As a self-taugh photographer, I often look to online tutorials for lessons on the ins and outs of digital photography. But once you learn to use the camera, it comes down to sheer talent and vision. My friend Kyle often has friends tell him, "Your camera takes awesome photos!" To which he replies, "Yeah? Your guitar plays awesome music, too." He has a point. A camera can only do part of the work, while the beauty of photos is created by the person behind it.

Edouard Boubat was a self-taught photographer, but with every photo of his that I see, he teaches me more about photography than I ever could have imagined existed. The composition of a photo is important, and each of his is executed quite masterfully, but a photograph is more than its visual content. Wouldn't you agree that these images convey a deeper meaning of love, beauty, humor, and sentiment?

Boubat captured simple, every day moments and experiences, and elevated them to something that deeply moves a viewer. Mannequins in a window? They're dancing in their underwear, and one might even wonder if they might come alive when the store windows are darkened and the outside streets are empty. The lack of a human element almost gives these figures their own quality of life. What a fun way to view a mannequin!

"Because I know war? because I know the horror, I don?t want to add to it.?  After the war, we felt the need to celebrate life, and for me photography was the means to achieve this."

-Edouard Boubat

Looking through Boubat's photographs offers an experience of escapism. Had a rough day? Weighed down by current events? Sometimes photography can bring you closer to the feeling of impending doom, but Boubat's photos remind us of the beautiful things in life that are always there if you look for them.

photos via Everyday I Show (warning: nudity) | information via Duncan Miller Gallery

My mind wandered back in time when I first saw these Kodachrome photographs taken by Charles Cushman in the 1940s. Oh what I wouldn't give for one summer in the mid twentieth century, with adorable swimsuits for my costume, pretty knit blankets for lounging on the rocky Chicago lakeshore, hope in knowing that the war is over and that Fall is still off in the distance somewhere. Indiana University's archives host an impressive collection of Cushman's amateur work spanning a few decades in the twentieth century. Here are some of my favorites.

In addition to the carefree style of the ladies in this series, I was particularly smitten with the era's film of choice: Kodachrome. Too bad they don't produce Kodachrome film any more, because these gorgeous colors are enough to cause me to venture into the territory of film photography. In the meantime, I would really love to experiment with digital photography and see what kind of Kodachrome looks I can conjure up with some Photoshop magic.

Ashley Toussant is the very cute girl I met last year through the most curious circumstances. I think it was a divine moment, because shortly thereafter I was introduced to her beautiful music and a lovely friendship grew, complete with Chicago adventures and Canton, Ohio lovin’.

I was terribly excited when Ashley asked me if I would be interested in shooting some promotional shots for her in-the-works album, Sweetheart. Her music is the sweetest thing, and I am always delighted at a chance to hear her perform. So, of course I was ecstatic about photographing her adorable self and becoming a part of this new venture of hers!

I’ve had a chance to hear some of the tunes from the new album, and have fallen in love with the soft folksy sounds she and her band are creating. If you would like to help support Ashley in funding Sweetheart, please check out her Indie Go Go page for more information. She has already reached her minimum goal, but there are still more dollars needed to back this great adventure, and less than thirty days to do so!