Monday, August 17, 2009

This blog is not dead : )

Photobucket

This bird, however... hit my window the other day and was not so fortunate.  

Same old story as always, I've been quite busy, mostly with decision making.  I had grand plans of sitting at waterholes and swimming my little heart out all summer, but the majority of it was spent doing graphic design work and dealing for a private fine art group (high maintenance+severely understaffed= too much overtime/ ugh!).  But, I did manage to squeeze in a few little travels, some photo gigs and alot of spelunking!  In a few days, I'm back in the district to see what I can see and live as an urbanite again.  As usual, my feelings are mixed.  If I could have my cake and eat it too, my family and the mountains would move with me.  
ooh, I also put together my website: www.hollidaywilliams.com

Also, Patton Oswalt posted an impressive speech he gave to his old high school on his website.  There's a part where he mentions the best advice anyone has ever given him:

"And then this banker – clean-shaven, grey suit and vest – you’d never look twice at him on the street – he told me about The Five Environments.
He leans forward, near the end of the dinner, and he says to me, 'There are Five Environments you can live in on this planet.   There’s The City.   The Desert.   The Mountains.   The Plains.   And The Beach.  You can live in combinations of them.   Maybe a city in the desert, or in the mountains by the ocean.  Or you could choose just one.  Out in the plains somewhere, perhaps.  But you need to get out there and travel, and figure out where you thrive.  Some places you’ll go to and you’ll feel yourself wither.    Your brain will fog up, your body won’t respond to your thoughts and desires, and you’ll feel sad and angry.  You need to find out which of the Five Environments are yours.   If you belong by the ocean, then the mountains will ruin you.   If you’re suited for the blue solitude of the plains, then the city will be a tight, roaring prison cell that’ll eat you alive.' 
He was right.   I’ve traveled and tested his theory and he was absolutely right.   There are Five Environments.   If you find the right combination, or the perfect singularity, your life will click…into…place.   You will click into place."


Hits the nail on the head, no?

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Friday, April 17, 2009

Moratorium

Got a call today... Because of White Nose Syndrome (see post below) all caving in the east (north & south) has been placed in what is called a "Moratorium", meaning all caving is illegal until further notice. Most commercial caves like Mammoth will remain open however. Poor little bats...

Monday, April 13, 2009


  Since I was about 17, I've been an avid caver (funny story for another post). There are over 100,000 caves in Tennessee alone and the Chattanooga area just happens to be a hotbed. Recently, my friend Jerry Wallace asked me, as well as a few members of the Chattanooga Grotto, to do a trip to a cave in Sewannee, TN.
   If you want to learn how to use a flash, by golly, cave photography would be the hobby to pick up. We had so many flashes and people running and firing them off, trying to get the right angle at the right time...well, it all was a bit hysterical. I learned I'm more of a minimalist. I'm not very fond of lighting up every corner or having a big team of assistants. That's not how I visualize caving or a cave and that approach just seems to take away some of its allure.
Also, please educate yourself about White Nose Syndrome, which is spreading quickly from North to South wiping out the country's adorable brown bats at an alarming pace.





Sunday, April 12, 2009

My good friend Roah was married yesterday to another friend of mine, Malach. I started photographing Roah nearly 4 years ago when she was the only single woman at her commune. Malach and Roah joined the same community on the same day by coincidence 10 years ago and now they're married! There really couldn't be a more perfect match, considering both have an amazing sense of humor and energy (and they certainly didn't hold back during the wedding). Here are a few outtakes:







Their first kiss!

Happy Easter/ Chocolate Animal Day!!
I found this little bird while walking to a wedding after doing an Easter portrait sitting with an energetic Toddler who was determined to make me run the entire time. Spring has finally arrived it seems...



little man on a mission! (to avoid my camera)

also, my external hardrive broke, so until I get it fixed, I'll be posting new stuff and then I'll post the rest of the DC photos. Cheers!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009