Pictures: What I See When I See You: Chet'la

I spent this Friday evening in the community garden with my friend Chet'la, chatting about all kind of things and snapping some pictures. 

It had been a while since Chet'la and I had caught up, and I was honestly more interested in talking to her than in photographing her, so when we reviewed the images, I warned her not to expect anything amazing. She said that just as long as I was feeding her dinner, she didn't mind how the photos turned out.

What she saw shocked her.

In the pictures, as in life, she is stunningly lovely. Calm, dignified, but also full of feist and spirit. 

Chet'la found the images incredibly interesting. She studied them as one might examine artifacts from another time or place. "Dude," I finally said. "Don't you realize that that's what people see when they look at you?"

Of course she didn't. 

None of us, except on really rare occasions, are very good at conceiving of ourselves in the same way others view us, right? 

This is one of my favorite things about photographing people: being able to hand them a photo and say, this what I see when I see you.

Good photos give people a chance to re-see themselves, just for moment, through the eyes of love.

I can't wait to show more and more of the wonderful people in my life what I see when I see them.

 It's remarkably beautiful, the view from here.

Makers: Each Peach Market and making space for food conversations

The best way to describe Each Peach Market is to say that it's like a tiny farmer's market. Indoors. That's open all of the time. Where you can call ahead and ask them to set aside the last package of chicken breasts for you.

I heard about Each Peach's Kickstarter campaign back in June, and I was so excited by the concept that Jeanlouise and Emily laid out: a community-oriented market with a mixed stock of reasonably priced staples and high-end fancy foods.

 A lot of the time a food store is either-or: you can get carrots and lettuce and flour and peaches, or you can get a eight-dollar jar of Rick's Picks beets. Why not place both on the same shelf?

I had a great conversation with Jeanlouise about her desire to build store inventory around the principle that some foods are for everyday, and others are special treats. Peaches and bread? Everyday. Fancy beet pickles? Probably a sometimes food.

It's impossible to talk about food stores without talking about the price  and availability of food, and the fact that, when it come to food opportunities, most people don't get what they deserve.

Add to that the fact that Each Peach is located in the incredible diverse and rapidly gentrifying Mount Pleasant neighborhood of DC, and you've got the making of a pretty lively conversation: What kinds of food can people buy within walking distance of their homes? Is it affordable in proportion to their salaries? What percentage of their budget should people be expected to spend on food? Should their be community standards for what "good" and "healthy" food looks like? Who should be in charge of setting them? How can people be made to feel welcome?


What impresses me most about Each Peach is that Jeanlouise and Emily aren't shying away from that conversation. They seem excited to be a part of it.

They are also excited about things that taste awesome, like District Kombucha, Number One Sons Pickles, responsibly raised meat,  and produce from local growers (it's worth noting, but the way, that the produce they sell costs the same or less than the produce at Whole Foods). If I'm going to commit to buying local or organic produce whenever I can, I'm so excited to be able to give my money to REAL PEOPLE.

Mark Gilbert once wrote, "We must risk delight". With all the pleasure that food can bring, I don't think that our dialogue about it, even in its hardest moments, needs to be austere. It can happen in beautiful places. Everyone can be invited. Every conversation, even the ones about fancy pickles, can be predicated on the notion that all of us deserve to eat well, near our homes, for a reasonable price.

I'm thrilled to see so many Makers in DC who are interested in talking about how food can bring us both pleasure and sustenance. The space at Each Peach Market invites contemplation of that nature- it is both beautiful and utilitarian, full of foods for body-fuel, for quotidian pleasure and for special occasions.

As food produces and curators like Each Peach get their legs, I think contemplation and conversation about food in our lives and our communities will keep expanding. The challenge will be to make it inclusive, and to make sure that it bears real fruit.

Pictures: Jordan and Jasmine Get Married (Love in our Lifetime)

Friends, it's the New Year. Let's look at love pictures.

Last week, I was lucky enough to photograph the wedding of Jordan and Jasmine on a rainy Tuesday afternoon in Maryland. Both of them are from New Mexico, so they they'll have a larger celebration soon with all of their friends and family from home, but their sweet friend hired me to capture in photos the day of their legal marriage.

Jordan and Jasmine's love is so palpable and real-- you don't need to know their story to understand the enthusiasm and affection that they put into their relationship.

They were so excited to dedicate themselves to one another, and it seemed like their wedding marked for them a new step in that dedication, but also a natural progression of a love story that's been unfolding since they met, two years to the day before they were married.

Part of me wants to focus only on the love between Jordan and Jasmine, and the everyday miracle of it- two people choosing each other. But there's the other part of the story, too: the fact that when Jordan and Jasmine met two years ago, a marriage like theirs wouldn't have been legal. And now it is.

So as much as it's important to honor their love for what it is-- purely and uniquely theirs--I can't look at this picture of Jasmine, carefully tucking away the fresh marriage certificate that will allow her new wife to access her military benefits, without thinking of all the people I know who fought to make the legality of their union possible.

People who look at pictures like these and say, with hushed reverence, barely believing it, "In my lifetime."

And then, there's the that individuality again-- the pure, goofy uniqueness of their love, Jordan and Jasmine, choosing one another for who they are, not because history demands it.

That's the way love is, I think. Part sweepingly universal, and part specific and particular: those hands, those lips, these brains and hearts, with all the weight of the millennia behind them.

When we see love like that, regardless of what the government has to say about it, or how many times we've seen love before, the appropriate response is to stop and say, with fresh wonder, "In my lifetime".

Jordan and Jasmine, thank you for adoring each other. It brightens the world.

Here's to long and happy years.

Self Care How-To: Establishing a Daily Yoga Practice That Works

 Lately, as a part of my attempt to practice good self-care, I've been taking a few moments every once in a while to move through some yoga asanas on my own-- it feels great! Right now, however, it isn't a regular thing-- just something I do when I need a 'tune-up' in the middle of the day. The more I set aside time for these 'tune-ups',  the more I contemplate making yoga at home a regular thing in my life-- but I'm not sure how to make that happen. It feels daunting! 

 I asked my wonderful friend, yoga teacher Rosalind Schwartz, to share some tips about how to create a personal yoga practice. Ros is a graduate of the teacher training program at Heart of Yoga School in Carrboro NC. These days, she works as a teacher and administrator at my very favorite Washington DC studio, Yoga District. 

Here's what Ros has to say:

Dear Anna,

There are a lot of ways to practice yoga, so it's important to clarify what exactly these tips are designed to help you do. Yoga refers to a philosophical system descended from Vedic (ancient Indian) scripture, with practical offshoots ranging from selfless service (Karma Yoga) to extended meditation and philosophizing (parts of Raja Yoga). 

What we're talking about is Hatha Yoga, which is practiced via asana, meaning the postures and series of postures we in the global west call "yoga".

Most of us start practicing the yoga asana by finding a nearby studio and going to class once a week. We leave class feeling refreshed, calmer, stronger and more open. And so, if we have the time and energy, this usually turns into two times a week, then three times a week, and so on until it becomes entirely too expensive, and we begin to think about practicing at home. 

Your home practice is the core of your yoga practice. While it's really important to go to class and find a teacher who can speak to your experience and answer your questions, the home practice is where your attention can move inward without obstruction, and your practice becomes an authentic expression of who you are in the present moment. 

In my yoga teacher training, we worked with yogi Mark Whitwell's recommendations for establishing and cultivating a home practice. He suggests setting aside seven minutes every day to practice. That's it! Just seven minutes, whenever you want. If you can commit to seven minutes every day, you're already well on your way to having a sustainable home practice.

These tips are intended mainly to support people who have a familiarity with yoga basics and want to practice at home. People who have never practiced yoga may be better served by watching videos online, reading a book with helpful diagrams or attending a basics class.

1. Pick your space. Choose where in your home you want to practice, and let that place be The Place. If you have a small home, it may need to be a multipurpose space like a hallway, but it only needs to be large enough to roll out your mat. I know plenty of professional yogis who practice between the bed and the wall, or even in their kitchens!

2. Curate your space. If you're practicing in a hallway, this may mean hanging pictures or colored wall drapes to make it more comfortable. It may mean cleaning the space before you practice. It may mean burning incense or smudge sticks, or getting a salt lamp or candles. Whatever it is, make the space precious. Let it be somewhere you want to go.

3. Treat yo'self. There's no reason your yoga practice has to be about austerity and self-denial. Reward yourself for coming to your mat every day! You could use essential oils or a nice lotion before or after you practice. You could treat yourself to an extra-hot shower or long bath. You could buy yourself flowers or indulge in a favorite snack. Eventually, the practice becomes its own reward, but especially in the beginning, this helps to make it something you actually want to do.

4. Commit, but practice non-obsessively. Seven minutes every day isn't much, but eventually something will come up and you'll miss a day. Or maybe you only manage to practice for three minutes instead of seven. It will throw you off, and you may feel guilty. It may even seem like you should completely give up, because you broke your commitment and it therefore invalidates all the other days you managed to get to your mat. But that's nonsense. Don't trap yourself in this way! It's important to practice, but it's more important to practice without becoming obsessive. Give yourself a break. Return to your practice the next day. Resist the urge to judge yourself!

5. Practice what you want, when you want. Do you have to do sun salutations at home? Well, if it's the first thing in the morning and your body wants a warming practice, then it might be nice to get the heart rate up a bit. But if you're practicing right before bed when the body is ready to start cooling down, doing ten sun salutations would be counter-productive. Begin to listen to the signals of the body. Does it want to twist today? Does it want to do forward folds? If it was injured recently, maybe it needs to rest for seven minutes in legs-up-the-wall or savasana. It doesn't matter. Just get to the mat, invest seven minutes in listening to the messages of the body, and know that that's enough. 

Thanks, Rosalind! I am so proud to be your friend.

Check out Ros' classes at Yoga District if you'd like to experience her supportive, playful teaching style for yourself!

A Few Things I'm Excited About (Beach Week Edition): corn cakes, bonfire perfume, donated ideas, japanese persimmon cloth and a plea for well-cooked babies!

Olo Fragrance's new scent, Palo Santo, is the number one Things I Would Like to Smell today. I do not much like flowery stuff (rose is a notable exception), so this woody blend really appeals.  I found it at the very hip Accident and Artifact in SF. I also love Olo's Victory Wolf, which really does smells like someone's hair after a night around a bonfire. Stop laughing at me.

I'm impressed: rather than donating finite goods, Toyota donated their efficiency system to a Harlem soup kitchen. The resulting changes allowed the charity to help a great many more people. I love the idea of donating ideas rather than materials. It feels less like charity and more like cooperation.

I made these corn cakes for dinner last night and now we can't stop brainstorming different ways to eat them. Current thoughts: with caviar and creme fraiche, with ricotta, maple syrup and berries, with crumbled bacon mixed into the batter (duh).

Fabric obsession: Japenese Kakishubu, dyed with fermented persimmon juice. According to Hickorees, it's antibacterial? Someone please convince to me that I do not have the time or skill to attempt this on my own.

File under Not Surprised: a new peer-reviewed study has established substantive linkage between induced or augmented labor (often through i.v pitocin) and the instance of autism. My doctor parents point out that we really don't understand how the stronger contractions caused by pitocin affect the amount of oxygen baby receives, so this makes intuitive sense. Obviously more research is needed, but this is worth a lot more investigation than the ass-hatted (and failed) attempts to connect autism to vaccines (see jennymccarthybodycount.com). Also worth a read: Jodi the Doula's discussion of why even "natural" induction is usually a bad idea, and we should just let babies cook as long as they want.

Pictures: Ziva: Yoga in Motion

You know a kid is cool when the best way to get them to come over for a closeup is to yell OH MY GOD LOOK IT'S A REALLY GIANT BUG!

My friend Amelia's daughter, Ziva, is a flurry of activity, and her shenanigans stop for no one. I love toddlerhood because it's an age of total authenticity-- if they hang out with you it's because they want to, not because they are trying to be polite. Otherwise, they go off and do their own thing.

They don't smile on command. If they smile, it's because they think something is awesome.

And if you want to hang with them, it's best to cut the bullshit and go hunting for rad insects.

If you are lucky and you can catch them in moment of stillness, you can see them working to absorb and assimilate everything they've just learned.

Then they shake it off and get back in the game. It's a lot like the cycle of yogic breathing. On the inhale we nourish ourselves. aAt the top of the breath we pause to digest. Then we exhale to eliminate what we don't need. Toddler are very yogic creatures in general, and not just because they are quite bendy.

They are masters at just being here. Hanging out. And moving forward on impulse.

We benefit so much from being near them, but they aren't here to be our teachers. They are here to find rad insects.

Respect.

Pictures: Peachy Baby Violet

A few weeks ago I finally met Miss Vi.

Although her mama Carolyn has been a friend of mine for years, it was kind of like re-meeting her as well. She's the same wonderful, creative person, but her life is different. She's so excited to have met one of her very best friends.

It is an amazing thing to watch a friend transform into a parent. When I was in grad school with Carolyn years ago, I noticed that her interactions with everyone around her were marked by tenderness and enthusiasm-- talking to her feels like an embrace.

It makes sense then, that she would give us Violet: a child so sweet and juicy and fuzzy and full of smiles that she's very nearly the baby embodiment of a peach.

Violet currently enjoys the following things: breasts, smiling, chatting, putting up her dukes, and breasts.

Carolyn's relationship with her kid is so fun to see-- they totally get a kick out of one another. When I held Vi, she went right into my arms with the self-assurance of a kid who knows that her mama is totally available.

I have a feeling that Vi will go on many cool adventures, always knowing that home is still there, waiting for her.

Go, Violet, go! You are part of an awesome team.

Pictures: I get to keep this one

Truly: with every birth I have ever attended, I have fallen in love with the baby. I started practicing as a doula when I was 23, so the first children I saw enter the world will start the first grade this Fall. I can still remember how each of them arrived.

Usually, after the birth is over, and everyone is tucked in bed and the baby is feeding, I slip out of the hospital room, walking backwards so I take one last mental snapshot of the little family that has just coalesced before my eyes. Then, except for the occasional post-partum visit, I don't see that perfect creature again.

Except! Oscar.

Because Oscar's parents are dear friends and coworkers as well as doula clients, I get to snuggle him and snap his picture and talk about his poop and laugh with his parents and watch his family grow. He birth was incredibly beautiful, but his tiny self is even more so.

While I always feel that the babies I see born are perfect, I must say that this one is particularly perfect.

And he gets perfect-er each time I see him.

Oscar's family is surrounded by a massive community of aunties and uncles and internet-cousins, all of whom utterly delight in his existence. His parents keep saying how lucky they feel to be enveloped in so much love and support. All of us keep saying how lucky we are to witness the creation of their family and the growth of their beautiful son.

Just by being, Oscar is a gift to the world. Just by loving him, we help him grow into the person that he truly is.

All he needs to do is be himself, and he makes people very, very happy. So may it always be.

Here's to Oscar, and to his parents, and to their community, and to the amazing way that true love multiplies. We are all the lucky ones.