Keukenhof Tulips 2013

Working for Cary LaCouture means I have seen A LOT of tulips. I mean a lot. If you don't know just what I mean, you definitely need to check out his work. At first I'm not sure I appreciated them, I mean they were nice but they were just tulips; after a while they began to grow on me. I guess I didn't see how someone could find so much beauty in the same flowers over and over ... and over again. 

Well a lot has changed since I met Cary. 

Yesterday I stood in a field of thousands and thousands of tulips. I jumped on a train to The Netherlands and I am now lucky enough to say I have seen the famous Keukenhof gardens of Holland.

 I was a total Cary LaCouture yesterday. I crawled in the dirt for the perfect angle. I took at least 400 shots of red tulips alone. I spent an entire day just photographing these tulips ... more tulips and tulips and tulips. And it was a fantastic day. 

There is something about standing in a sea of flowers. Literally a sea. Everywhere you look these beautiful flowers perfectly in bloom or imperfectly just as beautiful. People work the whole year round for this month. Just this little bit of beauty ... but it is enough to refresh someone's whole life - someone like me.

You always see these corny quotes on pinterest but it isn't until you are crouched in tens of thousands of tulips that they sink in. Just a drop of water on a flower can make you realize something you've been looking for for years, and I think that is the real beauty. 

"Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself." - Edmund Lee

Jannah Din Photography | Couples Portraits

Photography is a funny trade. When I'm skiing down the mountain or shooting up the halfpipe, I swear it is the best job in the world and I will never leave the snow. Then I get to shoot a newborn and when I'm posing the little guy he wraps those tiny fingers around mine and I think that has to be the best part of the job. Then, I photograph two people completely in love and I think that's it. 

So my conclusion: be a jack of all trades. 

Being a photographer is the greatest job.  

Sharing some shots from my couples shoot this week at Place du Sablon in Brussels.  

FONT: Salt & Foam

I'm a typography nut, so any day I can find a new free font is a good day. 

My discovery today: Salt & Foam. 

Download it {HERE}.

Shot Sharing: Winter X Games Europe 2013

Currently living the life in the French Alps.

I'm in Tignes shooting the Winter X Games 2013

To see photos, follow my instagram: www.instagram.com/misssjannah

and/or my twitter: www.twitter.com/misssjannah

{all photos are ©Jannah Din Photography 2013 and may be republished only with proper credit given}

Winter X Games Europe 2013 Super Pipe

Taylor Gold on SuperPipe in men's eliminations 3.20.2013

Winter X Games Europe 2013

USA 4FRNT rider David Wise in SuperPipe practice

Winter X Games Europe 2013

France favorite, Kevin Rolland on SuperPipe practice

Winter X Games Europe 2013 

Canada rider Matt Margetts on SuperPipe

Winter X Games Europe 2013

Rossignol France rider, Joffrey Pollet-Villard flying high on SuperPipe

Winter X Games Europe 2013

Lazy Days in Brussels

Midterms are horrible, as always. Some things are no different in Europe. 

But at least I have been able to cozy up inside and enjoy a few lazy days of studying, essay writing, and some other projects :)

Happy midterms, world ... 

Carnival in Belgium

Thanks to this day I can now say I have visited Binche, Belgium. 

{which I am not so sure many people can say}

The biggest Carnival celebration in Belgium is said to be in Binche. 

If I must choose one word for these festivities: strange.

In a nutshell - people come out of their homes, wasted drunk, waiting in the cold for hours and hours, for this parade of very bizzare outfitted men moving at the slowest snail-pace you have ever seen, who suddenly start pelting - I mean PELTING - the crowd with oranges ... 

Yes. Seriously.

This will certainly go toward my life goal of saying I have seen it all. 

Happy Carnival everyone!!

Brugge in Winter Snow

Another beautiful shot of Brugges in the winter.

If I ever make a fairy tale film, I don't really know what it would be about 

but I can tell you it will be set in Brugges.

California Road Trip

I have been awful about updating this lately, but just as I got home from London and thought everything would slow down ... I was thrown back into the chaos of school and life.

this weekend was the first weekend I had a minute to breathe, and it was much needed and appreciated. I drove out to California with a herd of my friends and we had one of the best vacations I've ever been on.

open-top jeep cruisin. disneyland. sleepovers. huntington beach. bonfires. pier diners. newport. sandy toes. car songs. smores. surfers. shopping. dolphins. country music.

and my mark III of course. perfection. 

 now back to reality. until next time California. 

LONDON 2012 | Camden - Changing My Definition Of Weird

Camden Town ... Camden honestly deserves its own book; just a little post will not do it justice.

I didn't know what to expect when we were sent to do a travel feature on Camden. I didn't even have a chance to look it up because it was very last minute ... just got the tube stop and went. Well the second I got off the tube, my camera experienced what it must be like to be on acid. EVERYTHING was weird. The first thing we saw was a giant alien sculpture protruding from a building. Every wall was covered in art and graffiti and every single person made the circus look fit for tea. Amy Winehouse suddenly made sense. They were all covered in tattoos and piercings. Their clothes didn't match, and forget not matching, I don't even know where people find clothes like that? It was EDC meets Coachella meets a circus except none of it was dress-up ... it was real life. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying ... I felt like a wide-eyed Dorothy straight out of Kansas. And we could not have fit in less - sporting blazers and business attire. Ironically - we were the ones getting stares.

Camden itself is really cool though. The people may of scared off some but when you actually spoke with them they were all very nice. The food was GREAT. There are lots of street market vendors and the food was better than any we've had in London to date. 

Camden really won my heart when I found a vendor selling Dr. Pepper ... every meal here has been dead without my beloved Dr. Pepper. England just doesn't do Dr. Pepper. Camden, however, does :) After dinner we went to a comedy show with some local street musicians we had just met and that too was interesting and funny in its own way. 

Everything in the town is just full of flavor (and not just Dr. Pepper)  - the music, the people, the buildings, even the chairs were made from old motorcycles. I will definitely be returning, not just for a drink but also to hopefully check out the Stables Market.

LONDON 2012 | Southampton and Hyde Park

So I had all these great intentions to blog my highlights from each day ... then I got here and realized I am working 20 plus hour work days ... so about that. Today I'm catching up. I promise I'll try to do better in sharing! Just bear with me!! 

On the 27th, my day started at 4am on a train to Southampton for England's "Ringing of the Bells" ... it was so strange and awesome haha. We met the mayor and town crier of Southampton and got to share this experience with them. It was fun just to see everyone so excited about the Olympics beginning that evening! I have never met a classical English town crier, and now I can say I have ... thank goodness a reporter did a video package because this was one instance where the audio was necessary. 

As soon as I got back from Southampton, I went to Hyde Park where lots of pre-opening-ceremony celebration was occurring. The hand you see to the right is that of 'Dundu' a large figure promoting coexistence and peace. Dundu' realized I was taking photos and decided it would be a good idea to stalk me and touch me a lot, Everyone was laughing and it was all in good fun. I'm used to being behind the lens, not the subject here; it was a funny change in pace. 

The park was a neat experience - to be in a place filled with people from all over the world all celebrating one thing. It was awesome.

Opening ceremonies was a crazy day. I worked a total 22 hours without break and produced more content in one day than I ever have. Let the games begin :)

LONDON 2012 | Fish-n-Chips & Big Ben

Today was crazy but I found a way to get in some serious London stereotypes before I really don't have time. After I picked up my press credentials and got a briefing and tour of the London Media Centre I snapped some typical tourist shots of the one and only - Big Ben. Afterward I headed to Olympic Park and Stadium for some more tours and briefings. The buzz of the Olympics is definitely in the air. 

For dinner I decided to keep with my theme of the day and try out the traditional fish-n-chips. To be honest it was totally plain and gross but hey, I had to. Since when are soggy fries worthy of being so famous??

Press credentials - company bought. Lunch - 7 pounds. Dinner - 11 pounds 

Being asked what time it was while staring at the most famous clock in the world - priceless.   

LONDON 2012 | Calm Before the Storm

Today was my last day to explore London before the work sets in. It was a lovely day. I started my morning bitter around 6am (jet lag), but it turned out to be the perfect time to hunt down a little cafe and enjoy some breakfast. With no place to be, I distracted myself however I wanted stopping at many random gardens I discovered near UCL. 

I explored for a few hours keeping my eyes open for a grocery store or any sort of store that sold hangers, some soap and maybe a loaf of bread. Of course, I ended up in the chocolate store before any of those. I love walking around London. I am so distracted by the architecture of even the most insignificant buildings, but not only that ... it is the little details I love - the fences and the gates and the huge slab serif fonts carved into the buildings.

I explored all day until dinner, where I ate at this yummy little restaurant called Zizzis close by. It was good and the ambiance was great. They had this quote plastered everywhere (on the walls, napkins, boxes) and it was really adorable so I think I will close with that.  

"One can not think well. Love well. Sleep well. If one has not dined well."

LONDON 2012 | And So It Begins ...

I have only been in London for one day and already I have learned the most dreadful phrase in the English language - NO LIFT.

I arrived at the John Tovell House today and let me just say there is nothing "flat" about this place. When I was given my key, I was told I would be residing on the third floor. The coordinator failed to mention that the third floor was actually about the ninth floor and that England just thinks its really "cheeky" to number the rooms in no apparent order. Oh, they also think it's really funny to enclose every room, hallway, staircase and every little turn with "fire doors". After shuffling through the house and running through rooms like a failing game of clue, I discovered my room ... and no defibrillator. But that wasn't the fun part, no. The fun part was dragging a 65-pound suitcase larger than myself along with two 30-pound camera bags up 10 flights of narrow stairs ... myself. Once again - they may want to re-think the defibrillator.      

I am settled in and once my broken back heals tomorrow, I will definitely explore.

Note to self: no apartment is ever nice enough to make up for "no lift"

On Top Of The World - Mount Evans

Last week I hiked Mount Evans in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

It is a GREAT hike and I recommend it to anyone.

Even if you aren't a big hiker, there are options where you can drive pretty close to the summit,
so it's really an awesome outing for a lot of people. 

Well, on my hike I came across a herd of friends who were so unafraid, I got to sit in amongst them for a good twenty minutes. It was honestly one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. 

The pictures speak for themselves :)

you can see more photos from my Mount Evans hike HERE

Hope everyone had a great weekend :)

Why My Kids Won't Grow Up In A City

This morning I was greeted with such a delightful friend.

It was too fun not to share :)

Happy Wednesday everyone!!

Newborn Photography | Parker Colorado

Being home for summer has given me the chance to photograph newborns!

It has been so much fun. I've decided being a portrait photographer is one of the best gigs in the world. Weddings. Babies. People in love. You just get to be around such happiness all the time. It's amazing. Had to share some of the joy :)

and they say photographers never make it into the pictures ...

PSH ... wrong :) 

Happy Monday everyone! Have a great week :)

Parker Newborn Photography

Between work and summer fun and Olympic preparations,

I have been so busy lately! 

This weekend I was lucky to shoot some newborn portraits for an amazing family.

Here is a little preview! Much more to come of course!

Contact me at jannahdin.photo@gmail.com to discuss a shoot of your own :)

University of Texas Graduation

Last night my brother graduated from UT,

I was lucky enough to sit through the excitement and joy that is a graduation ceremony ...

an engineering graduation ceremony ...

(if you don't sense the sarcasm, just wait until you attend one).

I did find a bit of entertainment once my rear and both legs fell asleep ...

first was in choosing the most ridiculous engineer's name.

John Smith is not an engineer. not even close. I promise.

the announcers should seriously receive an award. 

entertainment number 2: photos. of course :)

here is my favorite from the night! CONGRATULATIONS BROTHER!!

New Feature Alert: Instagram Love

ever since I got my iPhone, I have been instagram obsessed.

how could I not be?

I love photography and it's instant photo sharing 

inspiring everyone to capture beauty with their iPhones.

it's genius.

naturally, as for any blogger,

a good obsession turns into a feature ...

share-worthy instagram pics from yours truly #misssjannah

if you don't have instagram and are sick of feeling left out ...

I often post my instagrams to twitter as well.

follow me: www.twitter.com/misssjannah

happy capturing!! :)

Shot Sharing - Portraits with Dani

last week I had the privilege to shoot Dani right before leaving Arizona.

how adorable is she?

 it was such a fun shoot, I had to share :) 

happy Monday everyone!