©2009 Kiffanie Stahle, A Study of Rhythm and Feet No. 6

This image was taken almost a year before this version came about. I took this image of The Polymers at Old Ironsides in Sacramento, California. For the few months prior to this, it had been a running joke between us that I wanted a photograph of their feet.When I first looked at the image, I liked the composition, but knew that it needed something to make it special. Almost a year later, I was riding home from school on my bike, and bam, I saw this processing in my head. I raced home and started working on it. A few hours later, I had processed the raw image to match my mental picture. I love how this image combines the gritty feel of film, with the modern elements of digital photographs.

©2011 Kiffanie Stahle, Biscuits.

I was intending on posting a different image today, but last night I attended the Lightbox SF Mixer at La Boutique. At one point I was having a conversation with Julie Michelle about some of the things that we both were seeking from the local artistic community. I mentioned that I would like a place where I could go and take work for critique. A place where I felt comfortable asking if an image really worked. Or a place that I could take a series to find out if the images worked together in the way I thought they did.

The image above is the type of image that I would take. There is something that I really like about the composition of the image, but for some reason I just don’t think it actually works, regardless of the treatment I give it. Which makes me think that something must be off in the composition. The black and white treatment above is my favorite so far, but I’m still unsure what I think about the image. So, my fellow readers, does it work?

• A few years back I heard Steve Martin play music at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Ever since then I’ve been impressed by his range of talent. I didn’t have much time to read for fun while studying for the bar exam, but I did manage to read Steve Martin’s new novel, Object of Beauty. It was a delightful book made even better by the full-color reproductions of the artwork discussed in the book.
• The week of the bar exam I wanted to read a book that was light and hopefully that would make me laugh out loud. Luckily, after being on the waiting list for months, the library informed me that it was my turn to check out Tina Fey’s new book, Bossypants. It was the perfect antidote to the stressful week and easily satisfied my goal of making me laugh out loud.
• This week I whipped up a batch of sour cherry bam and slathered it over this easy bread. Delish!
• I saw these photographs today and they made me giggle. What can be better than a juxtaposition of vintage, jello, and deadly weapons?

Did anything strike your fancy this week? Please share in the comments below, I’m always looking for new sources of inspiration.

© 2011 Kiffanie Stahle, Doggie Love.

I frequently get asked for the story behind certain images. Because this is a frequent request, each Monday I have decided to share a story behind one of my favorite photographs. This story, I shared a couple months ago in my monthly newsletter.

I captured this image back in February while I was out shooting in the Haight. Living in San Francisco, I come across so many interesting people walking down the street each day. I often make up stories for the people that I see reguarly and am curious how my stories compare to their real lives.

In a quest to learn more about the people around me, I’ve begun taking a few street portraits. This is something I’ve been wanting to try for more than a year, but up until recently my fear of how people would react has prevented me from starting this process.

This particular morning, while walking to the Haight  I decided that I couldn’t go home until I had asked at least 5 people if I could photograph them. This lovely woman was the first person I asked that morning and even though it was her doggie’s feeding time, she graciously allowed me to take a couple photographs of her and her dog and learn a little about them. Her kindness buoyed my courage and allowed me to ask four more strangers if I could photograph them that morning. This photograph is my favorite of that morning, probably in large part to her kindness.

© 2011 Kiffanie Stahle, Doggie Love.

This image I’ll be featuring at the 200 Yards third show opening at Free Gold Watch this Saturday. The opening will be from 6-10 pm, March 12. The story of this fun street portrait I told in my March monthly newsletter. If you haven’t subscribed yet, please do!

• Growing up my mom always carried around a day planner and her “book” kept our family organized. Over the course of my adult life, I’ve attempted many different versions of a planner. At this point, I have a collection of apps in my iPhone that I attempt to use for the various functions I would like a day planner to accomplish, but it’s clunky, scattered, and doesn’t totally fit my needs. This tutorial from iHanna about repurposing objects to create a custom day planner might just be the next method I attempt. (via Craft)
• For some reason I’ve always wanted a staghorn fern mounted on a wall in my apartment. Now thanks to Apartment Therapy I have instructions on how to create one. These instructions combined with some Wally Pockets would a very cool living wall.
• Lately I’ve been seeing jewelry tutorials that appear easy enough for me to attempt. This week another one popped up, a cute little necklace made from an old t-shirt. I pulled an old t-shirt out of my Goodwill pile and am going to attempt to make one of these this week.

Have you discovered anything this week that jumped out at you? Let me know below. I’m always looking for new sources of inspiration!

For much of this week San Francisco finally had to confront “winter.” Here are a couple of items that struck my fancy this week and kept me happy during the past week of rain:

• I recently was introduced to The Jealous Curator and this introduction has lead to another lady blog crush. Her blog is a collection of work, that in her words makes you think “Damn, I wish I thought of that.” This week she featured Tara Donovan whose installations made of common objects like buttons, styrofoam cups, and paper plates makes me jealous.
• The last few months I’ve been collecting a little bit of handmade jewelry but I’ve not attempted to make anything. I think these little string and paperclip earrings might be the perfect first attempt. (via Craft).
• Another blog that I regularly visit for art inspiration is my love for you. This week, Meighan featured Uri Korn’s new website. I got lost in the images on the site.
• Of course, my week would not be complete without coveting some sweet treat. This weekend I whipped up a batch of whole wheat chocolate chip skillet cookies and they were fantastic. The skillet cookie is perfect for those days when you crave a cookie, but don’t want to deal with shaping individual cookies (i.e. really lazy days). I ate these all weekend while finishing up a lovely little novel, The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova.

Have you discovered anything this week that jumped out at you? Let me know below. I’m always looking for new sources of inspiration!

©2011 Kiffanie Stahle, Winter Summer II.

Another iPhone capture of things that catch my eye. This time: the gorgeous weather we have been experiencing as of late here in San Francisco. My roommate and I have begun calling it “Winter Summer.” On Sunday, I went for a walk from my house in the Mission up to the Haight to once again try to capture some interesting photos to submit for Round 3 of the 200 Yards project. The weather was perfect and as I was returning home I stumbled across this view, I love how this image perfectly summarizes the good parts of this City: the hills, the weather, Muni, and the old buildings.

• I know that the idea of a vegan cake sounds a little scary. But this recipe for chocolate ginger orange cake is probably one of the best chocolate cakes that I have eaten in some time. I made it for the first time a few weeks back and have been craving it ever since. Note: the recipe is written as cupcakes, I halved the recipe and baked it in a 8 in square pan.
• This owl paper mask is adorable and would be the perfect addition to a little kid’s room. The patience and foresight required to plan out this mask is way beyond me. (via My Owl Barn)
• I made a batch of apple butter over winter break and am always looking for savory ways to utilize it. This barbecue sauce with an apple butter base, sounds just up my alley. (via Food in Jars)
• One of my new year’s resolutions was to start paring down my possessions. One of the struggles I am having as I start eliminating objects from my home, is the blank space where objects used to be. This post compares white space to the silence in music. It really struck home and is helping me embrace the holes.

Have you discovered anything this week that jumped out at you? Let me know below. I’m always looking for new sources of inspiration!

©2011 Kiffanie Stahle, Hills Brothers Coffee.

Another iPhone capture of things that catch my eye. This time: this lovely brick building down on the Embarcadero (yes I know I’ve been spending a lot of time down there lately). I like how this processing effect made the image look older than the present day (although there are lots of hints that we are in 2011 San Francisco).