Tonight, If You're Around

1.2012 Inspiration

Blunt cut hair, menswear, girl-next-door Americana, unexpected pops of color. 'Bout sums it up. 

Resources, clockwise from top left: Olsens Anonymous, 

All The Pretty Birds, Vanessa Jackman, Refinery29, 

Interview, Elle, Front Row Suit, Harper's Bazaar Australia, 

Hanneli, unknown, Olsens Anonymous 

Move Your Feet: A Wedding Reception

Like any 20-something with close ties to college friends, I've been to my fair share of weddings. When one also factors in that a percentage of my job revolves around photographing weddings, well, I'm an expert on the cusp of unmitigated genius. More expert than all y'all. At weddings. And love. 

Stop laughing. What's true about the above statements are that I've been in the presence of many weddings. In my experience, whether on the frontline or as a bystander, the best or worst part about a wedding is the reception. Best case scenario? You've got a DJ (or band) who understands that people just wanna dance--yeah, even Grandmother. He gets the flow, doesn't abort songs too early, guides guests effortlessly through a sonic whoop-and-holler that ends with more than a few folks sweaty, gasping for breath, chucking their shoes to the side of the dance floor. I may be pickier than most about which songs are chosen, but I can't deny that there are certain tunes that, loathe though they may be, are sure-fire boogie starters. Open bar also helps, but who am I to judge a wedding budget? (Hint: MAKE ROOM FOR THE BAR. No one but you and maybe one of your bridesmaids cares about your shoes. Allocate that money, folks. Trust me.)

As a photographer, I can also attest to the fact that the photos taken of a wedding guest while in the throes of "I Gotta Feeling" will be alternately the best and worst photos ever captured of that person. It's science. Naturally, I discreetly shuffle the worst of the bunch to the farthest hinterlands of my hard drive, never to see the light. But if you're a bride or groom and you're reading this, I guarantee you your photographer has a file somewhere containing the best/worst from the various dance parties he or she has photographed. Also, science. Science backs me up on most of my claims today. 

All's I'm saying is, if the photographers united and made a book of all those photos, GAME OVER. You'll just have to accept the fact that you have a quad chin, manic bug eyes, and rubbery arms. Oh, and you think that as a photographer, I'm immune to the immortalization? Think again. 

There are times when the receptions are bad. There are times when the receptions are so-so. But once in a great while, if you're lucky, there are times when the reception is a party that just. Won't. Stop. 

So I tip my hat to Stephanie and Andy, whose wedding I shot with Dustin Giallanza, for throwing one of the best bashes I've ever had the privilege of photographing. You know what makes a reception work? When your guests are having fun. 

Here are six of my favorite party shots, the first three by me and the last three by Dustin.

  

Notes From A Whiskey Tasting

My collection as it existed over a year ago. It's grown considerably since.

I received the following typically-laconic text this Christmas Eve from my good pal Tyler: Let's explore whiskey together. 

It's a Christmas miracle! was my beatific reply.

I'm ready, he responded. 

It should come as a surprise to exactly no one (in the history of ever) that I'm an ardent fan of the ol' firewater. Though I love to sip on my own here and there, it may come as a shock that I'm actually far less the stodgy-middle-aged-aristocrat-slowly-becoming-one-with-his-tufted-leather-chair-in-the-west-wing-of-his-manse than some might assume. Actually, I'm quite extroverted, thank you, and my tufted armchairs are upholstered in velvet. 

Ahem. What I'm getting at, of course, is that I'd rather enjoy adult beverages in the company of others than as a solo endeavor. Also, I prefer contemporary literature, so you can keep your Russian classics on the shelf of that expansive west wing library, SIR. 

Tyler and I had our first tasting together a couple of weeks ago, a selection from his impressively growing personal collection (expect an LD LBC edition soon). We swilled from different shaped snifters, we sniffed and swished and I took the alliterations way too far, as I am wont to do. Because I am NOT, as previously discussed, a dusty old codger. No, no. I'm a fourteen-year-old girl busily crafting her first creative writing assignment and alliterations! Are meant! To! Be! Used!

But back to the part where I'm old enough to drink.

Doing a tasting can be a bit like an archaeological dig through the recesses of scent memory. Describing various notes is an odd reconnaissance mission, and too often I found myself with my eyes squinted nearly shut, combing through memories of aroma and taste, hoping for a match. I jotted down a few notes about what I tasted in most of the whiskeys we tried. It's a rough sketch, really, and I'm by no means a connoisseur. But if you've ever wondered about picking up a bottle for yourself or as a gift, here are a few worth trying. 

Consider it the advice I'd soggily impart were I to corner you at a party, tumbler in hand and burning hot barley on the breath. 

FAUXCHELLA 2012 INFO

You might've heard me mumbling in intervals about a little thing called Fauxchella. 

Yeah, click that link if you're looking for an explanation. 

You know what else you can click? THIS. It's all the info you're going to need for Fauxchella V, as in, the fifth, as in holy COW, has it really been five years? Yes it has. 

For the site, I compiled some photos over the past four years of Fauxchella weekends, and because I'm feeling magnanimous, I'll share one of them here, too. Head over to the official Fauxchella website to see the rest. 

Get Outta Dodge: The California Desert

I'm often asked for advice about where to go, what to eat, what to see and do and experience in Southern California. It's true that I love a good adventure about as much as I love a good drink, and I've culled quite a bit of information over years of exploration. Herewith, a new feature on Blinking Against the Brightness that I'm calling Get Outta Dodge. Where to go, what to wear, what to eat, what to drink...it's the blown leaves from my adventures, finally collected, piled, and presented for you to take a flying leap into.


Here's my guide to the California desert, a four-part series I've now collected in one place. Like what you see? Share it with your friends. No, seriously. Use your powers for good, O Children of the Internet! 

Feel like chiming in? Don't hesitate. I've got a running list of uncharted territory and I'd love to add more.


Want to buy me a beer? Oh, you SHOULDN'T HAVE. You rascal.


Ready? Set...


Here we go.

(Click here)

Get Outta Dodge: Part IV

I'm often asked for advice about where to go, what to eat, what to see and do and experience in Southern California. It's true that I love a good adventure about as much as I love a good drink, and I've culled quite a bit of information over years of exploration. Herewith, a new feature on Blinking Against the Brightness that I'm calling Get Outta Dodge. Where to go, what to wear, what to eat, what to drink...it's the blown leaves from my adventures, finally collected, piled, and presented for you to take a flying leap into.

Over the next five days, we'll be exploring the California desert together. I should note that this is by no means exhaustive (though I may have called it definitive, but you'll understand I'm prone to hyperbolic proclamations about my authority), because there is always something more to discover. Feel like chiming in? Don't hesitate. I've got a running list of uncharted territory and I'd love to add more.

On Monday, I'll give you an introduction. On Tuesday, we'll tackle what to wear and what tunes to bring. Wednesday we'll dive in to where to go. Thursday will contain a cocktail recommendation, as well as the helpful miscellanea I've picked up along the way. On Friday, I'll do a recap along with a link to locate the entire series with one click.

Like what you see? Please share it with your nearest and dearest. Have something to say? Leave it in the comments. Want to buy me a beer? Oh, you SHOULDN'T HAVE. You rascal.

Ready? Set...

Here we go. 

Get Outta Dodge: Part III

I'm often asked for advice about where to go, what to eat, what to see and do and experience in Southern California. It's true that I love a good adventure about as much as I love a good drink, and I've culled quite a bit of information over years of exploration. Herewith, a new feature on Blinking Against the Brightness that I'm calling Get Outta Dodge. Where to go, what to wear, what to eat, what to drink...it's the blown leaves from my adventures, finally collected, piled, and presented for you to take a flying leap into.

Over the next five days, we'll be exploring the California desert together. I should note that this is by no means exhaustive (though I may have called it definitive, but you'll understand I'm prone to hyperbolic proclamations about my authority), because there is always something more to discover. Feel like chiming in? Don't hesitate. I've got a running list of uncharted territory and I'd love to add more.

On Monday, I'll give you an introduction. On Tuesday, we'll tackle what to wear and what tunes to bring. Wednesday we'll dive in to where to go. Thursday will contain a cocktail recommendation, as well as the helpful miscellanea I've picked up along the way. On Friday, I'll do a recap along with a link to locate the entire series with one click.

Like what you see? Please share it with your nearest and dearest. Have something to say? Leave it in the comments. Want to buy me a beer? Oh, you SHOULDN'T HAVE. You rascal.

Ready? Set...

Here we go.

Helpful links for Do: South

MAP

Ace Hotel King's Highway

Helpful links for Do: North

MAP

Hicksville Trailer Palace

 All photography © Laurel Dailey 2012, unless otherwise noted. Repost, reblog, reuse only with permission from the author. 

Special thanks for use of author photo taken by Adam Sjoberg.

Get Outta Dodge: Part II

I'm often asked for advice about where to go, what to eat, what to see and do and experience in Southern California. It's true that I love a good adventure about as much as I love a good drink, and I've culled quite a bit of information over years of exploration. Herewith, a new feature on Blinking Against the Brightness that I'm calling Get Outta Dodge. Where to go, what to wear, what to eat, what to drink...it's the blown leaves from my adventures, finally collected, piled, and presented for you to take a flying leap into. 

Over the next five days, we'll be exploring the California desert together. I should note that this is by no means exhaustive (though I may have called it definitive, but you'll understand I'm prone to hyperbolic proclamations about my authority), because there is always something more to discover. Feel like chiming in? Don't hesitate. I've got a running list of uncharted territory and I'd love to add more. 

On Monday, I'll give you an introduction. On Tuesday, we'll tackle what to wear and what tunes to bring. Wednesday we'll dive in to where to go. Thursday will contain a cocktail recommendation, as well as the helpful miscellanea I've picked up along the way. On Friday, I'll do a recap along with a link to locate the entire series with one click. 

Like what you see? Please share it with your nearest and dearest. Have something to say? Leave it in the comments. Want to buy me a beer? Oh, you SHOULDN'T HAVE. You rascal. 

Ready? Set...

Here we go. 

Get Outta Dodge: Part I

I'm often asked for advice about where to go, what to eat, what to see and do and experience in Southern California (and elsewhere, as it were). It's true that I love a good adventure about as much as I love a good drink, and I've culled quite a bit of information over years of exploration. Herewith, a new feature on Blinking Against the Brightness that I'm calling Get Outta Dodge. Where to go, what to wear, what to eat, what to drink...it's the blown leaves from my adventures, finally collected, piled, and presented for you to take a flying leap into. 

Over the next five days, we'll be exploring the California desert together. I should note that this is by no means exhaustive (though I may have called it definitive, but you'll understand I'm prone to hyperbolic proclamations about my authority), because there is always something more to discover. Feel like chiming in? Don't hesitate. I've got a running list of uncharted territory and I'd love to add more. 

On Monday, I'll give you an introduction. On Tuesday, we'll tackle what to wear and what tunes to bring. Wednesday we'll dive in to where to go. Thursday will contain a cocktail recommendation, as well as the helpful miscellanea I've picked up along the way. On Friday, I'll do a recap along with a link to locate the entire series with one click. 

Like what you see? Please share it with your nearest and dearest. Have something to say? Leave it in the comments. Want to buy me a beer? Oh, you SHOULDN'T HAVE. You rascal. 

Ready? Set...

Here we go. 

 All photography © Laurel Dailey 2012, unless otherwise noted. Repost, reblog, reuse only with permission from the author.

Coachella 2012

Kathleen in Venice

There are very few compelling reasons for me to go to the Westside (ahem, ever), but Kathleen is one of them. These days, you'd be hard pressed to drag a more worthy compliment out of me, so I'll let the photos speak for themselves. 

She's a beaut. 

 All photography © Laurel Dailey 2012, repost, reblog, reuse only with permission from the author.

2011 in iPhone Photos

Say what you will about hack photographers and their fancy iPhone filters. All I know is, I took more photos than I did calls last year.

Here are the times my phone filled in when my camera wasn't in hand. 

*There are a couple of these that my phone didn't take, but they were in my album and I couldn't resist throwing them in. The first is the lake shot in the Christmas collage, which was snapped by Newbie's iPhone. The second is the blue googly-eyed shot, which was taken by Mr. Lewis.