Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 3

The third and final day of Red Wing was upon us. We stopped caring about the mud under our toenails, the sweat beads on our forehead, and the mild stench that was totally-that-dude-beside-me and not me. Right? We were all friends now. Rained on, shined on, danced together – friends. I was a little sad finishing these photos. Nostalgic even. They reminded me of this pocket of happy that existed in my summer. A pocket I’ll dig into again next summer only to rediscover it all over…just like that wrinkled up five dollar bill that’s surely waiting for me in my winter coat.  ….winter….  Ah geez.

Robin & Linda WilliamsFCLIMG_1005 FCLIMG_1032FCLIMG_1016 FCLIMG_1011BWDanny Schmidt & Carrie ElkinFCLIMG_1042BW FCLIMG_1065 FCLIMG_1063CFCLIMG_1067BW FCLIMG_1075FCLIMG_1102C FCLIMG_1106BWFCLIMG_1082 FCLIMG_1083 FCLIMG_1109FCLIMG_1157 FCLIMG_1156Brian Patrick BandFCLIMG_1121 FCLIMG_1136BW FCLIMG_1130BWFCLIMG_1126BWFCLIMG_1143 FCLIMG_1145 FCLIMG_1146 FCLIMG_1148 FCLIMG_1150FCLIMG_1151 FCLIMG_1153FCLIMG_1154C

The Judy ChopsFCLIMG_1244 FCLIMG_1192FCLIMG_1203FCLIMG_1174FCLIMG_1182BW FCLIMG_1237FCLIMG_1272BW FCLIMG_1217bwFCLIMG_1280BW FCLIMG_1198 FCLIMG_1209BWFCLIMG_1257BWFCLIMG_1268C FCLIMG_1270FCLIMG_1289 FCLIMG_1284BWFCLIMG_1295C FCLIMG_1296 FCLIMG_1298 FCLIMG_1301BW

Pokey LaFarge and all his amazing faces that I just couldn’t take enough photos of.FCLIMG_1308FCLIMG_1407FCLIMG_1369FCLIMG_1337FCLIMG_1361BWFCLIMG_1342BWFCLIMG_1324 FCLIMG_1332FCLIMG_1383FCLIMG_1387FCLIMG_1375C FCLIMG_1376C FCLIMG_1344BWFCLIMG_1404BWFCLIMG_1345BW FCLIMG_1346FCLIMG_1410 FCLIMG_1415

The Steel Wheels & Friends Tribute SetFCLIMG_1435C FCLIMG_1424 FCLIMG_1419FCLIMG_1446FCLIMG_1464BWFCLIMG_1453FCLIMG_1465CFCLIMG_1481C FCLIMG_1493C FCLIMG_1497 FCLIMG_1512 FCLIMG_1533 FCLIMG_1519BWFCLIMG_1539 FCLIMG_1428See you next year, yeah?

Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 1

Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 2

Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.

Brunch & Bubbles

“Man, I hate brunch” said no one ever.  Anything that prolongs the breakfast experience is ok with me. For this particular brunch, the occasion was to celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer.  …I hear ya… “Girrrl, you cray, it’s August!” I am aware. It’s a common misconception that teachers have all summer to do absolutely nothing thereby quantifying their mediocre annual pay. Wrong. I spend a large part of my summer (which was 7 weeks this year) working to earn money to compensate for what my “day job” does not pay. And I am just now finding the free time to complete this post. Excuse me while I step down from my soapbox and get back to…brunch. The kids and I headed to meet my friend Martha and Jewel at Jewel’s new home. Her hand has surely touched every inch of her yard and perhaps even watered it with her sweat and tears. It’s gorgeous. All the flowers stood tall and the trees chatted about their spectacular views. Oh, Harrisonburg. You so pretty. Jewel made a variety of treats including a cheesy crumb cake(!), a sweet breakfast crumb cake, fresh fruits, a fruit smoothie and of course, coffee. Mm. After chatting about art and work and life the kids (and adults) had fun with Jewel’s bubble set!
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So cool!FCLIMG_7583 FCLIMG_7589 FCLIMG_7592CFCLIMG_7605BW FCLIMG_7599BW FCLIMG_7601 FCLIMG_7608Reaga had fun too.

Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.

Repurposed Dress

It was just a summery Wednesday evening. Danielle stopped by-I walked out carrying three wedding dresses. I greeted: “Wanna wear these and take photos?!” Danielle (unamused), being the type of friend who is always up for anything, replies, “Sure.” These types of questions are not too uncommon in my presence, I suppose. Besides, she’s a fellow photographer so she gets it. I acquired these dresses from a group of girl friends who once wore them on their wedding day. One evening we were all swapping stories of matrimony and the conversation led to the dress.  Most of the stories associated with this garment were stories of sadness and pain and loss. I asked the gals if I could borrow their dresses for a week.  I wanted to give the dresses a new meaning, to shine a softer light on their dim past…even if only for a moment. The photos below are the photos Danielle and I took that warm Wednesday evening.

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