Dirtie Bird Photography

Seattle Music Photography, Hills of Elysium, Dirtie Bird Photography, Marika Garland

2011-08-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

My sister is a very talented musician. So is her boyfriend. They love each other enough to be able to not only live in the same house as one another, but also be in a band together, and live in the house with their band. I think that that is pretty awesome. I've been their band (Hills of Elysium) photographer since they first started out, which was also the same time I started shooting music portraiture.
We had a new shoot in my new studio back in April, and I have yet to share my favorite images here on the blog. I'm much better with my images, than with words, so I'll get to the point, and show you my favorites from the April 2011 Hills of Elysium studio shoot. :)

Portrait of a woman. Skagit County Portrait photographer, mount vernon photographer, anacortes photographer

2011-06-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I woke up around 6:30 in the morning to let my dogs outside, and it was already warm. I love the sun. I spent most of the day hanging with my dogs, and getting ready for an afternoon shoot at a friend's house a couple of blocks away. My friend, Megan, is a beautiful woman, she has awesome style, and her house is amazing. It was the perfect recipe for a glorious photo shoot. Here are just a few of my favorite images from yesterday...

I love my job. It pretty much kicks ass. :)

-Marika

Shelby and Chloe May 1, 2011... Skagit County Portrait Photographer, Anacortes Portrait photographer, Anacortes photographer

2011-05-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Part Of The Journey....Skagit County Wedding Photographer

2011-04-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

I'm shooting a wedding this September at Snoqualmie Falls, just east of Seattle. I am incredibly excited about it. I love every wedding I shoot. I sent a questionnaire to the couple this afternoon through the mail. I want to get to know them on a more personal level before their engagement shoot in May. This morning, I woke up at 4 am because my pulled rib muscles were hurting too much to be able to sleep... (I recently had a horrible cold/flu that turned into pneumonia, but thankfully I was able to get antibiotics soon enough to take care of it before it turned dangerous... My cough was bad enough to cause me to pull muscles in my ribs... not at all pleasant, but I am surviving). I got out of bed around 4:45, and decided to type up a letter for the couple giving them some directions for their questionnaire. As I looked over the questions, I realized that I should probably let them know a little more about who I am, and how I became a photographer... so I just started typing. This is what I shared with them.

{a girl + a camera}

    Who are you?

My name is Marika Katti Garland. I am a 27 year old photographer living in the beautiful town of Anacortes, Washington. I grew up in La Conner, Washington in a house my parents built on the beach in the early 1980s. My dad's family is from Huntington Beach, California and Iowa. My mom's family is from Los Angeles and Finland. My first and middle names are of Finnish origin. When you put them together (Marakatti) they translate to Capuchin Monkey.
I have four loves in my life. Number one is my amazing boyfriend, James, who has been one of my biggest supporters during my journey as a photographer. We became friends five and a half years ago, when I started taking photos of his band. We were friends for the next four years, and one year ago we took that friendship and turned it into the most amazing love. I am truly blessed to have him in my life.

Numbers two and three (in no particular order) are my dogs, Kerouac and Cohen. They are Siberian Huskies. They are the light of my life, and have been two of my greatest models for photography.

Number four is my photography. It is my heart and soul, and everything that I breathe.

    How did you become a photographer?

When I was nine years old all I wanted was a camera. I don't remember the exact moment I decided I wanted one, but I remember how badly I wanted to capture the world around me. My first camera came for Christmas that year. It was a small black plastic film camera. I don't remember the make, or if it had a flash. I can still recall its smooth surface, and the "click click click" sound it made as I advanced the film after taking a photo. I still have boxes full of negatives and prints from that camera. I think it was the concept that I could freeze the world around me, and hold onto it forever that made me fall in love with photography as a child. So many things change so quickly when we are young, and I guess photographing the little things was my way of telling life I wasn't going to let it slip by unnoticed.
My mother bought me my first SLR (single lens reflex) camera when I was a Senior in high school for my black and white photography class. I tried to get into the class every semester of high school, but didn't get in until the beginning of my Senior year. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to learn the basics of film photography at a young age. Every photographer should experience the beauty of unrolling a roll of film you shot and processed yourself. The first time you watch your image appear on a piece of paper in a developing tray in the dark room is like watching new life coming into the world. You will never forget it.
After high school, I didn't do much with photography until I was 20. I picked up my slr and started shooting again for a few months. Sadly, my slr broke, and I didn't get it fixed. A year later, I purchased my first digital point and shoot camera. A lot of things had changed in my life in a year, and I was feeling the need to capture my world again. I started shooting everything around me, including myself. This is where my story telling began as a photographer.
Shortly after purchasing my little point and shoot, I took a photo of my brother's cat while on a walk. Six months or so later that photo was published in National Geographic Magazine in a new feature they were doing for readers submitting images based on a theme.
By the time the June 2006 issue of NGM came out, I had already purchased my first digital slr. I was shooting portraits of musicians, friends, live shows, and just about everything I could think of. I shot my first wedding in September of 2006. Although I was building a lot of experience shooting so many different things, I always felt a little incomplete... like I was missing something. I needed to go to photography school. I wanted to go to photography school.
In May of 2007 I drove out to Missoula, Montana to attend a one week Intermediate Photography Workshop at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Two days into the workshop, I signed myself up to stay for the Summer Intensive and Digital Intensive programs. I spent the next five months living, breathing, eating, and dreaming photography. It was the best summer of my life. I learned things about myself as a photographer, and as a person, that I do not believe I could have discovered anywhere else.

Re-Feather Your Nest product shoot... Skagit County Portrait Photographer, Skagit County Wedding Photographer.

2011-03-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

This week I had the honor of capturing details and vignettes for a new shop opening up in Mount Vernon. Re-Feather Your Nest is a consignment and new furniture/decor shop. The owner, Linda Freed, is also the owner of the Calico Cupboard and Seeds restaurants.

Re-Feather Your Nest opens today! Check them out on facebook, and stay tuned for their new website!

-Marika

Dirtie Bird likes kitties too... Skagit County Dog Photographer, Skagit County Wedding Photographer, Skagit County Portrait Photographer

2011-03-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

I love taking portraits of kitties in their own environments... when they are relaxed and happy to be getting all the attention... just like my friend Jennifer's kitty, Penelope. I took some portraits of her this afternoon, and she was loving it. She plopped down on her side and rolled back and forth. She made sure to pause long enough for me to capture her best angles of course... :)

Do you have a kitty who needs to be captured? Send me a message at marika@dirtiebirdphotography.com for availability and rates, and we'll make it happen!

-Marika

Best Damn Dog Photographer....Skagit County Dog Photographer, Anacortes Dog Photography, Dog Photography

2011-02-26T14:47:00.000-08:00

When I was nine, I begged my family for a camera so that I could take photos of all the things I loved. I have boxes full of photographs of all my pets. My family didn't understand at first why I had to take so many photos of our dogs and cats and horses... when one of our pets died, everyone knew where to go for a photograph to remember their furry friend.

I love dogs. I've had dogs in my life since I was a tiny baby. First, there was Grizzly Bear, a huge St. Bernard/Husky/German Shepard mix that my parents bought as a puppy for a friend of theirs. Their friend couldn't take him, so my parents kept him. Grizzly was a beautiful dog with a huge heart. He would let our litters of kittens climb all over him, and he loved snuggling my sister and me. My first memory of heartbreak and tears was the day he died. I was three years old. My parents were cutting down huge trees to clear land for our road, and Grizzy Bear (that's what I called him), was chasing the trees as they fell. I'm sure you can guess what happened. It was a very sad day. My dad buried him under his favorite tree on our beach, and made a cross with his name on it. He had a rubber duckie toy that he had chewed the bill off of. We put that under the cross. That duckie stayed there for years afterward. I remember it still being there when I was a teenager.

A little while after Grizzly's death, we decided we needed a new puppy. My dad and sister went to the pound to pick one out, and I awoke with a little dalmation on my bed. We named him Spot. I remember the first moment I saw him. That is the only memory I have of him as a puppy. The rest of my memories of him are when he was big, and not the greatest dog for children. He would chase us when we went outside, and would jump on us and playfully bite. He was out of control. I don't remember how long he stayed with us, but one day he wasn't there anymore.

The night before I turned five years old, I was watching a movie about a boy and his pony. I was sucked into the film because I was a horse crazy girl. I almost didn't notice my family coming into the living room with a tiny basket. In the basket was a tiny puppy. A Pomeranian puppy. He was the most adorable little ball of fur I had ever seen. He was my birthday present. The coloring on his nose was just like my first dog, Grizzly's nose, and when my family asked what I wanted to name him, I knew it was going to be Grizzly... Little Grizzly. Little Grizzly turned out to be one of the best dogs I have ever known. He didn't know how little he was. He would chase big dogs away from our home, ran alongside, and underneath our horses when we went on rides down the beach, and he absolutely LOVED riding in the truck. He was hit by a car one day, and his tail was paralyzed. It didn't stop him from chasing cars up the hill, until he was hit again. He was with us for 9 years. We buried him next to Big Grizzly under the tree. I helped my dad make the cross.

By this time, I was in high school, and not having a dog at our house was a very strange thing. My sister and her boyfriend at the time had adopted a German Shepard/Malamute Husky mix puppy from the Humane Society about a year before Little Grizzly died. His name was Mufasa. He was the goofiest dog you ever saw. My dad and I wanted to get a new puppy to be friends with Mufasa, so we headed out to the Humane Society. There was a litter of Pit Bull mix puppies, and we picked out two. One was a boy, and one was a girl. The boy was white with light and dark brown patches. The girl was solid light brown. The girl puppy had been adopted, so we ended up adopting the boy. About a week after we got him, he got really sick. We took him to the vet, and found out it was Parvo Virus. He stayed overnight at the vet hospital. The next day we got a call from the Humane Society telling us we needed to bring him back and have him put down. The entire litter had been infected, and everyone was bringing them back. We said no way, we had already taken him to the vet, and he was going to be fine. I was heartbroken that the little girl puppy was going to be put down. We decided to name the puppy Nick. Because we got him just in the nick of time. The day he came home from the vet, I accidentally dropped his medication out the window of the truck while we were driving down the highway... it ended up being a good thing because Nick later got into some Apache fly bait, and got really sick. The vet sent a shot along with new medication so Nick wouldn't die. It was all very traumatic... but everything turned out fine. Nick and Mufasa became best friends. They were inseparable. When I was home from college for Christmas, Mufasa went missing. My best friend and I went searching for him, but never found him. Three months later, our neighbor found his body. It was devastating. He was such a great dog. Nick was alone after that. In 2007, my dad sold his house, and bought a new place. Nick died before the move. I didn't get to say goodbye.

My parents divorced when I was eight. They both remarried, and got new pets. When I was 9, my mom got a Basset Hound puppy. We named him Bo Diddly. He was hilarious. My mom bought an old farmhouse, and Bo Diddly would roam all around the farmlands. One day he never came back. He wasn't neutered. It was quite a while before my mom got another dog that stayed. His name was Bingo, and he was a Blue Heeler puppy. He was the runt. He was shy, but so very loving and loyal. He loved all of us so much, and we loved him. One day, he started losing weight quickly. My mom took him to the vet, and found out he had some sort of genetic disorder that affected his intestines. They operated on him, and he got a little better for a while. I remember my mom telling me that she hadn't realized how much she really loved Bingo, until we almost lost him. It wasn't long after that when we did lose him. The next year, my mom and brother got another Blue Heeler puppy named Rocket. Rocket is exactly like his name. He is hilarious, and loving, and the biggest baby ever! He has a blanket that he sucks on, and when my mom isn't home, he steals one of her hats and a pair of gloves and drags them to his bed.

Five years ago, my life changed when a furry little Siberian Husky came into my life. My little Kerouac flew on a plane from Maryland to Seattle into my arms. She has been my baby girl, and the light of my life. We have a silent language between us. She understands me, and I understand her. About six months after she came into my life, another husky joined us... Kerouac and I drove down to Seatac to pick out a puppy. Cohen is a pure white Siberian Husky. When we first brought him home, Kerouac thought he was her play toy. He didn't like that. She picked on him even after he got bigger than her. She still does. They are best friends. When Cohen had to wear a cone after getting neutered, I would come home from work and the cone would be in the middle of the yard with teeth marks on it... and when Cohen and the cone would get stuck under the shed in the backyard, Kerouac would come yelling that he needed help. She always looked out for him. Then she would kick his butt. My dogs have lived at my dad's for the last year. It has been hard not waking up with them near every morning, and not coming home to them after work. Soon, that will all change because we are having a fence built for them. It is going to be the best day when they come home. It will be like I am coming home.

I realize that this blog entry is HUGE, and if no one reads the whole thing, that is fine. I think I wrote it more for me, so that I could remember all the dogs in my life. They are the reasons why I find something in every dog I photograph, and capture it in my own way. They are the reasons why I am the best damn dog photographer around.

These are some of my recent photographs of dogs.

My Favorite Images from 2010!!! Skagit County Portrait Photographer, Skagit County Dog Photographer, Dirtie Bird Photography

2011-02-11T23:27:00.000-08:00

The past several months have been extremely busy! I have been playing catch up on all my editing from the end of 2010. My laptop died in mid November, so I had to postpone my post processing of my December shoots until after the new year when I got my new awesome computer! Thank you New Egg and Matt Herrin of Hills Of Elysium for the most amazing set up for the most amazing price! Also, thank you to my wonderful boyfriend, James, for the kick ass monitor, keyboard, and mouse... not to mention the greatest support and love this crazy girl could ever dream of. You are my rock. and my roll. the whole package. :)

So, I was without a computer to view/edit/share my images for over a month. It was a heartbreaking, frustrating, terrifying, yet incredibly eye opening experience. The time spent away from my images was magical in that it allowed me to concentrate on other aspects of my life and business. I started thinking more about what I really want to do with my photography, and why I want to do it. I'm going back to school in Missoula for a week in August to take a lighting workshop instructed by one of my favorite photographers, Zack Arias. I just might pee my pants at some point during the week... I'm pretty excited. :)

Since setting up my new editing station, I have been sorting through all my images from 2010, seeing them differently than when I originally shot or edited them. I decided to share some of my favorites from 2010. In no particular order....

Studio self portraits for my July 2010 show, The Trees.

Self portraits for my July 2010 show, The Trees.

Spoonshine Benefit Show November 2010

Spoonshine promo shoot October 2010

Studio shoot with Tony of The Lonely Forest for his beautiful fiancee, Kelly, June 2010.

Studio shoot with Hills Of Elysium April 2010.

Studio shoot with my beautiful friend, Anna. For Myron.

Location shoot for a local 4h dog club June 2010.

Studio shoot from Fido's Fantastic Festival September 2010.

Studio shoot of Buster Moffitt September 2010.

Location shoot with my gorgeous friend, Amber. Hottie!


Studio shoot with Rocket August 2010.

Movement study in studio June 2010

Kitten at the Do It Like Dolly studio shoot June 2010.


My beautiful Kerouac, taking a swim without any fences July 2010.

My beautiful friend, Kristin's, bridal shower, and surprise shoot in the studio August 2010.

Invasion of the Pod People.

Location shoot with Hailey June 2010.

Location and studio shoot with my friend Jennifer. Seriously gorgeous lady. June 2010.

Linnea + Jon. August 28, 2010.


Stage Hypnotist, Ron Stubbs. December 2010.

Santa photos with S.P.O.T. November 2010.

Skagit County Fair August 2010.

Spoonshine at the Skagit County Fair August 2010.

Location and studio shoot with Mike Lengel February 2010.

Location shoot with Import/Export April 2010.

It was tough to choose from so many photos, but I'm pretty sure this sums up my favorites from 2010... If I have missed any, I'm sure I will post them at a later date. I have literally spent all day working on this blog. I started early, and now it is almost midnight... totally worth it.

See you soon with updates from 2011! :)

-Marika

Paulsen Wedding 09.04.2010.... Skagit County Wedding Photographer, Marika Garland, Dirtie Bird Photography

2011-02-11T16:21:00.000-08:00

I am searching for this light today.

2011-02-11T12:16:00.001-08:00

Where have you gone, Sun?

...marika.

Lessons in youth.

2010-10-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

This post has absolutely nothing to do with my photography. Actually, it does sort of. My life has been pretty hectic this past year. I have been busy with photo shoots, editing, snuggling, driving, and just normal life things... I have been so incredibly absorbed with my own life ( I could elaborate on this subject, but that would just continue this self absorbed state I would so very much like to grow out of!), that I have missed some of the most beautiful little (but so huge) things that make this world so worth living in.

My little brother turned 17 on October 5th. He got his first job at the end of Summer, and has started his Junior year of high school. A few nights ago I came home and he asked me to sign a birthday card for a man named Gary. My brother works at Safeway, and Gary is a homeless man who is known by everyone there. My little brother got over 70 people to sign a card for Gary. On Gary's birthday, my brother took him to Johnny Carino's for dinner. If you have ever eaten dinner at this restaurant then you know it is not cheap. My brother, who drives a mid 80's Subaru Brat (so cool!), and could easily spend his paychecks on gas and crazy doodads for his car, decided to spend his money to give someone who has nothing, something.

I only found out about this overhearing my mom telling someone about it over the phone. I am reminded to slow down and listen. Look at all the beautiful things happening every moment of every day. There is so much good in this world, and it literally is right in front of us.

-marika

jon + linnea 08.28.10... details... Skagit County Wedding Photographer, Marika Garland

2010-09-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

changes are on the horizon...

2010-08-31T20:19:00.000-07:00

Between shooting, editing, planning, and sleeping, I have been working on changes to my website... stay tuned for an entirely new look...

a recent image with the new logo and name...

More to come!!!

-Marika

Yay for Doggies!!!

2010-06-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so over at iheartfaces they are having a "pets only" challenge this week... HOORAY! It is PERFECT timing because I just shot the local 4-H dog club's portraits for display at the fair! It was AMAZING! I only get to pick one image for the challenge at iheartfaces, but I will for sure post more of my favorite images from the shoot soon... :)

I chose this image because I LOVE the look in the dog's eyes... it seems to say, "really?... you have me sitting on a bench???"

make sure to check out iheartfaces and all the great pet entries this week!!

-marika

The moments they find themselves just letting go...

2010-06-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

...are my favorite moments with my clients...

She was so beautiful in this particular moment.

It is all within reach...

2010-06-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

I had a great shoot with my friend Jennifer a few days ago... These are just a few images from the beginning of our shoot...

-Marika

DO IT LIKE DOLLY!!!

2010-06-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

I can't wait!!

-Marika

Danielle... my beautiful friend.

2010-06-05T10:11:00.001-07:00

I love this woman. She has been a true friend to me, and an inspiration. She is a wonderful mother. And she is GORGEOUS. What fun we had last night with a bottle of red and seamless white paper in the studio... The only thing spilling, though, was creativity!

-Marika

soles for souls @ iheartfaces...

2010-06-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

Help iheartfaces support this great cause!!

About Soles 4 Souls: Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 9 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls has been featured in Runner’s World, Ladies’ Home Journal, National Geographic’s Green Guide, and The New York Times. It has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, BBC, CNN and thousands of regional news outlets across North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Anyone can join our cause, and we need your help.

________________________________________________________

This is my contribution to this week's topic at iheartfaces...

-marika

Hills Of Elysium Studio Shoot 4.4.2010

2010-04-08T09:00:00.001-07:00

There are moments in my life when I find myself doubting my abilities as a photographer... those are usually moments when I am not working on anything... and then the big moments come along and tell those doubting moments to just shush! This past Sunday (Easter) was one of those big moments... Hills Of Elysium, an incredibly talented band from Seattle, came in to the studio for a quick, simple shoot for their new website. They were looking for high-key imagery to go along with the look of their new music video. These are just a few of my favorite group shots so far. I hope you all enjoy them as much as we have... and you should check

Hills Of Elysium out on facebook....

Thanks!

-marika

Never stop growing...

2010-03-29T18:48:00.000-07:00

I took this self portrait one particularly challenging day. These trees stand tall beside my home, and I have yearned to capture them for the longest time. The process began in tears, and ended with a joy in my heart I could only find within myself. This image is the first of a series of three. The series is titled "never stop growing, sweet girl."

Thank you iheartfaces for having a place for me to share a piece of myself.

-marika

new video!!!

2010-03-27T05:24:00.001-07:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Mother's Day!!!

2010-03-26T16:41:00.001-07:00

PDN Photography Contest... VOTE FOR ME!!!

2010-03-15T21:05:00.001-07:00

please VOTE for me in the People's choice at the PDN Faces photography contest!!!!

Thanks!

-Marika

2010 Music Photography...

2010-03-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

Musicians!!! I love you and I want to take your photos!!!

:)

-marika

scrabble and self portraits...

2010-03-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

There are two things in my life lately that have helped me find strength within myself...

self portraiture and scrabble.

-marika

Jarrod Gorbel @ The Vera Project in Seattle, WA 03.02.2010

2010-03-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

Last night I drove 60 miles to downtown Seattle to see a musician who I have been trying to see perform live for the past four and a half years... Jarrod Gorbel of The Honorary Title. For some reason, I always find out his band is in town about two days before the show, and either have something going on, or I get too lazy to drive all the way to Seattle. This past Sunday, I was looking around online at shows, and saw that he was going to be playing at The Vera Project for his solo tour. I wasn't going to miss it this time, so I bought my ticket online. I ended up having to work late at the frame shop last night, so I was nervous about whether or not I would get to the show on time. Luckily, it was a piece of cake, and I was actually early.
The show was beautiful. Jarrod stood onstage with just his guitar and hauntingly beautiful voice.

And I did what I do best...

this is my favorite shot.

----------------------------------------------------------------

make sure to check out Jarrod's music here...

http://www.myspace.com/jarrodgorbelmusic

and here...

http://www.myspace.com/thehonorarytitle

-marika

I love my job.

2010-03-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

I love my job. Plain and simple. Love it.
I spent the day this past Saturday, photographing Mike Lengel, a very talented young musician. Back in December of 2008, Mike played music at one of my photography shows. It was fantastic. We've been trying to get together for a shoot ever since then, and it finally came together. Here is just a small sample of what came out of our creatively collaborative day of shooting. I've only just begun sifting through all the images.

This was my first shoot in my new studio space. Not only was Mike a great sport, patiently waiting as I set up shots, he helped me move my new desk up the stairs at the office! Thanks Mike!

Anyway... I love my job. Wouldn't do anything else in the world.

-marika

A new space!!!!

2010-02-22T20:24:00.000-08:00

So, Photography By Marika now has a location downtown old Mount Vernon... 404 First Street room 202... my new office space and studio!!!

I just painted a few days ago, and moved some chairs and a trunk in last night.... Picking up a desk in the next few days, and then I'll be just about ready to start working there! Stay tuned for info about my open house/ grand opening partay!

cheers!

-marika

The Lonely Forest at The Showbox Market....

2009-11-29T20:02:00.000-08:00

Friday November 27th, I took my brother down to the Showbox in Seattle to see my friend's band play. It was amazing. I got right down in the middle of the pit of sweatty, screeching teenagers to get some great shots of The Lonely Forest. These are some of my favorite shots of the night.

-marika

July Wedding....

2009-09-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

I created a little slideshow of images from a wedding I shot on July 2nd, in Port Ludlow, WA. It was a beautiful wedding, with wonderful people. :)

-marika

Julie's Senior Portraits...

2009-08-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

These are just a few of my favorite shots from the fantastic sunset senior portrait shoot I had with Julie last week. She is a natural at everything! Such a beautiful smile, and amazing eyes!

-marika

nostalgia...

2009-08-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't entered a weekly contest at iheartfaces for a while because i've been soooo busy this summer! But this week's challenge is about nostalgia... here is my entry...

This amazing tree was hidden for years by a scuzzy house with overgrown weeds and bushes. It sits just outside of my hometown. Recently, the house was removed, and all the clutter cleared away. There is now a roundabout at the intersection by where the house used to be... They left the tree. I remember always wondering what the tree looked like, and now I know.

... mothers and daughters....

2009-08-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Before going on vacation, a few weeks ago, I had this fantastic shoot with one of my mom's best friends. Janice and her daughter, Jacy, are amazing. I love them with all my heart. These are just a few of the images from our shoot out at the driftwood graveyard on Fir Island.

-marika

I love coming home to packages on my front porch!!!

2009-08-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

My new Senior Portrait rep cards arrived today!!!

Hooray!

I'm so excited for this season!!!

oh to be a child!

2009-07-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening, I had such a wonderful time shooting this lovely pair... Meredith and her darling little one, Brayden. We met out at Washington Park and ran around while the sun began its descent. Meredith and Brayden were a dream to shoot... they are so full of life and laughter! Brayden was fascinated with my step stool, and apparently it tastes pretty good...
:)

these are just some of my favorites that I was able to get ready for them for tomorrow... I'm sure I will be posting more as I go through them.
Thanks for looking!

-marika

Under the weeping willow....

2009-07-26T13:31:00.001-07:00

...this tree is amazing! I plan to take many more images near it! Especially at sunset, with a bit of a breeze... I love it! :)

we capture the sun and paint our world with it...

2009-07-23T17:46:00.001-07:00

a few more images from the shoot with kelly... I'm loving these more every day!!

spontaneous adventure with a lovely lady...

2009-07-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

I had the most wonderful evening shooting my friend Kelly during sunset in a wheat field just outside of La Conner. I've only edited a few images so far, and I can't wait to share them, so here they are...

Thank you Kelly for such a fantastic evening!!! I can't wait to do it again!

-Marika

Contest Winner!!!

2009-06-03T09:09:00.001-07:00

About a month ago, I entered a photo I took of my dog, Cohen, in a contest. I received an email on Monday that said I was a winner! In fact, we got FIRST PLACE! yay! Here's a link to check out the photo, what we won, and the other winners in the top ten!!!

http://www.pamperedpuppy.com/contest/200905/winners/index.php

yay for cohen!

The new face of photography by marika...

2009-05-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

After months of grumbling, and sorting, and brainstorming... I have finally just done it! www.marakatti.com has a new concept to it. I have set up multiple galleries so that you can view the different portraiture work that I do in a more organized fashion. There are still a few changes to be made, and those will come soon. We're having the electrical rewired in the house over the next couple of days (so this miss doesn't start a fire with all her power usage in the one outlet in the room next to the office). :)

I'm planning for a busy summer full of portrait work, music documentation, and maybe, hopefully, a short tour with a band. (on-the-road-documentationa??!! yes, please!!!)

I have also just purchased a wonderful new lens (due to arrive tomorrow afternoon!). I will be sure to post the new images as soon as possible!

for a little treat, here is a sample of what I've been shooting lately... thank you to the loverly lady, tamsyn, for being my so faithful model... :) love you girlie!

thanks!

-marika

hoooray for website!

2009-05-18T00:18:00.000-07:00

I spent most of the weekend updating my website... and my brain is mushy now. :)

www.marakatti.com

There is a link from my site to this blog now, so I will be updating much more regularly.

i heart faces hearts hats....

2009-05-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

this week at i heart faces, images of people wearing hats is the subject...
This image of a musician friend is my entry for the adult category.
My passion is environmental music portraiture.... This is one of my favorite portraits, and I hope you all enjoy viewing it.

Thanks!

-marika
www.marakatti.com

HELP ME GET MY ZOOM BACK!!

2009-04-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

Alright, so here's the deal. My only lens for my camera broke yesterday, so I need to sell some prints to earn enough money for a new one. I am offering some kickass pieces for kickass prices. If you find any you are interested in, please send me an email: marika@marakatti.com

Along with the name (gallery number) of which piece or pieces you would like to purchase, please include your name, address, and method of payment (check or cash).

To view the images available, just give a little click and zoom!

thank you thank you thank you!!

-marika

self portrait...

2009-04-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

so i missed the last couple of weeks over at i heart faces mostly because i don't really have any children readily available for taking photos of... :)

i shoot a lot of self portraits... i have a few links for anyone who would like to check out my work...

http://justalittleblackbird.blogspot.com
and www.marakatti.com/soitgoes

most of my self portraits are done with the help of a tripod and a lot of running back and forth... but this one was all me and my heavy nikon... :) thank goodness for a little of the straightening tool.

thanks!

-marika

my puppers...

2009-03-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

this is my baby girl, kerouac. best little husky ever.

check out all the other great pups at I Heart Faces this week...

thanks!

-marika

still "no flashin" at i heart faces (adults).. :)

2009-03-22T23:50:00.000-07:00

hey hey... i made it into the top ten last week over at i heart faces for my adult entry into the "green" contest! fantastic!

This is my adult entry for this week's theme "no flash" at i heart faces...
i took this portrait of my mother with her dog Bingo (he has since passed away) in an abandoned home across the slew from her house. the cherry wallpaper is one of my favorite details.

thanks for stopping by!

-marika

No Flashin' @ I Heart Faces... :)

2009-03-22T23:44:00.000-07:00

This week's theme at i heart faces is "no flash." I love window light just about as much as I love my puppies and lemonade... :) also, just about as much as I love this little blue eyed lady... my dear friend's baby girl, emri.

thanks!

-marika

Green for i heart faces!!

2009-03-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for the I Heart Faces "GREEN" contest...
I live in the Skagit Valley in Washington State, and in a few weeks we have our annual Tulip Festival...

Today, I can't help but have tulips on my mind...

Thank you!!

i heart faces... creative crop...

2009-03-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for the I Heart Faces adult category of "creative cropping." enjoy. :)

thanks!

-marika

Fix it Friday at I Heart Faces...

2009-03-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

I am brand new to I Heart Faces. I came across it by using the "next blog" feature at the top of the blogger page while reviewing my own blog the other day. It is a wonderful site for photographers to participate in. So, today I am posting my edit to a beautiful photograph titled "contemplation."

I used Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom to create this gritty, moody, effect. Here are the steps I took...

1. after importing the image to Lightroom, I took it over to Photoshop for some editing.
2. Copy the background layer (Ctrl+J)
3. make sure to change the mode to 8 bit so that you can use the entire filter gallery.
4. under the "filter" menu, choose "texture"- "grain"
5. in the filter gallery under "grain type" choose "vertical"
6. play with the intensity and contrast sliders until you like what you see
7. click OK to return to the main screen.
8. select "screen" under the blending options in your layers palette
9. apply a mask to the layer and use a big soft brush to paint black to turn off the effect over the face and any other areas you want.
10. use the "curves" tool to create a new layer with a little contrast.
11. save and close the image to return to Lightroom
12. locate the new edited image and create a copy of it
13. with the copy in the "Develop" module, select "Direct Positive" in the creative Presets
14. play with the saturation tool to soften the color.
15. feel free to play with all of the sliders to create any sort of look you want. :)

Thank you!

-marika

just a taste...

2009-03-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

welcome to the blog of photography by marika... I hope you'll enjoy my work.

-marika