November Dog

“I’ve loved this season of Fall when the leaves are all on the ground…”

I usually hate the month of November. The cold comes too quick. The dead leaves make me sad. The crows stick around while the pretty birds go away.

Crows invading Beltrami Park last week.

But for some reason (or many reasons), I’ve found a fondness to it this year.

Beltrami Park on a nice November evening.

It was warmer this year. It could be that.

I learned how to truly dress for the cold last winter, and I’ve taken that with me into this season. That helps.

But i figured out the main reason: my dog Honey.

Honey outside our lil home. Squirrel hunting.

For years I struggled to spend time outside in the cold and have even got some seasonal depression for a bit. But now I take Honey on walks every day, which forces me to get outside for 10 minutes or more at a time.

Something about these walks with a happy dog has brought so much joy to an otherwise sad month.

Beltrami Park used to be a cemetery, so Honey and I go check out old gravestones.

The crunchy leaves are more fun. The cold wakes me up. And the colors don’t seem as dull these days. It helps that I live next to a nice park, too (where all these photos are from).

I’ve even continued to get outside with my running. She comes with me for half a mile most days for a boost of morale. And to poop.

Finding the perfect poop spot.

It’s just gonna keep getting colder and uglier out, but I think I’ll be alright. SHOUTOUT TO HONEY!

It's A Lifestyle Baby!

I gave up on engagement shoots and senior portraits last year. Not my thing anymore I thought. BUT I’M BACK BABY!

Nick and Ingrid reached out to me last month to see if I’d shoot some engagement photos for them. I’d normally say no, but Nick told me, “we love your style and wouldn’t want you to shoot anything else.” I was in.

Nick and Ingrid at Lake Harriet

Even if engagement shoots or normal portraits aren’t my favorite thing to do, there’s so much freedom being told to shoot “my style.” Those simple words allow for creativity to flow even if there are some limitations to what I’m photographing.

What’s even better, they wanted to start the session at Hunt & Gather, a place I had always wanted to take photos at, and then end at Lake Harriet, one of my favorite places in the world (wrote about that a couple weeks ago)! This was truly a match made in heaven.

I had written off doing portrait shoots because I didn’t want to get sick of photography. I didn’t want to use my camera just for money. I didn’t want to be a copy of other photographers in this industry.

Doing them with a lifestyle, candid approach that brings out my style makes them incredibly more fun, though.

Whatever kind of portrait shoot it is, if I can be free, we can create some MAGIC!

Check out some more lifestyle magic I’ve made in the past that I’d love to keep pursuing. ⬇️

Don’t ask me about weddings, though. I’m busy that day or something.

Gentle Callings

“I want to be gentler with my callings and seasons.”

Jedidiah Jenkins is back in my notes again. His thoughts will always captivate me. His chapter on Work from “Like Stream to the Ocean” is so full of golden nuggets to implement into one’s own life.

This quote especially, because of the kindness attached to it.

Most of the time, I’m pretty preoccupied by my ambitions, chasing my dreams, and finding my calling.

But it’s still been hard for me to figure all that out and go after them every day.

self portrait on an upward path. a metaphor of sorts.

“To be gentler with my callings and seasons” is permission to give grace while still pursuing the life I want.

I was just telling a new friend that for us to do the photography work we want to do, it’s going to take a little longer than it will for others. We have to be patient, and hopefully the pain of time won’t hurt too much.

On top of that, we have personal seasons to commit to. My 2021 notes are filled with my ongoing struggles to be a full time photographer, but, like..

I got married this year! That should definitely take precedence for a season.

I moved out of the house I’d lived in with my best friends for the last three years. And we did a huge show to commemorate it!

The man who influenced so much of my life and the lives of my family, my grandpa, passed away.

I could go on.

All this to say, I hope I can come back to this kind way of thinking when I get down on myself. Seasons affect the pace of a callings, and I need to be at peace as they flow from one to the next. ❤️

I Don't Want To

“I don’t want to run , so I’m gonna go run.”

I was reminded of the note above after getting myself to go on a two long runs in the cold, wet weather this weekend.

Hennepin Avenue Bridge today on my run vs. last weekend’s run.

I struggle to always accomplish my personal goals.

It’s just so dang hard sometimes, isn’t it?

Like this blog for example. I’ve had a heck of a time writing them daily. I’m seven days behind to be exact.

I'm pretty good about grace, though. I have a lot of personal goals this month, so trying to crush each one is not easy. But at some point I just have to DO IT!

Some iPhone shots from various runs at Boom Island.

Most things I know I should be doing are things I don’t want to do.

Run six miles in the rain? Don’t want to.

Get off my phone? Don’t want to.

Wake up early? Don’t want to.

Clean the house? Again?! Don’t want to.

And so on and so on and so on.

But e v e r y time I do the thing I don’t want to, I feel better and am proud of myself.

What a whacky predicament.

I didn’t really want to write today, but I did it. Hopefully the same will happen tomorrow. And hopefully every time I get urge of not wanting to do something, I’ll just get it done.

Nothing and Everything

“I am nothing. But I am capable of everything.”

I was all alone watching the sun dip below the horizon at Arches National Park.

My friends had stayed back by the car, but I decided to sprint up the long staircase to get a better view of the day’s last light.

Seeing that sunset, alone, in such a breathtaking place… I had no choice but to get deep in thought.

Last light at Arches National Park. Shot on iPhone.

I don’t think I had ever felt smaller. I was overwhelmed by the vastness of the land as well as the insignificance of my self in the universe. I realized: I am nothing.

But in that same moment I also became filled with enormous hope. I came to the understanding that when you are nothing, the possibilities of life become endless.

Why not chase after my biggest dreams? It’s not like failing is a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

No matter how tiny I am in the world, I can do what I want. It’s either that or I just give in to the sad reality of my place in the deep void. I think I’ll choose the former.

So.

I may be nothing, but I am capable of everything.

Here are photos of my best friends at Arches being nothing and everything. The end. ❤️

Lesson From a High School Football Team

“Striving for greatness allows you to win many battles and be proud even when you lose the battle.”

The emotions after a high school football team loses their playoff game might be one of the saddest things to witness. Seniors done forever. A shot at state - no more. When you’re in high school, not much else matters.

I was a photographer for the Providence Academy football team this year, and it was one of my favorite jobs I’ve ever had.

On top of that, they went undefeated in the regular season, making it a super fun season to capture with my camera.

They were favorites to go to state, but got upset in the 2nd round of Sections in the last few seconds. It was heartbreaking to see.

It’s been nine years since I had to feel the sting of my football career being over, but those feelings came rushing back while photographing the end of their game.

As I was reflecting on what happened on my drive home, I kept thinking about the idea of striving for greatness.

Even with the loss, I know there were guys on the team that worked really, really hard to be great. They worked so hard they went undefeated and were a top five team in the state.

Yes they got beat, but when you work that hard, you can’t help but keep your head high.

Call me lame for being inspired by high school kids, but these guys really showed me some things this year; some things that I’ve forgotten since my playing days were over.

In anything in life, we all lose at some point. But if we put in the work to do our best, we can be proud with whatever the outcome is.

Holidays

“Some of my best documentary-style photos come during the holidays. Why is that? And what could I do with that?”

After editing photos from my friends’ Halloween party (below), I jotted down this thought (above) about my holiday photos.

Then I started looking back at my Christmas, Easter, New Year’s Eve, and July 4th photos from the past year. I was so proud of each set of photos!

So what is it about the holidays that brings out my best work?

Is it the fact that there is zero pressure to actually photograph? It’s certainly not a paid photoshoot so I can shoot whatever I want, whenever I want.

Is it because I’m with my family and friends who I know so well? There’s no one I’m more comfortable with, and their guard is down with me compared to most other photographers.

Or is it because I understand the importance of these special moments so I have a duty to capture them, even if the ones I’m photographing don’t always get it?

It’s probably a mix of all three reasons and more. This blog post is really just me working it out.

I’m Interested in knowing the answer so I can take it to my other photography work. I’ll keep digging to find out why, and I’ll let you guys know when I’ve figured it out!!

Vivian Maier: Instagram Famous

“There is an incredible amount of purpose in taking photos just for you. Just look at Vivian Maier.”

You don’t need Instagram. You don’t need validation. You need to follow your heart and create what you want.

Create a lot of it.

Vivian Maier self-portrait, 1975 | Isaiah Rustad self-portrait, 2021.

That’s what Vivian Maier did for over half a century, and today she is posthumously known as one of the all time great photographers.

She was never in it for the fame or the followers. There was just an internal desire to go out and shoot every day, even if no one ever saw any of her shots. Here’s 10 beautiful photos from her website. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

I mean, she left behind over 100,000 negatives (!!!) in a storage locker after her death! That’s a TON of unseen images. Luckily they were found and have since been archived, cataloged, and exhibited for the world to see.

I wonder what she would do as a photographer in 2021. Would she have social media or hate it? Would she be famous on Instagram or have a private account with 0 followers and the most beautiful, secret profile? In an age where sharing and consuming is everything, would she indulge?

Vivian Maier self-portrait, 1950s.

For years Instagram made me think that I had to make photos to impress others. To only show my best stuff. Post what I know will get likes.

(Now granted, I wouldn’t be near as good at photography without Instagram. It’s given me a wealth of inspiration and helped me as I’ve grown creatively. I still use it most days and enjoy it for the most part.)

But something shifted in my creative work two summers ago. I began to go out and shoot for myself. My trusty little Fufilm x100t began accompanying me everywhere, allowing to me to capture whatever I found interesting.

Self-portrait with the trusty Fujifilm x100t at Grandma’s. Christmas 2020.

There’s thousands of unedited images on my hard drive right now. Sometimes I post them, sometimes I don’t. Here’s a selection of photos yet to be featured on the ol’ social channels ⬇️⬇️⬇️

I just try to get out there, create, get better, and repeat. Vivian Maier has been my greatest influence with this. I’ve fallen in love with photographing again, even if it’s not being seen or awarded.

This quote from Justin Vernon on the making of his first “Bon Iver” album sums up the blog well: “I was making it for myself. I had given up on the idea of chasing anymore. And one you’re done chasing, you’re arriving.”

I don’t know if I’ve fully arrived just yet, but like Vivian Maier and Justin Vernon, I’m making my work for myself. And it feels amazing.

Magic

“You decide what places have magic or not.”

This quote from Jedidiah Jenkins’ book “Like Streams to the Ocean” is another one of those times when someone gives voice to the thoughts you yourself couldn’t put into words. He’s really good at doing that.

I got to meet Jedidiah in 2016. His bike trip from Oregon to Patagonia really inspired me, and I’ve followed his work since I heard about it. He has two books written, and they’re both insanely good. Highly recommend.

Isn’t it such a beautiful, validating statement, though? We spend our lives longing to travel to magical lands with exotic islands and breathtaking views. We envy every friend who’s posting from the beach or sharing their selfie from atop another mountain.

Don’t get me wrong, I still dream of Paris and Fiji and Patagonia (I just spent 30 minutes scrolling through links about “the most beautiful places on earth”), but I know I have magical spots right here at home.

For the past few years, my magic place in Minneapolis has been Lake Harriet. It was only one mile from the house I lived in with my best friends. It was my space of respite during difficult times and a constant spot when I needed a reset. Compared to the other 10,000 lakes in Minnesota, it’s not much. But it was mine. And it definitely has magic.

In my grandparents’ town of Burlington, Iowa, there was a little runoff creek in the woods by their house. It’s probably been eighteen years since we found it on a hike with my grandpa and twelve years since I’ve been back to it.

But to my cousin Garrett and I, it was ours, and it was magic. Out of all the spots we conquered in Burlington growing up, that small runoff spot is the one I remember most.

I don’t have photos of the little creek so my grandparents’ house will have to do. There’s more than enough magic here anyways ❤️

I could go on and on about my other places. Tettegouche State Park on the North Shore is up there on the list. Lory State Park in Colorado. New York City. They all have a place in my heart.

Tettegouche State Park, Lory State Park, and New York City

I’ll never be able to stop my wanderlust for far away lands, but I don’t want to forget the magic I have here at home. Later today I’m going to Lake Harriet for a run with my friend, and I can’t wait.

It Is What It Is... Or Is It?

You know that incredible feeling when you read something that puts words to what you’ve been thinking but haven’t been able to explain it yourself?

Garry Winogrand and John Szarkowski (writing about Garry in “Winogrand: Figments From the Real World”) made me feel that.

Winogrand: Figments From the Real World. Essay by John Szarkowski.

Here’s why.

As I’ve grown in my photography over the last couple years, I’ve been leery of simply capturing “what it is” that’s in front of me. There’s always more than the subject I’m photographing. Always.

It’s made for messier photos at times. I fail a lot. I don’t get as many likes on Instagram anymore. So sad… But I want to see some depth! I want there to be i n f o r m a t i o n ! I want to fill a frame with a story that makes the scene more interesting than what it is (without gimmicks and tricks). This photo below with the cow is a semi-successful example.

Minnesota State Fair, 2021.

So who’s this Garry Winogrand and what is his influence?

First: he is one of the iconic photographers of the 20th century. All street photographers know him. Millions of people know his images. He is a legend forever. Here are a few of his photos below.

Second: before all the fame (which happened mostly after his death), he was constantly going against the grain of what “good, normal” photography was at the time. He didn’t want to shoot static, calculated images anymore. Intuition and encyclopedic depth is what he chose to go after. Music to my ears!!!

I don’t pretend to be anywhere close to Garry in terms of our work, but I do take after him, and I did so before I even knew about him, his work, or his words. It has cost me career-wise to make images like this (it cost him too), but I’d rather love the process of my photography than to make good money shooting “what it is.”

In honor of Father Garry, I selected six of my images that somewhat resemble the shots of his above. ❤️

Notes of November

Over the next month, I’m publishing a daily blog post right here on the website. I’m calling it “Notes of November”. This is the first post for the month, even though it’s more like a preface for the blog. Also I posted it at 1:00am so I’m technically a day behind already. WHATEVER!

Like the note above says, it’s a 30 day blog of ramblings and musings on the notes I’ve taken over the past year. I’m not much of a writer, so I’ll add some of my photos along the way to help spice things up. I’m doing this blog as a way to stay creative and consistent while winter slowly rolls in. That seasonal depression has no chance on me this year!!

I don’t expect many people to read them all, but I hope I’m able to inspire someone and make a few someones feel something with these Notes of November.

————

For a little over a year, I’ve kept a tiny notebook with me to jot down everything in my whacky little mind: thoughts, ideas, problems, projects, lists, quotes and whatever else my brain is buzzing with. It’s basically “bullet journaling” but without the stress of doing it the way people have defined it, ya know? I guess you could just call it “Isaiah’s Brain Dump”.

“Isaiah’s Brain Dump”. (Shot in Webster Springs, West Virginia, in 2019)

Anyways. I’ve always enjoyed taking notes in small increments. My dad is a small note taker, too. I remember finding his scribbled notes on unopened mail on our kitchen table more than a few times growing up. My grandpa also loved taking notes. He would use the church bulletin to write down people’s names to remember and then proceed to fill the bulletin with notes from the preacher’s message that day. And then write on it more and more later on. I guess chaotic note-taking is in my DNA.

Grandpa’s notes from a 2010 church bulletin. Photographed last Christmas.

I think everyone should take more notes. And we should all share them more. Last week I wrote down some things I was struggling with creatively. I texted my buddy Ross about it and we talked through it over some Jucy Lucy’s at Matt’s Bar. It helped!

Ross at Matt’s Bar last week with a Jucy Lucy in his tummy.

Humans are just so full of brilliant ideas and thoughts, and I think too many of us let them slip away before getting them out into the world. Whether you get a journal to handwrite things (mine’s pocket-sized for ultra mobility), type it into your iPhone notes app, write in Greek on a chalkboard, or use any other form of note-taking, I hope you start jotting stuff down today! I promise you the world could benefit from your late night thoughts, potential projects, and business ideas. Whatever it is you have to say, however you want to do it — JOT IT DOWN.