8. jen korff

(photos courtesy of sophik)

jen korff, otherwise known as sophik, is a photographer and illustrator based out of chicago, il. she shoots with a mamiya, a yashica, polaroids, and a holga--among others. i admire her ability to switch between so many different cameras and yet maintain a very consistent style. i also love that she uses the same yashica as me--the yashica electro 35gsn! thanks for sharing your thoughts, jen.

what are you looking forward to, both personally and creatively, in the coming year? 

"Spotting the beautiful blue moon this new years eve, on the most perfect of clear nights seemed such an auspicious start.  My studio heads into this new year with a handful of new, exciting projects in the works which has kept me incredibly busy lately. Much of the work that I do in my studio is illustration work, so along with photography, you can expect to see me reveal a bit more illustrations, too. I am anxious to see where my creative pursuits take me this year. I am really looking forward to doing a bit of traveling this year as well."

more jen: sophik studios, flickr, blog, shop.

7. abby powell thompson

 

(photos courtesy of abby try again)

to me, abby is one of the funnest bloggers out there! her pictures are always gems, highlighting small moments and little details with color and spark. she comes up with daily enthusiasm in her blog posts and has an amazing honesty for someone whose blog is followed the world over. it always interests me to see what abby finds beauty in and how she captures it. thanks for sharing, abby.

what are you looking forward to, both personally and creatively, in the coming year?

"I am looking forward to so many things in the next year. My husband is finishing school and has landed a steady job and I will be quitting my retail job in order to pursue the very unsteady job of blogging and selling my work online. It'll be an adventure, that's for sure! I have many projects lined up, but mostly I am looking forward to doing more of the same; shooting photos, taking small trips, cooking, thrift shopping, reading lots, and trying to find beauty everyday. I feel like many people are ready to have a happy 2010 and I can feel the collective positive energy bubbling around me."

more abby: blog. flickr. shop. this is not my work.

6. alexandria

 (photos courtesy of alexandria)

fellow seattle-ite and bookseller, i fell in love with alexandria's blog, little postcards, at first site. i mean, she has a huge list of links entitled bibliophilia hapiness! what isn't there to love? well, her lovely polaroids don't hurt either. and neither does her weekly book and music recommendations. alexandria and i shared a lovely meal together in september and i got to see her awesome polaroid snapping in action. i can't wait to share many more meals. thanks for you thoughts, alexandria!

what are you looking forward to, both personally and creatively, in the coming year? 

"This year I'm excited for:

~taking film photographs

~writing book reviews

~cooking new recipes to share

~spending time with people I love

~riding my bicycle

~volunteer work

~sewing a quilt

~writing classes

~sending letters in the mail

~embracing the unexpected"

more alexandria: blog

5. shari altman

 (photos courtesy of marthasnail)

shari altman has a beautiful way with her camera. it seems like she can capture any little bit of the world--whether it is nature or food or the view from a car window--and turn it into a simple and poignant poem. her photography, to me, is like a breathe of fresh air, a meditation. shari also co-curates an online journal, this joy + ride, where a new artist is featured monthly with seasonal questions. thanks so much for your thoughts, shari!

what are you looking forward to, both personally and creatively, in the coming year?

 "i'm looking forward to an extended visit with my family in just a few weeks. one of my hopes for 2010 is that it will include more travel and time with friends and family. i also have a personal photography project i'm working on called winter from the passenger seat and several collaborations as well. 2010 will be the year i take a running leap and see what happens creatively. i'm hoping for a year of experimentation, improvisation and just plain fun."

more shari:  blog, flickr, this joy + ride, winter from the passenger seat

4. molly wizenberg

 (photos courtesy of molly wizenberg)

molly wizenberg needs no introduction. as a writer, she is inspiring for her creativity; in her ability to make a metaphor out of anything and relay deeply personal memories to thousands of loyal readers. as a photographer, she always hits a home run. whether with her polaroid or her pentax, the simplicity of her images only give them more meaning and story. on both accounts, i could only dream of capturing food the way she does. thank you for participating, molly!

what are you looking forward to, both personally and creatively, in the coming year? 

"My friend Maria wrote that she wants to give more love in 2010, and I can't think of anything better than that.  It sums up everything I could hope for.  So, to be perfectly unoriginal, I have to say: I am looking forward to giving more love. 


And on the creative side, I'm looking forward to having a better relationship with criticism.  This year, I will believe the good, learn from the bad, and ignore the mean and nasty.  I will, I will, I will."

more molly: blog, flickr, bon appetit, restaurant.

3. lea bolvig

(photos and illustrations courtesy of lea bolvig)

lea bolvig is an illustrator and photographer living in copenhagen, demark. i love lea's sense of style. i love seeing her thrift store finds, i love her eye for color and shape and i love her ability to capture little moments throughout her day to tell a story. thanks lea!

what are you looking forward to, both personally and creatively, in the coming year? 

"a new fresh year lies ahead and i have rather high expectations for 2010, i must admit. i look forward to meeting new people and to spend time with the ones i already know and love. workwise i look forward to getting new colleagues (as i'm starting a new job) and hopefully to acquire new skills and improve my professional qualifications.
creatively i hope to be able to continue the projects i have begun in 2009. over the past year i have been very preoccupied with film photography and the special quality and colors you get in film photos. i haven't actually tried out all the different analogue cameras i have collected over the year so one of my goals for 2010 is to get to know each camera and its individual qualities and quirks.
another creative aim for me in 2010 is to continue a postcard project i initiated in 2009. i decided to do a series of 10 bird postcards in A5 format where so far four different ones have been printed and are ready to be sold in my sister-in-law's shop. (brinja.dk)
i also look forward to another year of inspiring blog reading. it never stops to amaze me how much creativity and craftsmanship i come across reading other people’s blogs. It truly sparks my imagination and urges me to create more myself.
here's to an inspiring and creative 2010!"

more lea: blog, flickr, website

2. nicolle null

 (photos courtesy of sacred lotus photography)

i only recently found out about nicolle. she is a very stylish portlander who runs the sacred lotus blog, and has a magical shop called sacred lotus photography. on her blog, nicolle has a knack for finding the coolest images and fun new art. her own photography is great, with so much mood and sometimes a bit of silliness. i'm glad that nicolle's work is now in my daily rotation. thanks for sharing, nicolle!

 what are you looking forward to, both personally and creatively, in the coming year?

"wow, after giving it some thought there are many things i look forward to this year! here are just a few of them. first is giving myself permission to live my life without fear or judgment, something i have been struggling with for some time now. i also look forward to letting stress melt off me like hot butter. stepping outside my comfort zone to meet new inspiring creative people. moving closer to my friends & the city. walking/biking around town. going to farmers markets. camping. my son starting 1st grade. finishing my 365 project. getting my photography business off the ground. taking way more photos then i did in 2009. getting my drivers license. attending pickathon music festival here in oregon. trying new things with my photography. the reinvention of polaroid film by the impossible project. reading & trying "the 100 mile diet". last but not least i look forward to a year full of learning and letting my creativity shine! happy new year everyone!!"

 

more nicolle: blog. flickr. portfolio. shop. follow her 365 project.

1. brian ferry

 (photos courtesy of brian w. ferry)

brian ferry has a wonderful energy, an exceptional eye and really, really good taste. he blogs at the blue hour where he shares insightful and inspiring thoughts along with new pictures and new adventures. brian recently moved from brooklyn to london and i was fortunate enough to meet him in september, before his big move. both in person and in his photography, brian's love of life is evident. thanks for sharing, brian!

 

what are you looking forward to, both personally and creatively, in the coming year?

"personally, i'm looking forward to having lots of new experiences in 2010 - both in london and while traveling throughout europe.  but i'm also hoping to settle in to my new flat in london, and i look forward to carving out a place for myself in this new city.


and creatively, i'm hoping for a challenge.  i don't know what form that will take yet, but i want to shake things up with my photography.  a few new projects, perhaps a collaboration.  we'll see...."


more brian: blog, flickr, portfolio.