Susannah Kay Photography

BLOG HAS MOVED!

2011-10-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,

I'm excited to announce that this is no longer where my blog will be located. I finally made my own website, www.susannahkay.com, thanks to the help of my fellow photo friend, Joel Hawksley. My blog can be found there as well.

Happy Halloween!

Progress

2011-10-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

Things are really coming along nicely in New Marshfield with Jim Galvin's big cat sanctuary. If you have no clue what I'm referring to, you should visit this link: http://2011.soulofathens.com/our-dreams-are-different/the-wild-life-1.html, or just keep scrolling down on my blog. The outdoor enclosure is almost finished and will be a gigantic improvement from where Dudley and Boomer are currently staying. Jim is now going through the process of marketing and fundraising to try to raise money so he can continue building more and more cages on his property.

Every day I remind myself how lucky I am to be able to get up close and personal with these cats. They really are as goofy and lovable as house cats (don't worry mom, I'm being careful!).

The new enclosure!

Back in Action

2011-10-01T20:43:00.000-07:00

Slowly getting back into my volleyball groove. I decided to change things up a bit by checking out a 500mm for a new perspective.

Sam

2011-09-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

Food & Wine Affair

2011-09-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

Last week I got to put my commercial skills to use at the Columbus Food & Wine Affair. My good friend and commercial photographer, Michael Maurer, invited me to assist him in photographing this amazing event featuring top of the line wines and food from all over the country. Between being escorted around by golf carts, the free gourmet food and the wonderful light, it turned out to be quite a lovely evening.

Pawpaw Day

2011-09-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

The Pawpaw is the native fruit of Ohio (tastes like a banana combined with a mango).

Every fruit should have it's own festival.

Gravedigger

2011-09-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Home Sweet Home

2011-09-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

Finally back in Athens, and it feels wonderful. It's been great reuniting with close friends and the amazing photography they made this summer, and of course, seeing Dudley and Boomer, my tiger pals who are x10 bigger since I last saw them. May this next school year bring inspiration!

The Boys and The Kids

2011-08-28T00:45:00.000-07:00

Scotland presented the opportunity to focus on subject matter I'm passionate and really excited about.

Here's one of the finished products from the last four and a half weeks. I hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed shooting.

The Boys and The Kids from Susannah Kay on Vimeo.

I got pooped on by more than one bird today.

2011-08-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Piecing it Together

2011-08-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

This story is complex - my favorite kind to tell. I'm not quite sure yet which way I'm going to run with this one, so stay tuned! Mary, John, Georgie, Bob and the pups- thanks for the awesome Scottish memories (and all of the chocolate!).

Blair Castle

2011-08-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

Nature at it's Finest

2011-08-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

I went adventuring and came across a forest with so much life - mushrooms in every color of the rainbow, Bambi-looking deer, ferns covered in slugs and spongy moss coating the forest floor. I think I've read about this forest in a fairytale.

A Tale Begins

2011-08-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Gullane Beach

2011-08-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Taking it all in

2011-08-06T03:07:00.000-07:00

St. Andrews Highland Games

2011-08-06T02:51:00.000-07:00

Pups of the Week

2011-08-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

If you're a dog lover (like me), come to Scotland. You'll not be disappointed, I promise.

Hello, Scotland

2011-07-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

Scotland is beautiful. That's really all there is to it.

As many of you may already know, I'm spending the next four weeks here studying abroad with fourteen other photojournalists and my professor. It's a pretty ideal situation, and I'm really excited to see what the rest of this adventure has in store.

For now, I'm observing and soaking in my surroundings while gearing up for some big projects and deadlines heading my way.

I'm excited to report that I have never seen more cute dogs anywhere else in my life.

Duncan Mills

2011-07-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places.

Serenity

2011-07-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

Catching up on relaxation and days of doing absolutely nothing. Quinn keeps me good company.

World's Ugliest Dog Competition

2011-07-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

This year's winner is in the center - Yoda. He's kind of a big deal.

Cherry Picking

2011-06-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

Fair Day

2011-06-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

If you're in need of some inspiration, go to the fair. So many interesting faces and plenty of cute pigs.

After a lot of days, I'm home

2011-06-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

...and beautiful light seemed to follow. Not much more that I could ask for right now.

The Wild Life

2011-06-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

In the last ten weeks I've created something I'm really proud of- a multimedia piece (my first!) for Soul of Athens, a project put on by the students of the School of Visual Communication at Ohio University. Our job was to create and publish a series of visual narratives focused around a certain idea or theme- this year we decided to focus on the theme of the changing American dream, hence our title, "Our Dreams Are Different." This is Soul of Athens' 5th year and it's stronger than ever.

It's amazing what we have been able to put together from scratch in ten weeks time. Now, the biggest reward is being able to share the stories we have worked so hard on with you all, in hopes that you will share it with your friends and they will share it with their friends and so on and so forth. Make sure to check out all 15 stories at www.soulofathens.com. (WARNING: do not visit site if you have plans in the next three hours. The amazing content will suck you in and you will not be able to leave.)

I chose to document the story of Jim Galvin, a retired small animal veterinarian with dreams of something bigger. And that is all I am going to give away. Enjoy!

Finals Week

2011-06-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

My last week as an Ohio University freshman was filled with thunderstorms, not really studying, strawberries, and figuring out how to pack my life into two suitcases. I'm not yet sure how I feel after my first year of college, being away from California for so long and all, but I'm extraordinarily excited for the future.

8 Fest

2011-05-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

High Fest

2011-04-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

And the season of fests in Athens has begun.

It's Been A While

2011-04-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Sol Neelman (http://www.solneelman.com/) came to speak, an extremely accomplished photographer and total weirdo. I can safely say after an hour of laughing my ass off, I was truly inspired. He made such perfect sense out of things that never seemed to sink in before. No, I won't shoot verticals or sports if I don't want to. It doesn't matter who else likes my work, as long as I do. It's okay to make bad photographs, and it's okay to shoot with friends. And most importantly, I'll take pictures of weird shit if I want to take pictures of weird shit, as long as I am happy doing it.

Today Laura and I went out and made shitty pictures together, and I had the most fun I've had shooting in a long time. Thanks, Sol.

Quiet Moment

2011-04-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

The Beginning

2011-03-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Radar Hill

2011-03-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

Good Morning

2011-03-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

Missing Africa

2011-03-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Someone once told me, once you go, you'll never want to leave. I can say that's true.

Alexa's 5th

2011-02-19T17:59:00.000-08:00

I photographed Alexa's birthday party today at Factory Street Dance Studio.
Oh, how I miss being five.

A Taste of Spring

2011-02-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

This evening I went up to the Ridges with some friends to watch the sunset. The light was the most beautiful I've seen in quite some time. It's amazing how good a little sun can make you feel after a long, harsh winter.

Night Light

2011-02-16T18:32:00.000-08:00

Plungin' Like Polar Bears

2011-02-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

One of the many times I've looked around and observed and people watched and realized I am so delighted to be living in Athens, Ohio.

A Whole Herd of New Friends

2011-02-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

Calm Before the Storm

2011-02-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

Open Casket

2011-02-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

I had never photographed something like this before. It was an experience to say the least.

Thank you Guyla and the rest of the family for letting me in during such a fragile time. I am so sorry for your loss.

Clear Night Sky

2011-01-27T14:36:00.000-08:00

Totally worth shooting in -3 degree weather and not being able to feel my fingers or toes. Also, my tripod froze.

A Few Portraits

2011-01-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

This week I proved to myself that when drowned with a cold that made my head feel like one big ball of badness ready to explode, several quizzes to study for (or not study for), more photo assignments than I could keep track of, and an unsuspected depletion of bananas (calling for a trip to Kroger's), I can and will survive.

Here are some portraits that I somehow managed to pull together for class. We were instructed to find two artists, and I wanted to photograph something other than the usual painter or drawer. I am fairly pleased with what I came up with.

Kerstin, a four-year-old living in Athens, Ohio, plays with finger-paints on January 19, 2011. Kerstin often enjoys doing arts and crafts while her older sister, Heidi (6), is at school.

Jill Pancake, an Athens, Ohio local, stares out the window of Decorative Injections on Court Street on January 19, 2011. Jill has worked there as a piercer and tattoo artist for two years. "I have 11 piercings, and am planning to double that number within the next year," she said.

Winter in Athens

2011-01-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

It's snowing in Athens, and I'm stoked.

Here are some shots from the quarter thus far.

Ohio Hockey vs. Penn State

2011-01-20T12:28:00.000-08:00

Tough Losses

2011-01-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

Despite some great efforts, Ohio Basketball has experienced some tough losses to start off the Mid-American Conference. The men first lost in triple overtime to arch-rival Miami, 92-88, followed by another tough loss to Kent, 69-66, just six days later. Many are losing hope for a repeat of their amazing season last year, with a huge upset over Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The women especially are having a hard time this season, recently losing their fifth consecutive game to Buffalo, 65-51. The Lady Bobcats are now 5-13 overall, and 1-4 in the MAC.

We've still got tons of season left to go, so hopefully both teams will start to play to their full potential. Here are some photos from the last few weeks. Just a side note- thanks to Joel Hawksley, I got to use strobes for the first time last week at a women's game. I am officially hooked.

Snow Dog

2011-01-09T23:29:00.000-08:00

I made a new friend today.

SEORJ

2011-01-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

I have always had a passion for criminology (mainly prisons), and I haven't really found the right explanation as to why yet. Once I figure that out I'll be sure to let you all know so you don't think I'm absolutely insane. Lockup San Quentin on MSNBC has always been part of my Sunday night routine, and I used to want to be a prison guard. After chatting with my Sociology 101 teacher for a bit, I decided I am even going to try to minor in criminology. My goal is to figure out a way to combine my passions for photography and prisons in some way. When a photo assignment for The Post (our school newspaper) came up that had to do with the shortage of beds for women at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, I knew I had to take it.

After a bus ride and a bit of a sketchy taxi ride, I arrived at the jail. They were surprisingly super relaxed about me being there with a gigantic camera, and let me walk right on back. I was only allowed to shoot for ten minutes or so, but I got what I needed and left thoroughly eager to go back. The Warden said he would be willing to help me with any future projects, and I am definitely going to take him up on that offer.

Kelci Leasure, an inmate at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, watches television from her bunk on January 7, 2011. The jail has an insufficient number of beds for the women incarcerated there, forcing them to find bedding alternatives such as placing bunks in the dining hall area.

Bodega Bay, CA

2010-12-31T15:28:00.000-08:00

When I think of home, I think of the beach- warm sand squishing beneath my bare feet, dogs splashing through the tides, seagulls everywhere, and kids building sand castle after sand castle for hours on end. If there was one thing I wish Ohio did have, it would be this. Although, it's kind of what makes going home that much more special.

The Start of Something Good

2010-12-24T23:58:00.000-08:00

These past few weeks I've been dedicating most of my time to a story that I believe has enormous potential. Casey Callahan (31) and her two children, Lainie (13) and Sophia (5), are homeless. They once lived in Las Vegas, where Casey worked 12-hour shifts as a bartender on The Strip. As she describes it, they had it made. They used to be able to have $200 dinners at nice restaurants once or twice a week, and go home to their cozy town house every night. They were just three girls living the good life in the city of lights. Then Casey became addicted to methamphetamine and she lost everything. She lost her house, her belongings, and most importantly, she lost herself. She brought the girls to Sonoma County in California where her brother offered her a bartending gig at his bar in the town of Healdsburg. Shortly thereafter, the bar shut down, and in the blink of an eye Casey and her girls were evicted from their house and left to live on the streets. Luckily, Casey became sober and they were able to become part of a women's homeless shelter in Santa Rosa, California where they were given dinner and access to a kitchen, television, beds, and bathrooms.

For a situation that doesn't seem to have many positives, Casey has found plenty. She firmly believes that everything happens for a reason and that in order to move past certain situations, you must first embrace them. While most women in the shelter were getting ready for bed, Casey could be found whipping up a batch of Rice Krispy treats in the kitchen or chasing her girls around the house. I am so excited to work on this story because I have never met a family with more determination. I have no doubt they will find a way out of their situation. They have already taken the first step, recently finding a house in Healdsburg that they will be able to rent while it's being showcased for sale; meaning they may have it for as little as a few weeks or as long as a year. Regardless, they are so thankful to finally restore some normalcy to their lives.

My goal is to document the stages of this family's life through photography and audio, starting with being homeless. Every time I come back to Sonoma County I will be excited to pick up where I've left off. I have no idea where this story is headed, but I am so excited to see where it's going to go.

Here are some photos from what I call Stage 1.

Lainie (13), Casey (31), and Sophia (5) stand outside The Rose, a homeless shelter where they ate dinner every night for the past three and a half months.

Sophia and Casey stand in line for dinner at The Rose.

Sophia writes her name down on the shower list. Every night the women in the shelter are given access to take warm showers for a certain allotted period of time.

Sitting on the top bunk of a bed in the shelter, Sophia plays and talks with a doll to pass the time. Because most women in the shelter are older, Sophia doesn't have a group of girls her age to play or relate with.

Lainie drags Sophia out of bed when she refuses to brush her teeth. Lainie often takes care of Sophia when she knows her mom has her hands full, resulting in her being extremely mature for her age.

Sophia and Casey eat ice cream that Casey bought from G&G Market and snuck into the shelter after dinner.

Their few belongings lie on the bed as they prepare to move to their temporary home.

Casey and Lainie pose for a portrait taken on their friend's laptop. Pictures are very significant in Casey's life. When she looks at pictures of her past they remind her of where she's been, and give her incentive to not go back. "I was looking at pictures from when I totaled my car last year, and I just looked so pathetic. That was at the peak of my addiction. I never want to go back there."

Sophia jumps up and down in the Santa Rosa Junior College library as Lainie watches an episode of the O.C. On weekends, they spend 5-6 hours at a time on the computers in the library until the shelter opens for dinner. As a result, Sophia, having the energy of a typical five-year-old, often becomes extremely restless.

The girls make their way to school after getting off the bus. Because their shelter is in Santa Rosa and school is in Healdsburg, Casey has to spend ten dollars each day on transportation. Their new house in Healdsburg will be close enough to school that they will no longer have to rely on the bus to get them there.

Lainie talks with her grandpa, Casey's father, who owns the Rottin' Robbies gas station in Healdsburg. Casey explained that he once used to own a popular restaurant in downtown San Francisco. "My whole family has had our ups. When we were up, we were really up. But now we're down, and we're really down."

Sophia stares out the window on the bus home from school. Because she has to wake up at 5:30 AM to catch the bus for school, she is usually exhausted by the end of the day.

Casey and Sophia share a special moment together amidst a beautiful Santa Rosa sunset.

Super Hero Sir Quinn

2010-12-15T20:30:00.000-08:00

My pup Quinn was overly energetic today at Armstrong Woods. Every time I knelt down to take a photo he came charging, splashing mud everywhere. I thought this was a cool little sequence that definitely portrays his inner super hero.

No Place Like Home

2010-12-06T22:29:00.000-08:00

After an exciting, inspiring, and intimidating first quarter at Ohio University, I am back in northern California for a few weeks before heading back to Athens until June. Coming back for this short period of time has made me realize how truly lucky I am to have grown up in such a unique and beautiful place.

Armstrong Woods, CA

Izzy

2010-12-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving in DC means getting to spend a whole entire week with the cutest baby in the world.

Volleyball: Dig Pink and Senior Night

2010-11-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here are some shots from this past weekend when I photographed the last two home games of the season. The first was Dig Pink night vs. Miami, where the team dressed in pink to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. The second night was Senior Night vs. Bowling Green, signifying the last home game for the seniors, and the end of my Ohio volleyball photos for the year.

I've really enjoyed shooting volleyball this quarter. I used to play volleyball competitively almost every day, so switching from a participant to an observer has been kind of fun. Being familiar with the sport has definitely helped my shooting. Thanks for looking!

Tornado Victims

2010-11-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I spent some time with Karen Young and Greg Kinnard, two lovely people who happened to be very unlucky when a tornado swept through their recently renovated trailer in Nelsonville on September 16th. When Karen was released from the hospital five days after the storm, she found a small camper sitting in the spot where her trailer used to be. It was truly remarkable seeing how little these two are surviving off of.

A few of these photographs ran in something called "The Wish Book" that runs in our school newspaper. The hope is that the photos will touch the hearts of readers and get them to donate money to families going through tough times. This is my first attempted photo story, so I would love any and all feedback! Enjoy!

Karen Young stands in front of the camper she inhabited after her Nelsonville home was destroyed in the tornado on September 16, 2010.

"It's just too sad to think about," Karen said when trying to recall her experience with the tornado.

Karen howls back at her dog, Miss Katie, outside their camper in Nelsonville. Karen now has trouble finding joy in life, but Miss Katie has taught her to enjoy the small things. "It's a miracle she survived, but I'm sure glad she did," Karen said.

Karen looks over a photograph taken of her property right after disaster had struck. "I went to the bathroom, and when I came back out the front door had blown off. Then the top of the trailer was gone. I don't remember anything after that." Looking at photographs of the wreck helps Karen remember what she missed after she blacked out.

Karen and her partner Greg empty the trash from their camper. They both enjoy doing busy work around the property so as to keep their minds from thoughts of the tornado.

Lifting up her shirt, Karen reveals the many surgeries she's had over the years. "I've had my kidneys operated on and my stones crushed eight or nine times. I've been in a car wreck and now the tornado. I truly am a cat," Karen said, "I've got the full nine lives."

Karen feels for the scar on her head where ten staples used to be. "One of our neighbors got a towel and put it over my head to stop the bleeding and asked if he could pray. No one thought I was going to survive."

Karen leans on her partner Greg for support. They have been together for 18 years but can't get married because they'd lose their health benefits.

Halloween in Athens

2010-11-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

As I had heard it described many times, Athens in Halloween was absolutely ridiculous. Over 30,000 people come into town for this event. Court Street turns into one big block party of people dressed (or undressed) in crazy costumes, and it's hard to even move. This year there were only around 125 arrests, which was an improvement from last year. In fact, many said this year was way less crazy than the years past, but I'm not sure about that. It seemed pretty crazy to me!

I was told it would be an absolutely terrible idea to bring your camera through this experience, but I did anyways and am glad I did. Here a few shots from the night!

Josh Lucy

2010-10-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

This is Josh Lucy, one of the few tattoo artists in Athens. When I was assigned to take a portrait of someone for my basic shooting class, I knew he would be the perfect subject. He has crazy energy and an awesome personality, and I was excited to see that show through my photographs.

Dawn2Dusk - Beneath the Surface

2010-10-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 22nd, students from all areas of the School of Visual Communication (photojournalism, commercial photography, design) participated in the 12th annual event that captures a place and theme on camera from early morning light to sunset, Dawn to Dusk. This year's theme was "Beneath the Surface", and all photos were taken in Athens County during the time limits of 6:45 AM to 8 PM.

I had heard over and over how fun this event was every year, and now I understand why. Before hand we all got together and brainstormed people, places, and events that people could choose to shoot that day. Then we all went out and ran around like crazy trying to get amazing shots within the time frame. I went all over the place, from the Athens County Dog Shelter to the new bakery in town to a high school football game.

Then came Saturday, the editing day. We all sat down with a VisCom professor and got our work individually edited down from one hundred to five of our strongest images. We then spent hours individually editing and captioning those five, and then the competition began! Everyone's five images were put side by side and viewed by 10 VisCom professors and the top 36 were chosen to run in the Athens News. I was really excited because three of mine were chosen. All 100+ images from all the students can be viewed here: http://2010.viscomd2d.com

These are my five strongest "Beneath the Surface" photos from the day! The first three were chosen for the spread in the Athens News.

Jacie, a hound mix puppy, stares out of a window at the Athens County Dog Shelter in Millfield during time out of her holding pen. Shortly afterward, Jacie and five other dogs were sent to a Columbus rescue.

Gezina Plumb, a baker at the recently opened Fluff Bakery on Court Street, decorates a cake for Halloween.

Athens Middle School students Evan Adams, left, Wyatt Wood and Jonathon Garvin fight for the ball during an Athens High football game at Peden Stadium. These boys routinely have their own fun offside instead of watching the game.

Athens middle school student, Wyatt Wood, hikes a ball to his friends during a Friday night Athens High School football game.

Athens High School cheerleaders Chrissy Gregory, Bethany Hewitt, and Michaela Thompson huddle to keep warm before the start of the Bulldog's football game against Wellston High School.

Ohio Volleyball v. Northern Illinois

2010-10-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

I shot my third volleyball match yesterday against Northern Illinois. Unfortunately, the Bobcats fell to the Huskies 3-1, but I still came away with some good action shots. I can feel my sports shooting improving each and every game, and because of that I am satisfied.

LGBT Candle Light Vigil

2010-10-20T23:25:00.000-07:00

I always love delving myself into certain situations I've never experienced before, and college is the perfect place to do this. Tonight I attended a candle light vigil in honor of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people who have committed suicide due to homophobic abuse and torment. Over 300 people turned out on College Green for a truly emotional and eye-opening event.

Destruction in The Plains

2010-10-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, September 16th, I experienced my first tornado. I hope I never have to experience one again. In a matter of twenty minutes, people and animals were taken from their homes and left with almost nothing.

Debris from fallen trees and branches covered the bike path connecting
Athens and The Plains.

Paw Paw Fest

2010-10-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

I came to Athens just in time for the 12th annual Paw Paw Festival out at the beautiful Lake Snowden! I had no idea there was such a fruit, but it was delicious- tasted like a mix between an apple and a mango. Here are some photos from the day!

A judge carefully smells a Paw Paw during the "Best Paw Paw" competition.

Working for Backdrop Magazine

2010-10-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

A few weeks into school, I joined a club called Backdrop Magazine, the only printed magazine on campus. The first photo project I've been working on is for an article titled "Trim Without the Gym", which describes different ways to exercise outside of the gym. I had tons of fun shooting this one, and met some great people through it as well. The magazine release date is this Thursday, October 21st, so make sure to pick one up!

Ohio Athletics

2010-10-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

I have been shooting tons of Ohio sports since I've been here which is awesome because I didn't photograph many sports back home. There are always photographers at the games, and it's been great to learn different techniques from them. Not to mention, being right down on the court or sitting on the end zone during a touchdown makes watching the games that much more exciting!

Getting Caught Up!

2010-10-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Since arriving in Athens on September 2nd, I have experienced so many new and exciting people, places, and things that have given me great reassurance as to why I have chosen to study photojournalism here at Ohio University. The campus is beautiful and the people are welcoming, making Athens the perfect place for me to spend the next four years. After meeting many of my fellow photojournalism and VisCom peers, I know that there is no better place to be. The learning environment here is going to be an enriching one in so many ways. I can't wait to see what lies ahead.

These next few blog posts will be a catch-up of what I have been shooting so far here in Ohio. Feedback is always welcome. Enjoy!