Iowa, Nov. 27th.

© Crystal Liepa

Walking the Iowa farm fields with my husband never fails to lift my spirits. November was a quiet, calm month. I read nightly, made dinners with my husband, built fires, snuck into a hotel pool with my mother for a nice relaxing swim, and ate a lot of buttery warm yams. I will share more photos–first I have to pack up to photograph two sisters’ holiday cards–it should be fun. Last year during our shoot I drove to their house in a snow storm and we embraced the white all around us by putting an ottoman in the snow next to a huge pine tree where we created the best shots. This year we don’t have the snow, but I’m feeling very creative…

Who knew ectoplasm would make me so fond of humanity.

I appreciate people who pursue nonsense.

Oct. 31st, 2009 was a night of hot cider with whiskey, a night of moody projections and music, a night of bold costumes and pure silliness. I need more people in my life who take action and have fun, who get over themselves and enjoy being with other people.

Above are a few experimental pictures from my night at the West Bank Social Center . We had so much fun channeling spirits through our orifices.

For those of you who create into the wee hours of the night I solute you.

Spirits at the West Bank Social Center

click here for your plans on Oct. 31st: http://westbanksocialcenter.org/

he chose shelter before beer

After 45 years my father finally checked himself into rehab. He has made it 21 days and each day from here on out will be heavy choice for my father.

Regardless of his choices in life he has inspired me–click here.

He is and always was”sitting in a tin can far above the world.”

Az

Yes Please, More Art and Tenderness

Senior Portraits

Ben and Sonia

A Vibration

© Crystal Liepa

I am not constructing meaning rather provoking a feeling, a mood, an aura, a vibration.

There are people whose game is success, but others

hear distance: guided, often betrayed,

they wander their lives. Their voices go by

every day, outside of history, outside

of importance. They ritual whatever they do.

William Stafford:The Way It Is:Excerpt from: A Life A Ritual:1998