The Vagabond Bond

New VagabondBond Blog (Our Blog Has Moved)!

2011-06-01T09:09:00.001-07:00

WE HAVE MOVED!

Our VagabondBond collective blog has grown a bit and moved into a comfy, spacy Place, away from our original blogspot blog - please update our RSS feed with the new feed by going to www.vagabondbond.com and subscribing using the subscribe button on the new blog or in your browser.

Thanks so much for following us and we look forward to seeing you on the other side!!

Blessings,
Wrecklessgirl

New VagabondBond Blog (Our Blog Has Moved)!

2011-05-17T00:07:00.000-07:00

{sm} us & them . iii

2011-05-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

way warmer than here

2011-04-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

San Jose Del Cabo

Greece

2011-04-26T14:17:00.001-07:00

GUEST POST by the incredibly inspiring Sergio Mottola.

i abandoned writing for photography. i could never hope to describe the island of crete through words. i took this trip because i needed to hit the refresh button on life. i spent a lot of time with just the camera. these images feature townfolk and residences from the villages of rethymnos, chania, prassas, avdou, and iraklio.

images by sergio mottola, professional wedding and portrait photographer based in tacoma, washington.

british virgin islands

2011-04-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

GUEST POST by Eliesa Johnson, wedding and commercial photographer extraordinaire.

As Eliesa posted on her blog:

"There is nothing more to be said than this: Going on a true vacation is absolutely amazing and life changing - every single time!"

AGREED

Pecos to Mojave

2011-04-05T07:52:00.001-07:00

Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California
January 2011

one big L

2011-03-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

seattle to austin. and back.

home until 04.08.11. then, scandinavia.

Inspired by Amy - Longview

2011-03-15T22:34:00.000-07:00

I don't think I'm really supposed to write a bunch of stuff on this blog when I'm doing a photo post....but...well, I am. :)

Longview....by miss Amy Seeley. If you know Amy well enough, you know this song I'm sure. This song of hers, it is what inspired everything about this post, and not only this post...but a whole wintery morning one week ago.

When meeting Amy for the first time, Dana, my friend and partner in crime, asked Amy if Longview in the song was THE Longview, our Longview....in Alberta Canada?! We couldn't have been more thrilled when we found out it was. The place Amy sings of is only about 25 minutes from the town that I live in. With that (and quite some time since asking), inspiration happened and Dana and I drove out to Longview to have breakfast...with our cameras. That's it, that's all that was of any sort of plan. "coffee, and pancakes, french toast and bacon" We knew we would not be smoking cigarettes though lol. The rest would just happen. It was seriously the best morning I've had in a really, really long time.

Dana captured some ridiculously awesome imagery that morning as well and shared over on her blog.

Anyway, please, before you scroll down, click the "play" button below and listen to the sweetness that is Amy. Enjoy.

longview, alberta, canada

Andrew Shepherd Interviews Carl Zoch

2011-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

What is the biggest reason you use a camera to tell stories, and what stories are you trying to tell?

I think I’m constantly trying to tell the story of life as I see and experience it; through relationships and my encounters with the world in which I find myself. I’m constantly attracted to the beauty in life and people who consistently go out of their way to find it, whether it’s relationally or in the midst of life's natural elements.

Can you share a photo that sort of embodies your mission statement as a photographer?

I’m in love with this Holga shot of my friend in Hawaii. I love everything about it. The wondering, the exploring and the contemplation of this beautiful, yet ambiguous life. Ultimately, this photo makes me feel content when I stare it down. It’s difficult to define who I am as a photographer but I would start with the fact that I’m an explorer and somewhat of a wanderer.

Artists often speak of others or the work of others that is inspiring and motivating.

If not another person, what would you say has the most impact on what you create and who you are as an artist?

I would say my history has the most impact on who I am as an artist. The things that have happened to me in life (both painful and beautiful), the people I’ve met along the way and the way I’m feeling in the moment of shooting. I can usually pull any of those elements out of a photo that I’ve taken and they’re the driving force behind why I do what I do.

What has been your most memorable assignment or project?

Last year I shot the wedding of an awesome couple, Mat and Leslie. There was something surreal about them. Their energy as a couple was unreal and impossible to re-articulate to others without seeing it for yourself. I recently received tragic news. Leslie was pregnant with twins and lost both of them due to some complications. Shorty after this Leslie slipped into a coma and never woke up again. Her passing away has left me up at night thinking about why I do what I do. I can’t look at the images from their sessions without becoming wrecked with emotion. In retrospect, photographing this couple’s love and existence together has been the most meaningful and beautiful project of mine. What I (and other relational based photographers) do is real, heavy and beautiful.

Why is the ocean so magnetic?

The ocean is unpredictable. It can be one of the greatest sources of beauty and tragedy, yet it’s 100% unbiased as to what it dishes out. I love that. It’s one of the few things in life that can do what it wants and doesn’t have to answer to anyone. I can stare into the ocean because it never looks the same. I can sit in the ocean on a surf board for hours and somehow it puts life into perspective for me every time.

How do you feel about shoes?

I feel claustrophobic when those toes get all trapped up so I wear Chacos most of the year. I also love all things barefoot.

If you were sent on an assignment to Siberia for three months and were given the opportunity to choose any subject matter, what story would you be drawn to tell?

I would do my best to pick a particular community to tell the story of. I’m fascinated by people, their habits and why they do what they do. It would be difficult for me (because I love to move around and travel) but I would like to stick with a certain group of people and location and tell the story of who they are in all truthfulness. I would love to engage in relationship with whoever *they would be and to share the beauty of their culture with others.

What advice would you give to travelers who can't seem to find the funds for travels like you've enjoyed and documented?

Travel where you can and within your means. I’ve always been down for the random road trip that’s only 90 miles away. And to be honest, some of the closer and random road trips have been the most memorable for me. My advise would be to concentrate on the beauty which surrounds you. I’m convinced it exists everywhere. Does it especially exist in exotic locations? Yes, but I would argue that the places we find ourselves dwelling are just as beautiful in their own way. Figure out what that beauty is and tell the hell out of that story.

*images below were taken on short day-trips in Oklahoma.

Have you ever worn one of those suede vests?

Not yet. Can I borrow yours?

What is the single most important thing to you? How does your incredible ability to tell stories and create fit into or reflect that value?

The two single most important things to me are relationships and the enjoyment of life. I’ve purposefully used the phrase ‘enjoy life’ throughout my branding and in everyday conversation because I believe in it. It’s who I am. I’ve always been connected to people and have had the desire to become more deeply connected. I can’t really explain it, I just feel like life is at its fullest when you’re connected and invested in others and you’re enjoying life together at the same time. It doesn’t get better than that. It can’t.

Sometimes I wear a Mets cap. Who's your team?

To be honest, I am team-less. I followed the Mariners as a child when I lived in Seattle. That might have been the last time I considered a team “mine.”

Long live the Kingdome.

How do you find balance in your professional work and your personal work, or, even more importantly, your professional life with your family/personal life? Do they intersect so much that they are indistinct from each other or do you make special efforts to separate the two? If so, how? Can I ask any more questions in this question? Ay?

I consider my wedding photography and all that comes with that my professional life. I continually make efforts to leave that part of my life at my studio. However, I hardly am able to put my camera down for a long period of time. I feel like it’s my best and most honest form of communicating who I am and how I feel in life. So yes, in many senses my personal life and the use of a camera constantly intersect but I would never call it work. It’s who I am, unapologetically.

What is most underrated? Overrated?

Underrated - simplicity, $25 Holgas and awesome band names.
Overrated - guided tours.

You're the newest one with the Vagabondbond. What's been your favorite part of being a part of the community?

I’ve enjoyed widening my circle of friends. Each member is beautiful and killer at seeing life in amazing ways that constantly blow my mind. It’s a breath of fresh air. My favorite part of being a part of this community is knowing that I’m not alone in my wandering and exploration but find myself in good company.

Finally - maybe the best question: Anything else?

I love life.

when you travel often, you miss home (35mm film)

2011-03-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

holland

2011-02-25T19:49:00.000-08:00

tromsø, four o clock .

2011-02-23T16:43:00.000-08:00

tromsø, norway

Pacific Coast Highway

2011-02-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

lahaina maui

2011-02-17T13:54:00.000-08:00

arctic blues

2011-02-16T05:33:00.000-08:00

tromsø, norway

broken down on the autobahn

2011-02-15T19:43:00.000-08:00

Wrecklessgirl Interviews Mary Frances of Float Away Studios

2011-02-10T21:46:00.000-08:00

Mary Frances of Float Away Studios is a passionate, lovely photographer and friend of mine who I met on my own little trip to Southern California. I was with Sabrina (see our crazy stop-motion video we made that night) when we stopped in Santa Monica to share some eats with Mary on our way from Oceanside to Santa Barbara. I feel lucky that she took her time to meet with us and share some amazing insight into her love for wedding photography as well as her passion for freedom and the open road. She has one of the openest hearts of anyone I know, so I was thrilled when she shared that she'd be heading with her wonderful friend Amanda Rae on a soul-searching road trip from Southern California up through the Pacific Northwest to Seattle. Here's more about their inspiring winter's journey.

Hello, kindred spirit. How are you feeling after your soul-seeking adventure?

Hello!! I feel quite refreshed, alive and itching for more adventures...it really is an addiction!

Where did you go? When?

On Christmas Day we set out on a road trip up the Pacific coast. Amanda and I both needed to get away, explore and experience things we have never felt before.

What were your pit stops along the way?

Our first stop was San Francisco, then the Redwoods then Portland, then Seattle. We had plans to celebrate the new year in Vancouver but finished our trip a bit earlier than we planned. So I'm saving that adventure for another time. ;)

Three things that took your breath away:

1. Redwoods. It really put life in perspective for me...we are so small. Sometimes we get overwhelmed with our problems as they take over our lives but when you are in the midst of these GIGANTIC beautiful creations that sit in solitude and thrive, our problems don't seem so small anymore.

2. Sea Lions basking in the San Francisco sun. I am a huge fan of sea lions. I am not sure why, I have always been drawn to these amazing creatures. Listening to their barks and watching them play with one
another can instantly bring tears of joy to my cheeks. It's an emotion I can't explain or control but I love being around them. Amanda surprised me and brought me to this spot at the San Francisco pier and it really was a highlight of the trip.

3. The variations of the sea. I have always been drawn to the ocean. So taking route 101 up the coast was a must. While we saw the Pacific in so many settings there was this one stop where our jaws dropped to the ground. We were winding in and out of the Redwoods and making our way to Oregon when we rounded a corner and came upon this beauty. The waves were hitting the shore in a fashion that reminded us of the beginning of Across the Universe. It was a mutual understanding and we saw art within Gods movement in nature.

Tell me about the order of your planning for this trip (steps, maps,
scheduling, etc).

The holiday season was going to be a very different one for me this year, and I wanted to celebrate and embrace it. All I wanted was to get away and experience the open road, new surroundings and people. I planned on doing this solo with my sidekick Rilo, my mini poodle. I told my adventures to my friend Amanda and she instantly asked if she could come along! All of a sudden it seemed so silly I wanted to go on this kind of adventure by myself...I LOVE making memories with people and this new plan was way better! Amanda is a planner and I am not. So she sat down and routed our journey on a map knowing we had a limited amount of days. We both enjoy checking out hotels, so we planned to stay at our favorites, as well as some we have been wanting to check out for some time.

How many miles did you cover?

We started in Studio City, California and went all the way to Seattle, Washington. It ended up being alittle less than 3,000 miles. Still have to get a new oil change. ;)

Name one off-the-beaten-path stop you took.

We were driving up the coast on Christmas day and Amanda suggested going through Solvang, CA to grab dinner. It was rainy and I felt like we were in a different country with the dutch influenced buildings through out the city as well as the rolling hills underneath the gray clouds. I was sitting with Amanda next to the window of the restaurant and remember thinking "this is just day 1". There was so much curiosity, excitement and adventure in the future, even by the minute, and we just couldn't wait to experience it all.

A few things we had not planned entirely was stopping to see some friends and family. We stopped in Tacoma to visit some of Amanda's family that she hasn't seen in over 10 years and we also got the chance to meet up with 2 of my favorite people. Kristy Behrs in Grants Pass, Oregon and Sarah Rhoads in Seattle, Washington. Kristy and Sarah are two of the most beautiful and inspiring women I know and when God orchestrates it in your life that your paths could possibly cross, you make it happen. Even though our time together was brief, it made the trip even more amazing.

Preference: windows up or windows down?

We had our windows up for this trip...alot of rain or snow.

Driver or passenger? Why?

Amanda and I took turns and I feel like the turns ended up working quite well. I am not a fan of driving in rainy, snowy, dark, or windy conditions...so Amanda took the wheel for this and when it was sunny and clear...I drove.

Many laughs are had on vacations like these, so tell me about two of them.

Something I found so funny was the view from our hotel rooms. Herewe are setting out on this "epic adventure"...we would get to our roomsreally late at night after driving and would go right to sleep. I would wake up and open the blinds to be face to face with the complete opposite of a "beautiful view". The first time in San Francisco it was a brick wall, then in Eureka it was a construction site, then in Portland...another brick wall and lastly in Seattle it was a huge building...but if looked to your right it was a slightly perfect view of the Seattle waterfront.

Closing Sentiments:

I have just began reading Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller. Just in the authors note his words have resonated with my soul, like they most often do, and I find him writing my thoughts in the most beautiful manner. I have always been okay with getting up and going...moving
forward and experiencing life. While I dream of settling one day, I find the events in my life have been plotted in a certain manner so I can gain growth through adventure. While I would love to quote everything this man says, here is a part that I find perfect..

"I want to keep my soul fertile for the changes, so things keep getting born in me, so things keep dying when it is time for things to die. I want to keep walking away from the person I was a moment ago, because a mind was made to figure things out, not to read the same page recurrently. Only the good stories have the characters different at the end than they were at the beginning."

I truly came home with a new understanding of me. Yes, I really wanted to have a soul searching adventure..I wanted to learn things about myself I had not known..but I have learned to not expect these things to happen when you are looking for them. So I was kind of shocked when I realized I knew more about myself on January 1st of 2011 than I did on December 25th of 2010. On the way home, from our trip that ended earlier than planned, we were driving through the Oregon mountains on New Years eve and it was snowing. The snow was falling in the most beautiful manner and Amanda was watching the road carefully to take care of the three beating hearts that sat within the car. I thought about the year that had just happened..I thought about my expectations and goals that I had going into it and how completely opposite my year had actually been! They say if you want to make God laugh tell him your plans, and oh goodness...we laughed together a lot in 2010.

I realized that I love hearing Gods laugh. I love when things don't go the way I planned. I love the unexpected and the in between. In those turns, the ones you had no idea were coming up, is where life really is...just like that ocean just outside the redwoods. I learned that you and I can be stronger than we thought. I learned you and I have a lot of love to give. I learned that you and I need to laugh a lot more. I learned that life is not about making lists, saving money, going according to "plan"...you just need to put one food in front of the other, say yes to adventure and LIVE!

Mary Frances
Floataway Studios
Los Angeles, California

WEBSITE: www.floatawaystudios.com
BLOG: www.floatawaystudiosblog.com

germany. burg herzberg festival.

2011-02-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

You Change All the Lead

2011-02-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

San Juan Mountains, Colorado
December 2010

scenes from a tour van (switzerland & germany)

2011-01-27T19:18:00.000-08:00

mount rainier . going going gone

2011-01-24T12:27:00.000-08:00

Déjà vu in vagabonding . hurricane ridge . going going gone

mount rainier
washington

going...with all my heart...

2011-01-23T23:10:00.000-08:00

longing, trusting, hoping. following.
emotions...deep, intense...
indescribable...so there, so real, so strong. ill...but yet not.
vision...blurred.
focus...gone.

me...a photographer...not a writer...but yet, for the first time, the first time ever....tonight, i wrote.....
thoughts, running through my constantly non-stopping, overly thinking, can't turn it off, crazy mind.
feeling...getting it out...

Wrecklessgirl Interviews Sarah Rhoads

2011-01-19T22:47:00.000-08:00

Sarah & Chris Rhoads are an amazing husband & wife photography team based in Seattle who, whenever I check in on them, are somewhere in the world I'd love to be. Thank you for taking the time to participate in this delightful interview and for your inspiring, gorgeous, and moving imagery. We look forward to following in your footsteps, all over the world. We hope we meet you at a crossrhoads one day (sorry, couldn't help it)!

Tell me about your most recent adventure.

Chris and I hit the open road on the beautiful South Island of New Zealand for about a week at the end of November. We lived in a VW bus for the week. Didn't shower. Saw thousands of sheep. Turned off all electronics and relied on paper maps. Had no plan and just rolled with the punches. We knew we were in for "beautiful" but New Zealand re-defined the meaning of that word for us. We rented an old 1966 VW Kombi that was cute as a button and had a true adventure in every sense of the word. We walked along a beach where people were replaced by seals. It was peaceful & serene, and so nice to go somewhere without a plan. The geek in me kept hoping I might just run into a little hobbit while driving through the shire (LOTR dork reference). Mountains, coastline, open land.... it just doesn't get much better than that if you ask me. It was my heaven.

New Zealand

Define: away

un-plugging. turning off the things that don't matter and re-connecting with those things that do.

Maui, San Francisco, Victoria

What are your modes of transportation on your trips?

This year we have been wracking up the airline points. There have been times I feel like we live in the air. There isn't much better than a good road trip. And for our last trip we really wanted to be able to sleep in the back of our van, cook out of it and have the true vagabond experience in New Zealand which is why we went the kombi route. Although it had no power steering and no power breaks, it made for lots of laughter and a hell of a story.

New Zealand

List your favorite places on earth (if you'd like, give a brief description of why they are).

New Zealand tops the charts for its sheer beauty, I have always loved Paris for the spirit and the way it makes me feel when I am there. Africa was an incredible experience for the way it puts your life into perspective.... I really want to go back. We LOVED the grittiness and the free spirit of Melbourne, Australia and it reminded us a lot of being home in Seattle. I am a HUGE ice cream lover and love anything full of carbs :) so Italy's gelato makes the trip across the world well worth it for a variety of reasons.

New Zealand & Melbourne

Tell me about one meaningful experience you had while traveling that you'll never forget.

there is something magical about Cannon Beach in Oregon. Chris and I always try to get out there every year around our anniversary. Our first year in the pacific Northwest we went out there and I just remember getting out of the car and running out onto the coast with Chris. We spent a lot of time just sitting on the beach talking about life and what we want out of it our first year of marriage... it's been neat to see many of those things come to fruition and also have many dreams to continue to strive towards together... Cannon beach is just a really special place for us.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

What is one thing that happened on one of your trips that makes you laugh, to this day?

We were traveling to NYC a couple years ago and we had parked in a parking garage downtown that was across from our hotel. We went out shopping before we had to catch our flight back home. When we went to go pick up our rental car and it was no-where to be found. It turns out the parking lot shares the lot with another rental car place and the other rental car place rented OUR rental car to someone else with all of our stuff in it!! So we were stranded and trying to make our flight to the airport. We made our flight, but it was a bizarre experience having our car rented to someone else was just super weird.

New York City

When did travel become a priority in your personal life? Business?

Travel has always been an important part of both of our lives. Chris was a touring musician for a record label for years and got to see much of the world that way. I've always felt a pull to see the world. When I was fifteen I was a dancer for a company in Chicago and got to taste the greatness of making money traveling and doing something that I loved. We went on a dance tour around Europe for four weeks to Germany, Hungary, Bosnia, Kosovo and it was that trip that really stirred my desire for building a life around doing something that allowed me to see the world while doing something I was passionate about.

Greece

What are a few things you did to ensure that you'd be traveling each year?

Travel is one of those things that you have to be intentional about. When we went to Thailand in 2009 we blocked off the entire month of November for that trip. If we wouldn't have been intentional about making it happen another month would have been filled with work. It is such an essential part of who I am as a person and bettering myself. Traveling always puts things into perspective. It's humbling, empowering and keeps me in awe of things.

Thailand

More from Sarah Rhoads's Travels:

Sarah Rhoads Website
Sarah Rhoads Blog
Sarah Rhoads Twitter
Chris Rhoads Twitter

italians: beauties & lovers.

2011-01-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

italy with ASTRA July 2010

2011-01-12T17:50:00.000-08:00

I Am Feeling Trapped Today

2011-01-09T22:52:00.001-08:00

my days are orchestrated so perfectly
suddenly all I can do
get me outta here
get me outta here
get me outta here

winter beach

2011-01-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

torrential downpours, cannon beach, or

az

2011-01-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

San Diego sans mexican food

2010-12-23T21:21:00.000-08:00

How It Ends

2010-12-23T12:29:00.000-08:00

Port Aransas, TX

so blue

2010-12-19T00:28:00.000-08:00

vancouver to victoria, bc. victoria to anacortes, wa.

Way We Have Lengths

2010-12-13T23:44:00.000-08:00

Harris Beach, California

Dearly Departed

2010-11-27T14:08:00.000-08:00

Mustang Island, TX
Thanksgiving 2010

Plum Coulee

2010-11-20T12:28:00.000-08:00

Have a happy listen to our Amy Seeley's new creation. Click the image to enjoy a glimpse of something particularly Great.

Where The Winter Is Kind

2010-11-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

These are the friends we meet along the way.

Santa Barbara, California

rainier . holga

2010-11-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

kansas you're purdy

2010-10-31T22:22:00.000-07:00

My bro-in-law and I enjoyed some of what life threw at us this weekend in Southeast Kansas. When the lights went out we found ourselves navigating a river in pitch black. No moon, no lights. I enjoyed the thrill of seeing nothing yet feeling everything.

home again. for a moment.

2010-10-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

seattle, wa

[flying to dfw on monday, driving to b'ham, AL on tuesday to begin 3 weeks of travel]

57th and 9th

2010-10-26T13:10:00.001-07:00

57th & 9th
New York, New York

boston by paddle

2010-09-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

eu two

2010-09-18T06:52:00.000-07:00

tourcoing, fr; paris, fr; ottersum, nl; cologne, de; utrecht, nl; hamburg, de; berlin, de; leipzig, de.

the first three days

2010-09-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

seattle, wa to amsterdam, nl to middleburg, nl to tourcoing, fr; posted after show in paris, fr.

I know where they go, I don't know why they take me.

2010-09-11T01:11:00.000-07:00

Crater Lake, Oregon

10 yr old lost roll of film. First date with my husband. la jolla, ca

2010-09-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

West Texas

2010-09-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

The Hudson Hotel

2010-08-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

Midtown Manhattan
New York, New York

plane light

2010-08-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

throwing your voice.

2010-08-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

an incredible gift from our talented friend and tourmate jack g., aka tenlons fort. his flipcam was on constantly during the four days we spent on the road from austin to los angeles. touring goes by so quickly, there's rarely time to absorb it all; these glimpses bring a ton of forgotten moments flashing back, and it makes me all the more excited to leave again in only 9 days.

texas, arizona, california; june 2010.

{sm} us & them . ii

2010-08-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

To Two Boroughs

2010-08-23T13:33:00.001-07:00

A mobile phone document on my recent travel through New York City.

scituate, massachusetts. beach house. 4th of July.

2010-08-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

contest results!

2010-08-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

I just want to say THANK YOU to the people that participated in our first Vagabond Bond contest. It was a fun, spontaneous little game and I got so excited every time I saw a new post on our facebook wall. We'll definitely be doing this again!

We asked you all to take a photo with your phone of something that was inspiring you and post it on our wall by 11:11pm on Friday, August 20th. This is what was inspiring you!

I love what you guys captured and it's so interesting to get little glimpses into your world. I've decided that I don't want to pick a winner, so all of you win! (Just call me Oprah. No cars, though, sorry. Maybe next time!)

You can pick any photo that I've posted on the Vagabond Bond (click here to see them all!) and I'll send it to you as a dreamy 8x12. Square photos will be 8x8, and if you'd prefer an 8x10 just let me know. Email me at vagabond@saramontour.com with your address, photo, and size and I'll get them in the mail ASAP!

These entries came in over the weekend, so they were a little late for the contest, but I loved them and wanted you all to see them, too:

Thank you!
{sm}

VagabondBond CONTEST!

2010-08-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Check it out! We're holding a contest this week/weekend:

Take a picture from your phone of something that's inspiring you today.

Post your image here on our VagabondBond Bond Facebook Wall. Post it there by tomorrow, 11:11pm (make a wish!) on August 20, 2010. The winner receives a 8X12 print by Sara Montour!!!!! All of the entries will be posted on the Vagabondbond Blog this weekend!

A winner will be chosen on Monday. May the most inspired one win!

56 Pounds

2010-08-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

GUEST POST by Annie Parsons of the Hootenannie blog.

At the Denver airport last night, I heaved my suitcase onto the scale at the ticket counter, and cast a furtive glance at the damage: 56 pounds.

For the first time ever, I was going to incite an overweight charge.

But wait! Could this be my lucky day? The ticket man hasn’t seen the number yet. He’s asking for my ID. He’s handing me my boarding pass. He turns his back for one moment, and…

I made a run for it.*

I was around the corner before he turned back around to discover my beast of burden.

I triumphantly called my mom from the security line, jubilant at my own stealth. Ha-HAA, I outsmarted The Man! Take THAT.

*Moments like this make me wish I had my own personal cameraman to document my life.

So here I am, sitting across from my little nymph Greta in a coffee shop, working away. Seattle still has a way of wrapping me like a hug, and making me feel more at home than anywhere else.

filmscapes

2010-08-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

tacoma, wa . winnipeg, mb . glendive, mt . freeway, nd
kodak pony . holga . actionsampler

home. [leaving again in two weeks.]

2010-08-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

seattle, wa.

Amy Seeley plays a farm in Tonganoxie, KS. Lives are changed.

2010-08-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

GUEST POST by the wonderful Josh Solar of Solar Photographers.

I’ve read A Million Miles in A Thousand Years by Donald Miller twice this year. Thinking about living your life as a memorable story has caused me to really think long and hard about the things I choose to do with my short time on this earth.

That being said, August 16, 2010, will definitely be a memorable chapter in my (hopefully memorable) story. Not only was it Max’s first day of kindergarten (more on that here), but it was the night that I sat out on a friend’s farm in Tonganoxie, KS, with 20 old & new friends, and listened to the beautiful, soothing sounds of Amy Seeley’s voice, paired with a 97 year old piano, millions of cicadas buzzing, and snuggles from my lovely wife. Just a magical night. Words really can’t do justice what I was seeing, hearing and feeling. It was one of those “you had to be there” moments.

Here’s what I want to remember:

* It was the first time I’ve ever eaten ribs.
* My wife is extremely beautiful. I love her so much. Just having her around makes me a better person (or at least I attempt to be a better person).
* I tried Cale (Kale?) leafs with sun dried tomatoes, a lemony sauce, some nuts and other stuff mixed in. I normally wouldn’t eat that stuff, but I made it through 2 bites. It really wasn’t bad and plan on having a second go round at it at some point down the road.
* I already knew this, but Amy Seeley has a beautiful voice. It’s so much greater in person, in such an intimate setting. She should think about singing professionally ;)
* Kelley’s dogs smell a little funny, but they are still cute and love to snuggle.
* Heather Cole has been with me for some of my favorite moments of these past few years. Plus, bacon wrapped weenies?!?! Tasty! We need to hang out more :)
* Meeting new people should never be a challenge (and it isn’t) but it used to be. Having great conversations with new people is one of the many things that never gets old for me anymore.
* Cicadas are loud and kind of annoying.
* Beloved is one of my favorite songs ever written. Hearing Amy sing it live, with such raw emotion, just WOW. Chills. In fact, I have chills again just thinking about it. Can I just go back to that moment, bring my kids along this time, and click stop on life?
* In addition to being a great videographer, Drew, is an awesome musician, and a stand up comic.
* I’m thankful to the powers that be that August 16, 2010 in Tonganoxie was 85 degrees with no humidity.
* Kelley graciously let us all raid her house for the evening. For that I’m eternally grateful.
* Amy Seeley sings from the heart with all the emotion she can muster. You FEEL her songs more than hear them. It’s beautiful.
* Amy should wear more bracelets ;)

I really could go on. Twas a night I’ll never forget. Thanks, Amy, for taking time out of your busy life to pour out your heart and soul for some rad people in the middle of nowhere. Next time, we’ll be visiting you in Portland :)

Please enjoy some images from the evening.

life mimicking art mimicking life

2010-08-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

badlands, nd | vantage, wa

london. a french cafe.

2010-08-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Craters

2010-08-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

Crater Lake, Oregon

Finding Zen in the PNW

2010-08-11T20:40:00.000-07:00

london. underground.

2010-08-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

feeling the pull

2010-07-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

the road

Making Gnocchi al Gorgonzola with Massimo

2010-07-24T23:25:00.000-07:00

Recale, Italy

Oslo with an Oslan via Point-And-Shoot

2010-07-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

Oslo, Norway with Andreas

london. a freak.

2010-07-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

{ars} view from my window . ii

2010-07-14T14:50:00.001-07:00

Dallas, TX

london. buildings.

2010-07-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

Somewhere, on a little island they call Oahu, we explored.

2010-07-02T09:17:00.000-07:00

{dm} where we stay

2010-06-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

channeling hitchcock

2010-06-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

duluth, mn

{fl} where we stay (1)

2010-06-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Ha En Fin Dag!

2010-06-24T01:45:00.000-07:00

Bergen, Norway

Sticks & Stacks

2010-06-17T00:21:00.000-07:00

Bergen, Norway (print available)

{sm} where we stay . ii

2010-06-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

bozeman, mt

Corner Keeping

2010-06-13T21:59:00.001-07:00

Bergen, Norway

i feel like something's missing in the PNW

2010-06-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

android phone
MN, ND, MT, ID, WA, OR

Let's Take a Saturday

2010-06-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

Manhattan, New York City

We can all be traced by a white line (here's proof).

2010-06-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

As I am constantly reminded that life is a roller coaster.

Its nice to remember that we're all in the same beautiful theme park.

Gettin' My Vagabond ON!!

2010-06-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

follow my roadtrip tweets.

hurricane ridge . going going gone

2010-06-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

hurricane ridge
olympic national park

get in the van.

2010-06-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

first leg of tour - to/from salt lake city, utah.

{sm} us & them

2010-06-04T20:44:00.001-07:00

bucket, tacoma, washington

{sj} us & them

2010-06-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

rest stop, middleofnowhere, wyoming

plastic hawaii

2010-06-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

HOLGA + light leaks + x-ray damage + traveling = everything that makes me feel alive.

napping in lucca

2010-06-03T03:46:00.000-07:00

the timing was wrong but not bad

2010-06-02T01:22:00.000-07:00

great barrington, ma

Some (Great) Things Vagabond

2010-05-30T23:15:00.002-07:00

Vagabond Magazine

Vagabond Shoe Company

Images taken in Oslo, Norway

Wrecklessgirl Interviews The SOLARS!!!

2010-05-27T18:01:00.000-07:00

josh & jenny solar, you rock. thanks so much for being a part of the vagabond bond. :) i'm so excited that you were open to sharing your imagery and thoughts with us! your work is a constant inspiration and how your treat your family to such vagabondlike goodness is amazing and deserving of praise!

have you ever done a route 66 road trip before? if not, how long have you been wanting to hit the road for this kind of adventure?

Nope, this was our first trip down the "Mother Road" as it's called. Family road trips are something fun that we started when Jenny and I were married 7 years ago. We drove for 3 weeks through 16 different states. We revived our road trips when Jenny was pregnant with Lia. We spent a weekend in St. Louis, and had a blast just waking up and deciding what to do that morning. Having no plans whatsoever, just enjoying our time spent together. Then, last June, we spent 9 days on the road driving through Colorado, and earlier this year it was New Orleans. The Route 66 trip came about because for whatever reason we had no weddings in May, and Max starts kindergarten in the fall, so we felt this was our last opportunity for a while to be gone for 3 weeks.

how many days total was your trip? when did you leave & return? what exactly played a part in planning the departure date for your adventure (weather, work, etc.)?

We were gone for a total of 22 days. We left on April 26 with a goal to make it to Chicago (that's where Route 66 starts) in 1 day. We got home on May 17. Again, we left on April 26th because we had a wedding on the 24th, and no weddings at all in May. It was the perfect time to just pack up and go adventurin' together. It took us 13 days total to drive from Chicago to Santa Monica. All that driving wore us out so we stayed in southern California for a few days with friends & family. We tried to follow along Route 66 as best as we could, but since it's not recognized as a highway anymore, some places you had to drive on the major highways. We also drove along some of the really old alignments as much as possible. I'm talking dirt roads, soft, soft dirt, in the middle of nowhere. Places where you wouldn't want to get stuck in a minivan with 3 young children, but we made it out okay. :)

list some unexpected things you discovered along the way.

1. I always knew our country was beautiful, but not THIS beautiful. And there is so many stories to be found driving along such old stretches of America. Places like Lou Mitchell's (which sits in the middle of downtown Chicago between all the skyscrapers, but hasn't changed much in years.

2. I expected there to be more tiny towns with lots of old businesses. A lot of the vintage soda fountains and diners we wanted to visit were out of business.

3. Meeting Gary Turner at the Gay Parita gas station in Paris Springs Junction in MO. We spent at least an hour there hearing about how he rebuilt the gas station exactly how it was built before it burned to the ground in the 50's. He was also full of tips on places to stop along the way.

4. The bottle tree forest in Oro Grande, CA was one of the coolest things we saw on Route 66. Elmer Long built all of the "trees" from scrap metal and bottles. And, he had a big cowbell in the forest to ring.

5. The movie Cars is a family favorite around the Solar house. It was amazing to notice all the references from actual stops on Route 66 that made it into the movie. Pixar really did a great job of learning the history of the road and incorporating that history into the movie, from characters to all the places in Radiator Springs.

This pic is of "Tow Tater" who is obviously the inspiration for Mater.

6. We also stayed in the WigWam motels one night, which were the inspiration for the Cozy Cone.

7. I expected there to be more tiny towns with lots of old businesses. A lot of the vintage soda fountains and diners we wanted to visit were out of business.

define vagabond:

I think a true vagabond pretty much wanders the world, following wherever their heart pulls them. We like to think of ourselves as free spirits (at least I do, I don't know about Jenny), but with 3 little ones, it would be darn near impossible to live the vagabond life exclusively. So, we live it up on our trips, which we try and take 2 to 3 a year. Sometimes we make the decision on our destination less than a week out, we just know we want to see as much of the world as we possibly can, and we want to be with each other while wandering.

name three ways you and/or your family came back changed or enlightened.

1. It was nice to not constantly check facebook/twitter all the time. I almost feel like I have to check that crap all the time, but it really doesn't matter, what matters is being 100% involved and attentive to my family. Being gone for so long helped me break my addictions to social media so to speak. Don't get me wrong, I still love all that stuff, but when on the phone/computer, you're not paying attention to the life in front of you.

2. Driving along Route 66, we constantly met people surprised at the fact that we were driving the entire thing with 3 little ones. It kind of put it in perspective for me the kinds of things we do with our children, the way we are raising them, etc. I know Jenny & I aren't perfect, but dang it, we're going to raise them the best we can, and we are going to have a LOT of fun doing it. Not to say we "changed" on this trip in that regard, but it's nice to know that the experiences we are giving them are unique. How many kids can look back and say they drove the entire route 66? Who knows, with how bad some of the roads already are, in 20 years it might not even be possible to drive anymore.

3. Driving along and seeing all the old neon signs from all the old run down hotels, you kind of get a sense of history about our country. Some of them are even still around, and still work. In certain towns, like Tucumcari, NM it's almost like time has stopped and you're in a different world. Having a better sense of that "era" in our history helps me appreciate our country a little more.

how do you keep your kiddos occupied for long hours on the road?

Basically, I drive and Jenny tends to the kiddos. We watch for animals, trains, planes, bridges, motorcycles, etc. Our kids are still young enough to get a big kick out of those things. Max & Ava play their Leapsters quite a bit, and our iphones are huge hits as well for all the kiddos. We also know that it's tough for kids to stay cooped up in their car seats for hours on end, so we don't really make any plans on how far we need to drive each day. This keeps us stress free, and allows us to pull over whenever we feel like it, or whenever the kiddos need a break. This involves lots of playgrounds and McDonald's Playplaces. We also do a little research ahead of time and see what places might interest kids along whatever route we're driving. That's how we found out about Oatman, AZ and feeding the wild burros carrots, or the cool VW bugs spray painted along the side of the road and sticking out of the ground. Unfortunately, we didn't have any spray paint to do some tagging of our own. :(

how important is getting out of the house and out of your daily routine to you and your family?

Jenny never had the chance to travel much while growing up. This world is SO big. So we travel 2 to 3 times a year. Our goal going forward is 2 road trips and 1 flying trip. Something that gets me excited is looking back on all the images that we have captured along our journeys so far. Most travel images are of places, but what grabs me and makes me smile are the people. In the case of travelling, it's important for me to not only document the cool things we see, but to capture images of my family in those places. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have a picture of the last brick road left on the old Route 66 alignment somewhere in the middle of nowhere Illinois, but it means so much more to me to have a picture of my family on the last brick road left on the old Route 66 alignment somewhere in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

Each and every state along Route 66 had their own sign. I tried to get a sweet shot of each state's sign, but it's so much more exciting to have a shot of my daughter, Ava, blowing dandelions at me with the sign in the background.

So, I hope I answered the question. Traveling is a part of our lives.

how often do you and/or your family go on vacation/adventures together (from mini-trips to great adventures!)?

The last few years it's been 2, usually a trip (on a plane) to California, and a random road trip. But going forward as our kids get older, we'll be more adventerous and plan more longer trips.

where is your favorite spot on earth to-date?

Mine would have to be the beach, I just LOVE the ocean. It's just SO relaxing. And I could go on and on about the culture of beach living, the surfing, the bike riding. I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about how much I miss it already and we've only been back a week and a half. I would give ANYTHING to raise my family on a beach somewhere.

how do you catalog/archive your trips?

Well, we take a lot of pictures (if you didn't know that already). From our 9 day Colorado trip we took over 3000 pictures. Our New Orleans trip was about 2000. I think we pushed it closer to 4000 on our Route 66 trip. We proof them down, usually keeping between 100-300 from each day. Jenny then goes and narrows them all down some more and designs a VisionArt book (we've yet to have one printed, although the Colorado one is finished, and the Route 66 one is started, New Orleans is pushed to the backburner for now). It's just hard to find time to work on your own personal stuff when both Jenny & I run the business, and raise 3 little ones.

what are some things would you suggest to other families planning a route 66 kind of adventure?

Take your time. We had it set up so that we only needed to drive about 200 miles a day. We also factored in a few extra days just in case. Like when we drove from Tulsa to Oklahoma City, met Carl Zoch and didn't drive anywhere else that day. :)

Bring spray paint for the Bug Ranch, the Cadillac Ranch and some random place in the middle of the desert in California. All places you were encouraged to spray paint whatever you wanted and we wished we would have known this ahead of time. Also, bring colored rocks to write your name on the levee in the middle of the Mojave desert as well. We just pulled over and gathered our own rocks, but some people had brought blue, red or pink rocks and their names were much easier to read from the road.

Somewhere between Danby & Cadiz Summit, you'll see this.

name the most important thing you'll remember to bring on your next road trip that you wish you had on this one.

I like to think that we've got packing down to a science for road trips, and when I say "we" I mean Jenny. She's a pretty amazing woman. I can't think of anything that she forgot, and she doesn't over-pack. This was the first trip we actually remembered to bring our tripod!

Scratch that, the most important thing we'll bring on our next road trip will be our dog Banana :)

list your favorite car games.

Personally, I like I Spy, but our kids don't quite get that one yet. Jenny does a lot of "Ticklefight," "What movie do you want to watch on the laptop?" and our #1 game, "Who wants to stop at the next playground?" This game is where we get to stop at the next playground, but the kids have to find it. Sometimes it could be hours, but they are so excited to find one they keep looking and looking and looking. Lia will continuously say, "Lia. Play. Lia. Play. Lia. Play." as well.

anything else you'd like to say while you have the audience of other like-minded, restless wanderers?

Just GO. Remember what it's like to be a child. Explore. Wander. Smile. Laugh. Love. Worry less. LIVE!

And, most importantly, hang upside down, enjoy the breeze, and bust a move whenever and wherever you feel like it. :)

Chicago to Santa Monica. Here's a little preview :)

Dancing on Route 66 from josh solar on Vimeo.

And, if you care to follow along on the whole trip with us, you can start here and work your way all the way from Day 1 to Day 13 :)

The Solar's Route 66 Adventure...in full! Josh & Jenny Solar are portrait and wedding (and travel ... obviously) photographers based out of Kansas City, Kansas. View their photography business blog here.

daly city

2010-05-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

{ars} where we stay . iii

2010-05-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

Quiet Sunday afternoon in Dallas. So glad to be in this backyard.

{cz} view from my window 2.0

2010-05-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

Another storm passing through OKC today.

{fl} view from my window

2010-05-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

{ars} view from my window

2010-05-07T17:27:00.001-07:00

Midtown Manhattan, New York City

{sm} view from my window

2010-05-06T20:20:00.000-07:00

tacoma, wa

{ap} view from my window

2010-05-06T12:41:00.001-07:00

okotoks, ab

{wg} view from my window

2010-05-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

{sj} view from my window

2010-05-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

seattle, wa

**vagabond note: i will miss this view enormously in just about three weeks. traveling the u.s. from may 29th through july 4th.

{cz} view from my window

2010-05-03T11:28:00.000-07:00