Paris

All taken with my 330 land camera on 690 iso 100 polaroid film.

I shot right around 100 instant images while across the sea. It was fun. It feels good to hold prints seconds after they're taken.

Volcanos & Stuff

Yesterday we flew from Amsterdam to LA right over Iceland. Part of me wondered if that was the best idea, but KLM wasn't sweating it so neither was I.

Kind of bugged we were able to fly home on our original flight. Being stranded in Europe sounded pretty dramatic and part of me really wanted to take a train to Spain. BUT home we are and I am ready to make up for blog time lost.

I have to admit, I kind of missed you internet.

**(So...I guess I was mistaken and we DIDN'T fly over Iceland. We flew over Greenland which makes way more sense. I was too busy watching movies to pay close enough attention.)

Shoot, Europe.

I swear with how excited I am about this upcoming trip you would think I'd never been out of the country before. I couldn't even concentrate in church today because I was busy trying to decide what shoes to pack.

Although it is a trip planned for leisure, I'm never opposed to a photoshoot here or there. So if any of my friends in the countries I will be visiting are interested in booking me,

I will be there from April 7-20...

starting in Paris and venturing on to Salzburg, Frankfurt, Brussels (and surrounding areas of each) and ending in Amsterdam.

I am available for model tests, commercial work for stores...cafes/restaurants, lifestyle shoots with families, couples or any other ideas you think might be great.

Email me at rachel@rachelthurston.com if you are interested in more details.

Hope Springs Resort

The two days we spent here in January, were some of the most relaxing days of my life. No phones. No TVs. No people. Just me, my man and some mineral pools.

All of these images are strait out of the camera (I cropped the last one slightly). Shot on my Hasselblad 501cm, 80 mm lens with Ilford 3200 Pro film. LOVE this film.

Thinking of starting a darkroom group once a month. When that happens these might be some of the first images I print.

C Restaurant

I beautiful sustainable restaurant I ate at while in Vancouver.

It was waterside and every plate was a peice of art.

C Restaurant also had really delicious sourdough bread served with creamed butter and sprinkled with sea salt.

It was pretty much heaven.

"Van"

"Van" as the locals liked to call it, was pretty great. I had been to Vancouver before but had never been behind the scenes with the athletes. It was a pretty cool expierence. I am going to post some of my favorite shots on Monday. In the meantime enjoy the opening ceremony and your love filled weekend.

AND this is my 501st blog post. Wowy. Can't believe I have that much to share and show. Here's to 500 more!

The Seattle Giveaway Winner Is...

Caroline Duke!!!!! Check out her amazing blog at www.iamagreedygirl.com for all sorts of things you will want to spend money on.

Thanks again to everyone that participated in this giveaway. It helped generate a lot of new readers to my sites which is exactly what I hoped would happen.

I had so much fun doing this that I know there will be more giveaways to come. You readers just deserve it.

Congratulations again to Caroline. I guess it sometimes pays to be "greedy". Caroline email me and we will hash out the details. xo.

Neon

Giveaway madness! I had no idea when I posted about the Seattle gift, the response it would have. Seattle is amazing, why would I question that everyone would think the same? Also since I have never tried to give anything away on the blog before I just didn't know what to expect....I have been overwhelmed with the support. The bribe worked!! My business is ALL word of mouth. I guess the only "advertising" I have besides word of mouth is this blog. That being said, you, reading this, are the reason I am successful at all. I know that. This has just reminded me.

I have been in part agony reading all of your comments because you are all so deserving! I suggested to Grant that we sell the cars and all the clothes and the trampoline and just send hundreds of people to Seattle. You have no idea how bad I wish I had the resources to actually make that happen. Luckily I won't make the desicion, a random number picker thingy can do the hard stuff. But to all you babymooners, honeymooners, lovers of great fish and tall trees, friends and first timers, people who just want/need a vacation, those who want to win so they can give it to SOMEONE ELSE...someone else who they miss, love and want to treat...to all of you, I hear you and love you for giving me so many heartfelt reasons for wanting to jet to the Northwest. Thank you for making my weekend a truly great one....and I hope to return the favor on Wednesday for one lovely person.

Enough talk! More action!

When I was in Las Vegas last week I took a visit to the Neon Graveyard. If you like COLOR, broken down everything, typography, design and the history of it all, I highly recommend going. This would make and excellent location for a commercial shoot. Anthropologie magazine maybe? Anthro, I'm not busy if you're not...

(wouldn't these make great screen savers?)

Seattle Vacation Giveaway

I know this may be coming on a little strong for my first giveaway, but honestly I wanted to give something I would want to have...and there is nothing I crave more than little side trips to beautiful places with amazing food. For that reason I decided I want to give away a weekend vacation to Seattle, Washington.

The giveaway winner will receive:

$400 to be used towards flights/rental car

A $300 gift card for one of the following hotels:

Hotel 1000

Ace Hotel

Inn @ Harbor Steps

(all great locations and close to Pikes Place and the water)

$75 gift certificate to Elliots Oyster House (our favorite waterfront restaurant..we dream of alder plank salmon)

The total giveaway value is almost $800.

Here is how you enter: Obviously I am doing this to drive the new and the old to the blog and shiny new website. To be eligible to win you must spread the word of this giveaway and/or my blog or website (www.rachelthurston.com) and then leave a comment on this post telling me how you shared. You can spread the word through blogs, twitter, facebook or any other creative means you may have.

Here's another hitch, there has to be at least 100 comments for the giveaway to be valid. So spread the word!

Posts can be made until Wednesday, February 3rd at Midnight PST.

I honestly love Seattle. There are trees everywhere and the air is fresh and the food is ...well to die for.  Seattle reminds me so much of the motherland, Alaska. If you've been you understand my love and if you haven't been, it's time.

I have a million other suggestions for what to do, eat and see. So when the winner, wins, I will email you info and suggestions. I only ask one thing of my precious Seattle giveaway winner, you must take photographs of your stay and let me share them on the blog.

This is so exciting. Good luck!

(ps. immediate family not eligible. Sorry dudes. It would just be weird if my sister won.)