I just got back from a weekend in a cabin with my sister and two cousins near Bradford, New York. Bradford is situated in the Finger Lakes region known for its vineyards and cottage living in the Summer. Over the rolling sunny hills are scattered towns with a little white chapels. It has a shire-like, off the beaten track feel, especially this time of the year when pretty much everything is asleep for the winter season.
Why in the world did I go to another place in low season? We were looking at a halfway point to meet up (my cousins are from Ohio), and Bradford fit that deal. We weren't fussy about location and didn't really care everything was shut down. We had a wonderful time over looooong talks, tea, chocolate, watercolor painting and good food prepared in our air bnb kitchen. But I was taken aback by the extraordinary beauty of the region. I also really enjoyed capturing the joy and love of friendship that brought warmth and life to a strangely isolated area.
Nature Never Shuts Down
We arrived at the perfect time. A foot of snow had been dumped a day before giving the community enough time to clear out the snow and fix the power outage by the time we arrived. It was pretty exciting receiving the news there wasn't power five minutes before leaving home. I quickly threw some more candles and blankets in the car and prepared for the worst.
After arriving late, we woke the next morning to a winter wonderland.
More than Cousins
These girls have been part of my life for a quarter of a century. I can't think of better people to practice my portait photography on. The wonder and love radiated on their faces making taking candids a joy. Photographers, do yourselves a favor and opt for shooting portraits with a winter backdrop. The light glow of the snow created a perfect frame and contrast to the vibrancy of these dear women. I was so haappy with how the portraits turned out especially on the overcast days.
Other News
I celebrated my first day of my third trimester on the last day of the trip. Quite a fitting way to end my second trimester travels and kick off the third trimester where I play to stay a bit more put until the birth.
My cousin snapped this shot of me. The bump isn't very obvious but I like how this picture represents the
season of preparation for the little one.
