Miss Red

Sophomore Summer

2011-07-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

It's been amazing so far. I thought I would miss Paris, but it's good to be back.

Free Hugs at Notre Dame

2011-02-10T03:59:00.000-08:00

A Sunday afternoon walk around the Saint Germain des Prés area led me to colorful candy shops, used book sales, and group of people giving free hugs (calins gratuits en français) outside of Notre Dame. Quelle bonne idée!

Une Américaine à Paris: Père Lachaise Cemetery

2011-01-26T11:26:00.000-08:00

I'm fortunate enough to be in Paris for the next two months on a study abroad program, and I'm currently trying to explore the city, visit museums, improve my French and, of course, eat as many pâtisseries as possible!

Here are some photos from the famous Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, where a number of famous people are buried - including Balzac, Moliere, and Jim Morrison. It's a hauntingly beautiful place.

Dartmouth Homecoming Football Game

2010-11-20T16:50:00.001-08:00

Touchdown!

Nantucket

2010-11-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

Summer Memories

2010-10-19T14:01:00.001-07:00

Fall is well underway here in Hanover, and it's really making me miss the beautiful summer I spent in New York City. I had the opportunity to intern at the Associated Press over the summer (in their images department!), and I had such a fun time exploring the city.

A few favorites from this summer:

Inspirational spot: the wish tree outside MOMA

Place for a picnic: Central Park

Place to have a tea party: Alice's Tea Cup

Place for a weekend trip: Quogue

Place for a sunset walk: Brooklyn Bridge

Ice cream shop: Emack and Bolio's

Pet store: Pets on Lex

Pizza joint: Arturo's

Place to dress up in crazy clothes and walk around: Noho

How was your summer?

Cobwebs

2010-05-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

A day in the Mission District

2009-12-21T21:20:00.000-08:00

Day and Night

2009-12-17T21:17:00.000-08:00

Hanover sunset

2009-10-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

I spent Sunday night holed up studying for two midterms the following day; I would never have noticed the gorgeous sunset right outside my dorm if my friend hadn't called me and told me to grab my camera.

Birthday girl

2009-10-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

For Zana's birthday a week ago, we had a girls night in. Baking cupcakes, wearing tiaras, painting our nails - it was a good time.

Happy 18th, Zanzan!

Snail mail appreciation

2009-10-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

Being in the middle of a New Hampshire forest, I'm always excited to receive mail from the outside world. Recently, I've been getting quite a bit! Halloween decorations, various goodies for upcoming friends' birthdays, and tissues because I'm sick ... thanks for the love, guys =)

Yesterday, I was thrilled to find the latest copy of my high school newspaper, The Winged Post, in my mailbox. They did a such a great job! You can see some of the articles online here.

This morning, I was so excited to pick up a package from a wonderful friend who mailed me a real pumpkin and Halloween candy!

In this age of email and online chatting, do you still send things by snail mail? What's the best bit of mail you've received lately?

Autumn leaves

2009-10-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Changing colors, crunchy leaves, brisk mornings ... fall in Hanover is beautiful.

Seasons on the East Coast are so different: I love it! What's your favorite time of the year?

Rugby

2009-10-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

So sorry it's been a while! I need to be better about uploading photos regularly. A few days ago, I went to see my first rugby match. I thought playing water polo was tough, but these athletes are intense. Two of the Princeton guys suffered concussions during the game, and one of the Dartmouth players limped off the field partway through. Our boys ended up beating Princeton 81-3, but our girls lost to West Point.

Only in Hanover can the trees and landscape around the rugby pitch look this beautiful!

PS. I'm now working as a photographer for the Aegis, Dartmouth's yearbook.

Ben's birthday bash

2009-09-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

Today was Ben's birthday, so our floor decided a party was in order. Some 'funfetti' cake mix, chocolate frosting, almond M&M's, and a bag of jelly beans, and we were good to go.

Doesn't Clare make the cutest Martha Stewart?

Our cake, fresh out of the oven and smelling delicious!

More birthday essentials: yummy frosting and a card.

Turning the big 1-8.

We used the M&M's to write "18" and kept the jelly beans to use as a border around the cake.

Ben doing the honors.

Yummm! Hardly anything was left.

Happy 18th, Ben!

P.S. Just got my new lens in the mail: the 50 mm f/1.8D. It's great for portrait shots - my favorite! Yay!

The Cords

2009-09-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

With an outdoor pre-orientation hiking trip (so much fun!), a solid week of orientation, and classes starting yesterday, it's been pretty crazy lately. But the other day, I had some time to take photos of the Dartmouth Cords, an a cappella group on campus. Not only are they a great group of guys, but they're also super talented! Check out their songs on Youtube and their latest CD, No Size Fits All.

DIY: photo frame

2009-09-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

When I saw this post a few months ago, I tried to think of a good opportunity to try the same idea. And then at the beginning of summer, it hit me! What a better way to say 'goodbye' and 'thank you for the past 18 years' to my parents than to give them this distressed window with photos stuck behind the panes of glass? It's both practical and personal, something they can hang in the house and something with sentimental value.

I picked up the this old window at Whole House Building Supply & Salvage: the place is fantastic if you're searching for DIY supplies. Doors, mirrors, marble slabs - you name it, they've got it.

Mom started getting all mushy just looking at it ...oh, parents =)

So yes, life at home wrapped up rather quickly at the end of the summer. One 6 hour plane flight and a 3 hour bus ride later, I am now at Dartmouth College! I leave for a pre-orientation hiking trip tomorrow, but I promise to return in a few days with yet another DIY post - this time about dorm room decorations!

Reunion with a wonderful friend

2009-09-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

He stood at the end of the hallway, hands folded, deep in thought. I took a deep breath.

"Are you Father Schall? I think I'm signed up to sit in on your next class."

And thus was born our friendship. It was my junior year of high school, and I was visiting colleges. It was his forty-third year of teaching, and he was waiting for his next class to begin.

James V. Schall isn't just one of the most prolific Catholic writers in the country. He's a Jesuit priest with an award named after him. He's both wonderfully optimistic and hilariously cynical. He knows sports, literature, and political theory like the back of his hand. He is on a lifelong search for the perfect croissant. He's a favorite professor of Georgetown students.

But of course I had no clue I was introducing myself to one of Georgetown's legends. Heck, I was sure I had this college visitation thing down pat: attend the info session, go on a campus tour, and (time permitting), sit in on a class.

Fr. Schall arched an eyebrow as I explained my trip back east. "So you fly out here, maybe visit one school a day? How do you know if you like it or not?" I confidently explained my theory about getting a 'vibe' from the people at each place and getting to know the student body.

"So you meet one person you like and you decide you'll apply to the school. You meet one person you don't like and the school's out?" He began to smile. "Seems like a waste of your parents' money."

We talked for the next fifteen minutes or so before class started: it turned out he had grown up in the Bay Area as well, and my parents had attended his alma mater.

I sent him an email a few days later thanking him for letting me attend his class - I think I wrote that something he said had reminded me of Huxley's Brave New World. Fr. Schall jumped all over the reference and wrote back asking me for my opinion on various literary themes. And so we quickly became pen pals.

When he told me he would be in the Bay Area to attend a bash at Santa Clara University this summer, I insisted we meet up for lunch. Fr. Schall is such a fascinating person. Seeing him again was wonderful!

What mentors or teachers have shaped your life?

Teatime

2009-09-05T14:48:00.001-07:00

Most of us have not been to a tea party since those elementary school days with close friends and a few stuffed animals.

Which is why I thought it would be fun to invite my friend Courtney over for a little tea party before we left for school. I've known her since second grade! And thanks to her British parents, tea was always a regular part of our playdates. But we haven't seen each other - let alone had a tea party - in a long time.

It was so much fun! While catching up about our summers, we made four batches of cookies: chocolate peanut butter oatmeal, cinnamon pecan, gingersnap, and coconut macadamia. Baking is twice as fun with a friend.

I'll link to the recipes we used, but we also did a bit of experimenting:

Chocolate peanut butter oatmeal: we left out the chocolate and peanut butter chips and added Quaker oats instead.

Cinnamon pecan: it's just the basic Tollhouse recipe, but we substituted chopped pecans for chocolate chips and sprinkled cinnamon on top. These are also tasty if you add a pinch of salt on top right after they come out of the oven.

Gingersnap: We left this recipe intact.

Coconut macadamia: We added chopped macadamia nuts.

We only used about one third of the dough for each recipe - which believe me, allowed for more than enough cookies! I baked the rest of the dough the next day and brought it to school for the newspaper staffers.

From the center of the plate outward, the cookies are gingersnap, coconut macadamia, chocolate peanut butter oatmeal, and cinnamon pecan. Yumm! What are your favorite types of cookies?

Slowing down...

2009-09-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been trying to pack all sorts of things into my schedule before leaving for college.
Go out to my favorite restaurant one last time (check!)
Make cookies for the newspaper staffers (soon to be completed!)
Meet up with old friends (check check check!)
Go bowling (I even made a strike without using bumpers!)
Attend an outdoor concert (double check!)
Go to the farmers market to buy fresh fruits and veggies (check!)
Write more letters to people who have influenced my past four years of school (check!)

My mom laughed at my last minute to-do list. "Kaytee, it's not like you're dying. This will all still be here."

Yes and no. Yes, everything will still be here when I come home for Christmas. But that seems so far away. I want to soak it all in right now. I want to make sure I remember and appreciate every little thing. Don't get me wrong: I can't wait for college to start. But I also know there will be a lot of things about home that I will miss.

The other day, my parents and I went over the hill to Santa Cruz to have breakfast on the water. We walked along the beach for a little bit and then played a game of Scrabble on the sand. What with working two jobs and being obsessed with frantic to-do list making, I always seem to be so busy. So many things I've planned all the time. But just for once, just that one morning, spending time with my family - it was enough.

Stable cats

2009-08-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

At the stables near my house, there are two kitties who live with the horses. They can be a bit skittish if you move too quickly, but they are so friendly and just love to be pet.

The calico one kept attacking my shoelace!

I've always grown up with pets (rabbit, frog, dog, cat) and have been a big animal person. But now it's just my family and our old black lab mix, Lucy. We've had her since she was six weeks old. I'm going to miss her so much when I leave for school!

Kids portraits

2009-08-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

Last week, I photographed Cooper and Addison, quite possibly the cutest little kids in the entire world. They also happen to be the children of Corey, an old friend and a fantastic hairdresser at Endz Salon in Los Gatos. If you ever need a haircut, go make an appointment with her!

Addy was so fun and easy to shoot, always smiling for the camera.

Cooper spent a while hammering away at a rock he found. He was so funny, telling me about his future plans: apparently, he intends to go to a college where people either study bugs or samurai swords.

Addy's such a little waterbug: Corey swung her over the pool so her feet skimmed the water. She couldn't get enough of it!

A great family photo (minus dad who wasn't there).

Corey has a necklace with her babies' names on it. What a great idea!

Friends and fun

2009-08-20T10:57:00.001-07:00

Not only is she an incredible artist headed for the Art Institute of Chicago in just a few days, my friend Shelby is one of the most hilarious and downright fun people I know. She taught me that whipped cream is meant to be refilled multiple times on a mug of hot cocoa (so many times, in fact, that I ended up with a major stomachache from sugar overload!) She's one of those people you can talk to about anything and she'll always drag you on some fun and crazy adventure that ends up making you feel loads better =)

She came over a couple days ago, and we went trampolining!

And then she found my planner and began making notes.

She's going on a road trip to Chicago in just a few days - how cool is that?! I'm missing her already!

Bittersweet

2009-08-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

One of my oldest and dearest friends left for college yesterday. It's so bizarre to think that the people I've gone to school with for the past four, eight, even eleven years will soon be scattered around different parts of the country.

Starting in second grade, Angeli and I had "play dates" almost every weekend. She even had her first sleepover at my house! We went on bike rides, fed carrots to the horses at the nearby stables, and made brownies out of a box. We then graduated to making cookies from scratch (although the cookies hardly made it past the dough phase before we ate it all). Soon we were driving places, meeting up for coffee, and laughing ourselves silly at episode after episode of Will and Grace.

So before she left for college, I packed her a little care package. A collage frame with the four photos above. Our favorite cookie recipe. A Will and Grace DVD. Nutella. A box of Red Rose tea. A box of brownie mix. A planner, amply marked with weekly "call Kaytee!" instructions.

As the title hints, things are feeling somewhat bittersweet: the bitter part being my friends already leaving and the sweet part being me off to college and meeting new people in a little less than a month.

This quote makes me feel better: "Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." - Richard Bach

Summer lovin

2009-08-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

These past few days, I've spent time with friends I haven't seen in some time, and I've knocked several items off my summer to-do list.

1. Went on a midnight hike with a group of friends and watched the meteor shower. Saw no meteors (so sad!) because I was always looking at the wrong place at the wrong time.

2. Had a sleepover with a friend outside on my trampoline. Made up for not seeing meteors because I saw shooting stars!

3. Drove over the hill to Santa Cruz this morning with a friend and we watched the sun rise over the water. Walked around the beach and some trails for a little bit before going out for breakfast - yum!

Sunrise this morning:

What's on your summer to-do list?

Nooks and crannies

2009-08-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

Some more photos of little tucked away areas of Paris:

I've been really busy working two part time jobs lately and getting things sorted out for college, but I've got some really cool dorm decorating ideas - will take photos and share them soon! =)

Flower: black and white

2009-07-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

It's odd to see photographs of flowers without color: their vibrant hues are the best part! But for some reason, I liked this shot in just plain old black and white.

Summer cooking

2009-07-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

Shrimp marinating in a yummy concoction of sesame, cilantro, ginger, chile pepper, and soy sauce.

The BBQ'ed shrimp skewers were complemented nicely by the melon and cucumber mint salad.

Cooking light, refreshing meals and eating dinner outdoors are two of the many perks that come with summertime. Share some of your favorite summer recipes?

In memory

2009-07-11T22:57:00.000-07:00

At the corner of the Concorde metro station in Paris, there is a small memorial to soldiers who died during World War II.

Just a little note

2009-07-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

At the end of school, I wrote a number of letters. Letters to each of the reporters, editors, and adviser who had worked so diligently to make our paper a success. As quick and convenient as email is, there's something much more personal about an old-fashioned handwritten letter. Just a little note to let them know that we notice how hard they work and how much we appreciate their efforts. Thanks for a wonderful year, stupendous staffers!

Beach bonfire

2009-07-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

I spent last weekend in Carmel with my family - the weather was perfect and we were so close to the water. One night, we went to the beach and built a fire. The sunset was beautiful.

I like the star-like shape that the waves etched into the sand in the last photo. Sorry for all the close-ups of the waves crashing against the shore: I was having way too much fun slowing the shutter speed and letting the water blur.

Breakfast in bed

2009-07-03T23:25:00.000-07:00

My mom's birthday was a few days ago. My dad and I woke up early to make french toast and chop fresh strawberries and mangoes. We brought her breakfast in bed!

I made her a photo album for her birthday and gave her a cookbook: we always have fun making meals together. Happy Birthday, Mom!

Talent

2009-06-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

At the Sacre Coeur basilica, there were a number of performers and entertainers.

He sang John Lennon's "Imagine" as the rows of people sitting on the steps clapped in tune and sang along. Music really does bring people together.

He bounced the soccer ball off his feet, knees, shoulders, and even head! You can't see it from this photo, but there was a 10 foot drop off that pillar from the back.

Two Brazilian capoeira dancers.

Such skill! And the woman's face is priceless.

Louvre: the old and the new

2009-06-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

While the Louvre (above) may be more famous than the Musee d'Orsay (below), I prefer the latter. The d'Orsay building was originally an old train station (super cool!) and today has a lovely collection of art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. My favorite works? Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's charcoal masterpieces.

I'm hoping to go to more museums this summer in the San Francisco area: I definitely want to see the new King Tut exhibit at the de Young. Any other suggestions? What are your favorite museums?

Paris from a different view

2009-06-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

Cool little scooter, right?

Out to lunch

2009-06-18T23:11:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of Paris? The little cafes (or 'brasseries' as the French say) that dot nearly every street corner. What's your favorite French food?

Chess

2009-06-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

Montmartre is a beautiful district in Paris where tourists, open air markets, art, and the famous Sacre Coeur basilica come together. At one outdoor art gallery, I spotted these two men playing chess. I loved the way the paintings framed the scene too much to pass up this shot.

The Seine at sunrise

2009-06-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

I hauled myself out of bed at 5:00 to walk along the Seine and take these photos. The shots I took early on were pretty dark; these photos above were taken closer to 6:30. I love the gradual change of colors in the sky!

Paris at night

2009-06-12T09:39:00.001-07:00

I spent the past week in Paris and from sightseeing to eating delicious food (banana + nutella + crepe = yum!) to meeting up with old friends, it was a wonderful trip. Expect lots of Paris photos in upcoming posts.

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Our hotel was in a great location - just a few minutes' walk from the Louvre and next to the original Chanel store (see above photo).

Photos

2009-06-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

Busy as a bee

2009-05-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Finding a summer job is hard.

Little things

2009-05-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Yesterday, I spent time just sitting outside and doing a rather interesting arts-and-crafts project at a friend's house with his family. It was so fun just to sit, sew, snip, and talk for a few hours. Life is going by quickly right now: I wish I could press the pause button! Time to stop and notice the little things?

Negative space

2009-05-21T22:52:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Right now, life is a blur of senior trip, senior prank, baccalaureate, awards assemblies, graduation, and various end-of-the-year parties. It's bittersweet: I'm not quite sure what I'll do without my friends, and I can't get used to the fact that we'll be all so spread out around the country. Maybe unnatural is a better word for it. I'm ready for college, and I'm ready for a change. But I can't imagine not seeing the same familiar faces at school every day, I can't imagine not hanging out in the parking lots and just talking with the guys late at night, I can't imagine not working with the amazing newspaper staffers on last-minute deadline crunches. It's bizarre to think that this school I've called my home for the past eleven years will be 3,000 miles away from me in just a few months. I'll be an alum. Strange.

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day, I went out with my family to brunch. My little cousin is one of the most happy and active people I know. As promised, I'm trying to work more in black and white.

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Catching that last bit of whipped cream with his tongue. Yum!

My dad playing hangman with him on the back of a receipt I had in my bag.

Intently focusing on the game.

Dad giving him a wet willie. Eeeww!

Self Portrait

2009-05-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

The most recent project for my newspaper class was to take a self portrait. I didn't like the photos I took the first time around, so I took some more this weekend. My softest jeans, my comfiest top, my hair pulled back, and bare feet - this is how I usually am on a Sunday afternoon. The soles of my feet are torn up from running barefoot on the gravel and asphalt, but for a self portrait, it was worth it! I'm trying to decide which one I want to submit... opinions?

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission. Hmm. I kind of like the photos with the my head cut off (but my smile still showing!) and the shadow reflected on the ground.

Black and white: the beginning

2009-05-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

One of my favorite photo blogs is White Stains Darkroom: the artist's use of black and white is incredible. While color can add a great touch to a photo, there's something about black and white photography that is so inspiring. Maybe I should try to give color a rest.

Wishing on a dandelion

2009-05-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

When I was little, I would be so excited to find dandelions. I'd yank one out of the ground, shut my eyes, make a wish, puff out my cheeks and blow as hard as I could, making all my "wishes" scatter and drift away. Sometimes, they'd even come true.

Making the ordinary seem extraordinary: pinecone

2009-05-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Summer, come back!

2009-05-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on this site are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Where has all our warm, sunny weather gone this past week?

Photo Contest

2009-05-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

To all of you who participated in the photo contest, thank you! I received fifty-five photographs (way more than I expected) and had a very difficult time picking my favorite. I created this blog for school project and expected only my classmates to participate in this contest, but several photo-bloggers from around the world also decided to email me their best shots. I'm flattered, guys! From leaving the shutter open to playing around with focus and composition, you did a wonderful job of creating a wide range of creative and beautiful photographs. In fact, there were so many lovely photos that I thought you might like to see all the entries. Scroll to the bottom to see the winner...

And the winner is...

I just can't stop staring at this photo. It's absolutely lovely. She took something, a flower on the ground, that would normally seem ordinary or dull, and made it beautiful. I love the contrast of the dark, cracked, grittiness of the asphalt against the silky flesh-colored rose. And yet the jagged lines in the ground resemble the curled edges of the rose petals. Love, love, love it!

Photo credit for the winning shot goes to Tina of this health blog. This photo contest was a lot of fun: would you guys be interested if I held more photo contests from time to time?

Words of inspiration

2009-04-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

I love words. Countdown to photo contest: 1 day. Submit away!

Go Big Green!

2009-04-26T17:04:00.001-07:00

When I visited Princeton last week, I wanted to love it. I had read about the senior thesis, the Woodrow Wilson School, and the Bridge Year Program. It was the perfect school for me. Or so I thought.

So then I visited. I confirmed that:
1. It is the most beautiful campus I've ever seen: the buildings look like they came straight out of Harry Potter and the dorms have hardwood floors.
2. They have some of the most accomplished professors in the world.
3. The cafeteria food is ridiculously good: it serves entrees like pad thai, sushi, and curry chicken.
And yet for whatever reason, it just didn't "click" with me the way Dartmouth did. But still, I thought. It was Princeton. It was going to be hard to turn down professors like Joyce Carol Oates, Toni Morrison, and Paul Krugman. Really, really hard.

But partway through my visit, I found this quote on my friend's blog:

"If logic is telling you one thing, and yet you're torn, it's because your gut is telling you the opposite."

It was then that my decision became blindingly clear. Everyone seeks out something different in a school, and for some people, Princeton is the perfect place to be. Academically, Princeton is pretty much second to none. Its facilities are great, and the campus as a whole "runs like butter," in the words of my friend. In fact, I can certainly see myself applying there for graduate school. But for an undergrad experience, I couldn't be more excited to go to Dartmouth. I want to learn lots and be surrounded by people who love learning. I want to be at a school where people are passionate, involved, open-minded, interesting, and interested. As weird as it sounds, I want to be in the middle of a forest surrounded by active and outdoorsy people who ski before class and kayak in their free time. I want to study abroad with the D-Plan and build a bonfire during Homecoming weekend.

Sometimes I wish I would have fallen in love with Princeton the way I did with Dartmouth. But then I remember the fascinating people I met during my Dartmouth visit and the borderline insane vibrancy on campus. I know I made the right decision for me.

I called my parents while in New Jersey to let them know I would not be attending Princeton University next year. So my dad picked me up from the airport holding this sign. Big thanks to my parents for always being so supportive =)

Countdown to photo contest: 4 days.

Making the ordinary seem extraordinary: pipe

2009-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on this site are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Countdown to photo contest: 9 days.

The road less traveled

2009-04-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Hmm...I wasn't planning on making this photo off-center, but now I like the angle.
Countdown to photo contest deadline: 10 days.

What I've been up to lately...

2009-04-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the recent lack of posting: I've been gone visiting Dartmouth and long story short, I fell in love with the school.
Right now, I have a ridiculously large amount of make up work to do. What's more, I'm leaving on Wednesday to visit yet another college. Oh dear, the workload just keeps growing.
So basically, I've decided to extend the deadline for the photo contest a bit. The photos I've received so far are really great! So thanks again to those of you who sent them.
However, the other day, a friend told me that he heard some people saying they were afraid to send in photos because they didn't think they were very good. What is this madness?! PLEASE do not think this way! Send me any and all of your photos. I really would love to see them =) Pretty please?

The deadline will be extended to April 30 -- sorry, I know it's a while away, but I really don't think I'll have time to look through everyone's photos and do a thorough job before then.

Ah well, time to hit the books...

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

The photo above is of my bedside table. Let's see...my glasses, an eraser, a bobby pin, a flat marble-y thing, an earring, and three books. The big book in the middle was given to me by the awesome Nilesh, and it's called Things I've Been Silent About. Great read.

What's on your bedside table?

Countdown to photo contest deadline: 11 days.

Light through the blinds

2009-04-13T19:16:00.001-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

I have so much work to do! But there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

Countdown to photo contest: 2 days.

You're never too old to Easter egg hunt

2009-04-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

Every year for Easter, my friends Courtney and Megan come over. Their mom makes the most amazing eggs, but this year, she decided to change it up. Instead of hunting for dozens of little plastic eggs, there was one big egg for each girl.

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

I found my egg! After cracking them open, we realized we had all hit the jackpot. Inside the egg: $2 bills, movie tickets, lottery tickets, candy, and bunny-teeth-lollipops!

The bunny teeth were a hit.

Megan really got into her lottery ticket scratching.

Easter bunny Kit-Kat bars.

YUM!
Not the most artistic post, but a fun account of an Easter with family and friends. Countdown to photo contest: 3 days.

Out to dinner

2009-04-11T21:32:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Sushi before:

Sushi after:

Countdown to photo contest: 4 days.

Photo portrait: my parents

2009-04-10T22:34:00.001-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Countdown to photo contest: 5 days. Please, send me more pictures!!

Good fences make good neighbors

2009-04-09T20:46:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Countdown to photo contest deadline: 6 days.

Here, kitty kitty!

2009-04-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

At the horse stables, there were two kitties who had one stall all to themselves. Ugh, I don't like the wheelbarrow handle in all of these shots. Oh, and I've been getting questions about what blur tool I use. I actually don't use Photoshop or anything to blur. Even in the last two shots of the kitties - it's just that I kept the cats in focus, not the background.

Countdown to photo contest deadline: 7 days.

Anatomy of a horse

2009-04-07T18:25:00.000-07:00

Does every little girl go through an obsession with horses phase? I know I certainly did. Lucky for me, there's an old horse stable just one street over from my house.

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

There's a miniature horse at the stable (he's less than two feet tall!) who is the cutest thing!

Horsie ear.

Horsie mouth.

Horsie nose.

Horsie eye. (Bad photo, but in his eye, you can see me taking the shot!)

Horsie feet.

My favorite: horsie mane.

Countdown to photo contest: 8 days.

Free periods

2009-04-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Trying on a ring.

Love the expression!

Frozen yogurt fixes everything.

Countdown until photo contest: 9 days.

Sunday mornings

2009-04-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

A last-minute get-together with friends on a Sunday morning is always fun. The four of us usually meet to discuss politics - or whatever random subject Kartik feels the need to discuss - but today we just grabbed coffee/French toast, talked about the exciting four years ahead (college!!), successfully convinced Kartik to go to Princeton, imitated statues, and kidnapped Neha (thanks for being such a good sport!).

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Satura Cakes: yummy coffee, gorgeous cakes!

I had a vanilla latte. I love the crackly-looking bubbles that stay on the edge when you've finished.

I made scones - Daniela would be so proud!

David deep in thought.

Neha with a thought-provoking comment.

Watching Kartik and David interact is one of the funniest things ever. See below for proof.

Lots of contemplation in the two photos above.

David pretending to be Harry Potter.

Kartik explaining why he would be vital to a college football team.

Interesting scribble on the bench.

Imitating statues. The statue Neha is standing next to has a plaque that says: "Olympic Wannabes."

Driving home. And saving the environment by not accelerating too quickly (thanks David).

Countdown to photo contest deadline: 10 days.

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear

2009-04-04T17:14:00.001-07:00

Inspired by a really great self-portrait I found on the Shutter Sisters site, I decided to take some similar shots. It's an interesting take on the traditional 'shoot-yourself-while-looking-in-the-bathroom-mirror' photo.

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

I was playing around with settings, and my aperture and shutter speed were ridiculously low - making for some very light and bright (bordering on washed-out) photos. Good photography? Not really. But it does it make for a kind of cool and ethereal look? Oh yes.

A vintage-y look to this one.

I fixed my settings so the background wouldn't be quite so blinding.

Self-portraits are surprisingly hard! I feel like there must be some sort of timer on my camera, but I can't for the life of me find it. So yes, for obvious reasons, it was definitely difficult trying to take a photo of myself in my car's side mirror while not looking through the lens. But it's also difficult to really think about your own self portrait. For me, it seemed natural to be holding a camera. But what would you be doing? Painting? Dancing? Cooking?

What lies at the top of staircases

2009-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

At the top of this staircase: a bicycle, a painting, a stack of books, some flowerpots...and is that a fold-up canvas chair?

Thanks to those of you who have emailed me photos! They're beautiful, and I can't wait to see more.

Countdown until photo contest deadline: 11 days.

Photography contest

2009-04-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

"your photography has inspired me to take more photos and upload them on my blog! :)"

I think this is my favorite comment I have received on this blog so far. (So thanks for the note, Shilpa!) I'm so happy that my photos were able to inspire a fellow blogger to take out her camera more often.

Which brings me to my next point. I am going to hold a photo contest! The object is fairly simple: you email me your photo(s), and I'll pick my favorite.
What do I get out of this? I'm hoping this motivates you to take out your camera and snap some shots.
What do you get out of this? Most importantly, a great photography opportunity! Oh, and I'll post your photo and make you a plate of brownies too if you win =)
You can email photos to my student account. I don't want to post my email address online, but *hint* I'm in the class of 2009, my official name is "Katherine," and my last name starts with a C.

*Edit: I've changed my mind about the emailing business. You can send me photos at kayteecomee@hotmail.com

Please don't submit more than 5 photos per person, and the contest ends in two weeks (4/15).
*Edit: new deadline for photography contest: April 30.

P.S. Shilpa did indeed take some beautiful photos and upload them on her blog. You can see them here.

Class of '09, you've come a long way

2009-03-31T22:10:00.000-07:00

I want to wish a big CONGRATULATIONS to all high school seniors (go '09!) who have worked so hard these past four years. Whether the road to college decisions was smooth sailing or whether you had a few bumps along the way, you deserve a big pat on the back for making it this far. And remember, it's not about where you go to college; it's about how you take advantage of the opportunities available. Chin up, deep breath, and here's to another soon-to-be-fabulous four years in college.

To those of you who are preparing for the upcoming college app process, don't sweat it too much. Yes, there's stress involved, but at the end of the day, you really learn a lot about yourself: what you want to find in a school, in life, and in yourself. There's quite a lot of soul-searching involved amidst those crazy app essays.

Raindrops

2009-03-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

After a week or so of beautiful sunny weather, it rained for a bit today. I'm not a fan of the rain in general, but I love the patterns it makes on water!

Signs of spring

2009-03-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Spring and beautiful weather are here! And there is a pretty flower growing in my front yard.

Vintage

2009-03-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

The second one was taken in the school parking lot: it's the edge of a banged up car. The owner probably doesn't like the look so much, but I did =)

Home sweet home

2009-03-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Angeli's dog is quite ferocious...all eight inches of her. Funnily enough, they have a sign that says "Warning! Security Dog." Hah. Right.

Lychee Tree and laughs

2009-03-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

So following our Goodwill adventure, we wandered a few doors down to Lychee Tree, which is sort of like a Japanese dollar store. Do you remember how popular notebooks and pencil pouches from Maido and Hilltop Gifts were in middle school? My favorite part was the hilariously nonsensical memos on the outside. Seeing these made us laugh.

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

"A dog is tame with a person well, and there can be things obeying instructions depending on training well."

"Multi-purpose note: They are study, work, and the convenient note that can be used for multiple purposes."

And then we saw these bobby pins and proceeded to laugh some more. An "America pin?" We were unaware these existed. Hah!

A door knob cover: something else we had never heard of.

The best part of this photo? The fact that the girl wielding the cleaver is wearing a shirt that says "Stop Genocide in Sudan."

Apologies for most of these photos not being particularly attractive...but I hope they gave you a laugh!

Up next: a couple photos taken at Angeli's house. Stay tuned...

One man's trash is another man's treasure

2009-03-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

After a delectable coffee break, we hit the road again. Angeli had the great idea of going to Goodwill: apparently she used to go a lot when she was younger, and lucky for us, there was one right near her house!

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

This Goodwill was huge. Lots of clothes and accessories.

Some neat little knicknacks, too. I thought this was a pretty little pot.

At the front of the store, there was a whole display case full of jewelry. We browsed for a bit.

Angeli ended up buying this bracelet for about $5.

I bought a little blue plaid dress - for $5.99!

Yay for bargain shopping.

Up next: our trip to Lychee tree, the store a few doors down from Goodwill. Quite an interesting experience! Stay tuned...

Coffee, crème brûlée, and a croissant - oh my!

2009-03-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

So after we spent the better part of an hour on our photoshoot, Angeli and I decided that we definitely needed a break. Okay fine, mainly it was Angeli that needed a break since she definitely had the hard part: she had to leap around when her feet were already sore from dance practice that morning (although the girl has mad hops; I told her that she should definitely consider going out for college basketball) while I basically pushed a button and told her what to do. Anyways, we headed over to Cocola Bakery, an adorable little cafe in Santana Row.

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

I had a croissant.

Angeli had crème brûlée. With mysterious bits of orange in it that she didn't approve of.

I took this photo standing inside Cocola next to the window while shooting the scene outside. If you look closely, you can see the reflection of baked goods, me taking the photo, a lady standing outside, and Left Bank restaurant across the way. Rather a lot going on in one photo. But kind of neat!

We both had lattes.

Yum!

Cocola is an inviting little cafe. I love how in each of these photos, there's a sort of glow and warm light: it definitely sums up the overall ambiance. The only downside? It's nearly impossible to find seating inside. But we managed to snag a table!

Best friends

2009-03-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

I have a theory: I think that people positively glow when they're doing something that they love. So who better to photograph than miss Angeli Agrawal, an incredible ballerina and my best friend since the second grade?

PS. If you have an activity that you love to do, please let me know! I'd love to take some photos =)

What's around your neighborhood?

2009-03-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Flowers: one of my favorite parts of spring. Pets are almost as fun to photograph as kids. They do the funniest things!

Trying to make the ordinary look extraordinary

2009-03-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Simple, but peaceful. I like the circles of light that tiny mirrors reflect on the walls: they look like glitter!

Doesn't this look like it would be at a French cafe?

2009-03-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

A water bottle and a vase: such creative uses for wine bottles! I love the contrast on the right hand side of the photo between the clear bottle and the stripe of shadow.

Young at heart

2009-03-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

I love photographing little kids. Their energy is so contagious! What's more, they never care about how they look in photos, and yet I've never seen them look bad in a picture. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned here...

I wish trees could talk

2009-03-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

Standing just underneath a tree in Monterey and looking up, up, up.

Splash and smile

2009-03-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

She couldn't stop smiling the whole time she was in the pool. She refused to get out of the water, too, even when her lips turned blue.

Walking on sunshine for the first time in days

2009-03-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Please note: all photographs on here are the property of Kaytee Comee. They may not be used without permission.

For a long time, I was an admirer. I loved photographs -- all kinds -- nature shots, landscapes, still lifes, portraits, simple shots snapped of a street sign. But I never thought I could take cool photos. I was lucky if a photo wasn't blurry or didn't have my thumb in the frame and the subject was somewhat in the center. But sometime last year, armed with a Nikon D80, I thought I'd give it a try anyways. I promptly fell in love. And now I'm more than an admirer: I'm a doer. My photos are still sometimes blurry, and yes, I have more than one (or ten) photos where the edge of my thumb made it into the picture, but I'm slowly learning and growing and trying more. It's so exciting, trying to make the simple and the ordinary look beautiful, unique, and artistic. Even something as regular as, well, a picnic basket.