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My Photography Dream Assignment - VOTE NOW!!!

We all have dreams. Want to help make mine a reality? Please take a minute to vote for my photography dream assignment here.

http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/kristengill/dance-around-the-world/

“My dream assignment is to use my camera and video camera to document the traditions, celebrations, joys, sorrows, and passion of people through their respective dances, showing the unique power of the human spirit to triumph via dance.

From the whirling dervishes of Turkey to the tribal war dances of Uganda, from the devil dances of Sri Lanka, to the break dancing of young Americans, my photography will examine the place of traditional dance in contemporary world cultures through the stunning forms of movement, the vivid colors of costumes, and the emotion, integrity, and power of the dancer.

My passion for photography, dance, travel, and learning about new cultures is matched only by my compassion for my subjects. As a result, I have the insight and intuition to capture unique images that would otherwise elude the camera.”

Judging is based on how many votes a user receives, so please feel free to forward this on to your family and friends!

This has been a dream of mine for a long time. Thanks for helping me bring it a step closer to coming true!

3/52

I made this photo collage of Brazil, one of my favorite countries that I’ve visited so far. I really need to go back there. Love it!

Todo bem!

Adventure on,

Kristen

Concert Review: Lisa Hannigan

Lovely Lisa

Irish singer Lisa Hannigan transports you to another world with her surreal voice that is two parts angelic, one part sass. This duality is reflected in her clothing, as tonight she outfits herself in bold red tights and boots on bottom, with a soft blue and white flowered dress on top.

She has a softer sound and attitude compared to her female counterparts Feist or Cat Power, and plays diverse instruments, such as an old harmonium (bought in NYC, and which desperately needs some love "Is there a harmonium doctor in the house?") and a mouth piano. Her voice, quite literally, puts you at ease.

Lisa is accompanied by 4 other band members (Gavin Glass, who had a well-received opening act, Donagh Malloy, Shane Fitzsimmons, and TomO), who play guitar, stand up bass, drums, banjo, horns, and mouth piano, amongst other instruments. At one point, the tour manager came out to play the xylophone.

At times I could close my eyes and feel like I was on the corner of a Parisien street, with the sounds of accordion and Lisa's sweet, sweet voice like a birdsong. In "An Ocean And A Rock" when she sings "Let's get lost, me and you" you want to take her up on the offer.

Other favorites were "Pistachio" and "Lille", and my own personal favorite "I Don't Know". They ended the night with an encore of an Iron & Wine cover, "Until They Cut Me Down", which started slow but crescendoed to a rocking high.

After the show, the entire band came out to talk to their fans, who were most appreciative. Every now and then a band comes along that is truly able to take advantage of the ambience and play to the good sound quality of the Triple Door. This was one of those bands.

Lisa Hannigan can lull me with her lullabies anytime.

Check out:
http://www.myspace.com/lisahannigan
http://www.thetripledoor.net/

~Kristen

Happy S.A.D.

Happy Singles Awareness Day (S.A.D.), Valentine's Day, or, as I like to call it, Doomsday!

Every year for Valentine's Day I like to send out a picture of "LOVE".

I took this picture in December, after disembarking a train from Brussels to Gent, Belgium. It got me thinking about how disconnected our brain can be from our heart, and how illogical love can be. And, yes, wouldn't it be nice if we all had a map! Of course, I would also need a compass, since, even with a map, I'm sure I'd still find a way to get lost. Love is hard to find, after all!

To see last year's picture of "Love", click here.

Adventure On…Love, and Be Loved!

Kristen

2/52

I write this blog today, as London and the rest of the UK is being beseiged by snow! My sister was supposed to fly into Poole today, but after 8 hours at the airport, had to drive back home in a blizzard and try again for tomorrow. We here in Seattle can appreciate how "not snow ready" a place can be! I only wish I was there in London to take photographs in the snow!

Anyways, I thought I'd post this photograph of The "London Eye", London's most paid-for tourist destination, attracting over 3.5 million visitors a year. Each caspule can weighs ten tons! I did not take the ride...prefered to photograph from below!

Happy 800th Anniversary, Cambridge!

Now that is OLD. Makes my upcoming milestone birthday seem like fiddlesticks in comparison!

In honor of the anniversary, I thought I'd share some photos that I took from a fairly recent trip there (2006), and also point out some interesting facts.

Established in 1209 A.D., Cambridge is the 2nd oldest university in the English-speaking world (after Oxford). Affiliates of Cambridge have won a total of 83 Noble laureate prizes, a record. Notable alums include everyone from Lord Mountbatton to Sacha Baron-Cohen (Ali G), Jane Goodall to Nick Hornby, and Desiderius Erasmus to Hugh Laurie.

It was where Charles Darwin developed his theory of natural selection, where they discovered DNA, and developed in vitro fertilization (IVF).

What I loved about the university was how everyone there bikes to/from class, and how every public place (pubs, cafes, restaurants) is full of people studying and conversing. Another thing I learned is that in Cambridge, the punters (as seen in the picture below) push the flat boats from the back end, whereas their colleagues over at Oxford pull the boats from the front end. It is hotly debated which way is better!

On a different trip, I got to attend the famous Boat Race Day in London, which is a crew race between Oxford and Cambridge that's held every spring. While I can't actually remember who won (there was drinking starting very early in the day!), it was quite a spectacle on the Thames!

And, yes...my brain is full of useless and random information, which is why they probably didn't accept me at Cambridge. Humph!

Adventure on,

Kristen

1/52

This picture was taken at the Bonneville Salt Flats near the Utah-Nevada border. The faint black line in the background that cuts the photo in half is actually Hwy I-80. Flat and barren, this view during the day is white. I waited for a few hours until sunset, when the colors really came out.

52 (photos)

A new idea for my blog is the "52 (photos)" project, where I will post one photograph for each week of the year.

I will hand pick random photos from my travels, accompanied with a description, or maybe a quiz, or perhaps even some poetry. Who knows? It will be whatever that picture inspires.

I realize I'm already off to a late start (hey, you can't teach an old dog new tricks!), so I will be squeezing in 2 photos for this first segment of 2009. I hope you enjoy.

Happy new year!!!

Wishing you many adventures in 2009,

Kristen

Back in Seattle - Brief Update

It's been a while since I've last posted. My apologies!

Last time I checked in, I was journeying on a USA Road Trip that brought me from Seattle to Las Vegas (and all around the south/west).

My two-month journey continued when I took a flight from Los Angeles to Dublin, Ireland, where I lived for just over a month with my sister. From there I took short side trips to Madrid, Spain, and then to Gent, Belgium.

Lots of Guinness, tapas, Belgian beer and chocolate!

Was back in Seattle briefly for two weeks, before heading out to Chicago to visit my family/friends for the holidays.

During my trip to my hometown, I thoroughly enjoyed eating deep dish pizza, touring the Irish pubs (made it to at least 8 or 9 of them!), and catching up with everyone.

In addition to Christmas and New Year's Eve festivities (where all 4 Gill kids attended the same party...talk about the stars being aligned!), I also got to be with my grandpa for his 93rd birthday!

Another tradition (for the past 15+ years ) is to meet with my friends to do our new year's resolutions. This year's theme (given to us by one friend's daughter) is "Let's Go!" Hey, I'm always up for "Go-ing!"

So, now that I'm back in Seattle, I shall update you on all my latest adventures, as well as share a few new ideas for my blog this year.

Wishing you all the best in 2009!

Adventure on, my friends, and "Let's Go!"

Kristen

Brazil Highlights

Highlights from my 2007 trip to Brazil. I need to go back to this country. Love it!