A really late, really long post

First for the year. Not that I haven't thought about updating, but the words weren't there, and I like to write a bit before I post more work. I'll be writing a lot more soon, have an upcoming website that will be a place to channel my experiences in something other than photography and design....but it may find a link from time to time.

I turned 25 today. Spent it stuffing my face , galavanting in the laura-mobile and writing "thank you :)" on my Facebook wall. I've never typed :) so much in one day. That's just me, yuh know, breaking meaningful records and whatnot /flex. I don't have a problem with getting older, I think once you fill your life with hard work and good things it's much easier to look back at the years past and nod with approval without thinking krist almeaty I'm getting old. That's just me. I'm rambling.

I have a tonne of backlogged work to post so please bare with the scrolling!

First set of pictures is a small shoot I did with a girl I met at a Martin Parr show in January. Her name is Fan and we shot this very last minute session at Normandie Hotel. Hair and makeup by Emily Quesnel. Dresses by yours truly (no I didn't design them, they're from ye olde cluttered closet)

Bush!

Stairs!

window!

The next set is from a session done at Paprika restaurant in Cocorite, Trinidad. For all the Trinis ,and those visiting, it's on the left just a few buildings after Peakes gas station. Drive slowly and keep your eyes out for the sign! We got to use masks made from the same company that did the ones in Eyes Wide Shut. Made me wanna grab some paper and glue and try a ting. Models are Chris Steel and Ashley Fifi in Meiling designs. Hair and makeup by Emily Quesnel.

there's something lurking in one of the mirrors

Next is from a shoot (that I did not photograph but I snuck a few of my own shots in between) that I was actually modeling for! MACO People's latest issue has a feature on seven women in Trinidad representing their fields of work. I represented photography. Teneille Newallo (below) is an actress. Makeup by Gianna Barcant, dress by Heather Jones.

Shot at Rumore, one of the Magnificent Seven houses around the Savannah. It's old, falling apart, and I love it.

Now this is far from the pretty pictures of pretty girls in pretty makeup, just complete lack of prettyrisation, and really just something that I had in my head for a year and never did. Til one lonely night in January... This is Ode To Woodbrook, my neighbourhood...and no one can argue with this, one just ran under the couch (sleep over by me guyz!) I swear one day I'm gonna walk in on this. Incoming awesome rap:

Ode to Woodbrook

If you feel me, put your Bop in the air
if you feel me, where your Baygon at

I come home, I lie down
It;s been a long week
I suddenly hear
the little feet (little feet)

and in a flash
I'm dual wielding cans
listening for the sound
of little hands (little hands)

But I know you roach
I know how you move
I see you in the corner
cue flying shoe

the shoe missed
time for second phase
two cans emptied
on your face (little face)


Back to pretty girls


singer Ami Richardson, London


When sunsets attack


dress by Heather Jones


Trinidadian band The Yahdees

RIGHT! Now to have my birthday dinner.

2009

This was another great year, full of wonderful experiences (first one that came to mind was traveling around Europe for three weeks) and the forming of great new friendships all over the world. My son turned three and still won't stop sucking his three fingers (orthodontic future ahead), my hair went through a turquoise and now purple stage (soon to take a completely new look yet again), I developed new techniques with my work through lots of patience and practice..."I've grown as an artist blablabla", my sister to moved to Bahrain *sniff*, I had my first solo exhibition and also came out with my first calendar, my son had a near death experience that has changed me completely, and I reconnected with family in England, Madeira and Portugal, and I sincerely hope I get to see them again next year.

There's a lot more that I cannot remember right now, it'll come to me soon. I've been doing this job since 2007 and every year ends with a bang and starts off a bit slow. Already 2010 is looking to actually start off with a bang...it's exciting. I plan on travelling a lot more and connecting with even more wonderful people around the planet. To all my friends, I love you guys *squeeze til eyes pop*. To all my family around the world (especially Beckie in Bahrain and Joana in Madeira) I love you all so much. To all my fans (I always feel weird saying that word ...fans.....fanzzzz...phaaaansssss) thank you for supporting me, I appreciate it so much and if you have ever sent me an email and I have not replied, I apologise sincerely....keeping track of things isn't always easy.

I got an underwater camera for Christmas. It was either that or a professional recording mic to squawk into (thank my bf for choosing the camera). I went down the islands with my family on Boxing Day and had a salty time trying to get a proper self-portrait whilst getting tangled in my hair and my kid jumping on my back to "twim" around the bay. One of the shots that actually didn't capture my toe or elbow is posted below. It was a test run, and next time it'll be a pair of goggles, and an actual model :/

In other news, I'm playing Dragon Age Origins during my holiday break. You know you and your boyfriend are addicts when you call each other "my liege" and "look here wench" , and refer to the rude (and rather large) lady in the Burger King line as the "undead ogre - last boss who will go into berserker mode and wipe out the food court with her weave of doom and +20 poison acrylic claws of death" Anyway, if anyone else is playing this game, you my friend are awesome. And I'll throw in something about Avatar and District 9 since this is a year end wrap up. Two of the best movies of the year. We should try not to judge people in life, but if you were not moved by either of these movies then you're probably a noob who thought Batman and Robin was timeless (Mr Freeze: "I'm giving you...the cold shoulder...NOW GET TO DA CHOPPA"). That ladies and gentlemen, was my geek paragraph, moving on now.

My new year resolutions: exercise. There's a dusty treadmill next to me...like literally a meter and a half from my left elbow right now, that I bought for Carnival in 2008 (not even kidding) and went on once (ONCE) in 2009. There's also that ab ripper 1000.px.extremedotsomething that I was all YEH I WILL DO THIS EVERY DAY and never did it again. So sticking with an exercise plan is my goal. I've also been working on myself for a while now and trying to stay away from any negative energy, and it feels wonderful. I'm going to keep doing that, only good can come out of this one. My third resolution is to keep my bedroom clean. With my son finally getting his own room, I think it'll be a lot easier. I've just thought of a fourth one - when an idea comes to mind, just DO IT. I tend to linger a bit and take forever to plan, but I need to get on it asap so that the drive doesn't fade. I'm hoping I can fulfill at least two of these things.

I'm going to end this epic essay with a HAPPY NEW YEAR! and the usual joke that's said every 31st of December, "I won't see you again til, like, NEXT YEAR man" :O

x
Laura

▲commissioned shoot a la xmas lights

▲self-portrait in the not-so-clear ocean


▲commissioned portraits▼