Sarah || Portraits

Sarah is one of the most beautiful souls in my life. I've known this girl for a little over a year and we clicked instantly. We are kindred spirits. This girl is full of joy, life, love, peace, fierceness, motivation, and stamina. She is always up for an adventure. I've shared so many moments with this girl and I've photographed many of them. Sarah is also in Cambodia right now. She is teaching children English and about Jesus. I am incredibly inspired by her. Always taking chances & risks and living moment by moment in the good way...

Countless hours spent chatting, dreaming, laughing, inspiring. One friendship I really treasure.

 So thankful for her. Happy Monday.

Love,

Alison

Week 49 || Project 52

I've never really been much of a "videographer" but I try. There's something about the light, the sounds, everything. I'm a sucker for amazing shorts like this one and tear-jerking wedding cinematography like this. People can really create amazing, enticing pieces of work.

During Thanksgiving, I did a bit of exploring in the wilderness and shot more video than photographs! I write a lot about my trips in the wilderness and capture a lot of photographs of my time but I never really show it in action. This, my friends, is the wilderness. 

Welcome. 

This is the Wilderness from Alison Blunk on Vimeo.

Please, please, please share with me some of your favorite videos. I'd love to see them :)

The Beginning || Film Friday

This is the story of the beginning of my photographic journey. It all began with a Canon AE-1 and a million rolls of 35mm film. Six years and countless rolls. My beloved Canon took me everywhere: Denmark, North Carolina, Wisconsin. I began as a newbie and finished with adoration for the art.

At the age of 12, I ventured to Denmark and brought several rolls of film, not really knowing what to expect or to do with this "ancient" camera. Soon, I was comfortable with the foreign qualities and loving the click of the shutter.

This was my first experience with actually pursuing photography. I wouldn't have it any other way. Learning to love the struggle. Sometimes I would be so excited about a roll of film, thinking it would be absolutely brilliant...and my exposures were developed, I would be disappointed. It's the beauty of the mystery. With film, there isn't instant gratification. It's a game of patience and testing and learning. It's a thrilling game.

Beginning with film, I always had a sense of urgency to take a photograph, bring 4 backup rolls of film with "just in case". My days were centered around "what am I going to photograph today, when am I going to get this film developed, how is this film going to turn out?"I was learning and I hungered for photography.

I still hunger for photography. I still love this game. But now, I have instant gratification, I have more than one chance to capture, and more than 24 exposures to take. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not really sure. I miss the urgency and the patience and the waiting game. But this is a new game and I love it just as much. 

Week 46 || Project 52

This week is a bit different...week 46 is a video! After filming this I realized how much I would love a Macro lens. I had tons of fun editing and playing with this one. Check it out & tell me what you think!

October in Instagrams || Personal

October treated me well; with lots of road trips, adventures and cider. November is here now [one of my favorite months!! :)] Is it appropriate to start listening to Christmas music yet?!

1. My dear friend Masha has been in the hospital and her faith journey has started a movement. Read about it here. 2. Kari Jobe & All Sons & Daughters in one night. Such a cool time spent with friends. 3. My new home :) So excited to move to the city next year! 4. Just one of the many photos from my time up north this month. 5. Sunsets in the wilderness...nothing like it. 6. It's boot season and I couldn't be more happy about that. 7. Last night in the woods : pumpkin tea, pumpkin bread and Ephesians, fireside. 8. Walks by the lake. 9. God is the best artist. I love rainbows. 10. I voted today! Have you voted yet? 11. Lunch breaks on the path are my favorite. 12. Who says that sunsets in Illinois aren't any good?! I literally gasped at this one.

So that's my October. How was yours?! Are you ready for November?

Alison

Week 44 || Project 52

"I love Your voice,

singing over me every morning.

I love Your voice,

calling out my name every morning."

-Your Voice || The Royal Royal

There's something about waking up before the sun even rises to spend some time with the Lord. Nothing like it. I woke up at 4:30AM this morning. Thankful for a pot of coffee, deer sightings in the suburbs, a warm home, another day. It's so easy to get stuck in the daily grind and take life for granted. But when you think that we are not even worthy of one day, it puts everything back in perspective. Whether the world seems quite and still or loud and busy, the Lord is always there.

Pray for Masha || Faith

I've been waiting to write this blog for quite some time. I have been blessed with so many amazing, faith filled people in my life. Masha is one of those people. 

This sweet girl has been in the hospital for over a month with an undiagnosed sickness. Through it all this girl has been joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. Her love for the Lord is inspiring. The thousands of people that have been praying for her is moving. Masha's journey has truly started a movement and a revival. This girl has such a special place in my heart. She is always full of such joy. 

This summer I had the joy of being an intern at my church, being submersed in ministry. Toward the end of the summer, we went to camp with the students. It was such a joy to spend so much time with Masha. I'll never forget one day we were taking a hike through some rocky hills by the water and every person she passed, she gave them a smile and said "Hi! How are you today?" I just love her!

Please pray for Masha. Pray urgently, fervently and unceasingly. To show your support, tweet, using the hashtag #prayformasha. If you'd like to stay up to date on her condition visit the blog. 

Into the Wilderness Again || Personal

Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons. Crunchy leaves, apple cider, pumpkins, apple picking, jackets, scarves, and Trader Joe's having everything pumpkin flavored (I'm kind of addicted to their pumpkin ice cream!) There's no better place to experience fall than in the north woods; the leaves are prettier, the wind is fiercer and the distractions are few. 

On Friday morning my good friend Sarah and I bundled up and made the road trip up to my lake house. Some good mix CDs and coffee to accompany us, there was not a moment of silence. I can talk for hours with that girl about Jesus, future and our love of pumpkin. The best part about our arrival...we got there just as the golden hour was starting! Perfection. It was a great weekend of small town, serenity, heart-to-heart, late night chatting, midnight baking, Jesus goodness.

We made pumpkin pancakes every morning and explored the small town before it got dark around 4 in the afternoon. Homemade pizzas and plenty of baking every evening. We sipped on pumpkin tea and cider throughout our hours and hours of challenging and inspiring chatter. Weekends in the wilderness always do my heart well.