AMY FREE photography

Personal :: 04.12.10

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. - Melody Beattie

As I ventured across the country for the Lost Valley book project, I was blessed to spend some time in Kathy Smith's kitchen. Kathy is a long time guest of the Ranch and a woman who knows the beauty and impact of true hospitality. Kathy is also known far and wide for generously providing her homemade chocolate chip cookies...and these cookies have communicated messages of love, gratitude, comfort, condolence and care to those who are blessed to receive them. I felt like it was appropriate to honor her cookie making process, and celebrate how many lives have been touched in some small way by these baked goodies over the years. After all, how often it is the little thoughtful gestures in life that can make the most profound impact?

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Jenny Smith says:

Amy Free, you are too sweet! What a neat way to honor such an amazing woman. I know that the Smiths just loved seeing and spending time with you.

Oh, and Kathy's cookies ARE amazing.

(04.12.10 @ 07:23 PM)

stacy says:

and now you make baking cookies gorgeous. you are one talented woman... amazing pics amy.

(04.12.10 @ 07:33 PM)

Brandi says:

I'm new to your site. And while I have loved every single portrait that I've seen so far, I'm just amazed by these simple yet beautiful baking shots. They take right back to my grandmother's kitchen and the smell of warm cookies. Your treatment and composition is just right!

(04.27.10 @ 03:19 PM)

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Personal :: 04.10.10

goodbye colorado.

"The journey of an adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort." -Paul Ochoa

I'll admit it, yes... it was hard to leave those glorious mountains behind me, but I am majorly celebrating some incredible progress on the book has been made here in TX (along with copious amounts of general inspiration from my partner for the project; Miss Tara Kirk) and the fact that I get to see my hubs today after weeks and weeks of being apart! May the adventure continue.

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Maddy K. says:

LOVE IT!!!!!!!

(04.10.10 @ 08:23 PM)

deb schwedhelm says:

what an amazing experience and such incredible images captured!!
love.
love.
deb

(04.11.10 @ 06:46 PM)

stacy says:

cool pic lady! love it!

(04.11.10 @ 08:26 PM)

Lauren Jackson says:

ahhh, the mountains of CO - so hard to leave! i love your quote at the top!

(04.13.10 @ 10:11 AM)

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Personal :: 04.03.10

view from the road.

Today was a big day. I made the transition from Kansas to Colorado and seeing those mountains rising up from the sheer flatness that I spent 2 days driving across, well, it made my heart sing a little.

This shot was taken just west of Topeka, KS and it tickled me... not only do I love that the name of the exit is simply "Ranch Rd" but also the illusion that it's pointing into vast nothingness. There is a lot of vast nothingness in KS, but there is also a beauty to the rolling open spaces and sky. It also reminds me of the sweet memories I have from several cross country drives with friends and family, and I almost have to laugh at the number of times I've seen this stretch of Hwy 70 West.

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Ross says:

I love this post for a lot of different reasons.

(04.03.10 @ 11:41 AM)

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Learning , Personal :: 03.26.10

write on.

"...love is what you have been through with somebody."

This is a story I want to keep reading.

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Learning , Personal :: 03.16.10

29 palms CA

Darkling shadows intertwine
With the sprinklings of the moon
Every night paints a new design
That smooths across like puddled wine
Evaporating just as soon

With pallette of rainbowed hue
The sun splashes the eastern sky
Painting over the shadow's blue
Which however remains in view
Absorbing the more brilliant dye.
- Luann Pfost

I did not know anything about 29 Palms when Deb and Leah announced that it would be the location for their workshop, and I'm thankful that I had no expectations for this tiny town that sits on the edge of the Joshua Tree National Park, because it is such an odd and perfectly magical place.... and I think that my childhood connection to the deserts of New Mexico carved out a sweet spot for this kind of harsh, rocky and dramatic beauty.

I do want to share and write more about the workshop itself once I've had some more time to process everything knocking around in my head and heart, but I will say that the experience of this trip has been life changing and I just feel so grateful. Until then, I hope that this provides a flavor of my surroundings in 29 Palms.

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Heather says:

Beautiful!!!
I can't wait to hear all about your experience! And I really I hope to see you SOON!!!!!!

(03.16.10 @ 04:01 PM)

Heather says:

Beautiful!!!
I can't wait to hear all about your experience! And I really I hope to see you SOON!!!!!!

(03.16.10 @ 04:01 PM)

emily says:

i adore these...
makes me extra sad that i only took a few pictures.

i agree...life changing....

(03.16.10 @ 05:17 PM)

Maddy K. says:

These are amazing! I love the first one! It has such great depth and clarity!

(03.16.10 @ 05:56 PM)

Beata English says:

You are truly so talented - your images are amazing - the light beauty- your eye for capturing things others don't see is truly amazing. I too had a magical time - it was life changing. I can't wait to see more of your work.

(03.16.10 @ 08:36 PM)

Beata English says:

You are truly so talented - your images are amazing - the light beauty- your eye for capturing things others don't see is truly amazing. I too had a magical time - it was life changing. I can't wait to see more of your work.

(03.16.10 @ 08:37 PM)

Beata English says:

You are truly so talented - your images are amazing - the light beauty- your eye for capturing things others don't see is truly amazing. I too had a magical time - it was life changing. I can't wait to see more of your work.

(03.16.10 @ 08:42 PM)

wendy says:

ohmygawd.

(03.17.10 @ 12:02 AM)

meredith huntley says:

wow wow wow wow! these images make me long for this place!!!

(03.17.10 @ 07:13 AM)

tamara says:

What beautiful photos of a beautiful place! You really captured 29Palms perfectly and make me wish I had taken some while there....

(03.19.10 @ 01:36 AM)

leah says:

amy your words are so sweet and the photos are again, amazing!! you are such a talented photographer and i am certain you are going to go so far. i loved meeting you and am so glad i got to know you, even just a little bit, over our weekend together. xxoo

(03.23.10 @ 02:22 AM)

Jana Kleitsch says:

A-mazing photos Amy! It was so wonderful to meet you at the retreat. It looks as if you've been busy shooting since the retreat too. Beautiful work! And how did I miss the art gallery?! Darn it!

(03.26.10 @ 02:04 AM)

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