to Portland and back

to Portland and back from Athena Lonsdale on Vimeo.

I went on a photo retreat, I guess you could call it, with my friend Eileen. We went to Portland and to the Oregon coast for a week stay. This video is my spin on the Portland section of our trip. Traveling with Eileen is always enjoyable. She is a good match for me. The trip was filled with creativity and I want to thank Eileen for being somewhat of a muse for me. I look forward to the next trip.

00-K

00-K from Athena Lonsdale on Vimeo.
I had a couple requests to post this video....sorry to those who have already seen it.

Looking up and looking down

Portland reminds me, again, interesting things can be found just by looking up or looking down.

I worked in Government Camp, Oregon at High Cascade Snowboard Camp. On rain days when we couldn't or wouldn't snowboard, we would take the campers into Portland for the day. One day, someone on the street pointed high at an apartment window and told us we needed to go in there. We entered the building, climbed stairs, followed whitish walls, and where glad we didn't have too much in our wallets. The older woman's door was ajar, she welcomed us in and lets us roam. Two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom all over-filled with Elvis Presley. Elvis dolls, belts, beads, bathmats, tissue holders, tapestries, tongue depressors, lamps, luggage, Elvis lollipops, Elvis lives behind her unmarked door in downtown Portland.

Communication

Communication

the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.

• to or too = 2
• for = 4
• you = u
• your/you're = ur
• are = r
• be = b
• be right back = brb
• talk to you later = ttyl
• nothing much = nm
• just chillin = jc
• never mind = nvm
• right = ryt/ rite/ ri
• probably = prbly/ prob
• ta ta for now = ttfn
• back to homework = bthw
• what = wat/ wut/ ?
• just wondering= jw
• just kidding = jk
• what the fuck = wtf
• oh my god = OMG
• laughing out loud = lol
• great = gr8
• love = lv
  

I grew up on a commune in the Southwest. My phone line was shared by three other homes, none of them being my best friend's. Shana lived a mile up the mountain from me. She lived with her parents and brothers in a one room adobe home without electricity, running water, personal space, or a phone. If I wanted to see what she was up to I would hike a mile and see.
And to this day, there is no cell phone service.

MAC Group Shoot (part two)

My first year of high school was spent in a big California public high school, the kind of schools they make movies about.

I remember one night, my new friend and I quietly made it back into her house as the clock turned midnight thirty. We changed out of our Friday night party gear and sat on the couch amongst the covers recapping the evening we had together. Our stories were cut short by a ping on the window in the other room, her bedroom. A boy from the party was there. She tried to tell him to go away, that we were doing our own thing, that she didn't want him to wake her parents. He kept at it, he wanted in. She gave up, rolled her eyes at the inconvenient situation, and he walked around to the front door. On her way to the door, she asked me with a bit of hope and of genuine hospitality if I "wanted him". My answer was quick "no thanks". She quietly opened the door and guided him back to her room.

MAC Group Shoot

When I was this small, I trusted a girl to hold the bathroom door closed for me while I peed to the side of my leotard as my hippie mother taught me to do. The girl opened the door mid stream, laughed at me, and then ran from her door duties to go tell the rest of the class that I peed my pants. Oh, to be young again.

Big thanks to Marcy, Bill at the MAC group, Joe Lavine, Ingrid, and Jeanne for making this shoot happen. Medium thanks to Mary and Forest for your help, food, and entertainment. Small thanks to myself for finding the light and bringing the 600R.

Cinematic Lighting Class with Bruce Dorn

I found a stillness, just for a moment, a bond with time. For once, there was just me, just me, in my thoughts, just me. I closed my eyes and drifted off. The stale bar anchored me in place. The voices of the morning deliveries slowly faded. My hand was firm around the smooth glass as the light pushed me further into my denial. Her offerings of another fix of solitude renewed the worlds existence.  I was back and the moment was over.  I confirmed with the lady, I would indeed have another.

Bruce Dorn came to RMSP to teach me a Professional Studies class. It was so nice to be a student again. I loved fighting the students for shooting space and accidentally defending my photos in critique. I made all the mistakes I said I wouldn't. It goes to show that acting like a dumbass is just part of how it goes. I had a great time and learned lots, so thank you Bruce! And, thanks Jeanne for letting me take the class. 

a clip from my class with Bruce Dorn from Athena Lonsdale on Vimeo.

He's Gone

He left cuter than he arrived. Cyrus died the morning of September 13th at 10:42 am. I will miss him beyond what I can express. He was my world for 13 years. Cyrus took his last breath while wrapped in my arms and eyes to mine. I'm so sad to have him gone.

More Skate Like a Girl

kickflip 50-50
Laura Sliva

VOTE FOR MY BOOK

Cyrus (my Dog) the phoDOGrapher and myself put together a book of our work and submitted it to Blurb for their big contest. I hope you have some time to check it out and vote if you like it. I don't know what the votes will get us, they have a judge for the grand prize.....hummm sounds like marketing to me....it's working....Cyrus and I have got our competitive spirits out and we are playing the game! So if you want to cheer for us we would love it!
Thanks for the VOTE!