Paris

I have traveled to some beautiful places.  I've seen sights that have taken my breath away. I've hiked mountains and crossed waters that have caused me to say "I've never seen something so beautiful."  But Paris. Paris takes the cake when it comes to cities I've seen.  From the moment my friend Stepha and I stepped off the train, my camera was out and it never saw the inside of its pack again. When leaving for Paris I was completely stressed.  I even said to Stepha "I just have to get through this trip so I can get home and get work done, pay taxes, etc etc etc etc...."  Then Paris happened.  It was like the city beckoned us to stop.  And so we did. We stopped our schedules and our constant connection with the ever-looming emails. For these days, we stopped trying to figure out whats next in life, therefore, we stopped stressing.  We also stopped for what was present in front of us.  You should ask Stepha how many times I stopped us mid walk, mid sentence, mid thought to take in the beauty.  One moment it was an olive tree in a courtyard, the next, a potted plant cascading down a window. We stopped at a bakery for a warm baguette just because it smelled good.  We drank the most expensive cappuccinos because, 'why not.'  We stopped to take in the Eiffel tower peaking through alley ways as we got closer. And when we arrived, we were speechless.

In the 3 days we stayed in Paris, we trotted around that city for miles. We never took public transportation because we didn't want to miss anything.  There are so many hidden gems around the city and we were glad for every step our sore feet took and every hour we didn't sleep.  And this is what made it worth it: Stayed in the 17th Arrondissement | Parc Monceau | Ard de Triomphe | Champs-Elysees | Trocadera | Eiffel Tower | Champ de Mars | Place de Concorde | Tuileries | Louvre | Port du Alexander | St. Germain | Laduree (macaroons) | Montmarte | Walked neighborhoods for hours | Canal St. Martin | Bastille | Place de Vosges | L'le St. Louis | Notre Dame |Eiffel Tower at Midnight | Rode bikes | Breakfast at Buvette

Stillness out west.

Stillness. I've been thinking about this word.  For me, it is a challenge to be still.  Always moving, always doing, never resting. However, I need to practice stillness despite the challenges these days. One thing I realize is that it doesn't mean I need to literally sit and be still but rather that my spirit needs to be still.  That could mean something different for everyone, for me it is to live in the moment. To literally treat moments like a still photograph.  To be in the moment as if it is the one moment that matters. To rid myself of the worry or angst and business that surrounds me and to be   s t i  l l . To take a second or two and stop. To know myself well enough to know when pressures are becoming too great and I need stillness. When 2013 wrapped up and 2014 began, I needed stillness more than I ever have.  I went out west to find it. I traveled to Montana to see a dear friend I have only met once but feels like we've known each other a lifetime.  Now, even more so.  We hiked through snowy forests to misty hot springs. We chatted over coffee in the mornings and wine in the evenings. And I found stillness. From there I went to California to be with friends who have become family. We hiked mountains we saw in the distance, picked fruits from orchards, and had a bonfire on the beach. And I found stillness.   Finally I went North to Oregon to travel with a fellow photographer and explore Oregon's beauty. We drove miles through pine tree forests till we reached the foggy coast. Twice. We drank more coffee than you could imagine and met the sweetest folks. And there I too found stillness.

These photos are out of order and I did that on purpose...  Its about finding stillness no matter where you are. This trip as a whole was one big journey and it doesn't end there. I'm learning as I go that to be still is to savor life.  Its to let go of stresses even for a moment. To engage.  I won't always be victorious in choosing stillness but I believe its worth the fight.

(Most square photos are from my iphone and seen on instagram. www.instagram.com/katemagee)

The Great Northwest

I was born on the west coast.  I have the west in my blood.  I loathe the winter and cherish the sun.  I freeze easily, no matter how much I bundle and try to stay inside on rainy days.  I didn't think anything could win me over to tolerating cold air.  Ever.  Ever. Until I traveled to the Northwest.  This past November, Rob and I traveled to visit some of our friends in Seattle and and a small island off of Vancouver Island, Thetis Island.  It was cold.  Yes it was.  And rained every day we were there.  If you know me, you know I would hate that.  Honestly though, I don't even remember the cold.  I know it was cold and dreary, and I know my breathe was taken away, but not by the temperature this time.  This time it was what I saw before me.  The sites were magical. We rented a car and drove up the coast from Seattle to Vancouver. From there we hopped on a two hour long ferry ride through foggy waters till we docked at Vancouver Island.  We drove South for an hour, loaded a small Ferry, and 30 minutes later stepped foot on the ever whimsical Thetis Island.  My words cannot describe to you the magic of this place, so please, let my photos be just whispers of it's beauty.

(Square Photos: Instagram | http://instagram.com/katemagee )

Welcome.

Welcome! Come on in. Make yourself at home. Grab a cup of coffee and curl up on this November day. I’d like to welcome you to the new home for my photos! I last introduced you all to katemagee.com back in June 2010. I had just arrived home from Africa and was eager to continue and share my work. I had little experience with web design, but having a graphic design background, I knew what I wanted, and so, I created a blog. I loved being able to update the blog with different shoots I was working on. The blog worked for a while. Fast-forward two years and the array of work I’ve done has outgrown this little blog. I wanted something that would better connect you to the work that I’m doing

A few months ago I met with great friends, Chris Payne and Robb Major, from Well Done Creative. I shared with them my dreams of what my new website would look like. Elegant, clean, and timeless. I wanted something that would reflect and compliment my photos and allow them to stand for themselves. Together we started creating a site that did just that. A gallery driven site allows me to showcase my strongest pieces in the areas of photography I offer, while the blog will continue to update you on the different shoots I’m currently working on.

I love this journey. And I welcome you to walk it with me. Photography has become an expression of how I view the world. Literally, the way I see is delivered to you in a single photograph. Whether it’s an intimate moment between a groom and his new bride, parents and their children, or a charity project overseas.... each time I lift a camera to my eye is part of my journey. Each person I work with to capture their story have now become a part of my own story. I’m sure many of you will see yourselves scattered throughout my website. Thank you for being there. It’s you who keeps me encouraged to keep shooting...to keep maturing my creative eye...to keep telling stories like yours.

So, just as my photos have finally found a home, I hope you feel at home too. Please visit as much as you’d like. No need to knock. The stories, the photos, the journey....we’ll all be here. Enjoy some Autumn photos below, and stay warm!

Arizona

This past week I spent vising my brother and sister-in-law in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The Army stationed them there two months ago and since I had never been to Arizona, we figured it would be fun to discover together.  The week consisted of exploring towns large and small around Sierra  Vista. We visited an old mining town, tasted Arizona wines, hiked through meadows of aspen and wild flowers, watched beautiful sunrises, and chased breathtaking sunsets.  The views were incredible, yet the most treasured part of this week was getting to see my brother and his bride in their new life together in Arizona.