Creative Companion

Bye bye

2010-11-16T21:09:00.000+01:00

It's time to say goodbye to my english blog here.
I will not update on here anymore - but I will keep on blogging on my german site. Please change your bookmarks to: http://inspirationszauber.blogspot.com/

There will also be a new relaunch on my website http://creative-companion.org soon.

Thank you and bye bye.

Melanie

Fearless Girl

2010-09-25T18:14:00.000+02:00

I just received my first blog award. Wow.
I never thought this would happen to my blog, I'm not a a very "followed" blogger. I don't post that regularly, although I am always trying to.

It was given to me by Ashley - The Life of a fearless Girl Blog. Thank you :)
Please go check out her blog, I don't know her for long, but her blog touched me right away. Her life is an incredible story and her posts are always making me think.
She's now going through another rough time and could need some positive energy.

I really look up to her, 'cause I don't think I am that fearless.
Not yet.
I try to.
But when things get uncomfortable I want to run away, I just wish myself in another place... a bit like Alice, or Ally... yeah... I think I am more of a reality-escaping girl...

Anyways, here are the rules for receiving and giving an award:

1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pay it forward to 5 other bloggers that you have newly discovered.(I have the same problem as Ashley, most of the blogs have this award already been given to, so I am awarding 4...)

3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.

The people I am awarding this to are...

Denise @ bohogirl

Ann Marie @ Household Diva

Lisa @ Lisa Petrarca's Blog

Debbie @ Love the Decor

Have a great weekend.

Melanie

GERMAN BLOG

2010-09-20T17:40:00.000+02:00

My latest Blog-Header Design.

So, the time has come, I am really starting a german blog. I thought about it a lot, I somehow had the feeling that I am not able to express myself in english as good as I used to. I can't help it - german is my mother language, although I love english and still will be international - it's time to write in german.
I found so many other beautiful german/austrian blogs, great artists and people.

So click right here to read all my creative stuff in german :-)

Love,
Melanie

My first knitted bag and getting in danger for not knowing which buttons to buy...

2010-09-13T17:50:00.001+02:00

I proudly present... my first knitted bag.
This took me quite a time, but I am so happy with the result. There are 2 different structures. I first started this piece just to try out knitting again... I knitted before but that was years back in school. But then I thought... when I'm trying this out I could try out doing something beautiful.


(C) Melanie Eichenauer, 2010. Photographing this bag on a very windy day isn't easy...

The final touches have just been added today. I bought the buttons in a tiny old crafting shop. This shop is owned by two old (yes, I really mean old) sisters and I would say, this shop is cult. It's very small but full of wool, buttons, fabrics, and so on. And the ladies there... oh my they are strange. As I entered the shop, the old lady was talking to another customer. The customer said "Please serve this woman, I need more time." The lady gringed and turned to me, "What can I do for you?"
"Well, first I need a few buttons."
"Which colour?"
"I don't know, I just want to look at what you've got" (that was kinda lie, I knew I wanted pink ones, but I wanted to have a look at all the others too.)
So, I tried to have a look at the button wall. Yes, a wall. Full of buttons. I guess I've never seen that much stuff. But the lady wasn't happy with what I said.
"You have to know which colour."
"I need a few ones and I just want to have a look, there are so many."
"Don't touch this!" My heart stopped - thankfully she wasn't talking to me. She yelled at the other customer.
I was quite shocked and thought about leaving without buying anything. She was so unfriendly to the other woman.
But I did not leave. I then realized that I am not used to a shop like this. Normally I buy my stuff online or at big stores, but this was a very old tiny little shop. And as another customer got in and the old lady got even unfriendlier... I could not help myself, I started to laugh. It was so unreal, so strange. I felt like set back in time. Like in the 50s or something. Of course the old lady wasn't happy with us taking so much time to have a look at things and not knowing what exactly to buy.... when she was younger, people didn't have much money so they only got into a shop when they really needed something... they knew exactly what to buy, 'cause every Schilling (years before we had Euros) had to be turned twice.
As she left the shop shortly to look for needles I needed (strange word combination... haha)... the first customer whispered to me "She's not in a good mood today." She seemed to be used to this, so I think she is there often.


(C) Melanie Eichenauer, 2010. Structure I.

I hope my english was good enough to retell that story. Feel free to tell me what you think about my bag....

Love,

Melanie

Creative Monday

2010-09-06T11:33:00.001+02:00


(C) Melanie Eichenauer, 2010. Taken during my walk to the yachting club.

My weekend reflection...
I so enjoyed my weekend off. No wedding to photograph and I really could sit down and breathe. I love what I do, I just don't like stress and having no time for my family. So on saturday I visited my dad at the yachting club. I took a long walk and it was so beautiful, a late summer day (although I hoped more for autumn...). It's always refreshing to take a walk there and especially spend some time in the woods. He was happy to see me and so was I. I felt reliefed. You know, it's good to have a job that you would call your dream job, it's good to do what you like, to really live your life and so on but there is nothing like family. Nothing is more worthy than that.
And so I spent the rest of the late evening and also a part of the night with very good friends of ours. We ate together and played some old games, like "guess who you are". Everyone has a post-it on the head and has to guess what person (alive or not, singer, actor, politican, etc.) he/she is. It was so much fun. It's always those simple things like playing an old game together that can bring so much joy. We laughed until late at night.
Sunday has been very lazy. We just went for a little walk outside the house and then spent the rest of the day in front of the telly watching LOST on DVD. We have to get prepared for season 6 which will be on television later that month.

A poem for the starting the week...

In autumn when the trees are brown
The little leaves come tumbling down
They do not make the slightest sound
But lie so quietly on the ground
Until the wind comes puffing by
And blows them off towards the sky.

(by John Muir)

Creative things...

I think I will finally finish my knitted bag today and I can't wait to start all the others. I also brought a good friend of mine into knitting, she is now working on socks, that's so great!
And I did my first handmade soaps... lavender and rose. I will show you the results soon.

And calling all Webdesigners...

... do you have time to create something special?
... are you into the shabby chic vintage style?
... are your prices under a few hundred dollars for private websites?

I'm really looking for someone who wants to be part of this website design. Who can help me with the technical programming stuff. Who is creative in designs.
I have a few ideas how I want it to look like, I just don't have the graphic or web programming skills to do it on my own.
Yeah... this thing with money... I hate it when it comes to that and when someone says right away - I can't pay you much. Of course you put effort of time and skills in it and I do honour that. It's not that I don't vallue this work, of course I do, I just don't have hundreds of dollars to pay for a private website. I visited so many sites, great artists, that would surely create a wonderful website for me... but prices starting at 800 dollars are just not realistic for my situation.
So, if you are interested please send me a note: photo@creative-companion.org
Along with some website/graphic examples you have done, so I know if you are into the same style.

Have a creative week...
Love,
Melanie

Catching a tiger

2010-09-02T21:06:00.001+02:00

by Lissie.

This time I'm gonna write about my latest favourite CD.

LISSIE - CATCHING A TIGER

Amazon was right - this artist is really something for my music taste.
For me, she is THE newcomer of the year... yes, before Ellie Goulding, sorry. I love Ellie but this girl rocks. American country girl from the Mississippi, Lissie impressed me not only with her gorgeous rough voice but also with her music talent. Her songs mostly start a bit slower but rock at the end. And I love it when she is playing and singing fast. 11 songs full of passion and honesty. Something that is really needed in those times when we are overflooded by wannabe-sexy musicvideos and stupid lyrics like "Give it to me, baby like boom, boom, boom, What I want, want, want is what you want, want, want" (Rihanna girl, who is writing that crap for you??)

Lissie seems to be a girl you can steal horses with. And she is showing us unknown possibilities. What I mean? Well, first I have to admit, I like the Gaga-Music, but what Lissie made out of "Bad Romance" is stunning!
Have a listen yourself:

And here is a gorgeous live version of her single "When I'm alone". She totally rocks live. Damn I can only tell it by the videos I've seen yet... hope she'll be playing live here in austria this winter.

I love to drive my car while listening to her. Perfect soundtrack for a roadtrip.
Lissie gets 5/5 tigers :-)

Wishing you a great weekend!
Love,
Melanie

just my ... 3 cents...

2010-08-16T21:00:00.000+02:00

Image found via We(heart)it.com

Just a little story from Melanies private life...

I've been on a little shopping trip today with my boyfriends cousins. As we drove home with my car, I had to stop at a petrol station. I got out of the car, took that dispenser and wanted to get some petrol into my car but instead of doing that it flew everywhere else. So I figured out that the tube was broken. I went into the shop to tell the service person about that, but she was just looking at me with a stupid face and said: "There are 3 cents to pay"

What the ... ?

"Yes," I said "but the dispenser is somehow broken, you should take a look at it. The petrol is flowing out."

Stupid face again then she shouted: "Christian, go out and have a look!"

I turned around and saw three man standing at the end of the shop drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. They all had that strange smile on their face... that smile that says "oh stupid little woman can't refuel her car"

So I said. "Who of you is Christian? Who is getting out with me and looking at the problem."

Then the supposed person Christian stood slowly up and went outside with me. Who was I to disturb him? While walking he said:

"What did you say is the problem?"

"The petrol is flowing out, the dispenser isn't working."

"(laughing) That can't be."

"Oh you will see...stupid idiot!" Okay, I did not speak the last two words out loud.

So as we stood there, he saw the problem and just said: "Oh.. it really is broken"

OH HELL NO!! REALLY? man, you are fast!

He only said then "You have to try another dispenser."

I got into the car, used another dispenser to fill up the car and went inside the shop again to pay. And after I did that and sat again in my car, I saw that this stupid shop lady also billed me the 3 cents from the other broken dispenser!!!!

Oh yeah, in these days you have to pay for every drop.

(sorry for any english-language mistakes, I tried my best)

Sweet little houshold things

2010-08-13T08:53:00.010+02:00

First entry, in this new blog-layout. Do you like it?
I love it. It really fits what my blog is supposed to be about and I hope I can soon upload my new website. So, first, let me introduce you to this "new" blog.
I'm gonna post here about all the cute little things I find. I like to buy special things like books, cds, decoration stuff, household things... whatever. I love to go out shopping for these things but I also like to spend my hours on browsing through webshops.
What ever I think is inspiring - you'll gonna find it here.
I haven't written anything special in a while, so I'm gonna introduce myself shortly.
My name is Melanie, I'm from austria and I live with my long time boyfriend in a house on a hill... I thought about calling this blog "the girl from the house on the hill" ... hmm I still like that idea ;-) My 'child' is my cat "Emily"... but she likes more to be called "Baby". She really listens to that name. I'm a bohemian, nature, vintage-loving, country girl. I love my job as a photographer, which was my first step into living my creative and free soul. But there is much more in life to come, I'm sure. I also love the scandinavian lifestyle, my big dream these days is to visit Danmark, Sweden, and England.
So, although I'm austrian, I'm writing in english. I love the language, but I like to be international. I read so many other beautiful blogs, if they would not write in english - how could I enjoy them? That's my reason for not writing in german. But I may post once in a while in that language... we'll see.

Enough about me, here are the really interesting things...:

I received these beautiful towls a few days ago. Here they are in green, but they're also available in blue. They come in a package of three and their size is 50 cm x 70 cm which are about 19x27 inch I think.
They are by Livia and I ordered them via the beautiful online shop at "Nostalgie im Kinderzimmer".

Click here to order directly.
(C) Picture by Melanie Eichenauer, 2010.
No use without written permisson!

A close up of the fabric.
(C) Picture by Melanie Eichenauer, 2010.
No use without written permisson!

And I also ordered these funky cleaning towls by Rice. This package is available in purple&orange or in pink&turquoise and contains three of each colour. Size is 36 cm x 36 cm which is about 14 x 14 inches. With only 3,90 Euros, they are really cheap and look great in the kitchen or whereever you need it.

Click here to order them directly.
(C) Picture by Melanie Eichenauer, 2010.
No use without written permisson!

Wishing you a great weekend. I'm enjoying my cup of coffee and will have look at other beautfiul blogs now, to relax a bit. It's my day off today because it's my Daddys birthday (hip hip hooray!!) and we always celebrate it together. So I'll be at my parents home later.

Lots of love and inspiration,

Melanie

Website is on the way...

2010-07-26T17:58:00.004+02:00

So, I have been very ill for the last week. I'm still having a bit of a cold, but it's getting better, I can finally feel it.
I was so in pain, that I even wasn't able to read. So I tried to lend my thoughts from the pain to a more positive thing, and I tried to think of my website and all this stuff. And I knew what I wanted to do with it before, but now it's even more concrete and I'm busy working on it.

It's all new.
It's a new Creative Companion.

It's what the name is about - it's ment to be your inspirational friend. A place where you come to, to be happy, sad, inspired, and whatsoever. You can read, you can look at, and you can also be a part of it.

The main thing is, that the website has changing topics.
What that means?
You'll have to wait a bit until I can reveal the secret.

It's only gonna take a few days... a week or so... I'm excited.

Love,
Melanie

Have yourself a very merry... lavender

2010-07-18T18:24:00.005+02:00

I bought myself a big lavender and two small ones. The smaller ones are special smelling lavender. I don't know the english word for them, sorry.
The big one is in a beautiful pot and is standing in the front of the house. the other two are in the bedroom and look so lovely on the windowsill.

So this is this weeks inspiration I have for you... go out and buy yourself flowers.

Have a great week.

Getting ready...

2010-07-05T21:00:00.010+02:00

... for my artistic shooting sometime in august/september.
And also getting ready for my webpage to be back again. I really want to keep this blog alive now and to fill it with all the sweet little things in life.
So while my page is still under construction I'm gonna start with what it's gonna be about right here, right now.Inspiration.That's the main topic.
And I found this cute little book in a shop today. It's in german and the title goes something like this: "the secret of my encouraging-jam - the most beautiful receipts for life-artists"
I hope this is somehow correct. It's by Rosalie Tavernier and I just found out that she wrote a few other beautiful books too.

Did I already mention that I looove the new blogger-layout-designer!? It totally rocks and helped me perfectly in changing the design of my blog exactly how I want it to be (at the moment...).

So, I did a bit of shopping today and bought clothes for the shooting I wrote about earlier. My gosh, I found so many great dresses, but it's hard to buy something without the model by my side to try it on. But I could not resist and bought these gorgeous pieces!
All clothes are by Zara. Hooray for summer sale :-)

So, to tell a little bit about my project:
It's going to be poetic. Very artistic. Romantic. Passionate.

For so now...
... be inspired...
xx love

Still there

2010-06-21T19:08:00.002+02:00

Just a quick post to tell I am still there.

I'm looking for a website designer. I finally decided that I'm not able to create the website I want to. Whether you are a pro or not - please contact me via aquamarine@kt-net.at
I would love to create something magical with you :)

And I'm all into the FIFA WM 2010 - so excited, have to watch nearly every game. So that keeps me away from continuing here too ;-)

New Website comming!

2010-03-15T19:17:00.005+01:00

just to show you something yummy :) (C) Melanie Eichenauer.

Yes, once again I changed the layout not only of this blog but also of my website.
It's not finished yet, I'm in the progress and it's gonna be wonderful. I have new plans for my site and for my artwork. Really big changes.
I'm excited.

If you want to be informed when the new site is online, please leave a comment here or send a mail to: photo@creative-companion.org

Time

2010-03-08T15:08:00.005+01:00

Picture by Ana.Guerrero.

I've been listening a lot to "The Beekeeper" these days, by gorgeous Tori Amos. It's such a underrated album. Perfect for spring, yeah and totally different to all her other stuff but it's so poetic. It's good music to relax to.

And that's what I need now the most. I feel a bit restless, the last weeks have been hectic and I am no fan of living my life like that. I need silence, time for my loved ones, or otherwhise I'm getting sick. And I'm already having a cold now for weeks. Aah... I have to start listening to my body again.

My dad and I have been looking for a new car for me, and after weeks we found one. And just on the day we (well... he...) bought it, someone crashed into the back of my current car while I was driving. Not much happened but it's just more stress I don't need now.

So this blog is supposed to be about living a creative and free spirit... how can I feel free and creative when I'm just too lazy? Too lazy to even go outside when the sun is shining and it's depressing me that I'm too tired to go outside, so it's a circle of not feeling well.
And I wanna get out, just don't know how at the moment. And my age of 25 is not making it any easier. This is no complain about my age, it's just that I realize every now and then that ... I don't know how to say... time passes by. Now I'm having friends who are married, having babies, or are thinking about things like that. And then I'm asking myself again: would this be right for me? Working for a few years, and then getting married and having babies? Without having seen the world before?
But when I'm gonna do that? When do I have the time?

And the crazy thing about that is that it's easy. I know the answer, I think I'm just not ready yet. It's not the right time yet.
'Cause the answer is: I just have to do it.

New Layout... new Blog?

2010-02-22T22:59:00.003+01:00

Maybe.

This blog was supposed to be about me on becoming a pro photographer. Well, now that I am a pro and I am working as one... I had to find a new topic for this journal. So as you may see, this is my first entry this year, a new start and a new way.
I will still be talking about photography and of course showing you pictures, but I thought this time, I'm gonna go deeper. I went for a walk today and met my topic in a wood while I stood there completely still and quiet. That's how I like to get new ideas. It then feels like they had searched for me and not the other way round. 'Cause you can't force yourself to be creative, to find something... it just has to happen and you have to let it happen. How?
It's different for everyone I guess. For me silence and nature, that's what I need to clean my head, to make space for new energy.

And as if I was standing too close... which is kinda funny when you think of "You can't see the forest for the trees"... and I was standing in the deepest forest... anyways... and as if I was standing too close I finally realized that this is my new plan. Topic. Target. Goal.
The next step.
Becoming that free soul I yearn to be, living creative freedom. Vacations, new people, ... getting to know the world, discovering new places, people and stories.

Maybe that's the reason why I am here.

I thought a lot about that question after I read the book my neighbour gave to me a few days ago:
The Why Are You Here Cafe by John Strelecky.
Read it, it's beautiful and so true.

You see a lot is going on in my head... I'll leave you with a few pictures of todays walk. Enjoy it... (all pictures are taken with my mobile-phone!)

I had just begun my walk as I discoverd this... I have been there often, but this house used to look different... now it's a beautiful tiny castle.

It's in the wood, but well seen from the street.I remember this house being used as "a bee house".

The writing above the door says: "Kinderschloss" (Kids Castle) and on the little board it says: "Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot" (Snow-White and Rose-Red)

A field... I actually don't know how this is called specifically.


Looking up.

There are several ways through the field.

Trees and Light.

My wishes for 2010

2009-12-31T10:27:00.002+01:00

... health and luck for my family, friends, and me
... keep doing what i love to do - but doing it better :)

... i achieved so much this year, i have to do new plans
... and of course: blog more!! :)

WISHING YOU ALL HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
2010

my god... these numbers look strange

Merry rockin' X-mas

2009-12-23T19:14:00.003+01:00

Can't believe it... it's X-mas tomorrow.... OMG! I'm working as a photographer since summer and the x-mas time was really busy for our team. But we did a great job, most of all because we had each other and we had wonderful clients. It was really great and I'm excited about the new year and all the weddings that are comming up.

I'm wishing you all a blessed christmas and happy new year!

Love,
Melanie

PS: my website has a new layout! checkt it out now!

Things are changing

2009-10-26T15:46:00.004+01:00

My god, it's already a month since I last posted here. And my last posting was not much about words.

On thursday 22nd I celebrated my 25th birthday. Yeah, I think it's offical. I'm grown up.
I accept it now. It's nothing that scares me anymore. Let's see what I'll write when I'm getting 30.... but I think they were all right. All the people that are older than me.
I remember someone saying (maybe it was a celebrity or maybe I read it in a book, I don't know anymore): "It was when I was in my 30s that I finally got to know myself."
I think I now know what this person was talking about. I thought I know myself when I got 18, then when I got 21.
I was wrong.
I don't want to say, I know myself that good now, it's just that I feel that I got closer to the person I am. I can tell now what is me, where my borders are and were other people beginn.
If you're not getting what I'm writing about... you're probably too young.
No, just kidding ;-)

Now that I'm working as a pro photographer for this little team, I finally have the time to spend my freetime on doing something else. How can I say... now that I know that I'll be spending my time on photographing/editing 30-40 hours a week, I feel reliefed.
I feel kinda free.
Back in my old life, where I had to spend 8 hours at a work I hated, I always thought "I could use this time for photography". So this pressure is now gone.
So, now I can look for other things that I like too. And I already discovered I like writing.
I used to write a lot when I was in my teenage years. I wrote kinda poems. I am not sure because I had not in my mind "now I'm writing a poem". The words just came out.

It was a month ago that I had this vision. Normally these visions are about a picture, but this time I knew photography would be the wrong media to let this feelings out. So when I got home, I sat down and wrote. I wrote and wrote. I wrote almost everyday.
Until now I wrote about 80 pages.

So, this time I'm not posting a picture. All you see is
Words.

sigh

2009-09-21T09:45:00.003+02:00

Watch this...

Why I love autumn

2009-09-20T18:21:00.005+02:00

I love autumn because...

* of the mist, the fog.
* the mystic feeling.
* the rain, I love to sit by the window, to hear and watch the rain.
* some of my favourtie CDs sound way much better. For example the latest Tori Amos CD "Abnormally attracted to sin" fits perfect in this time, I own it since it came out in May, but it was these rainy, foggy days that I started to love every single song of it.
* I like going for a walk in the nature, soaking up the fresh air.
* I love the melancholic feeling, the perfect time for great books and poems.
* it inspires me like nothing else.

A perfect sunday

2009-09-13T15:16:00.004+02:00

It's already a perfect sunday.

A good book, muffins, coffee, cosy bed, listening to the rain... love it! That's just how I can really relax. The three of us cuddling in bed (my boy, our kitty and me). Wonderful :)

So, I just finished the most beautiful book I have read since the "Saltön" books by Viveca Lärn. The german title is "Der Geschmack von Apfelkernen", in english it would be "The taste of apple pips" ... I guess. It's written by Katharina Hagena.
It's about a woman that goes back to her childhood village, because of her grandmas death. She got the old house where she used to spend the summers at. And going back to that house means also going back to her childhood when she lost her cousin Rosemarie.
This book is so heartwarming, intelligent, wonderful.
It's about friendship and love, about losing memory and remembering.

This weekend autumn arrived. You can see the trees slowly changing from green to yellow and red. When I get up early everything is covered in fog, sometimes the fog surrounds our house and sometimes our house looks down on the villages that are covered in glowing yellow fog.
It's so silent. Yeah, of course up here it's a lot more silent that anywhere else... but... the birds. They already left us about 2-3 weeks ago.
I miss them.
No singing in the morning.... they often stop in front of our windows when the cat is watching them. Teasing her and making a bit of a fool out of her ;)

And I was a bit silent celebrating my first positive photographer job done for the photographer I currently work at. Silent because not many people seem to really understand what this achived level means to me. Of course they are happy and glad but ... sometimes I have the feeling they take it for granted. But for me... doing all this is hard work, most people think I can do this easily but actually it's really not that easy. And it's risky.
I love photography so much, working for someone else and working as a pro can make my photography bigger and better or it can be the complete opposite. Loosing this love.
But I am sure I am in wonderful good hands at this photographer, I know that. But it's still hard work and I have to learn so much and ... yeah.... I sometimes wish people would see that more.
But I don't want to complain, I do feel blessed and I am proud of myself. Really really proud.

Hope you're all doing well, gonna visit your blogs now - have a great week!

I can feel autumn coming...

2009-09-03T07:45:00.005+02:00

... it's been a month since my last post. Wow.
August has been a very busy month, I can tell.

So what happened....

I'm in a photography traineeship at a popular local photographer. I already met this creative woman a year ago but it was this year that she called me. I asked for a job at another photography studio and the photographer handed my writing over to her.
So after a lot of running from office to office and dealing with a lot of austrian bureaucracy, I started my traineeship on 14th of August.
This programm will last until 23rd of October - one day after my birthday! And what will come after that... we will see ;)
Because of that programm I can also visit a highly recommended photoshop course, which will start in October.

It would be too much to retell everything, but let's say: the world wide crisis changed nothing. There is no help for young people looking for a job. I was unemployed for over 6 month and got no help, no answers, this traineeship could have started months ago, but no one ever informed me and told me about this programms.
So, to all of you who are unemployed - ask, get them on their nerves, and don't give up. You may also have to run and talk a lot on the phone too, but if you really want something don't give up!

During dealing with all this bureaucracy I also had to finish a few projects I started. I still have a lot of editing left to do for the fashion project, but the waiting will be worth it, I can promise.
And we're still not finished with redesigning our home. The dinning area is still left.
Oh... and of course the bath. We will make it bigger. But that's another project... I'm not sure if we will make it this year.

Then I spent a weekend with my boy and two of this working colleagues in lower austria. Sponsered by a company. We took part of a little cruise on the river Donau. It was beautiful. The next day we did a lot of sightseeing. I will show a few pictures later...

Last weekend we were at a wedding. We visited the couple a week before it and got to know two wonderful americans, Sydney and Pamela. They were here just for the wedding.
Pamela and me have so much in common, that was crazy. It's been a magical evening. We sat outside the house, where the parents of the groom live. Syd was playing a special flute, everything was quite, just one candle and the moon - gorgeous!
At the wedding Syd and Pamela had a present for us, a CD Syd did on his own, with his own artwork on it. Oh what beautiful relaxing and inspiring music. He also allowed me to use it on my website. And sure I will :)
On Sunday we visited them to say goodbye, this time we also had a little present for them. Austrian sweets and a picture of the wood where we live. They also invited us to visit them in Arizona. We felt so blessed for meeting such wonderful people.

And before all that it was my Daddies birthday, so we spent the weekend with him. So the weekend coming up now, will be the first weekend for a while that my boy and me have no plans we just want to stay at home, be lazy and cuddle up ;)

And here is a picture I have just taken a few minutes ago. I can already feel autumn comming....

in front of the house..., 3.9.2009, Canon 350D

Still there...

2009-08-08T08:45:00.001+02:00

I am still there.
But really busy.

BIG news are on the way!
I'm gonna post on this as soon as everything is finished and ready to be told.

:)

Busy but still spontaneous

2009-07-27T12:47:00.006+02:00

Sundown in front of the house, Canon 350D, (C) M. Eichenauer.

I have been offline the last few days 'cause I really needed to focus on learning for my business exam. Which I had today.
Yeah, I think it went well - I hope so. It will take some time until I get the result.

But most frankly, thank you all so much for sharing your stories with me on my last post! I enjoyed reading them. You truely are all magical souls.

So, except for learning what have I been up to else? A bit of editing - hell yeah, I am behind, and I shared a wonderful evening with my gorgeous neighbour Renate.

On thursday she helped me with the new curtains in our living room, it had already gotten dark, so we thought the curtains look so great inside, let's see how they look outside. We got in front of the house and recognised how warm it still was. So quiet, peacefull and so warm (the day had been really hot). The city lights layed in front of us and she said: "I need to stay outside for a little, mind going for a walk?" - "Why not sit here on the street and watch the gorgeous nightview?" I said.
And she loved that idea.

So we got a few pillows, candles and bread with her selfmade jam. And just sat on the street in front of the house (It's a private street, so no cars at all). We watched the stars and she told me how much she loves this spontaneous ideas of mine. And that I am actually up to do something spontaneous. People mostly are used to plan, to set a date for nearly everything - and we two, we just do it.
I mean, you can't really plan sitting on the street at night, can you? ;)

As we were sitting there, a frog came to visit us. We greeted that little guy and invited him to join us. So he sat a while beside us and then hopped on into the night.
I am sure he is going to tell all his frog friends about those crazy ladies. Muahaha :)

So, this week is also filled with many appointments - my car will be at the yearly check for one day, then on wednesday I have to drive my Daddy to the hospital. He will be operated on his knee, I am a little nervous honestly, although I know it's not a really big deal. But you know... those situations are never nice. He will be at home on friday.
And on saturday I got a big fashion shooting project. We are about 7 girls working on a shooting that will last the whole day.

Wishing you all a great week :)

Hooray for Facebook!

2009-07-22T07:35:00.007+02:00

I so have to thank Facebook!

It was yesterday, that I sat in front of my PC and during a photo-editing-session, I suddenly had in mind: Search for your old school mates. And the first name that popped into my head was: Angela.
We were such good friends during school, we only went to school together for 2 and a half year, but we were... heart and soul. During 2003 we lost touch. She moved to vienna (that is 200 km away from me) and we both started to work in our first job. So our lives went into different directions.

Angela was always so much fun to be, we really enjoyed some crazy time together. I think the last time I saw her, was when I visited her in Vienna. So that has to be about 6 years ago.

I could not find her on facebook first, I misstyped her last name (see for my 10 things about me list in the previous post and you'll know the thing about my bad memory). So I thought ... google knows everything. And I found her via Google-Images. It showed her facebook profile picture - so I knew - she is on facebook. And the rest is history ;)
I found her, and added her to my friends with the words: "aaahhhh angie! do you remember me?"

Yes she did.

She mailed back: "I can't believe it. Just a few days ago I've been thinking about you and how sad it is that we lost touch."

I responed I can exactly remember the last time I was thinking about her (haha this time - no bad memory haha). The day I was at the Aerzte-Concert (3.7. post). She was (and still is) a big fan of this band and I thought maybe she is there. Maybe we are both there and do not know.

So I mailed her my phone number and just a few hours later - she called me. It was so great to hear her voice and to get a little update on her life. She is still in Vienna. And she is living her dream - she's currently in police-school. She always wanted to join the police, and now she did. We talked a while and decided to meet as soon as she is visiting her family here again or maybe when I'm Vienna for the Tori Amos concert in September.

And here is a picture from both of us during our school time. It was the last week and the class decided to take a few photos. This one here shows the spirit of her and me - fooling around and really sticking together.

Nokia mobile cam (photo taken of photo), (C) M. Eichenauer.

Do you have someone in your life that you lost touch with?
Do you wonder what they're doing now?
Maybe you found someone after years of no contact?

I'd be glad to read your stories!

10 Things about me Tuesday

2009-07-21T08:49:00.007+02:00

Taken about a year ago in front of the house, Canon 350D, (C) M. Eichenauer.

I just spent about an hour in front of the house, simply enjoying the nature we're surrounded - the gorgeous view, fresh air, birds singing. So healing.
I think this could be my daily routine to start the day.

I'm working on my SEED-Handbook exercises. So I enjoyed the loneliness and silence outdoor. I tried not think of something special, I just let the thoughts rush into my head as they wished to.

So I came up with the idea - 10 Things about me Tuesday.
I don't wanna judge myself her, and I also don't want to write only positive things.
Just stuff, that I think is part of me. This list should grow, this list may change. However.
I just want to share it, as a healing process. As an inspiriation for myself (and maybe you) and as a cleaning process.

Let's see how far I can make it.

10 Things about me

1. I think I used to be a butterfly in a former life... 'cause I feel such a connection to these magical little beings.
2. When I think about conversations (past or future) I use to make the face like I am talking - but I am actually not... this can look really weird...
3. I love my toes
4. Sometimes I have a really bad memory
5. I love Winnie the Pooh
6. I am the complete opposite of patience
7. I am so emotional, I am very sensitive to feelings, so much that I often can't handle them
8. I am a control freak - so like in 7 - controlling all these feelings is very exhausting
9. I love water
10. I currently have 16 fairy-figures in my home.

Sunday Post

2009-07-19T18:19:00.005+02:00

Dessert, Canon 350D, (C) M. Eichenauer.

Ok, I'll try to find the correct english words for this meal. Let's see.... these are quark dumpling with elder and plum roaster. Decorated with little dried flowers.
First time I did this and it turned out soooo yummy! I also gave a decorated plate to Renate, my neighbour. We do this very often. If any of us cooked more food than needed, we hand a portion over.

I almost finished the second book I have to learn for business-exam. 2 more to go... uff.
I think, I'll have to make a timetable to be sure that I'll make it in time.

I forgot to tell you a little story on my week reflection yesterday. Shame on me.

On friday I met Kerstin in Linz (main city of upper austria). I know her from a basic photography class 2 years ago. Horray for Facebook, we were able to stay in touch.
She picked me up at the trainstation and we headed over to the main square to enjoy a wonderful breakfast. Oh my, what a hot day it was! We chatted hours over hours about photography and our experiences. It was real fun and it's always great to meet other artists. Someone that goes through the same things.
She also introduced me to a gorgeous, wonderful little bookstore. So many great books, books I mostley have never seen in another bookstore. I told my boy about it and now he wants to see it too. We just got a new bookshelf, 'cause his books fill up our flat. So you can tell, he loooves books :)

The re-design of our office is nearly finished. Only the final touches are missing.
Be prepared ;-)

Week Reflection...

2009-07-18T21:38:00.010+02:00

Christine and Rainer, at their little grillparty,
16.07.09., Canon 350D, (C) M. Eichenauer.

It's been a few days since my last post - so what have I been up to?

Above you see a picture I have taken at the little grillparty by my wonderful friend Christine and her boyfriend Rainer. I so love her house, it's small but so gorgeous. The outside is kinda pink coloured and it's very hidden. Her own little nest ;)
Inside it's so heart warming, you feel welcome right away. The furniture is very nordic-like, I think most of it is by Ikea. Love that!
So, me and my boy spent the late evening with them. The food was yummy yummy and we had so much fun. I haven't seen her for 2 month, what a shame. I can't believe that happened. But as we are all so busy we did not have the time - well we did not take the time you could say also.
But I guess the greatest thing that happend was when Christine told me she and Rainer decided they also wanna travel to Sweden. Weehehee!! So we're going all together, hopefully next summer. We talked about a little house we wanna rent, and also about her new baby that will join us! A golden retriver. Cute little doggy. OMG! He did not arrive yet, but the pictures she showed us - awww. That was really funny, when I saw the pictures of him and her... it looked like she held her adopted baby in her arms. That was so lovely!

I finished reading "The Seed-Book" today. What an inspiring book, it's so perfect for what I needed to know. I'm gonna re-read it, so that I can now concentrate on the chapter-exercises.
I also talked about this book with my gorgeous neighbour Renate. She is so amazing. Artist through and through.
She always inspires and encourages me, it's amazing. Although she is about 30 years older than me, we have so much in common. It's like I met myself from the future. Which is also a little strange sometimes.
We often sit in front of the house and talk for hours, until the sun goes down. We have the most beautiful sundowns here.
Here is another proove....

In front of the house, the little dots are maany birds,
Canon 350D, (C) M. Eichenauer.

And this one was also taken this week when Renate and me philosophized about the world.

Flowers, Canon 350D, (C) M. Eichenauer.

We always share great conversations, I so love talking to her. She is so excited about my plans on creating my own business. She loves it and I love how she loves it.
She worked as a secretary for over 20 years and then... she turned the job down and now lives free.
What does that mean?
She has no real job, she is living from the money she saved from all over the years and from little incomes. These little incomes are from selling her artwork.
She has no tv, only radio.
She has talent in creating artwork such as redesigning old furniture, sewing, knitting, working with stones, etc.
She praises mother nature and her gifts for us.
She believes in god, not in the church.
She knows about the power of positive thinking.
For me... she is the true example for freedom.

I remember wishing for a neighbour that cherrishes the nature as I do, I longed for a neighbour that makes me feel less alone her on the hill, someone I could just hang out with every now and then. Someone to chat with when doing the laundry, or when it's winter and we can't go anywhere 'cause we're stuck on the hill.
And my wish was heard.
She told me, she was always looking for a place like that, and she could not believe it, when she found it. It was even better that she expected.
I think there is a lot of energy in and around this house. It's a special energetic place.

So this was a reflection on my spare little freetime I spent this week. I am really busy. I have to learn so much for my business-exam. I don't know if any european reading this knows about the EBCL. This is something the EU invented. A great course on all things business but a looot to learn.
And I still have to do a lot of editing. 2 people need their CDs.
So if you're one of my flickr friends - sorry for being so quiet there. And I'm also a little behind on commenting on your blogs. Thank you SITS-girls for visiting and commenting on my blog. I'll get back to all your blogs as soon as possible.

Till then,
lots of love and joy for the upcoming week :)
xxx

Weekend Reflection

2009-07-13T21:38:00.005+02:00

During a shooting yesterday, Canon 350D, (c) M. Eichenauer.

I had a shooting yesterday. Promo photos for a local event. It was actually the second time I worked for them. Many different people, crazy, and fun.
It always amazes me how much I learn with every shooting. This time now is so important to improve. I get to know my artistic and also business side much better every time. And I learn to connect these both sides. I don't want to seperate them.
I think that's a main reason why I chose to become a pro-photographer.

And although I'm not earning money with it yet, I can really feel myself into it - the business, the work. That's so important.
I now try to sit down after every shooting and write down what I liked and what I did not like. What is working good for me and what I should improve and/or change.

My boy and me also found some time to spend together - and guess what we did..... watched about 18 episodes of Friends - tataaaa! :-)
On 2 days, saturday and sunday.... but we also watched a few on friday - so I think we might have watched about 25 episodes or so.... We're just really happy we now own all the 10 seasons, I guess you can tell ;-)

We're now at the final 10th season... and can't believe it's soon "over" (we both haven't seen all the episodes when they were on telly).
"It must not end, it can not end... these are OUR Friends." Awww that was so sweet... and a bit weird when you think about it *lol*.

Do you like Friends? What is your fav character/couple/season/etc.?

I really enjoyed the 7th season, but they are all great, but I think when we watched the 7th we laughed the most and loudest.
And characters... I just love them all... depends on the season. I like Monica during the first 2 seasons, then Rachel, but also Phoebe all the time... Chandler during the first 4 seasons, then Joey... but also Ross all the time... you see, I can not decide...
OMG stop me - I'm talking too much about it again.... sssshhh....

A little refreshment

2009-07-11T15:15:00.004+02:00

New flowers, Canon 350D, (c) M.E.

My boy bought me this wonderful flowers a few days ago. I just found a few minutes to take a photograph of them. They're so beautiful and fit in our new bedroom perfectly. I'll be showing photos of our whole home when we're finally completely finished. A few details need to be added (like curtains) but the biggest room left is the office.
This one needs another Ikea visit. We need more space for books. My boy owns so many books it's crazy. And he treats them like little treasures, 'cause sure they are, so no book will be thrown away, they will all get a special place where they can spend the rest of their book-life. haha :)

My part of the office needs to be decorated very special. As you may already know via my blog, I currently read The Seed Book, which gives great ideas for getting your office ready for your business to take place.
I think I might go into bright colours, really bright red, orange, green. Maybe something like that. The room is really small and a little dark, so I think bright colours would give a great fresh look. If you have any advice, please, I would be so glad to know :-)

First change on myself happened today - I finally made it to the hairdresser. I haven't been there for too long. I tried a new one and I am so satisfied. I'm a natural brunette girl, but no other hairdresser got my brown hair to look so great, than it does now. I am in love.
The haircut is also great, much shorter (not too short), my hair has just been too long. I feel like I have already lost some weight ;-)
And I also think this new hairlook reflects my personallity. But, why not have a look at yourself? Actually I'm posting this for my friends, they're hardly waiting to see it :-)

New haircut, Canon 350D, (c) M.E.

A laugh a day....

2009-07-09T22:12:00.001+02:00

Click on picture to see it big :-)

The feminine way

2009-07-08T07:44:00.010+02:00

The Seed Handbook by Lynne Frank, Nokia Mobile Cam.

My amazon order finally got dilvered yesterday. I read about this book on the Boho Blog. I knew right away that this is what I am looking for.

The Seed Handbook - The feminine way to create business by Lynne Frank.
This has nothing to do with the laws or so, this book starts at the very beginning. It's a about getting the ground ready to plant your tree (the business).
I haven't come far yet, but I know already that this will be the help that I so need now.

I am doing a lot of cleaning and changing, to get ready for business, to be able to focus on it only. I am already focused but I just have the feeling the enviroment around me has to be focused too. And my first appointment will me the hairstylist on saturday. A new hairstylist I've never tried before, but I am excited and know I will be in good hands.
In my opinion the look of my hair should also reflect my business, my creativity, and therefore my soul.
So you see, it all plays together. It all goes hand in hand.

My boy looked a bit confused when I showed him the book - I think he was a bit irritated by the words "the feminine way". What is the feminine way?
First I am no feminist and I am no man-hater at all. It's nothing about that. What we all know and should respect is that men and women are different.
And so we are different in creating and running businesses.
I experienced working under a female boss, who was trying to do it "like a man". This woman lost everything that made her happy. She lost her light. She had become someone she was not meant to be.
For me, as I now haven't read the book completely yet, feminine business is about sharing, creating with soul. Sharing is so important.

Why not answer if someone asks?
I remember asking other photographers for help, and getting no answer in return at all. A simple "Sorry, I don't share my tricks, etc." would have been acceptable, but no answer - that's just poor. I also got answers where they thank me for writing but don't say anything about my questions. They seemed to just ignore it.

But I also know photographers who are willing to share their wisdom via blogs, tutorials, and so on. And I thank these women so much. You can find the links to these incredible photographers and women on the left of this Blog.

My good photographer friend Ulli also thanked me yesterday for being so patient and always answering all of her questions. I could feel how blessed and deeply thankfull she felt and so did I.
I so believe in giving and getting something in return. Maybe not by the same person, maybe by someone else. Doesn't matter. It is worth sharing thoughts and knowledge.

As many of you are readers from abroad, you have to know that the photography business situation or let's just say the whole business situation, in austria is totally different like it is for example in the states.
I got to know so many american women, who are fulltime mums and halftime business girls. I so look up to them. Here in europe no one ever talks about that boom over there. And I think it is a boom.
Here in europe, the media talking about the states includes wars, junk food, crazy people (like the mothers who force their girls to become models....). The real america I experience now via these women is so much different from that. It's a country for creative freedom. It's a country for celebrating life and joy. It's a country with such breathtaking beautiful landscape. It's a country full of wonderful, creative and gorgeous souls.

So don't ever judge them by what you see in the media here. Don't ever judge any country before you took a look at it yourself.
I wrote this to Shelby Nycole on one of here posts - I hope she did not think I am weird or something. Because her blog post was not about that topic at all. muahaha ;)
I just wanted to tell her that, because by reading her blog, she taught me a lot about the real america. And so it's not only her blog, there are thousands over thousands out there, just take a look at "The Secret is in the Sauce".

So what has THAT to do with ME and my business?
These women, no matter what business they created, inspired and encouraged me to create mine. Although I was and sometimes am... a silent reader :-)
They make me feel less alone.

And speaking of "alone". Like millions did yesterday, so did I. Watch the memorial of Michael Jackson.
I did not want to write about him, 'cause I have never been a fan. I like a few of his songs, I liked the dance-moves, but this blog is not meant to document others lifes. And I did not want to write about someone and something that so much is already written and said about.
But now I really feel the need to state the following.

Watching the memorial of Michael Jackson made me cry a few tears. Not because he is dead. Don't get me wrong, but I did not know this man in person. So I could never cry after him.
The tears came when watching that ceremony I realized how lonley this man must have been. Let's forget all that stardom, the rumours, and so on.
The fact is, that people laughed about him, when he was alive. The press throw stones at him, when he was alive.
And now, they're celebrating him. Shame on all of them.
I can't remember who it was, but one man said very important words:
(to his kids) it was not your father, who was strange, it was strange what he had to deal with.
So true.
And sorry for saying the following... but his daugther saying the last few words.... girl you won't get an oscar for that one!
Of all of them who were there at his memorial - who were there when he really needed them?
How much pain and loneliness can one stand?

Nothing like... Friends ;)

2009-07-06T08:35:00.004+02:00

My dads boat, Canon 350D, Copyright M. Eichenauer

Old dog lady at the boats club, Canon 350D, M. Eichenauer

04.07.2009, Canon 350D, view from boats club,
Copyright M. Eichenauer

So, how has your weekend been?

Me and my boy visited my Dad and Mum at the boats club. It was a warm but raining day. I had my baby (cam) with me and of course had to take a few pictures.
I really enjoyed that day 'cause me and my love went for a big walk also. Haven't done this for weeks.
There were so many people at the club house, we felt a bit old, 'cause we, the youngest, left as the first. lol

Oh and that doggy you see, she is an old lady, nearly blind, but sooo cute and don't worry, she gets a lot of love.

So when we got home, me and my boy cuddled up in front of the telly and watched about 6 Friends epsiodes on DVD. Season 2. We own now all of them. Yippie :)

Yesterday we went out for lunch with his best friend and his friends mother and brothers. It was so much fun, they are all so cute and funny. And the boys... oh my god, my love and one of the twins ate... soooo much, a normal person won't even eat on one day!
And later that day, guess what... we watched Friends again.
9 episodes!
So that makes 15 episodes this weekend! Crazy... I know ;)

By the way....
I just wanted to say, if I spell something wrong, if something is not correct english, please, you can tell me!

Die Aerzte and Deichkind LIVE!

2009-07-04T13:38:00.003+02:00

Support: Deichkind! Linz, 03.07.2009 (Mobile Cam)

Die Aerzte! Linz, 03.07.2009 (Mobile Cam)

Sorry, for the bad quality I hope you can see a little bit how great it was!!

Die Aerzte are a popular german rockband. In the business since 20 years and still rocking this thing! So great!
I'm not a real fan I have to admit, I don't own a CD but my boy took me with him and his friends - so I could not say no and good I did not. It's been so much fun. Altough the crowd was... let's say WILD!!
Throwing cups and themselves around all the time. Really crazy, like at one of those rock festivals.

The band had 3 support bands, we only went to see the last support band - 'cause I looove them. They are so crazy and make such great hip hop dance music (which I normally don't listen to, but they have such a great sound). They're called Deichkind and are also a german band.
They rocked this thing too.

So after these hours of rocking around we were so exhausted and still are a little bit. Sometimes I have the feeling, like I'm already too old for this *lol*. Actually, my body felt like that when we got home at 1 am.

Living room changes

2009-07-02T19:36:00.004+02:00

New Wall, Canon 350D, Copyright M. Eichenauer.

So, as mentioned early today, here is a picture of our new wall in the living room. The fabrik of the couch does not really fit to this great wall painting we did, so I cover it underneath all these white fabric. Doesn't it look cozy? And hell yeah it is!
So refreshing. So great.

The pictures shows flowing water, we ordered that wall sticker via a german online shop. Then painted the grey square, applied the sticker to the wall, then I made the corners of the grey square round, so that it fits the pictuer. And after that we painted the rest blue, with leaving a white frame around the grey area.

You can't see it very clear but on the right, there is the window. We used to have those bambooshades by Ikea (I don't know if this is the right english word, if not, please correct me). But they did not work very well here due many facts (old wall, when opening window they often fell down... etc) So I have to get curtains.
I'm not quite sure what colour... of course it has to fit all the blue. But there are so many shades of blue out there. Gosh!

The only room that is now left to be worked on is the office. And that one is a huge problem... Two totally different people when it comes to deco.... it's gonna be haaard.

My full calendar book...

2009-07-02T10:04:00.003+02:00

My kitty, Canon 350D, Copyright M. Eichenauer.

My dear friend Manuela visited me yesterday for breakfast. We really enjoyed ourselfs with great food (salmon, croissants, coffee, etc.). Oh we girls should do that way more often.

Our living room, which we re-designed, is now finished. I'll be taking a few shots and show you here as soon as I have the time. I can't believe how busy I am with organising my days. I am now often seen with my calendar-book in one hand and mobile phone in other hand. Crazy.
This is me? I often think I must look like a business woman. lol.

So what's ahead the next days....
Tomorrow friday: going to a rockconcert (german rock-band: die aerzte) with my boy and some of his friends.
Saturday: midsummer festival at my dads boats club.
Sunday: Going for dinner with my boy and his best friend.
Monday: Cornelia is visiting me, for getting her images on CD.
Yeah then some random stuff ... but the list goes on...
Friday: Meeting with Kerstin for breakfast in Linz, attending local event by a social club (I'll be telling more on that as soon as I am ready....) in late evening.
Saturday: hopefully doing a hike with my boy
Sunday: Shooting

What are your plans, let's say, for the weekend? ;-)

Addicted to Roisin Murphy

2009-06-30T08:43:00.004+02:00

Roisin Murphy - Dear Miami.

I am so addicted to this song! The video is bad, just listen to the song. It's so great.

The flood made me cancel another shooting. It was set to be at the river... but no chance. It's too dirty and distroyed there. We'll have to wait about 3 weeks to be able to work there. 3 weeks if it's not raining again. If it is... who knows how long it will take...

That's it for today.... checking out other blogs.... ;-)

Random Thoughts...

2009-06-29T09:16:00.004+02:00

Monika M., Canon 350D, 70s Fairytale.
Copyright M. Eichenauer.

I just discovered a few beautiful blogs/websites by amazing photographers. Go check 'em out:
Ashley Skjaveland
Butterfly Moments
Brenda Acuncius
Leah Zawadzki

Yesterdays shooting fell into water, literally. So I have to make a new appointment - which will not be very easy for July 'cause this month is already rather filled with things to do.

I'm also announcing, that the amount of shootings I'm doing is limited. Since I don't make any money out of it (yeah right...), I will from now on only do shootings that I think will bring my creativity, my work, a step further. Shootings that will help me learn and improve.
So I am not a girl for everything!
Just felt the need to state that. Although I know the right people may not ever read this here,... but at least I said it.
Of course I want many shootings, but I still have to learn so much and I still want to try out many styles - so that I learn and know what style works for me best - and of course I want to be able to create my own style.

So, I have many projects in mind, ideas of working with other artists together... I have to focus on these projects more.
I really appreciate everyone asking to work together, but I should stay focused on what is helping me to improve.

Many people don't understand this, saying "oh you're already so great", of course it's nice, but they often don't understand what I am going through - I am not already there. My photos are not how I want them to be. Yeah, I like my photos, on some I am really proud... but that does not last long. But I appreciate these thoughts, these struggles, they keep me going.

It's still a long way to go where I want to be as an artist, as a photographer.

I'm currently listenting a lot to Heather Nova. Perfectly for this rainy, bad weather. Her lyrics are touching me deeply.
So I'm leaving you with this...:

"Storm's out on the water,
I watch it getting closer,
Are you coming home?
All these years we've wandered
Trying to break the cycle
All these years of hope

And my heart feels the strain,
But it makes me feel like I'm alive again
Well sometimes in our lives
We need the pain"
Heather Nova - Storm. (Album: Storm)

Monika

2009-06-27T23:36:00.006+02:00

Monika M., Canon 350D, Copyright M. Eichenauer.

These pictures are from the fashion shooting with Monika today. We met during my photography class back in May. She was one of the models for the portrait classes. I really loved her style and how she moved in front of the cam, so I had to do another shot with her. Today finally we made it.
Nearly all the pictures were taken at the docks near her hometown. What a great place for fashion shots, but also really strange! So many strange people... I would not ever want to be alone there. Strange things are happening there I can tell.

The clothes are all her own, so there was no special styling - just her and her clothes. And me with the cam.
I can really imagine her as a muse for a photographer. She moves so naturally, it's a real pleasure to work with her. She has so many ideas herself and she is also interested in art and fashion. That makes everything a lot easier and also feels so inspiring.

While driving home after the shooting, I felt so blessed. This has been another day that felt like a future preview - this could be my future. Working on weekends, while everyone else has freetime... yeah, may be annoying sometimes, but I felt so grateful for being able to meet so many different people. It's unbelievable how unique we all are. We may have quite the same looks, or similar style... but when it comes to personality - we are like no one else in this world. That's so magical and fascinating. Always.

YA YA!

2009-06-26T20:38:00.004+02:00

"Let's fall in love...", taken today.
Copyright Melanie Eichenauer 2009.

Lovely Ulrike visited me today. I got to know her while my photography class. She is so lovely and also wants to become a pro-photographer and run her own business. But it's a little bit harder for her, she already has two little kids and one big house.
I could not imagine me being at her position. So much to do, cleaning, caring, eduacating... and learning for all the stuff we need for the master exam. Wow, she really is brave and strong.

I live very outside of the city, so she had problems finding me, but once she got here... we could not stop talking and laughing. Of course we just chatted about our love for photography. The hours flew by, so we talked for nearly 6 hours. Wow! My throat hurts really now.

It's so great to have someone that goes through exactly what you are going through now. That makes it all a bit easier or easier to get through. It's great to share fears and worries and also joy. We can't wait to run our business and start creating magic. Her equipment is much better than mine, she owns much better lenses... but I have to safe all my money for the next big important class before the master exam. So I can't afford anything new now.
We'll definitely be meeting again, oh and we'll also be doing a fashion shooting together. I'm so excited about that. All women, lot's of feminine power! Ya Ya! ;-)

I also nearly begged her to join Flickr. It's so much fun there and great to learn and improve and get inspired.
Are you at flickr? If so - let me know!

NEW BEGINNING

2009-06-25T10:04:00.005+02:00

The Sky, Canon 350D. Copyright Melanie Eichenauer 2009.

I finally made it - I think I am satisfied with this blog layout.
So let the blogging beginn...

First, I hope all the girls featured here find it ok that I use their picture for linking to their blogs. If not, send me a note and I'll change that.
I just think it's a lovely way to show my respect and appreciation.

So, I have been blogging before, but it's since I completely read her blog, that I now truely understand what it is about. I know now why I never really liked my blog (besides the fact that it just looked ugly *g*). It's not been personal in any way.
I know that there are people out there who don't understand why one should share her private life here. And I have to admit, it's not an easy step.
But I found a topic, a topic what it's about basically. So that people who actually don't know me at all yet, understand what it's about.
Yes, I admit I'm not writing this only for myself - if so, I should consider writing a journal offline ;-)

I'm writing this to meet others that are going through the same kinda thing. To get advice, share stories, etc. whatever. A social online life ;-)

But now to tell you what I am talking about.... this blog will mainly be about me on my way on becoming a pro-photographer and starting my own business.
I live in austria, so it may be different to other countries but the struggles with yourself... I think they are the same.

Oh, and please forgive me any english-mistakes. I have been asked before, why I write in english, why not german, that it would be more me.... I don't think so. Yes, it's my motherlanguage, but I read so many english blogs, visit so many english websites, it just fells natural to write here in english as well. And of course I want to be able to contact with people all over the world.

I'm off to my business class... wishing you a wonderful day.

Re-Design

2009-05-29T18:04:00.002+02:00

Since my homepage has got a new layout - this blog should be re-done too! So come back for more updates and new design.

Update Fashion Shooting

2009-04-30T09:27:00.002+02:00

Der Casting Aufruf für das Fashion Projekt im Juli ist vorbei!
Danke für eure zahlreichen Bewerbungen!

Morgen werden die Desigerin und ich uns zusammensetzen und eine erste Vorauswahl treffen, wen wir gerne zum Fitting einladen.
Die genauen Infos dazu und was euch so erwartet, bekommt ihr dann per PN über die jeweiligen Modelseiten oder per Mail!

Danach treffen wir uns mit einer Acc. Designerin in Linz. Es gibt also noch viel zu tun :-)

Wonderful!!

2009-04-29T09:17:00.005+02:00

I did a little shopping on friday. I haven't done this for ages... ok it feels just like I haven't done this for ages ;-)
I bought me new shoes (I loooove them, I have to get all the other colours, the first kinda-high-hells that I can walk with), then a lovely shirt from H&M, a wonderful Make-Up box with looots of colours, a lovely perfume (smells sooo gorgeous) and finally the The Lady Gaga CD (love it).

Children-Shooting on saturday was cancelled, it's rescheduled for friday.

What else.... oh well yeah, my photography class started on monday.
I love love love it - it feels so good to be there and it's the best class I've ever joined. The teacher is brilliant. He explains everything so well and easy to understand. Ok, honestly everything we learned till now, I already knew, but I tought it myself, so have to admit I understand everything even more better now. I can explain it better.
I don't know if this makes any sense to you.... lol

I'll be doing a portrait shooting tomorrow. First time I'll be doing the make-up myself. My lovely friend Manuela is usally doing this, but I really have to learn that myself. I mean I can do my make-up but it's always different when you're doing it for or on someone else.

So my calender for the next weeks is rather full.... school, shootings, working on my portfolio, project organisations, creating two books.... *sigh* oh how I love it :-)

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

W A N T E D

2009-04-07T21:26:00.003+02:00

Gesucht!

Weibliche Modelle und Hairstylisten.

Projekt-Daten:
- Fashion/Mode Shooting (Outdoor)
- Ort: Steyr
- Zeitraum: Juli 2009

Ich suche für ein großes Fashion Projekt weibliche Models und Hairstylisten.

Die Kleidung ist exklusiv, alles Unikate und stammen von einer jungen Designerin aus Steyr.
Das erste Fitting wird Anfang Juli 2009 stattfinden, dann kurz darauf das Shooting.

Anforderungen an Models:
- mind. 1,70 m groß
- max. Kleider-Größe 38
- auch Anfängerinnen sind willkommen
- flexibel
- kreativ
- Zeit u. Geduld, das Shooting wird sehr früh losgehen und hat "Open End".

Anforderungen an Hairstylisten:
- flexibel
- kreativ
- Zeit u. Geduld, das Shooting wird sehr früh losgehen und hat "Open End".
- auch Anfängerinnen bzw. Hobby Stylisten sind willkommen

Das Shooting findet Outdoor statt. Alle Mitwirkenden an diesem Projekt erhalten die Daten dann auf CD fürs eigene Portfolio.

Wer Interesse hat meldet sich bitte per Mail an folgende Adresse: photo@creative-companion.org. Bitte unbedingt Fotos von euch mitschicken!
Bei geeigneten Personen melden wir uns dann und laden euch zum Fitting ein. Dieser Termin ist sehr wichtig, hier wird geschaut, ob euch die Kleidung auch wirklich passt. Wie gesagt, es sind alles Einzelstücke.

Alle Termine finden in Steyr (OÖ) bzw. in der nahen Umgebung statt.

Wir sind eine lustige Truppe an Mädels und freuen uns auf euch und einen arbeitsreichen, kreativen Tag!

First Beauty Shooting +Making Of

2009-04-03T21:09:00.004+02:00

Did my first beauty shooting today and it was also my first shooting in my new studio. It went really well, I am very satisfied with the results. Tanja is an actrice and hobby-model. Make-up was done by Manuela (elabella.at). Here are a few Making Of pictures:

Manuela the Make-Up Artist.

Tanja looking a bit scared ;-)

Manuela trying to get some glitter out.

And here are the first results:

Neue Location

2009-04-01T21:00:00.002+02:00

Ich hoffe, man kann es erkennen - hatte leider nicht das passende Objektiv oben. Hier sieht man einen Teil eines Waldes. Der Boden ist durch und durch mit weißen und lila Blumen bedeckt - einfach ein Traum!

Wer also Interesse an Portraits hatte, sollte sich schnell melden - wer weiß, wie lange die Pracht erhalten bleibt!

Having a cold...

2009-03-28T23:03:00.003+01:00

This week I had a really big cold. I felt weak all day long. Horrible!
My stomach isn't hurting, but I also don't have the need to eat. I'm getting green when I'm thinking about eating... don't know why.
So my meal for the day is soup and a few fruits. That's all... since 3 days or so.
This "feeling sick" is now since a week or so... hope it's gonna get better - NOW! not tomorrow or any day soon - NOW!

I'm finishing the concepts for a few photo shootings - one is my first big fashion shoot. I can't wait to meet the designer to do some creative "brain storming".
And I have so many other shoots to do.... kids, beauty, "nightmare" project, etc.

Ya, that's all for the moment. Need to drink... I'm feeling thirsty all day long...

A home for the boat

2009-03-19T11:22:00.006+01:00

That's the new home for my Daddy's boat! It's so beautiful there. Yeah, you can't see it very clear here, but it really is and I'm so excited and happy about it. Maybe it's gonna be there in April, so be sure - I'll be doing a shooting there. I love that place. So peaceful and my Dad said everyone is really friendly there.

Haven't blogged for a long time - but so much is happening! I'm part of FM5 - the online magazine. Really great girls and boys there. I'm posting the links as soon as something is published that is written by me (or that is showing my photos).

Then I got so many request for photo shootings. I think April is half full already. It's wonderful!

I've also taken a mental training class last weekend. I really enjoyed it and learned much. It would be too much to retell but I learned that it's important to make my dreams clear, to watch every detail and beware of it.

Last Friday was such a beautiful day. Here are a few picture of the walk I took with my boy: (Taken with cellphone cam)

And here is the latest view on my home studio: (Also taken with cellphone cam)

Hope you all had a great week!
Love,
Melanie xxx

New Tori Amos CD is coming!

2009-03-10T21:01:00.006+01:00

Here is an interview with Tori about the new album.

I am so excited about it!! It's gonna be released on May 19th.

Tracklisting "Abnormally attracted to Sin":

1. 'Give'
2. 'Welcome to England'
3. 'Strong Black Vine'
4. 'Flavor'
5. 'Not Dying Today'
6. 'Maybe California'
7. 'Curtain Call'
8. 'Fire to Your Plain'
9. 'Police Me'
10. 'That Guy'
11. 'Abnormally Attracted to Sin'
12. '500 Miles'
13. 'Mary Jane'
14. 'Starling'
15. 'Fast Horse'
16. 'Ophelia'
17. 'Lady in Blue'

New Shootings

2009-03-07T15:57:00.003+01:00

Me and my model and wonderful friend Christine after our shooting in my car (taken with cellphone cam). The new shots are already online on my flickr page. (Link on the right)

So I'm working on my stuff for the meeting with the online magazin on monday in Vienna. I'm excited about it.

Shopping

2009-03-04T09:48:00.004+01:00

This is my boy with his baby, our new family member. The laptop is actually placed on "Dave" the laptop-desk from Ikea.

At the big big Ikea store I bought little stuff for my studio and of course I had to go to the Food Shop. You have to know (if you don't already know) I am a huge Sweden fan.
So everytime I go to Ikea I have to buy something real swedish.
Down below we have: Swedish beer, Fish in garlic sauce, a big Daim package (yummy, I think I'm gonna use them for my cupcakes), and smoked Elk Salami.
There is a little funny story behind that salami.
Michael: Not bad salami... a bit spicey.... haha... elk salami.
Me (thinking he was joking and tasting it too): Yeah... not bad (then reading the words on the packaging) Oh my god this is really elk!!! I ate elk salami! *scream*

Inspiring

2009-03-03T13:29:00.004+01:00

1. ~~part3 ~~ .... there's always hope ...., 2. Untitled, 3. Emotive Szene ♥, 4. perfect circle, 5. 56, 6. . dancelight, 7. Sometimes Fairy Tales Do Come True..., 8. window, 9. Cala Baladrar, 10. Mildenburg_0076, 11. Bubbles Make Me Happy, 12. bees!, 13. wait for me, 14. to the sea, 15. Monet's dream, 16. ~I Am Happy To Be A Lady Today~, 17. Untitled, 18. A Bouquet of Yellow, 19. Untitled, 20. Day 58 {first sign of spring.}, 21. arh, 22. disguising the obvious..., 23. Happiness is..., 24. Still Beautiful, 25. Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open, 26. Nina, 27. Anke, 28. *, 29. 7, 30. Untitled, 31. 1924, 32. ruffled, 33. Shinning Tree 2, 34. in my mind, 35. anouk en valerie, 36. 3web

These are my latest favs on flickr. Haven't done this in quite a while. But I discovered so many wonderful, inspiring, beautiful artists. Visit it them - you won't regret it.

I also made friends with many new contacts... it's so great to see others work and share thoughts about it.

Can't wait for Thursday - I'm doing a shooting! Really excited about it - I'm not gonna tell anything until the photos are finished.

Going to IKEA later with my honey. I'm looking for decorations and furniture for my new little low-budget studio.

Oh - and does anyone have some good advise on Polaroid instant cameras? I'm thinking about buying one.

My creative order

2009-02-26T21:56:00.005+01:00

My latest Amazon order:

DVD:
Lucia und der Sex (Lucìa y el sexo, Sex and Lucia). A spanish movie staring Paz Vega (Spanglish). A beautiful, sensual and inspiring movie. It's not about sex in first place, it's about relationships between lovers, parents and friends. About a writer who struggles with his story and the story somehow becomes alive, or he is just writing down his live.... that's up to the viewer.

Book:
Unheimliche Geschichten (Scary Stories) by Edgar Allan Poe. I am so excited about this one. Can't wait to start reading it.

Book:
Das große Buch vom Stricken (The big book about knitting).
Since I've discovered so many creative artists on the web, I was thinking about doing it again. I haven't knitted since I was about ... I don't know ... maybe 12 years old... so that is 12 years ago - my god.
And all these artists I know on the web are very young, so knitting and crafting isn't something for the "old ones" - it's getting modern again. I know a knitting circle here at my hometown with members of 20 years and younger.

Find the car!

2009-02-24T13:59:00.003+01:00

Be patient...

2009-02-20T10:11:00.006+01:00

I found a video through the lovely Deb Schwedhelm. She posted it on her blog, but please also take a look at her gorgeous photography.

It's a video by a photographer for photographers.... no matter if you're a pro or not or if you're in your beginnings like I am. It felt like he is directly speaking to me. It's a bit "long", but it's worth beeing watched till the end.

Visit Zack Arias.

Banana Nutella Muffins

2009-02-19T11:54:00.005+01:00

The cold weather keeping me inside is good for baking. I'm not a genius in the kitchen but I'm so proud of these muffins/cupcakes.

I used the basic receipt and added 1 banana and nutella (hazelnut-chocolate-creme) to it. On top of the cream that are dried flowers with cinnamon and a bit sugar.

-----------------

Da ich mal wieder lieber zuhause bleibe, und mich bei den Schneemassen auch gar nicht raus traue, hab ich mal wieder gebacken. Und ich bin so stolz auf diese Muffins. Ich habe nur das Grundrezept verwendet und selbst Zutaten dazugemixt. Und die sind so lecker geworden, total flaumig.

Grundrezept:
250 g Mehl
2 TL Backpulver
2 Eier
250 g Joghurt (oder Milch, ich habe Milch genommen)
100 g Zucker
75 ml Öl (Rapsöl ist ideal)
1 Banane
2 Esslöfel Nutella
Geriebene Nüsse (ich habe Walnüsse genommen)
Zum Dekorieren:
Schlagobers
Sonnentor Gewürzmischung "Flower Power"

1. Mehl und Backpulver mischen.
2. Eier, Joghurt, Zucker und Öl gründlich verquirlen.
Laut Rezept soll man Punkt 1 und 2 getrennt machen, ich habe aber alles gleich in eine Schüssel und vorsicht vermischt, das funktioniert auch.
3. Die Banane mit einem Stabmixer schön zerkleinern, bis ein richtiger Brei entsteht und zur Masse dazugeben.
4. Nutella dazugeben, nach Geschmack kann es auch mehr sein. Dann die Nüsse dazu geben. Ich hab ehrlich gesagt nicht abgewogen wieviel ich genommen habe - das kann man ganz nach Belieben machen.
5. Alles gut vermischen und in die gefettete oder mit Förmchen ausgelegte Form gießen.
6. Bei 180 Grad ca. 20-25 Min backen, danach gut abkühlen lassen.
7. Mit Schlagobers und den getrockneten Blumen dekorieren.

Yummy!

I'm on RedBubble

2009-02-18T11:43:00.002+01:00

I created my account at RedBubble!

You can buy my artwork there.
Click here to watch my Bubble Site!

I just started it, so there will be much more updates coming up.

Damn Winter Wonderland

2009-02-17T11:01:00.003+01:00

So I'm stuck here on the hill again... had to cancel my portrait shootings for this week. The weather just got worse. It really drives me mad. I got many appointments for next week - so I really hope the situation will get better.

But good news are: I'm in contact with an online magazine. They really liked my photos and would love to work with me. So I'll be in Vienna in march to meet them and see if we can work together. Nothing is fixed yet, so I don't want to talk too much about it.
Keep your fingers crossed ;-)

My new cellphone!!

2009-02-13T10:02:00.005+01:00

First of all... I'm not a technique freak when it comes to cellphones. I don't talk much on the phone, I prefer to write a message now and then ('cause they're free for me haha).
My boy gave a new cellphone on my birthday back in october. The one before was damaged by me. Spoiling joghurt over it is not a good thing, I can tell ;-)
So he gave me a new one as a present. That was another Nokia. But after 3 or 4 weeks the main display didn't work anymore. So we sent it in to get it fixed. A month later we got it back - the display was working again but I had no sound. We wrote a mail to Amazon who apologized for the company that gets all the repairs. They told us to send it in once again and promised it will be fixed.
After another month we got it back, but the sound wasn't working well again. I heard it ringing but I could not talk on the phone. So we wrote another very very disappointed mail to Amazon who apologized again and told us to send it back and we'll get the mony in return (they couldn't offer the phone 'cause they didn't have it anymore- surprise!). We did so.

So yesterday my boy came home and gave me this new phone!! It's even better than the last one! And it's lilac!!!
Ok gotta tell you now all the technique details...haha:

Nokia 7610 Supernova
Colourful exchangeable Xpress-On covers (I can change the colour to black - that one is included but many more colours are available)
Slim, sleek design with beautiful mirrored surface (perfect for girls)
Theme Colourizer to match my mood (that means, I can point the camera at a colour I like, take a picture, and it generates a perfect theme to it - that is so crazy)
3,2 Megapixel Camera with 8x digital zoom and flash (the quality is amazing!!)
Enhanced MP3 Player with dedicated music key (the sound is brilliant)

I really have to thank my honey for this wonderful present!

Emiliana Torrini in Concert!

2009-02-11T08:55:00.006+01:00

Vienna, 09.02.2009

Photos taken by me and elabella.at.

Emiliana was just gorgeous and so sweet. I didn't know she can speak german - that was such a laugh, for her and us. Jungle Drum and Me and Armini are so great live! After Bleeder we were all like in trance. I was really happy with the songs she played. She also played 2 or 3 very old songs from the first album.
Emiliana: "This next song is 10 years old. I wrote it when I was 21 ... now I am 31."
Girl (shouts): "Doesn't matter!"
Emiliana: "I know it doesn't matter..... (cheeky smile)... young people are ugly."
That was a real laugh, she is such a down to earth funny lovely thing!
And I got the last signed poster - woohaa!

Unsere Naschkatze

2009-02-03T19:26:00.001+01:00

yummy yummy.

That just happend in front of our house

2009-02-02T14:08:00.003+01:00

Tom Cruise made me nearly fall off the sofa

2009-01-31T17:49:00.005+01:00

Me and Michael were at Katies and Max home yesterday to watch DVD. Was a really funny evening. We watched Tropic Thunder and The Boondock Saints.
And I have to admit - the hero of the day was Tom Cruise. Yes, you read right.
I knew he got nominated for Golden Globe - and now I know why! He is fabolous in that movie, so funny. I couldn't stop laughing although the movie was already over. We had so much fun watching it.
Then we watched The Boondock Saints with genius William Dafoe. He really is great. The movie is not bad... but... strange... really kinda sick.

-------------

Gestern waren wir bei Katie und Max und haben einen DVD abend gemacht. Tropic Thunder war ja der Hit. Echt ein wahnsinn und das hauptsächlich wegen Tom Cruise - wer hätte das gedacht. Er war tatsächlich mein Held des Tages. Ich konnte nicht aufhören zu lachen, auch als der Film schon zu Ende war. Ich hatte ja mitbekommen, dass er sogar eine Golden Globe Nominierung dafür bekam... obwohl ich eigentlich nicht mal wusste, dass er da mitspielt aber jetzt muss ich sagen - zu recht.
Danach schauten wir uns "Der blutige Pfad Gottes" an... was für ein kranker Film aber ein genialer William Dafoe.
Am Nachmittag waren Michi und ich ja rodeln, und ich hatte so einen Muskelkater - bzw. hab ich immer noch. Nochdazu kam der etwas andere Kater - Max' Nussschnaps war einfach zu lecker.
Hatte heute also einen doppelten Kater. ;-)

So much snow!

2009-01-28T17:13:00.005+01:00

So I'm stuck here... we have so much snow now. I really won't drive anywhere. I guess I also would not have been able to do so. My car was all white and the place where I park just white white white.

So, I stayed at home and I baked this cake. It's a really easy one. We call it here Becherkuchen... I don't really know the english word - something like "cup-cake". 'Cause all you need is a cup. (A cup joghurt, a cup flour, and so on...) Look for the receipe on my Flickr Page!

I'm gonna show you how much snow we have now here on the hill tomorrow. As for now, here are two pictures of my "studio-to-be". The photos are not good quality, but I think you get an insight of what's happening right now. These are photos from the first two days. The painting is now nearly finished.
I still had so many CDs at my parents home... my god, I must have spent lots lots of money the last years. I'm giving away a few of them 'cause I need space! I'll show you the list tomorrow or send me a note if you're interested.

Just a quick note to say Hello

2009-01-27T22:02:00.003+01:00

Not much going on these days.

I'm still painting the walls of my old room at my parents home. But we've come far. Not much painting left.
Then we have to do all the design stuff, you know, where we gonna put what. Which table where, and which furniture I wanna have. I think I'll have to go to IKEA really soon. Also to look just for inspiration.

Today it started to snow again. I was at my parents and drove home at about 5 pm I got home at 5.45 pm! You have to know, normally it just takes about 15 minutes - this time 45 minutes. A really crazy adventure it was, 'cause the roads were all covered under snow and the city seemed not to care about it - no snow-blower was in sight.

So I guess I'm gonna stay at home tomorrow ;)

Vogue Issue 02/09

2009-01-22T11:43:00.005+01:00

New german Vogue Issue is already out! Another wonderful... I mean, I love them all. It's so full of art and creativity. The last one was one of my favs because of wonderful model Isabeli Fontana. The photostream with her is just amazing. But this issue is presenting us wonderful photos again! They really keep the quality up. Wonderful shoe photos... not wonderful - amazing, gorgeous - whatever. I haven't seen shoes presented like this before. Exlusive interviews this time with Angelina Jolie, Marc Jacobs and Roberto Cavalli. There is also an articel about "Boudicca". A label that creates dresses in a special fabric. If you spray on the special perfume you'll be able to see (for only a short time) special designs in the fabric. Crazy stuff!

I haven't done any photos lately... but my head feels like it's gonna explode 'cause I have so many visions and ideas in my mind.

Happy Thursday! (omg it's already thursday aaah)

Flickr Inspire Nr. 5

2009-01-17T17:14:00.004+01:00

Go to my flickr favourites to see all the great work done by wonderful people!
Amazing craft stuff, I so envy these people for being so creative - I have to admit ;)
I mean, look at the cakes and muffins, wonderful. I don't think I could eat one, they're just too beautiful. And the green handbag! Ah I love it.
I think you can really see that I'm a pastel colour lover - oh yes I am.

So what's in the news... my boyfriend is going back to school besides his work. I'm so happy for him and of course very proud. I hope he'll make it till the end... the final big exam which we call here: Matura (Berufsmatura).
I hope I can support him in every way, 'cause I'm sure it's not gonna be easy because he also has to go to work. So he'll be working 'til 4-5 pm and than has to go to school. But he is such a wise and smart guy.

I'm redesigning my old room at my parents. Half of the room we'll be my studio for photography and the other half is for my dad and his boats that he is working on building them.
We're colouring the walls white now. that is not easy because the walls are in a blue tone which is not easy to be coloured white. It's a lot of work but I'm so happy. And I'm so glad that I have the time to work on it as much as I want to. So, I don't have to be at a job where I think I'm wasting time - no, I'm there where I want to be and I can do what I want... not forever... but for now, that's all that counts for me now.
I really want to make it a comfortable place, where people also like to hang out. That is really important so that my non-profi-models can relax and enjoy a shooting. I think I'll use the Feng-Shui knowledge by a good friend of mine. I'm not that much into it, but her home is all feng shui (designend really for her and her husband) and it's such a warm and nice place to be.
I'm really serious about that project so I wanna make it perfect. I'm gonna keep you up to date with photos as soon as we're really getting it on.

Have a great weekend!

New (final) Logo

2009-01-11T19:44:00.004+01:00

Thank you folks for your help in deciding the right colours! It really meant a lot to me. I think I found the right ones that suite me perfect.

I'm working on the ideas and concept for my new homepage which will be made by the wonderful husband of my lovely and dear friend elabella.

So I hope to be able to work for my own business as soon as possible - let's say in one or two years. Hope you're with me then still.

Take Care! <3

The Road not Taken

2009-01-11T16:54:00.004+01:00

Here is one of my favourite poems by Robert Frost.

Have a great start in the week!

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

Baby it's cold outside

2009-01-09T17:44:00.005+01:00

Oh yes it is - damn cold! Me and my parents went for a walk, a few kilometers away from home. At home it was sunny and not that cold... well cold, but ok. We drove about 30 km and I feared the sun would not shine there, but it did - but it still was way too cold. We stayed only about 10 minutes outside and then went for lunch. After that we visited this castle. It was not opend, so we could not get inside, but doesn't it look stunning? In summer there are often concerts there, with big Popstars like Pink.

--------

Oh ja es ist verdammt kalt. War heute mit meinen Eltern ein bissl unterwegs. Wir fuhren nach Ardagger in der Nähe von Grein. Dort gingen wir aber nur ca. 10 Minuten spazieren weils einfach zu kalt war. Danach gabs lecker Mittagessen und dann haben wir uns noch die Burg Klam angeschaut, wo ja schon Popstars wie Pink ein Konzert gegeben haben.

Inspire Nr. 4

2009-01-08T10:12:00.004+01:00

Another page of flickr-favs is finished. Take a look at these inspiring work at my flickr page. (link on the right)

These pictures are just sooo wonderful... my whole favorites-stream is so beautiful... a little too beautiful ;)
I don't feel much inspiration these days and I don't know why. Yeah... this has to happen every now and then, but it just really sucks.
And I have to struggle with bad feelings (like: I'm not a good photographer, I'm not so creative as others, bla bla).
Maybe I'll buy me a few flowers today, so I can at least practise on macro - 'cause outside it's just AAHH. not really much snow... you know just a tiny little bit, up here were I live the sun is shining but everywhere else there is fog. and to be honest: it's just way too cold to get outside!
And maybe I'm a bit lazy - I hate me being lazy!

Inspire Nr. 3

2009-01-05T16:26:00.003+01:00

What an inspiring work by my flickr fellows! Take a closer look at my flickr account (link on the right) to see that beautiful pieces.

Logo

2009-01-02T23:26:00.004+01:00

Just something I created for my new website layout. I think I'm satisfied for the next weeks ;-)

First day of the new Year

2009-01-01T15:45:00.003+01:00

This is what it looks like.

Edit: And these are my flickr favs of the week.

Feeling ... not so well - english entry

2008-12-30T17:21:00.003+01:00

After reading all these english blogs and knowing that a few english people are reading this... I chose to do another english entry.

I'm not feeling very well these days, having a bit problems with my stomach. Tomorrow is going to be a bit quieter I guess.
A few people who wanted to come over, now don't come... A very good friend of mine invited me and my boyfriend, but my boyfriend is invited by his best friend.... so... difficult this whole thing. I'm not gonna drink or eat much because my belly is a bit hurting. So, I'm not sure if it would be better to just stay at home and cuddle with my pet in front of the tv and then simply go to sleep.

But of course I'm wishing you all health and luck for the year 2009 - may all your wishes come true!

Flickr Favs of the Week

2008-12-28T17:28:00.004+01:00

Visit my Flickr Album! I'm so Flickr Addicted!

So viele Geschenke

2008-12-25T21:25:00.004+01:00

Ich dachte, dass ich letztes Jahr schon viele Geschenke erhalten habe... aber dieses Jahr war es noch mehr!! Unglaublich! So viele tolle Geschenke von Mama, Papa, Michi, Monika, Fritz, Brigitte und Ulrike.

Gutschein für einen Wellness Urlaub im Hotel Guglwald, Wertgutscheine für... ich glaub, fast alles, ein Katalog über Schweden Ferienhäuser mit Reisegeld!!! Und noch so viel mehr...
Tja... anscheinend gehts also doch nächstes Jahr nach Schweden!

New Stuff I like...

2008-12-20T12:36:00.004+01:00

Quelle: clevver.com

Ich muss mich verneigen vor dem neuen Video der Pussycat Dolls. Das ist wirklich gut gemacht und voller "Fotos", jedes mal wenn ich es sehe, würd ich gern den Auslöser meiner Cam betätigen.
Video: "I hate this part"

Quelle: www.company.mango.com

Und es gibt neues von Mango bzw. Penelope Cruz. Die hat nämlich wieder neue Bilder gemacht und die sind einfach atemberaubend.
Mango - Penelope Cruz

Der nächste Urlaub wird geplant...

2008-12-15T09:32:00.006+01:00

Quelle: swedengate.de

Ich weiß zwar noch nicht, ob es sich nächstes Jahr ausgeht, aber geplant ist er schon so gut wie. Der nächste Urlaub: Bohuslän, Schweden.
Erst gestern wurde ich wieder gefragt - warum? Wie komme ich gerade darauf?
Hmm... keine Ahnung, das ist schon seit Jahren so. Vertieft hat das ganze natürlich die Buchreihe von Viveca Lärn - Sommer auf Saltön. Habe ich schon drei mal oder so gelesen. Jetzt kommt passend zur Jahreszeit wieder "Weihnachten auf Saltön" dran, der zweite Teil.

A bit of Winter Wonderland

2008-12-14T18:06:00.002+01:00

Ein paar Bilder vom Ausflug mit meinen Eltern nach Hinterstoder.

Coming up next...

2008-12-13T18:10:00.003+01:00

... keine Ahnung. Ha, ich weiß es wirklich nicht.
Was wird 2009 bringen, ich hab keinen Plan.
Und es macht mir keine Angst. Ist mir eigentlich Schnuppe.
Es wird viele Veränderungen geben, viele.
Es muss vorwärts gehen, es muss konkreter werden. Dinge, die nicht wichtig genug sind, werden verschwinden.

I remember
We were walking up
To strawberry swing
I can't wait 'til the morning
Wouldn't wanna change a thing

People leaving all the time
Inside
A perfectly straight line
Don't you wanna curve away
It's such
It's such a perfect day
It's such a perfect day
(Coldplay - Strawberry Swing)

Nordland

2008-12-08T16:34:00.003+01:00

Bin gerade mal wieder auf der Seite des Nordland-Shops gelandet: Nordland-Shop

Und da hab ich mir bei der Gelegenheit gleich mal eine Wunschliste zusammen gestellt ;-)
Meine Nordland-Wunschliste

Advent, Advent.... ein Schmetterling

2008-12-07T14:08:00.003+01:00

Gestern war ich mit Mum, Paps und Michi am Hainbucher Adventmarkt. Sooo niedlich. Ein kleiner Markt, mit... hm.. so ca. 10 Ständen, aber so liebevoll dekoriert - die haben sich wirklich alle sehr bemüht.
Hainbuch ist einer meiner lieblings Plätze überhaupt... Ein kleines Dörfchen etwas abseits am Fluss gelegen - sehr poetisch. So seh ich das zumindest.

Dort hab ich auch die liebe Annemarie getroffen. Eine schon ältere Dame, die ich bei Karins Seminaren kennengelernt habe. Spirituell auch sehr interessiert und herzens gut. Ich mag sie wirklich total gerne. Sie hat mich gleich gefragt, ob ich zum Fotografieren da bin.

Am Weg zum Markt, der bei den Ennskraft Werken statt fand, sah ich aber dann am kalten, nassen Boden einen Schmetterling sitzen. Ein Pfauenauge - wunderschön gezeichnet und so farbenprächtig. Seine Farben strahlten richtig. Er saß einfach da am dreckigen Boden und machte seine Flügel immer auf und zu.
Ich bückte mich zu ihm hinab und konnte das Bewegen der Flügel laut hören.
Am 6. Dezember ein Schmetterling? Das hat mich schon verwundert. Ich bemerkte aber, dass er nicht wegflog, als ich mich ihm näherte. Also nahm ich ihn auf meine Hand und trug ihn in den kleinen Wald der angrenzte. Im Dickhicht versuchte ihn abzusetzen, dort fand ich, war er sicherer aufgehoben, als auf der Straße.
Aber er wollte nicht von mir runter. Er kletterte meinen Arm bis zu meiner Schulter hoch. Das war so ein schönes Erlebnis - klingt vielleicht seltsam, aber einen Schmetterling auf meiner Hand sitzen zu haben, das muss ich zugeben, davon träumte ich schon lange. Das hat so etwas märchenhaftes an sich.
Leider hatte ich da natürlich nicht meine Kamera dabei. Man kann eben nicht alles haben ;)

Happy Birthday...

2008-12-05T16:48:00.002+01:00

.... liebe Manu.

Alles liebe und Gute für deine Zukunft! Ich wünsch dir Sternenstaub und Sonnenschein - höre nie auf zu träumen!

Alles Liebe
(und wir sehen uns nacher *g*)

... krank

2008-11-30T14:16:00.003+01:00

Jetzt bin ich auch noch krank.
Hab seit Freitag schon so starke Halsschmerzen, dass mir das Sprechen schwer fällt. Seit gestern lieg ich im Bett.
War mit meinen Eltern und Michi noch am Adventmarkt, wo wir sowas von geschlemmt haben - aber zuhause bin ich dann eingegangen.
Heute gehts mir auch noch nicht besser. Mal schaun wie's morgen wird.

Und unsere Katze frisst wirklich alles. Hab ich letztens Wasabi-Erdnüsse gekauft. Die wirklich scharfen Dinger. Die Katze natürlich wieder neugierig was das denn ist, schon beim Riechen hat sie das Gesicht verzogen - ja auch Katzen können das.
Dann hat sie aber keine Ruhe gegeben, also gut, hab ich ihr eine Nuss hingelegt - und die schleckt sie doch tatsächlich ab.
Hmm... danach ist sie davon gelaufen... warum bloß? ;)

Fix und Fertig

2008-11-28T18:13:00.004+01:00

Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I'm in a cross
(Coldplay - Lost)

Ok... auf Deutsch ... gar nicht so leicht, wenn man nur Englisch liest und einem teilweise Wörter nur auf Englisch einfallen... schräg.

Anstrengende Woche - Hab sagenhafte 50 Stunden gearbeitet. Obwohl ich heute nur bis 13.00 Uhr gearbeitet hab, kann man sich vorstellen, wie sich das dann auf die anderen Tage davor verteilt.

Aber habs irgendwie geschafft, meine ganzen Weihnachtsgeschenke schon besorgt zu haben. Sind nicht viele, eher so Kleinigkeiten - aber was soll man sich auf der Welt noch schenken, wenn man doch eh schon alles hat? So viel Zeugs...

Tja, nach der anstrengenden Woche werd ich genau NIX machen. Naja nix auch wieder nicht. Fotos fertig editieren. Und morgen mit Mama, Papa und schätzungsweise Michi auf einen Adventmarkt schauen. Gemütlich halt.

Und warum die Woche anstrengend war:
Die Firma hat ein neues Geschäft in Wien eröffnet - da war ich zwei Tage dort, unter anderem gestern bei der Eröffnung. Um halb 5 in der Früh sind wir von Rohr bei Bad Hall weggefahren. Und um 9 uhr abends oder so war ich daheim.
Am Tag davor hab ich bis 7 abends gearbeitet, weil ja für die Eröffnung alles fertig werden sollte. Bei der Eröffnung hab ich die Pressefotos gemacht - von denen doch wirklich alle begeistert waren. Selbst Profis aus PR Agenturen - Hm... ned schlecht. Der Typ von Sonnentor ist echt lässig. Ein bunter Vogel und sympatisch.
Und ich hab endlich ein paar Gesichter zu den Stimmen kennengelernt. Schon interessant, wie man sich manche Menschen vorstellt, nur der Stimme nach und wie sie dann wirklich ausschauen.

Und ich hab mal wieder gemerkt, was Fotografie für eine Wirkung auf Menschen hat. Ich weiß nicht, wie ich das beschreiben soll. Aber es interessiert sich irgendwie jeder dafür. Der eine mehr, der andere weniger - aber es lässt keinen kalt. Was ich da Leute dadurch kennenlerne.
Als ich nach dem ersten Tag in Wien mit dem Zug heim bin, hat sich ein Schaffner mit mir darüber unterhalten. Weil er meinen Rucksack mit dem Stativ gesehen hat, hat er sich gleich ausgekannt. "Ah, Fotografin?" hat er zu mir gesagt. Er war gleich ganz interessiert. War witzig.

Fotografin? mhm.... ja...

Updates

2008-11-15T20:32:00.002+01:00

Yeah, created another layout for my website! Online now! Click here to view

And I think this is going to be my last entry in english... I'll be trying to write in german next time. Why? I got another journal over at Deviantart - so two english journals? na... just too much. So the journal over at deviantart will feature english blogs that are the summary of postings here... I'm curious about me writing in german... 'cause for me it feels a bit weird.. I read so many english blogs... and now me writing another language?
Let's see how long I can do it ;)

24...

2008-10-23T11:47:00.003+02:00

... not hours - years.

Got 24 yesterday. It's been a very lovely birthday, I have to say I really enjoyed it. Usally I'm not that birthday girl, but.... it was fun.
Got many many messages from friends via email or cellphone. Got many presents from the people at work, my mum&dad and my boyfriend. He gave me a new cell phone which I absoloutley needed. I used a very old one, which wasn't working right. And he gave me a new Nokia - really stilish one in black.

I'll be meeting new family members from Germany tomorrow - long story. Maybe I'll tell later.
For now,
have a great Thursday.

New Layout

2008-10-19T16:23:00.003+02:00

New layout of c-c.org. is online since yesterday.

I'm so focused on the photography now... it's so hard to not take a photo 'cause I have so many visions in mind.
Hope to do a shooting next weekend or so with my loved friend Manuela. We're both autumn fans - the woods are so beautiful now, we have to do someting. So be sure to watch out for that.

As for now - have a great week.

Autumn

2008-10-13T21:21:00.003+02:00

Autumn is here. Inspired me to do a few shots which you can see on my flickr account now.
Things are slowely changing. I met wonderful new people, who are so wise and it's such a joy to talk to them. people of all age and this is what i love.

I have a few ideas for shots, but my fear is that this wonderful sunny autumn weather won't last long enough to realize all of them.... or maybe just even one of them.

I'm thinking about new layouts for my webpage. I'm just not satisfied. Well, it's so hard to satisfy me. But I want to have something really artsy and different.

Oh and pictures I did for an event, (for their flyers for example), was featured on first page in our local newspaper. I think I should honour that a little bite more, because.. well... it is a big thing, yeah.

So much to do

2008-08-02T21:10:00.001+02:00

I got my flash - already! It was set to be shipped after the 4th but 3 days after the order was placed, I received my flash!
It's really great and I'm much more positiv now about flash but still have to learn how to use it correctly.

Got a shooting next saturday, it was set to be this one, but it rained a lot today.

And I still got so much to do for uni.... argh... I got a few days off in 1 week. so, I hope to be able to finish everything.
But I had the time to do a new layout for my website today. I made myself a logo and I think I'm pretty fine with it.

A Flash

2008-07-22T21:25:00.001+02:00

I ordered a flash for my cam - finally. Yeah, I don't have one yet. I hope it's a right and good one. Got this adviced by a fellow student - but I truely trust him in those things. He knows much more about technique than I do... muuch more.

I got a shooting on the 2nd of august, the order is set to be shipped after the 4th - yeah like alanis sings "isn't that ironic".
But I worked all the time without a flash - I think I will get through this another time. Well, have to ;-)

Holidays

2008-07-06T20:13:00.003+02:00

Just got back from my weekend at school. We have so many photos to take - nearly 30 or so. In six weeks. Horray!

I did a shooting for a flyer the last week. I worked with more experienced models this time - that was different but good to know a bit now.

So, I'm having two weeks off of work now. My boyfried and me will spend the second week in croatia. I'm looking forward to it. New places, new photos, hopefully different and grown photos.

Oh.. and I need a flash... people at school told me that ... and the thing is... now I WANT one :-)

Finished Projects

2008-06-08T19:28:00.000+02:00

Ok, well, just one, with Elke. We did very sensual passionate photos. The results are great. I was a bit unsure, 'cause I've not done this kinda style before but I'm very satisfied with the photos and so is she, what is most important. A few can be seen on my flickr account or on the flickr-preview here on the right. Enjoy!

Next thing up is preparing everything for the fairy-story, creating the styling for another portrait shoot and of course doing my student stuff! I'm so lazy at that.
Oh and I was just asked by a family member to take photos... okay... so there are still about 7 projects to be done. *lol*

Like a rolling stone...

2008-05-31T17:17:00.001+02:00

Yes, this photography thing is like a rolling stone. Well... it seems like it's starting to move...

I got a request for photos that would be used in a book! can you believe that? i can't realize that. i feel honoured, of course, ... just being asked is something i really appreciate. i can't tell much about the style, 'cause i've just been asked and nothing is fixed yet.

Then I did a shoot with my dear friend Christine. The shots can be seen in my flickr album.
Here is a little preview:

So much to do

2008-05-26T19:22:00.000+02:00

Wow, my week is full of plans.
Tomorrow I'm going to the hairdresser... still don't know what I want, but hey... I always go there without a clue.

Then on wednesday me and my confirmand are going to Lake Mond (Mondsee). I hope the weather will be sunny.

Thursday, I got a day "off".

On Friday me and a fellow student are working on our school-project for the final exam. We will be working with a teacher in the darkroom.

On Saturday I have a client shot, which I'm excited about as mentioned a few posts before, we haven't worked together yet, so something new ;) and the photos are going to be very sexy, haven't done that before too.
And then of course have to watch "Sex and the City - The Movie" with Manuela. A real stylish night it's going to be, you know.

So... yeah.. Sunday... is still free...

Upcoming Projects

2008-05-20T21:41:00.000+02:00

There is one client shoot upcoming. We'll be doing something urban-sexy-style-like. Really looking up to it, 'cause I've never worked with her before.

And my dear friend Manuela which can be seen on lot of my photos, asked me to do a very very special project with her. I won't say much yet, 'cause I think this photos are going to be a huge surprise and blast! A new style, something we both haven't really done before. I worked on a concept but just a little tiny one... the rest will be improvisation as always ;)

I'm really excited about things and can't wait to get it started but I have to wait for better weather. The light now is terrible and it's just too cold.

It's all about the money

2008-05-17T09:52:00.001+02:00

Where has all the money gone?
I ask myself a lot this question. Had to spend a part of it on my car, then the rent for the flat, the electric power, my cellphone (and i really don't talk much on the phone), food, normal things like that. and i can't afford anything else.

so, i'm thinking about selling a lot of stuff like clothes, deko-stuff, cds, videos, dvds, etc.

i'm just hoping that this situation will get better, but to be honest, i don't know how...

So me and this Blog Thing

2008-05-14T18:39:00.000+02:00

Ok, I don't know, how often I started a blog and didn't come any further than the first or maybe second post. I'm too lazy... sometimes I think this isn't neccecary at all.

I tried to use my Journal on DeviantArt... forget it, I had several other blogs, ha... no way. I didn't even use one I created on my webpage.
But I'm not giving up. I called this "Me and the Photography Thing" 'cause I think, this is the only topic I really have something to say. Of course, I will write about different stuff, but photography is what I am about.

I discovered it when I was about 14 or 15. You know, started the typical way with using the parents cam. Then I bought a little cam myself, woohey 2 megapixels at that time, that was a blast - yes we can only laugh now. Then my dad bought me a better one, and I was so happy and proud. 3 megapixels, konica minolta dimage z10. not a bad one for an unknown beginner like I was then. Then my boyfriend bought me the Canon Eos 350d! So, that was nearly a shock! A DSLR cam - oh my god and guess what - I'm still using it and still loving it. So, in fact it's right what many whise man said: it's the photographer that takes the picture, not the camera. So don't feel sad, 'cause you don't have the most expensive and modern cam. That really doesn't count.

So, I think I've already come a long way, and there is still a long way to go, the never ending winding road. (ha poetic me *lol*)

oh, and I'm austrian, so please excuse english mistakes!