Laura Atkinson photo | design

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Tornado, almost touch down!

Wolf Sanctuary

If you ever want to get off the beaten path and connect with some beautiful wolves, try Wolf Hollow in Ipswich, MA  Tip:  Get there early, tickets sell out fast and they have very limited hours.  Also, if it rains, the show doesn’t happen.

A portrait of Arrow and Argus:

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And some days, you get a raspberry blown to you.
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More Storms

This is the month where the Thunder-beings really put on a show.  They knocked my electricity out one afternoon, so I went to chase them. Here’s a couple lucky strikes. Stay cool, stay safe, stay inspired.

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This particular night, the sound of thunder  interrupted me as I was drifting off to dreamland… this one shook the window of my fortress. (I was safely inside, the view from my second floor bedroom.)  The lightning was white hot, and brighter than paparazzi flash bulbs.

zap laura atkinson

Notes about Traveling around Iceland

I crossed off a bucket list item.  I’ve been wanting to see the sites in Iceland for over 15 years.  It’s become very  popular now to say that you’ve been to Iceland.  The people there openly state that tourism has now become their number one source of income, but the growth has been overwhelming.  One tour guide stated that last year was the first year she worked year round.   The FlyBus schedule seems to operate pretty much on time, there’s some confusion to drop off / pick up / change to a smaller bus, but they do their best to communicate everything to you.

Being in Reykjavik during the summer is quite extraordinary.  The sun does not set.  I could see the midnight sun from my airplane window.  The sun hits the horizon, lingers there for an hour, then begins to rise.  At one in the morning, it’s perfectly acceptable to be walking around town.  And on the weekends, the bars (and loud dance clubs) stay open until 4:30 a.m.   A good portion of the buildings are covered in what looks like large scale graffiti.  It was done intentionally, by artists, as part of a huge music festival in 2011.  Each building represents lyrics to a song.  on the streets of reykjavik

Shopping is interesting.  Each store seemed to be catering to my age group (34-46 hehe) by blasting 80s music.  They’re really big on Hall and Oats.  Why?  That’s a mystery I didn’t solve.   If you are looking for wool, you’ll find it here.  Wool hats, mittens, capes, socks, and underwear.

Everyone was walking around in light winter jackets, boots or sneakers.  I did not see one opened toed shoe for days.  I wore flip flops to the hotel buffet breakfast one morning, and my feet got stares.  Toe shaming??  Is that…possible?

Food is expensive, lunch easily ran $25.00 and dinner $40.00 for one person.  I was not prepared for that.  I even tried to eat on the cheap — fries were $6.00 and a simple egg salad sandwich was about $12.00

I bumped into some great people while dining.  A group of four women from Sweden who were celebrating their 40th anniversary of first meeting in Iceland during a back packing trip; a Turkish couple who exchanged heart felt sympathies about bombings and terrorism and wondered my opinions of it (at the end of the conversation we were all saying “One life lost is too many”); an autistic boy and his parents – who were there to see galleries and opera, while the son explained to me in detail ball lightning, and when I showed him my photograph of the lightning storm in The Netherlands he asked his parents if that’s where they could go next.

The tourists were polite.  And the locals welcoming.

If I go again, I would rent a car and see the sites on my own terms / pace.  The bus tours were good, but didn’t allow for much time to be spent in one place.  Being a photographer, I like to wait, spend time with an area, see the changes the light makes to the mountains, etc.  Instead, I had to make do with the weather and light that happened.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I would have preferred more time.

(Taken out the window of a bus, we didn’t stop, we were hurrying to get to the next location…)

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Now THAT’S a Storm

Kerkrade, The Netherlands – Mercury has reached the feel like temp 104 degrees.  It’s humid.  I’m on my third shower.  I’ve a pounding travel headache that just won’t quit.  I’m going to bed….

…or not.

About an hour after I turned my face to the fan, I opened my eyes to what I thought was flashbulbs.  There was no thunder.  I opened the windows to my room and noticed the dramatic drop in temperature.  Then… the rain.  It was an electric storm like I’ve never seen before.

I didn’t think I’d have have time to setup my tripod, so I just sat really still with my shutter open, hoping to catch some of the dramatic skies.  Little did I know that lightning would streak across the sky for a full 45 minutes.

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Wildflowers

There’s something magical about a field of wildflowers.  It’s soothing to watch these delicate, tall flowers wave in the breeze.  This particular field was home to hot yellow finches.

I hope you enjoy this little video that I put together, a combination of photo stills and brief video clips.

Breathe in… breathe out…. find beauty everywhere.

Humor

I love to laugh.  Tie it into photography and it makes me giggle even more.  Here’s the meme I stumbled into that make me think about my style…  I’m a little bit rock concert, a little bit peek-a-boo.

whats your style

Hello world!

In June 2016, I decided to give some dedicated time to upgrading my own website since my services and offerings have changed over the past couple of years.

My website now will focus purely on photography.  Before, it was a mish-mashed blend of freelance graphic and web-design samples, photography, dreamwork, etc. I can still send you an online portfolio of examples of my design work…. but since I am now employed full time, I can only accept freelance web and graphic design projects on a case-by-case basis. These are generally smaller projects, like advertising design, book covers, postcards and other marketing material.  I have met some amazing designers along the road, and if I happen not to be available, I will proudly refer you to them.

My intention is to shift towards photography lessons, workshops, travel — in my spare time.  This keeps me creative, balanced, happy!  Teaching and connecting with others is a joy — watching creativity unfold and reaching aha! moments are a pleasure.   Plus, I love to travel.  So why not incorporate all of that.

In 2013 I became a certified, card carrying, PRESS photographer again — with a focus on the Travel and Tourism industry.

Onward!

press credentials 2013 through current

Thayere Memorial Library – Every Door Direct Campain AWARD!

I was just notified that a Every Door Direct campaign invitation that I designed for the 150th Birthday Party for Thayer Memorial Library in Lancaster, MA was awarded a second place prize in the category “Advertisement” by the Massachusetts Library Association.

Thayer Memorial Library received Second Place in the category Advertisement for its Birthday Invitation which was sent to every household in Lancaster to recognize 150 years of public service. Library Director Joseph Mulé was presented with a certificate by MLA Public Relations Committee at the PR Awards Ceremony. Mr. Mulé mentioned, “This is the first time in recent memory the Library has been recognized in this way”, upon learning about the award. He added, “We’re honored to receive this prestigious award”.

(Thank you Kim Gallahue Tellert for the referral.)

Rhode Island Criminal Justice – Event

November 21, 2011

Lost but Not Forgotten. On September 10th, RICJ commemorated the 10th anniversary of 9/11 at the Wall of Hope. Family members of Rhode Islanders who perished carried torches to begin that evening’s WaterFire, and RICJ announced the commission of a new artwork installation to be created by local artist, Nicole Cooney, that will bear the names and faces of the 12 Rhode Islanders whose lives were lost in the attack on 9/11. Throughout the following month the art project was successfully funded through Kickstarter—we will report more details in the next newsletter. The following are photos from the event, courtesy of Laura Atkinson.

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