In a recent TED lecture, David Griffen, the director of photography at National Geographic Magazine, talks about how photographs can help connect us to the rest of the world. Using a few examples from the magazine, he discusses how meaningful stories can be created through the use of photography. The example images he shows are simply stunning and I think he hits on some concepts that make his magazine stand out from all of the rest.

I always find it exciting to stumble upon signs of the past when driving through some of the small midwestern towns. Some might see them as an eyesore, but I think it’s a nice reminder of a time when businesses had a real feel of individuality. Plus, the type is always so cool! And, believe me, I’m not the only one who feels this way . . .

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This is a collage piece that I recently came up with as a study for a different project. I ended up not using it for the project itself, but I had so much fun doing it, that I’d really like to try and do some more in this style, so stay tuned! A majority of the photographs were taken from the Library of Congress’ public domain archive on Flickr. That place is a treasure chest of interesting images from our nation’s past!

I just got back from a relaxing weekend out in western Kansas which was a nice escape from the hustle of everyday life here in Lawrence. The weather was perfect and I spent one morning canoeing out on Wilson Lake which was a lot of fun. I also (over)ate a ton of home-cooked food. However, one of the most unique things I came across was a beautiful sunflower field, so out came the camera!
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