grace / mckinney, texas

Grace has been a close friend of mine since high school. She was the person who first convinced me to take an art class that ultimately gave me the confidence to get into graphic design.

I attended college a few hours away from her and for the past few years we've only gotten together once in a while, but she's one of those friends that I hope to keep for the rest of my life. If you know me, you know that I'd rather have a few deep, meaningful friendships than many acquaintances and that I appreciate getting to know who someone really is over small talk.

Grace has always been one of those people that dives straight into that meaningful conversation. She is genuine, bright and always honest in a gentle way. She is unique, driven, and her soul seems to come from somewhere far away that I wish I could visit. She sees this side of me that I can't see sometimes, and encourages me to share it with the world. She is a creator. Each time I see her I feel newly inspired to start something new!

This past Friday, we wandered around in the humidity, hiding behind leaves and standing in fields taking photos, a high school pastime that never seems to get old.

moth & leaves

I took these photos at my favorite park where I live. I've run many miles across the same bridges at this park, passed the same people and the same trees and felt the same calmness and challenge when I run. It's a safe and familiar place for me. It's funny, when I moved to Tyler for college, this park wasn't a place of comfort, and it wasn't part of my routine. I think a lot about when change happens, and people have to adapt and find new, familiar places. It's ironic, really, because people resist change so much, but then get so comfortable adapting to that change that it becomes routine and normal.

Photography is so important to me because there is always a part of the photographer in each photo. I've always wondered, too, if I have a certain style when I do my photography. I'm taking a photography class this semester, because I'm self-taught, and I've never known about the technical aspects of a camera. I've thought about what other people think when they see my pictures, whether they recognize my personality within the photos. I think that inherently, who I am as a person transcends into each photo. I even feel as though my emotions leak into my photos, too.

It's fall now, which is my most favorite season. It always comes so slowly in Texas, though; I can see a few leaves on the ground, and the others with yellow edges. It's been a complicated and different semester for me. I have an internship where I have my own cubicle, which I love. I wake up around 6:30 every day during the week and wear dresses and cardigans, polyester shirts and slacks to work with my suede oxfords that my mom bought for me when I was 14. Those oxfords have always been too nice for school, and I'm glad that I finally have a chance to wear them.

After work the other day, I went to get my nails done in a color that I thought was more maroon, but it turned out to be bright red. The girl who did my nails, Lyn, told me that I looked like a girl from England, and it made my entire day. I've started a new crochet project, too. It's a taupe, short sleeved pullover sweater that drapes in the front. After finishing that, I'd like to make a scarf with hanging tassels on the ends.

I've missed taking pictures of things that are seemingly uninteresting, but so interesting to me.

Andie and Molly

Alex: Senior Pictures / McKinney, TX

It's crazy to me that my younger sister is graduating high school this year. I tend to forget often that she's even a senior in high school, partly because I have a bad memory and partly because it's so weird. It just seems out of place that my younger sisters are going about their lives just like I did when I was at the same age. I'm graduating college in a year in a half and then Alex will be in the same place as I am now. And then there's Andie, my youngest sister who I've always seen as so much younger, but the age difference doesn't seem so expansive anymore.

Alex is the middle child, she's a Taurus and she always knows what she wants. I've never known a time when she hasn't put in the effort in order to be successful. She's more independent than my youngest sister and probably even more than me in the sense that she doesn't consult others before she makes decisions. I loved taking her senior pictures even more than I thought I would because I can see everything about her in them. I can see her determination and stubbornness in her face, but I can also see the point when she let go. Alex and I are complete opposites. She is good at every sport, while I have never been. I enjoy writing, photography and expressing myself creatively over anything, and she enjoys competition and always improving. I focus on the details, she sees the big picture. She makes quick decisions, I am indefinitely indecisive. Alex is impressively outgoing and loves being around her friends. I am an introvert and value quiet moments and time alone. It's a wonder that we grew up in the same household all of our lives, and it's so odd that soon, my sisters and I will be living in all different places. I'm happy, though, that I could be there to take Alex's senior pictures and remember this.

- ryan