Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 10:15 AM
"There is nothing half so pleasant as coming home again..." -Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

There's something special about waking up in the land of flat lands & oil. Things are a little slower here in Oklahoma, a little more simple. Being here is like taking a zoom lens that was on macro mode and throwing it back into 16mm mode... here I am always able to see with broader perspective. I slow down, turn off the e mail, spend time with family, read, sleep in, go to movies, drink tea, take naps & play some old school games. I know we could do most all of these things back home in Seattle, but here it is different. This is where our families are, this is the place where Chris and I met.... so there is something that will always be sacred about this humble little state, it houses some of the most important memories & people of our lives. 

The interesting thing about the holiday's is how it forces you to come face to face with where you come from. Your family. Every family has it's oddities and weird idiosyncrasies, some more fun than others. I think we know we are growing up when we can begin to pardon our families for being together through all of their weirdness. And if we can learn to pardon our families it seems as though we can learn to pardon anyone. I've been thinking a lot about that in the context of what it means to forgive and a foster deeper love for others. Maybe love & forgiveness starts with pardoning some of the weirdest people in our lives... the people we don't get to choose, our family :)

I hope you all get to go home in some way over the holiday's. It is oddly refreshing to be with people who know us in ways that no one else ever will and stand next to them and accept we come from some of the same weird DNA and love ourselves through that. I'm thankful for my weird little family. They helped make me the wonderfully weird lady I am. And this year, I am choosing to pardon... because Lord knows I need a lot of that kind of grace too.



Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (15)
Sarah-Jane says: Sunday, January 9, 2011, 02:18 PM

These are amazing Sarah and Chris. I really liked the "I"m Thankful For Today" photo. I needed a visual of that at the moment.

clarissa says: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 12:31 AM

Sarah, you should totally write a book. You're one of my most inspiring photographer not only because you shoot the greatest pictures, but also because you utter your view of the world through earnest words. KUDOS! Come to Singapore sometime, please?

jade says: Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 08:01 AM

I always appreciate reading your more personal blogs and knowing that just because we are human we are never alone in the way we feel. Someone has felt this before. And sometimes, someone else is feeling and thinking the same thing as you are. Don't you just love being alive?

francis says: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 08:02 PM

I'm thankful for my weird little family too... great post Sarah. Everyone can learn a lot from your perspective. Merry Christmas to you and the whole family!


Rich Park says: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 08:52 AM

your reflections are always so inspiring! happy holidays to you and chris!

Alice says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 03:09 PM

I always love to read your writing, Sarah. Merry Christmas to you both and your family!

Nedra says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 02:26 PM

So very very true, love your thoughts, and this picture is amazing! Merry Christmas to you and yours. :)

Beata english says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 01:15 PM

Beautiful. Wishing you and Chris a very special Xmas and new year. Hopefully will come and visit you in Seattle next year! Xxx

ajja says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 12:40 PM

you put some thoughts i have been having myself these days into words and did it with such integrity. thank you. merry christmas.

Katie says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 11:47 AM

WELL SAID! ;)

Melinda says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 10:50 AM

Love your thoughts on family and forgiveness!

Katherine Henry says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 10:30 AM

Happy holidays! Safe travels :)

Charis Warrell says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 10:25 AM

Love this... your words and your image. God bless you and your family this Christmas time :D

KELLI TRONTEL says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 10:24 AM

beautiful.

Enjoy the holidays!!

Sean McLean says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 10:20 AM

Amen sister

Friday, December 17, 2010, 08:39 AM
Everything about Melbourne, Australia is perfectly perfect. It is one of those magical places that feels like walking into yourself. It rained nostalgia...it felt like parts of us needed to be picked up along the streets of Melbourne, like we were meant to be there. 

Melbourne was like the perfect old sweatshirt... or the perfect fuzzy pillow on your bed. It's all too familiar, it smells just right and you know you are home in some strange way. It was like colliding with another home that we didn't know we had thousands of miles around the world. It was charmingly overcast and scarves and layers were a requirement, much to our liking considering my heaven is a world full of old books, overcast skies and people walking around with lots of beautiful layers (with the occasional break out in musical song and dance of course). Which is why Seattle is my perfectly perfect place and why Melbourne is my perfect place's little brother. They come from the same DNA. 

Chris and I shot too many rolls of film to count. we just couldn't help ourselves. it was all too much to handle. the colors, the smells, the people, the vintage, the city, the street art, the independent spirit of it all.... it is a place that kind of gives a finger to the confines of the world, but does it with a little smile and a nod. I like that. Melbourne just kind of says, "It's not about what you have, it's about living a life that matters to you.." And my-oh-my was the coffee ever brilliant there. The barista's were true artists... I think I just sat and stared at most of my drinks in awe before I dared destroy that kind of beautiful milk mastery :) 

I could go on and on about Melbourne.... but I'll let the images do the talking... they tell a fine enough story about this beautiful little perfectly perfect place. 

For those wondering, the following frames were all shot with a combination of our Leica M6 &  the Contax 645

Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (25)
Julia Manchik says: Friday, February 11, 2011, 02:46 AM

Sarah- Yuriy and I are currently in Sydney and taking a road trip to Melbourne in the next few days. Your photos are getting me all antsy. I remember you saying on Twitter it reminded you so much of Seattle, and I can't wait to see it for myself. Were there any "must go to" places that you can recommend for us?

adam says: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 09:42 PM

I love your street photography maybe more than anything else you have done here. It's so raw and visceral!

hailey says: Thursday, December 30, 2010, 04:21 PM

ohhh how wonderful to see my favourite city in your blog!

Beautiful work as always... I am inspired and delighted! My fav is the bw photo booth that I love!! Now we want to see the photos you took!! ;)

Kelly Tunney says: Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 01:13 AM

Only discovering these now....wowwee!!! Such an awesome series yet every frame has such impact. Beautiful - I love them :)

jaine says: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 03:17 AM

amazing. hope sydney is as great at melbourne! great shots...

Gemma says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 11:12 PM

So lovely to see my Melbourne through Rhoads eyes :)
That Swanston St reflection shot, just perfect!

Andrea Mull says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 12:30 PM

Your work is beautiful! I love coming to your blog and seeing what you have created. I am always so inspired and I look forward to seeing your next post! Happy Holidays and best wishes in 2001 :)

jen k. says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 11:28 AM

you always make happy thoughts in my head - you guys are so great!

Christine says: Monday, December 20, 2010, 04:33 PM

Beautiful memories created by beautiful souls. Love the way you see Melbourne, my fave Australian city. :) Miss the Rhoadsies.

Sean McLean says: Monday, December 20, 2010, 12:20 PM

Looks like a blast

Vanderboom says: Monday, December 20, 2010, 07:22 AM

Hey. looks like it was a grand adventure.

Kristin says: Sunday, December 19, 2010, 03:25 PM

these are wonderful! love the story they tell! I love seeing a place through a photographer's eyes. how do you travel with film? I guess more so fast film, do you have it out and checked or do you just send it through the xray machines? thanks for sharing your trip!

Anonymous says: Sunday, December 19, 2010, 11:13 AM

@Caitlin I'm thinking about setting up a gallery online for art prints. I'll post more about it on the blog if & when I get to it on my to do list :)

Caitlin Walthall says: Saturday, December 18, 2010, 08:49 AM

Amazing work. Just curious... do you sell prints of your photography?

caroline lee says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 07:18 PM

oh yay. i've been sooo anxious for this post! i could hardly wait to see my favorite city through your eyes, and you've captured the gritty, raw goodness of it so beautifully. sigh. more excited than ever to head there next week! xx

Lisa says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 05:09 PM

So glad you guys enjoyed a special little piece of Australia. I had a feeling you would love Melbs. Its such a great city and very 'you'. : )

Annie says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 03:25 PM

Strange waking up from a dream where I was going to Melbourne and then seeing these :) I've never been before, but maybe now I should? I love when you shoot in film :)

Samm Blake says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 02:34 PM

Love these images Sarah. I go to Melbourne next week, you have me excited :) xoxo

Dorothy says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 11:35 AM

love. loove. lurve ;)

Calvin Michael West says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 10:27 AM

I can't believe that Obama was on that wall. Talk about reach. Dang.

Tori says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 09:57 AM

Wow, this is like a story! I don't understand how you transform such common things into such a beautiful masterpiece! It's quite a talent.

Laura says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 09:40 AM

These are amazing!

anda says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 09:17 AM

love them. i've been shooting more film too lately. but we don't have a pro lab (or even a decent one) in madison, so i have all the rolls stockpiled in my sock drawer.

Katie says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 08:46 AM

LOOOOVE these. I'm in love with my contax 645, but isn't it just a beast!?! I lugged mine across three countries in Europe this fall, and was oh so glad I did!

Alex says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 08:45 AM

Loooove these!

Thursday, December 16, 2010, 09:38 AM
Last year we decided it would be rad to see some of the self portraits of our blog readers/friends/family, we encouraged everyone to shoot some self portraits for themselves and the outcome was what we called The Self Portrait Project. It was such a cool project we thought it would be fun to do it again this year. 

Self Portraits are important, many of the artistic greats throughout our time have actively participated in taking self portraits throughout the course of their careers. I tried to take one self portrait a month this year and make it as honest as possible to where I was in that season, it wasn't always easy but it was a new and interesting challenge for me. This was my self portrait last November 2009 and some of my thoughts on the importance of them.
The image associated with this post was a self portrait I took yesterday afternoon. There is something insanely therapeutic about challenging yourself to do self portraits of yourself.

**To submit your self portrait please size it to 550 pixels tall with no logo/branding on the image and email it to selfportrait@sarahrhoads.com no later than December 20th at midnight (we're extending the deadline from the 15th to the 20th for you guys who requested it :). In that e mail please include a link to your blog/site so we can properly credit you in the post we put together. We've already received some really beautiful and inspiring images from you guys. I'm totally blown away.

Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (10)
jesse says: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 05:57 AM

this image stopped me in my tracks...my google reader tracks. so beautiful. xoxox

Haley Garrett says: Friday, December 17, 2010, 01:42 PM

I absolutely love this photo! The way your hair glows and the warmth of the photo! Your eyelashes are beautiful! This photo make me feel at peace! This is a great idea, I for sure need to do this! =)

tif says: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 03:07 PM

Bangs:) pretty!

Sarah Danaher says: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 03:04 PM

I love it.

wendy says: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 02:18 PM

love this self portrait sarah..... lovely

Rachael Earl says: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 01:58 PM

I instantly thought of Goldilocks sleeping on the bears' beds :) Beautiful!

Lisa says: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 01:32 PM

This is amazing. The warmth and tones are making me swoon ; )

Milena Dekic says: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 01:30 PM

Wowsers, seriously lovely, honey bunch! I guess I should get started on mine too ;)

Dan O'Day says: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 01:01 PM

eeeek ! i love this!

Spencer Combs says: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 10:45 AM

This is seriously so AWESOME! I love it!

Monday, November 22, 2010, 12:01 PM
This is what we lived & traveled in last week while we traveled around the south island of New Zealand. We had no showers, no luxury, no cell phones and we pulled off at campsites and slept in the back of the bus every night which turned into a bed, it was a much needed escape. The VW Kombi was a 1966 whose gear box was a bit "special" and needed some extra love. Chris was not only driving on the wrong side of the road, but when you are driving a 1966 VW bus there are no power breaks and no power steering. It was pretty funny, Chris was such a trooper, that thing was the antithesis of easy to drive, but we had so many laughs.

New Zealand was nothing short of a scene out of Lord of the Rings, just replace all the hobbits in the movie with sheep. They had more sheep than I had ever seen in my life. I'll do a post just on New Zealand later but since I'm traveling right now this is just a frame from the adventure. 

We're currently in Maui getting ready to shoot one of our favorite little families, the Odette family. We woke up and looked out the window to sandy beaches and sunshine. I'm pretty sure it is dumping snow in Seattle right now... oh the irony! 

Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (15)
Danielle Snelson says: Sunday, November 28, 2010, 08:40 PM

Girl-You KNOW we are loving this. Please say we can plan an amazing road trip together someday. That would be bliss!

Sarah Danaher says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 12:10 PM

I just got back from 3 weeks in New Zealand (just, as in last night). I, too, spent a week driving around the South Island, except I was in a camper van instead of a VW. It was epic, nonetheless. And I'm relatively certain that I saw that Kombie while I was there. Can't wait to see your shots. I'll post mine soon. =)

JP & Ashley Post says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 04:06 PM

We're on the South Island of New Zealand right now! :) - in Nelson. You pretty much described our lives right now... except we're in a sedan :)

Jen K says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 01:40 PM

Sarah you two are awesome! Matt and I have been planning a similar road trip of our own around the states this Spring...should be pretty wild!

ajja says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 11:14 PM

great picture/adventure(: just wanted to thank you because it was through one of your blog posts that i ran into the making things happen tour last year. i just got to go to the one here on maui last week. thanks for being the connector!

ajja says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 11:14 PM

great picture/adventure(: just wanted to thank you because it was through one of your blog posts that i ran into the making things happen tour last year. i just got to go to the one here on maui last week. thanks for being the connector!

Mary says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 08:37 PM

Those vans are awesome, this brings back happy memories of my last southern hemisphere summer. At least the South Island has more sheep than it has people on the roads :) Look forward to your NZ pics!

Allie says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 07:50 PM

Not bad, not bad at all :)

Annie says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 03:03 PM

So glad you had a great time! Road tipping in a Kombi is a dream of mine, and your trip sounds amazing! Can't wait to see photos! :)

Greg Hoskins says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 02:26 PM

Beautiful scenery! And a sweet ride :)

alyda says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 02:24 PM

squeeeeeeeeee!!! so cute

Rich Park says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 02:02 PM

wow, sounds like quite an adventure! can't wait to see the new zealand post!

Alex Beadon says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 12:54 PM

Amazing :)

Dennis Bullock says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 12:38 PM

I am sure it was a blast!

Joshua Mahar says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 12:13 PM

This is dope!