Overheard at Virgin Megastore

As she picked up the movie from the $10 bin, one woman said to another "Because Michael got our copy of Showgirls in the divorce..."

I say let it go!

I've completed photogamer challenge #7!

http://www.photogamer.com

http://www.flickr.com/groups/photogamer

1. “Rock Paper Scissors” AND bonus...an old school photobooth! (I won!)



2. Photo of myself with an old photo of myself



3. 100 steps (i included start and finish - I finished in the middle of the street!)



4. Pixels - video game from afar and close up!



5. Less than 6 inches tall, low.

Underwear Week is wrapping up!

As most of you are aware by now, I started International Underwear Week last Sunday to celebrate some cute new undies that I wanted to show off.

Selfish, I know.

But now you ALL benefit!

Now my week of underwear is coming to a close. Lots more photos have been taken! Check 'em out here (and check previous blog posts for more)! If you know any photos I missed, please send me a link to mchone@gmail.com and I'll add 'em to the bottom of this post. :)

From me, Brooklyn Hilary:


From Jillwrites.com:




From TreeBed:


From Piper at the Gates:


From Ceece:


From CyberGabi:


From Silber aus dem Nichts:


From Boheme333:


From pinkangelbabe:


From cherriesjessilee:


From Ingorrr:


From tallpaul24a:


From Mary-Cakes / Desiree:


From anitacanita:


From Vickykc:


Two from sonjaha:




From JLovely:


From Cien de Cine:

March 30 - My Story

The first bit is sucky. But then it gets better.

A year ago today I was rushed into emergency surgery after it was discovered that I had an ectopic pregancy. My fallopian tube had burst, making me lose more than half my blood. When I woke up, the doctor told me that if I'd arrived at the hospital half an hour later, I may not have made it.

I looked at myself in the mirror, bloated and almost unrecognizable. But when I saw my big puffed up face and the incisions on my belly, I felt beautiful and alive. So grateful that I had more to learn and discover and experience.

It wasn't long after that I re-discovered my camera. I began documenting life obsessively. My first project was photographing details of Park Slope, Brooklyn, street by street. All my senses were heightened. I saw and captured details that I never before would have noticed. And people began to respond.

I felt a weird guilt attached to photography initially. Was I missing out on life because I was behind the camera all the time? Was I capturing the routines of others at the expense of doing my own thing?

No.

A new world was discovered. I was able to tap into my creativity, which had been somewhat smothered by, well, the way I thought I was supposed to live. For my entire life I'd been envious of people who had passion. Something they had to do. Suddenly photography was that thing for me.

In the past year, I have been able to stop worrying so much about what people think of me. I've made a fool of myself and have encouraged others to follow in my footsteps. A year ago, I never would have imagined, for example, taking a photo of myself in my underwear, much less creating an entire week around it and watching people jump right in...

I've turned down good full-time jobs and have made it a rule to only do the type of work that makes me feel "warm & fuzzy". I can't buy as many new clothes or go out to dinner as much. But I'm happier than I've ever been.

Throughout the year I've had to make some extremely tough decisions. I've learned to follow my gut when it comes to life, work, love. It's not always easy - for me or for those around me. My happiness is my responsibility - no one else's. And I take that responsibility seriously.

-----------
I feel like I should add a poem or something, so this just popped into my head. It's by Shel Silverstein:

Sandra's seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins' gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susie spied an elf.
But all the magic I have known
I've had to make myself.
-----------

I thought I'd make a big deal of the photo I posted for today, but I ended up just snapping a couple on a whim. It's not perfect. I'm not perfect. I'm just me.

Enough of the art. Back to the underwear!

On Sunday I bought new underwear. I decided everyone should see it! So I made up National Underwear Week, which was quickly upgraded to INTERnational Underwear Week. I managed to get a couple key people (Jill, for instance) to hop on board and now it is spreading like wildfire.

Flickr-ites are stepping up to the challenge I set forth! Here are some of the folks participating so far... I will just keep adding to the bottom of this as more come in! :)

My favorite so far is from TreeBed:


From completelyknown:


From d.rex:


poubelle:


Two from Blu Iguana:





Two from eyeofra23:




Two from sadandbeautiful (Sarah):




From Jillwrites.com:



Two from me, Brooklyn Hilary:




From whitman-photography:


From Espinal:


From ambrosialove:


From MariahGale:


From KatColorado:


Two from Ingorr:



From Véronique722:

Aren't I supposed to be a photographer?

Today Jill and I remembered there's life outside our apartments.

It's easy to get sucked into the whole "underwear attention" scene. But I'm a photographer, not an underwear model. Right? ;)

Thank goodness I stepped out into the gorgeous summer-like day, if only for an hour! From it came a series of photos titled "Five O'Clock Shadow". See the full set here.