The Beginning . . .

God blessed us with such an awesome and beautiful wedding. It brings me such joy to think back on that day and see the lovely pictures from it. I filled this photo book with some of my favorites . . . enjoy. :)

Thankful for my home.

Life as a Homemaker.

Part 1

Pancakes or burritos? Here I am, sitting on my couch in my apartment, sipping a cup of hot tea and wondering what to make for dinner. Yes, pancakes is a dinner option. Breakfast is pretty much the best meal of the day… why not have it twice? Actually, the only reason I’m even considering burritos is because I make breakfast for dinner quite often… and I’m worried Jordan might get tired of it. Oh well… I tried to convince myself but it did no good. I think pancakes will win out in the end.

I digress.

My house is decorated with cheery colors, pumpkins and autumn leaves. The potpourri next to me is fragrant like cranberries and cinnamon. It’s the holidays. I’ve been away from home for the holidays before, but this is my first time in my own home. Jordan works on Thanksgiving day (tomorrow, as I’m writing this), so I decided to make a miniature thanksgiving dinner for us. He gets to come home from work to have dinner, so I’m looking forward to it.

I took pictures of my autumn decorations so you can all see what I’ve been filling my busy days with. Believe it or not, I have been staying fairly busy. Doing what, I’m not sure, but I think I’ve been productive with my time. The house is coming together and looking like a home now, so that’s something to show for my work. However, the mere fact that I’m taking time to write a blog just proves that I’m not a good newly wed after all, because I still have a huge pile of unwritten thank you notes on my table. How ungrateful of me!

Well, it’s 5:30… Jordan will need me to come pick him up soon, so I better get dinner started. More to come later about life as a homemaker. Enjoy the pictures for now. :)

This is my table.  It’s very festive. I may have gone a little overboard with all the leaves, but it was fun. I went outside and collected the beautiful leaves off the ground while some ladies looked at me like I was crazy. I am a little crazy, but it keeps things interesting. :)

And yes… my dinnerware has calla lilies on it… gorgeous, huh?

I was trying to be creative with all those leaves I’d collected, so I put them in a pitcher… something else that I have and still haven’t had the chance to use.

This is the view out my back window/door! Isn’t that lovely? The fall colors are so warm and vibrant that you’d never know how cold it is outside! By the way, they call the fountains here lakes for some reason, so since we are surrounded by them everywhere, we officially live in the lake country! Also, I haven’t completely explored all around the buildings in our apartment complex (there is probably a population as high in our apartments as there was in the town I came from!), so today I took a new route to the lobby in the leasing office where I have to go for internet. On my way, I discovered a stairway, quite long, which is a stairway on one side, and a fountain on the other. I’ll try to remember to take a picture and post it… I’m easily fascinated, I know, but I don’t think I’ve seen that before. I guess we have lakes AND waterfalls here… gosh it’s practically Yosemite! ;)

Back inside where it’s warm… Here is my harvest basket and pumpkins, which was given me to brighten up my home for the holidays from my dear friend Rachel. It is very festive, and some other fake fruit made its way into the scene too, you might notice. (My acorn squash, which I made in ceramics last year. Mom’s banana is hiding behind it.) Oh and real fruit… yum!

More lovely pumpkins! 

 

And I believe it’s complete with a jar of leaves in my kitchen window… if it had curtains they might even label me a true home maker. Someday, perhaps…  ;) (P.S. my window is not boarded up as it might appear, those are trees out front…)

THE END of tour #1. Come and visit and maybe I’ll show you the rest. ;)

Candi Smith Fine Art Photography

I've been asked to share my recent portfolio which was my final in my advanced photography class. I figured the easiest way would be to share it on my blog.

Artist Statement

     It was the third day of my self portrait project. One self portrait per day for a week. My teacher wanted something deep. I wanted something that portrayed the core of who I am. As I searched my mind for ideas, what I came up with was what might seem to the world like absolute simplicity. Arms folded behind my head, my expression a peaceful one, light flooding the frame, and at the center of the picture, a cross.

     Though simple, this photograph strikes to the core of who I am and what I want my art to portray. For me, it’s all about light. My fellow students will tell you this about me. But it’s deeper than just the way that light is hitting the subject in front of the camera. There’s something more. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NASB) I have chosen to follow Him, therefore that light is evident in my life. As it is the most important and the deepest part of me, I desperately want to share that light with others. May I continue to make photos which, a little glimpse at a time, share the light and the glory of the cross, the One who died and rose again to live within me—Jesus Christ.

Please view my portfolio via Flickr. Simply click the link below and click the "next" button found above each photo.

Final Portfolio

Hesed - The Lovingkindness of the Lord

     It’s hard to trust God. Especially in times like these, when the future is so unsure. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, let alone a year from now. There is much to worry about. So I pray and pray, and I am in this process of waiting because I don’t know what the outcome will be. But the truth is, I often pray out of anxiety... when all that God wants of me is to simply trust Him. 

     So I read about God’s lovingkindness. And when I think about this hesed—the unconditional, covenantal love of God which is based on Himself and not on me, it is easy to forget about my worries. Because no matter where I end up tomorrow, or next year, I will still be in the lovingkindness of my Lord. 

 "But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him."
Psalm 103:17


"The Lord delights in unchanging love."
Micah 7:18

 A Light in the Darkness

 For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. (Ephesians 5:8)

There’s no doubt about it: I am completely different from everyone else in my photography class. At least, I am from my perspective. They may not see it as much, because I’m quiet and reserved. They are probably unaware that I am silently disagreeing with a large portion of what is said.

One thing they do see though: Light. Everyone noticed it. There is something with me and light. And they were drawn to it. I’m usually a fly on the wall in my classes, I kind of stay in my own little world. But last night it seems as though I made a lot of friends. Everyone was talking to me. I know they weren’t drawn to my personality—I am shy and quiet with people I don’t know, and few people are drawn to that. No, there is something more… I believe I am not mistaken: they were drawn to the light. His light.

I am sad to see where art may take my fellow students. They are talented and creative… and into such a mind, the world wants to pour a lot of lies and garbage.

My instructor wants to see photos that tell a narrative, make a statement. He wants photos that have “depth.” Sorry to say it, but he has no idea what depth is. Oh it’s true… depression, anger, darkness, suicide and death are all real things, and they are issues today. But how will photographing them and dwelling on them help the problem?

Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)

For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

You want depth? Here is real depth. Here is something deep and overflowing… and it is found in the Lord. He offers so much more than what we can see with our eyes.

There is a battle going on—an invisible battle—between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of Light. We know what the outcome will be, so we needn’t fear. But it breaks my heart to see these young men and women heading down the path of darkness. Please pray for the students in my photography class. There is so much junk in the world of art which they are being bombarded with. Satan has done a lot of evil in that area, and most of it is considered something good under the pretense of being “art.” Pray that God will destroy the threshold that Satan has gained in this darkened place.

Finally, be strong in the Lord an in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Pray that God would send workers into the field to announce His message, that “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) Rather, there is peace, hope, joy, and abounding love. Pray also that I will be a glimpse for them of the Light which is in Christ Jesus. That seeds may be planted in their hearts. For my desire is that one day they will seek the Lord, and this mystery of life in Him.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

This is the hidden life. And that is true depth. 

[If you haven't already seen my photos, you can see my first assignment--7 days of self portraits--right here: Candi's Flickr Portfolio ]