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Showing posts from August, 2016

#nonsenseinspires week 2: waking up

Music Awakens (violin). Model: Amy Crosland, Photo: Wendy Hurst Portrait "That can't happen." Flower pedals can't swirl around to the tune of a violin. Paper butterflies can't fly. But when overcome with the rush of wind in beautiful light with a simple instrument, when you care about a story that draws you in, it doesn't matter . Movie-makers have known this for years and the trick (if one can call it that) is to make the story just believable enough, entertaining enough, and likable enough that the audience is willing to suspend reality long enough to feel the magic. Last week I introduced #nonsenseinspires as a blog series I hope can inspire storytellers everywhere to challenge the words, "That can't happen." This week's nonsense explores what happens when nature is woken by music, but first the concept. Spotting the Nonsense You've just woken from a dream. Maybe you don't remember what it was about. Maybe it was e

#nonsenseinspires week 1: empathy (wandering brides)

Wandering Brides: The Walk | Model: Amanda Solt (arms in bushes belong to Hali) Hall of curtains, path of light. Lacey waist and ribbons tight.  Wand'ring forest, cottage rose.  Leafy rooftops, chilly toes.  Destination moving fast.  Fantasy, this cannot last.  Climbing, searching, feeling lost.  Seeking self is worth the cost.  Hall of curtains, path of light.  Wand'ring brides bid thee good night. Models: Amanda Solt Hali Vanderburg Araneo Kellie Quan Poem & Photo: Wendy Hurst Portrait Storytelling imagery is my obsession, and the ability to find inspiration from nonsense in the real world is a key to invention I want to share with anyone who seeks to create. For the next few weeks I’ll be blogging about ways to use nonsense to tell visual stories and increase empathy by challenging the words, “That can’t happen." #nonsenseinspires is all about seeing the world through the lens of the impossible. It's about tickling yo

Don't Bury Your Treasure, Donate Those Organs!

Models: Kirsty Stalder (feathered hat) Madi Beckstead (red scarf) Megan Allen (rum bottle) Melissa Meldrum (treasure digger) Makeup: Megan Allen Wardrobe: Madison Sayes at Madisigns Photographer: Wendy Hurst Portrait ORGANS No, not the musical instrument. Human organs. Vital, fragile, precious organs. Of all the causes I care about, organ donation is one that has impacted people I know and care about. Both a friend and a family member of mine experienced kidney failure as young adults. Both were fortunate to find donors and are living grateful lives today, all because someone out there was willing to donate their organs. 82% of those currently on the waiting list specifically need a  kidney .  And in general, 8 000 deaths occur every year in the U.S. because organs are not donated in time.  What can you do about it?  Register to be an organ donor with your state. One donor's organs can save up to 8 lives! If you're not already an organ donor, pleas