoot with David Honl.
• I would really like for a polar bear to NOT eat my 70-200 lens…
• Photographer, designer, creative and Instagrammer Steph Goralnick offers advice on the platform on Instagram and the perks of building an audience.

Odds & Ends

• Dance walking. It’s a thing. And I want it to be my favorite form of exercise. (Note to self: Move to a city where I can walk and dance.)
• Helen Jane summed up my love for blogs and blogging and how things have changed… and how they can still be the same if we allow them to be.
• I may or may not have laughed until I cried while reading through Dogshaming. (Thanks for sharing this, John.)
• I have a new favorite Tumblr: Harper or Halpert?

And that’s all I have for y’all.

What are you loving today?

In the past two months, our lives have been a little like the ocean — calm at times, while other moments have been wild with movement.

Winston and I moved from Baton Rouge to Dallas in late August, and we have been on-the-go since, traveling most weekends to either visit or host friends and family members in our new city, attend weddings and to finally take a honeymoon.

Life is finally calming down, and I plan on getting back in the swing of blogging this week. So forgive my awkwardness as I reinvest myself in Life As It Is, and get excited because I’ve got a lot of assignments to share with y’all in the coming days and weeks!

…

What have YOU been up to since we last spoke?

Back in May, I spent a morning with Jessica, a girl I’ve known since my freshman year of college, and her husband, who I got to know during our time in the sorority. Jessica was actually my first model ever, and she was a mainstay in my portrait projects until we both graduated.

This past spring, Jessica called me up to see if I would be available for a shoot when they were back in town for a shower, and luckily, I had the morning free. It was a gorgeous Saturday morning, and we met up by Memorial Tower on LSU’s campus, snapping a few photos there, then proceeded to walk around to a few of our favorite spots.

Jessica and Eric were troopers for this shoot, and I have to say, they are still some of my favorite models!

Thanks for letting me document your pregnancy, Jessica and Eric, and congratulations, again, on your sweet baby boy!

People mingle at The Loft in Perkins Rowe on Fri., Apr. 27, 2012. The Loft has won Best Place for Wine by the Glass in this year’s Best of 225 Awards. (Photo by Erin Parker/225)

This afternoon, I want to share the last Best of 225: Entertainment & Nightlife 2012 winner — the Loft, which won the Best Place for Wine by the Glass in this year’s awards.

A funny thing happened while I was photographing The Loft. Not only did I see two friends who I hadn’t seen in a while, but I ran into another separate group of friends five minutes later. I had no idea any of them were going to be at The Loft that evening, and I was stunned to run into not one, but two groups of friends at the same place at the same time. Honestly, y’all, this never happens to me when I’m out on assignment.

So not only did I get to enjoy the atmosphere of the wine bar and make some cool long exposure images, but I got to catch up with some friends. And that, my friends, was super fun.

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To learn more about The Loft, visit their website.

]]> http://blog.erinparker.net/2012/08/best-of-225-entertainment-nightlife-the-loft/feed/ 0 http://blog.erinparker.net/2012/08/best-of-225-dining-louis-deangelos-casual-italian-dining/ http://blog.erinparker.net/2012/08/best-of-225-dining-louis-deangelos-casual-italian-dining/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:00:39 +0000 erin http://blog.erinparker.net/?p=2665

Kitchen manager Kenneth Smith prepares a Deluxe Calzone at Louis DeAngelo’s Casual Italian Dining on Tues., Apr. 10, 2012. DeAngelo’s has won Best Calzones in this year’s Best of 225 Awards. (Photo by Erin Parker/225)