August 16, 2010

nobody told me...

before we left for seattle
i asked a number of people
"we only have one day downtown....what should we do or see"
and
most of the responses were the same
~
space needle
pike place market
seattle underground
the aquarium
~
but
nobody told me about
the bubble gum wall
that we found all on our own
~
we had time to kill. the bridge to get us out of downtown was closed for the blue angels practicing overhead. the cobblestone street under the market called my name towards the water. we saw lots of people. it was dark at first and then daylight poured in. right before our eyes. bubble gum everywhere.
~
honestly
as gross as it was
it was truly extraordinary and amazing and beautiful
but
somehow
i'm not sure everyone would agree with me
while we were admiring the wall
a stock photographer was photographing this girl
and
during one of their breaks
i asked if i could take her photo
and
they both smiled and said
absolutely
~
i actually asked and photographed many strangers on this trip
~which you all know i love to do~
but
this girl
against this wall
~
well
for a photographer like myself
it was close to the most perfect day
ever
*

34 comments:

  1. There is a softness in the eyes that maybe some wouldn't look past the tattos and piercing to see. There's real depth to this girl--glad you took her photograph.
    Being a teacher, I no longer get grossed out by bubble gum stuck some place. This wall does have a certain beauty to it esp the "bubble cycles.

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  2. She is beautiful in all her rainbow surroundings... I can see why a photog would want to get their lens on her. So the obvious question begging to be asked is... did you add to the gum wall?

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  3. those dimples!

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  4. i don't know whether i should say blegh or WOW. both the wall and the girl have me stumped. don't get me wrong, i have nothing against body piercings, or facial piercings or any such things (mostly because i have my own), it's just weirdness and wonder and beauty all in one go...

    you do have a marvelous eye, beth.

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  5. Oh, I can totally understand that. Love these photos, Beth... you rock with that camera. I need to get up the courage to ask people as you do.

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  6. Wow. On all counts. Definitely beauty, in a strange not your average everyday beauty kind of way. But that is so often the very best kind. Love it.

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  7. What a wonderful job you did on the pictures!

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  8. yes this is truly a wow/ewww moment... completely original and inspiring as ever!! and did you stick your gum on the wall?????

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  9. so awesome. i love these photos!
    xo

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  10. Love the photos! That wall is amazing and the girl with the piercing...all I can say is OWIE!!
    She is beautiful but those had to hurt!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  11. This is one of those she is beautiful and whatever and I'm glad my daughters haven't done this. To be honest.

    But I love that life is full of self expression and art and different. Maybe I've got it wrong so no judging allowed.

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  12. Striking photos! That gorgeous girl (I want her hair and eyes) against that colorful (though disgusting)original background! Wow! Perfection! I'm clapping for you, okay?! ♥

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  13. I love close to Seattle, but I've never been moved to find the bubble gum wall. And as for piercings, well. . .

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  14. Oh she is way too cool for school. And that wall...eeeek...I am both grossed out and fascinated...

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  15. the weirdness that is seattle. i wish i had known - i would tell you my favorites about seattle. one is eating at the restaurant at the end of the pier to watch the sunset over the bay and the moonrise over rainer. heaven.

    wonderful shots.

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  16. Oh my gosh, Beth! I HAVE to see Eat, Pray, Love asap!!!! I LOVED the book so much that, technically, the first time I read it it counts as 2 times because I kept rereading parts and taking notes!!! hahaha. Geek. I wanted to hear a review of the flick from someone! Okay, I need to go...Thank you!

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  17. You do this well, Beth ... bringing out the beauty ... yes, you are a great reflection of that.

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  18. I'm kinda grossed out with the bubble gum but I'll get over it. It's a great backdrop for the girl, though!

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  19. Beauty in the unexpected.

    That IS appreciation of life!

    Your lovely photos speak to the viewer, I love that.

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  20. that girl is absolutely beautiful. and that wall!!! how cool it is you found it filled with all that bubble gum. i wonder how many pieces of gum has accumulated over the years? wonderful photos. your subject was very photogenic. have a great night.

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  21. The girl has inner beauty - I wonder if she knows it? Somehow, the gum wall is a kind of graffiti all its own.

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  22. for some odd reason, i am not at all bothered by the gum - it is just crazy and weird and wild and dang colorful and wow! and this girl with her sweet kewpie doll mouth next to those piercings is just beautiful and weird and wild also. gorgeous!

    :) Debi

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  23. She is sweet! And I also love the bubblegum wall. So many colours and textures. A wall not only malleable because of the texture of gum, but because it is always changing, gum being added. It connects -- rather, sticks - us all.

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  24. Have you ever seen a bubble gum wall before? I am like you, it is kinda gross but it so unique how could you not be at least taken with all the colors and how long it must have been up there. The girl looks so young and innocent and the tattoos and piercings are in contrast to that innocence. Great find and what a memory for you from the trip.

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  25. I love the bubble gum wall! Like you, I always want to see the things in a city that no one tells you about--the things you just have to discover for yourself. What a wonderful day, and what beautiful photos you took of this girl. She's truly lovely, and you captured her sweetness and depth just beautifully. xo Gigi

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  26. I didn't know there was a bubble gum wall, but it is so colorful and fun. I can just tell you really enjoyed photographing this girl. She is pretty and perfect with the bubble gum wall.

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  27. Leave it to you to find true beauty in what others would scrunch their noses at as they quickly walked away....and lobbied to have a law created against it. Absolutely beautiful girl and photos. And of course the gum wall.

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  28. That is fantastic! The bubblegum wall, that girl, and the photos--all of it. What an incredible opportunity. =) I will be in Seattle next month, and am also looking for things to do there for only a day...

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  29. A bubble gum wall -- who knew? And the photos all work together -- loving this!

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  30. i hate HATE gum in all its forms, the smell the chewing of it, the sticking it somewhere when they are finished with it how gross but the wall kind of looked like coral or something pretty cool actually. And what a face, with the piercings she is rock hard and yet behind the metal the eyes and the mouth she is gorgeous.

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  31. I LOVE that you never hesitate. You go for it. You live big. If you want to take their picture, you ask. You do it. I love that about you!

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  32. The picture of the girl in front of the bubble gum wall is just perfect! Two oddities somehow beautiful...I never heard of that bubble gum wall either...who knew that bubble gum came in so many colors! Love the drip effect..

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**I love reading the comments you leave, as they make me feel like we're sitting in my kitchen, having a cup of tea, discussing life and wondering where all the time has gone ...beth