Liepa's Port

Claire, A Newborn in Iowa City

crystal habermel — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:14:17 +0000

Birth happens everyday, however each time I hold a newborn I feel in awe and disbelief.

Every experience for a baby is so enriching–each moment there is a sense of discovery and newness. So my task for myself today as I dread driving back 5 hours to the Twin Cities is to say screw efficiency and mindless driving and make my tedious drive a chance to discover something new, be it a stop to photograph a snowy plain, an old silo, or discover a new pop song. And on my way out my plan is to meander in Prairie Lights, pick up a pesto sandwich from New Pioneer for my husband, and grab tea from the Java House.

This day will not be ordinary.

{Portrait} Margaret: Liepa House, St. Paul, Mn

crystal habermel — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:51:50 +0000

She is beautiful. Sensual. Dancer. Creative. U of M Engineer. Avid Reader. Video Game Player. Tea Drinker. Whiskey Lover. Nap Taker. Hiker. Singer. Curly Haired Wild Child. She is Margaret.

{Family} Stillwater, MN

crystal habermel — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:20:40 +0000

My cute little family. Mother. Brother. Sister. I need to photograph them more.

Big River Yoga, St. Paul, MN

crystal habermel — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 02:36:15 +0000

This post is not so much about the promotion of a yoga studio rather it is a post about my connection to a community, my love for St. Paul, MN, and the boldness to do what one loves. Big River Yoga Studio is a quaint space that is filled with beautiful natural light. I met the yogis of Big River through my former employer and friends at The Mississippi Market Co-op, one extraordinary reason why I love St. Paul. Chris, the creator of Big River is pursing his passion meanwhile creating a space for people to gather in health and commUNITY. I value his ambition. If you need to stretch out your body and gain some inner peace please check out Big River Yoga

{Wedding} Jessica and Christian, W.A. Frost, St. Paul, Mn

crystal habermel — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 03:24:30 +0000

Jessica and Christian’s wedding was quaint and classy. Both were relaxed and gave me creative freedom to shoot everything. The light in November in Minnesota is soft and crisp. W.A. Frost was a dignified host with many nooks and crannies to explore for portraits. After the reception with one hour of light left we shot portraits around the Cathedral. I love the simplicity of this wedding.

Black and White vs. Color

crystal habermel — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:04:02 +0000

During my undergrad I facilitated a workshop with Tom Arndt and Terry Gydesen; both fantastic Minnesota based documentary photographers. Arndt and Gydesen were partial to black & white images, and it was during this workshop that I developed an appreciation for black & white photographs. The adjective that left the tongue most when describing black & white photography was: TIMELESS. I’ll add velvety, soft, diffuse, stop, rich, classic, and poetic. To me, a black & white image is about FOCUS. When you pull all the color out of an image you are confronted with the subject and the composition becomes at the forefront of what makes the photograph interesting. In a black and white image there is less distraction.

I can’t help but think of the Woody Allen films, Annie Hall and Manhattan. Annie Hall is in color and similar to the story line of Manhattan, a neurotic man providing comic relief on his semi autobiographical sexual escapades in New York City, but the obvious difference is that you can stop Manhattan at anytime and have a rich and timeless, black and white still frame–each scene is a great photograph in itself.

I am no Woody Allen and I’m not in the least bit as politically savvy as Gydesen and Ardnt, however like Woody I am in the business of LOVE. Here are a few images I thought made the point of being compositionally interesting or distilled or velvety or poetic.

{Wedding} Brett and Kayli, Como Conservatory, St. Paul, MN

crystal habermel — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:56:18 +0000

As romantic and epic as marrying your school crush sounds, I find it to be very rare. Kayli and Brett are rare. They are young and can claim over 10-15 years of love; they met in grade school. Brett and Kayli laughed throughout their entire wedding, they even pinky-promised their commitment during the ceremony. Their family was relaxed and supportive. The leaves were green-to yellow-to red and the light was translucent.

They wrote this to me:

Dear Crystal,

You are a hero. We cannot stress how integral you were in making the wedding happen. You win.

The photos look great, and we’ve been recommending to everyone we know: folks with young kids; prospective brides and grooms; toddlers; plants; animals, etc.

Thanks again.

Take care,

Brett

I am deeply touched by this.

Family Portraits

crystal habermel — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 23:09:28 +0000

What do you want you want to remember in 20 years when you look back at your family portraits? Forced poses, a white sterile backdrop, matching outfits, a smile on your face but not in your eyes? Often family portraits can be misrepresentations of who we actually are. My goal as a photographer is to break away from conventions, be challenged, observe, and collaborate. I aim for a blend of storytelling and documentation. During the photo session below, Finn, wanted to play in his empty box (best toy ever) so we incorporated his play into the photos. You can feel his joy. As always I want to provide emotive images that reflect my clients.

{Wedding Preview} Cathedral Hill, St. Paul, MN

crystal habermel — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 19:08:26 +0000

Intimacy and Antonio Machado Translated by Robert Bly

crystal habermel — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:02:53 +0000

My friend R. and I had a sleep over. We ate ice cream, french fries, edamame, drank champagne, and talked into the night. We mused on the rarity of intimacy between two people who are not romantically involved. As you age, partner up, and work hard, relationships become mere facebook connections. I know that with R. I’m guaranteed at least one sleep over a year, we strive to keep person to person contact alive.

I’m going to chop up this poem a bit, forgive me.

Fourteen Poems Chosen From Moral Proverbs and Folk Songs

To talk with someone,

ask a question first,

then–listen.

Between living and dreaming

there is a third thing.

Guess it.

What the poet is searching for

is not the fundamental I

but the deep you.

Beyond living and dreaming

there is something more important:

waking up.

Pay attention now:

a heart that’s all by itself

is not a heart.

But art?

It is pure and Intense play,

so it is like pure and intense life,

so it is like pure and intense fire.

You’ll see the coal burning.

Antonio Machado, translated by Robert Bly from, The Winged Energy of Delight