the earth ink

This isn’t how it was supposed to be – my life, that is. I was meant to follow the example of generations before me: Grow up in my homogenous “safe” community, earn good grades in school, make friends, play outside, and graduate from high school. Then I would dash off to a reputable university to obtain a degree—and that coveted Mrs. degree with the man of my dreams. Then, I would settle down in my small safe hometown and push the refresh and repeat button for my own child. I am literally on the other side of the world from those initial 22 years of aspirations. When I graduated with only a degree in communication I started facing the raw disappointment that my life would not follow the plan handed down from most of my family and female role models. I still desire pieces of that carefully preconceived notion about life’s path. But, I can see that every sentence of my story is woven like a thread into a fantastically intricate tapestry of experiences. None of my moments are worth retu...

I normally do not post so many photos in a blog, but this story, this location, and this event seems particularly unusual. This happened several weeks ago on the Big Island of Hawaii. ----- He told me I was going to have a dinner that I might not be able to indulge in two weeks from that day. Already slightly blurred by an early morning drive from the Kohala Coast to Hilo—and picking up a dormant friendship after a year, I suspected a seasonal crustacean or rare crop of taro would be on the menu. Whatever was in store for me, I assumed it would be memorable. Though aware of a lava flow, the size of a 20-lane highway, baring down on the town of Pāhoa, it had not occurred to me that he would tour us on a potentially last visit to a potentially non-existent town. Only a few moments after turning off Highway 130 our conversations quickly changed—from catching up with each other to the tangible sights of a town nearing its end. Questions mounted audibly between us while many remaine...

© 2014 Andrea Rip | The Earth Ink Have you ever visited a place where you wander through streets and alleyways that block your view from your surrounds? Perhaps you're in the middle of Hong Kong and only see skyscrapers rather than the water or the dramatic hills surrounding the City—or maybe you have been hidden in the trees of Mount Rainier National Park and unable to see the majestic mountain towering above you. Rather than remembering the scope of your surrounds, we often focus on finding one little shop on an unnamed side street and forget that through the urban jungle or fir forest lies a magnificent mountain. Enjoying the details of a place has a great amount of value. We learn about communities and culture. We seek out nooks and crannies and get to observe what a place is made of. But sometimes, we need to get up above the streets and through the trees to gain perspective on where we are—both literally, in geographical place and figuratively, in a mental space. W...

I tell people that when I take enough photos, one is bound to turn out well.  In this case, several hummingbird photos turned out with spectacular clarity and color—but this one, with perfectly aligned fluttering wings, caught in midair (not balanced on a bright red feeder), caught my eye. These delicate creatures prove remarkably resilient and rarely rest while flying, fluttering, and occasionally fighting (or flirting) between the trees. Though I am no birder, I believe this is a female black-chinned hummingbird  spotted in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. © 2014 Andrea Rip | The Earth Ink. All Rights Reserved. For press enquiries: theearthink@gmail.com

Drawn the Dale Chihuly's work on display (June-November 2014) at the Denver Botanic Gardens , my mom suggested that she would like to take my sister-in-law, nephews, and myself to the Gardens for a morning. I never know what to expect with Botanic Gardens. I have been to several where the flowers bloomed a month before I arrived—and all that amounted to the gardens were a couple pruned trees and grasses. Other gardens have impressed me and encourage me to return. The Denver Botanic Gardens fit soundly in the second category. Evenly sprinkled with art features and interesting foliage, a person could hardly take everything in during one trip. Strolling on the windy pathways, something interesting will undoubtably meet your eye. With a generous Modecai Children's Garden , kids are easily entertained looking for plants, learning about growing things, and playing in the babbling brook on the property. The Gardens play host to a number of activities and educational classes from ...

Currently experiencing springtime in the Northern Hemisphere, this little birdy was a beautiful reminder of warmer weather that is trying to emerge between cold winter flurries and turbulent transitional storms. After the hibernation of winter, seeing life reappear on the trees and new critters hopping and flying outdoors leaves hikers refreshed and hopeful for summer. On this particularly warm Washington day, the leaves had not yet reappeared on the trees, but the birds were out in abundance near Lake Whatcom at Bloedel Donovan Park in Bellingham. Tree stumps showcased vibrant mosses and the smells of Washington's forests pervaded through my nostrils; more an earthy than musty aroma, the atmosphere smells alive, growing, and hopeful. I am no birder, but this looks like this might be a Vermilion Flycatcher in the crook of tree branches.

It took an extra month, but the 2013 Christmas card production is over for Andrea (and The Earth Ink). Here are some fun statistics about this year's distribution: 228 total cards were mailed. 20 cards were sent internationally to 12 countries. Cards were sent to 29  of the United States + Washington DC. Each card took about 6 minutes to hand make ( 22.8 hours total) which does not include design time. There are 152  cut out images in this year's card. Yikes! All but 1 card was sent out before the postage increase. The card was cut from one 11x17 sheet of recycled paper using sustainable inks. The card makes use of a verse from Philippians in the Bible about looking forward to achieve our life's goal (see below). The card measures 50 inches long - and still folds up to fit in a first class envelope. And now that the major Christmas card effort is complete, a design idea is already in the works for the 2014 card.  Not that I have already obtained a...

In 2010, The Earth Ink established a "signature" postcard design with 15 little window for photos. Returning from an around-the-world trip, this design first became a "change of address" postcard with new details printed on the back. A quote from Mother Jones provides some context for this card: "My address is like my shoes. It travels with me." The postcard showcases global destinations; featuring thumbnail photos from Antarctica, New Zealand, Singapore, Jordan, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, and the United States. This postcard design has been used several times over in different contexts.  The design is customizable with customer photos and available* in  qualities of 100+. For more information, or a quote, contact:  theearthink (at)  gmail (dot) com. *available in 2014 | made in the USA | sustainably printed

There is no doubt that Hawaii is a beautiful place to be. There are beaches, waterfalls, mountains, beautiful sunsets, and swaying palm trees in nearly every direction. One short hike showcases the tremendous landscape that the Island of Oahu has to offer. The Pali Puka Trail is a path hidden behind a broken down rock wall at the Pali Lookout. It is steep and, at times, a little difficult. However, to see the spectacular view, you must climb the ridge and follow the trail along several exposed areas - where tripping on a rock or tree root will send you down a sheer rock face on the windward side of the Koolau mountains. The view from the ridgeline stretches far up the saturated green windward side of Oahu to the cerulean Pacific Ocean beyond (in photo). In the other direction, you can see down the Nuuanu Valley to Honolulu. The Puka (meaning "hole" in Hawaiian), is a little peek-a-boo from the leeward side over to the windward side where sustained winds can nearly blow yo...

Sometimes, it is the little, seemingly unnoticeable things that catch the camera's eye. At dusk, on a short hike in Colorado, this little dandelion struggled to keep all of its fluffy seeds intact before they fluttered away in the wind - or on a hiker's legs as they brushed by on the trail. The shadowed sunset threw a purple hue on everything in the evening and the temperatures cooled off enough to enjoy a slow hike that finished off the day.

One day, The Earth Ink may open a cafe and coffee shop where customers can write their postcards, catch up with old friends, and share their life experiences. Along with a beautiful espresso bar, the shop will most certainly carry fruit tarts. These tarts from The French Bakery in Bellevue, Washington would certainly be the inspiration behind any such menu item. Beyond being quite tasty, these treats with fresh fruit and perfectly prepared "tart" are colorful and photogenic. Until The Earth Ink's shop opens, if you ever find yourself in the neighborhood, indulge yourself and enjoy the French Bakery's velvety smooth espresso as well.

Upon first glance, you would never guess where this image was taken. The low lying vegetation indicates it might be a higher elevation and a temperate climate zone. The clouds create a feeling of cool temperatures. These pink knotweed plants were spotted on the Saddle Road on the Big Island of Hawaii . The Saddle Road cuts across the Island and connects the Kona side (leeward) with the town of Hilo (windward). The road is flanked by the two tallest Hawaiian volcanos, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. In fact, Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano in the world from base (in the depths of the Pacific Ocean) to top. The Island of Hawaii boasts 11 of the 13 climate zones in the world and such fantastic and diverse landscapes that no one can grow tired of driving around the Island to explore them all!  It is possible to spend the morning snorkeling and enjoying a beach, the afternoon zip lining through a rain forest, dinnertime with a picnic dinner overlooking a volcano, and the night stargazing ...

There are heap of curious spectacles in the world, but none that I have found so turbulent and soothing at the same time as Kilauea's lava entry point into the ocean. Arriving near sundown, the sky and ocean reflected a blue evening hue with a mild golden glow from the sun over the Pacific's waves. In deep contrast to the calm of evening were dark jagged black sea cliffs bleeding deep orange, pink, yellow, and red magma from Kilauea. The evening was perfect for setting a long exposure and capturing the movement of the waves and steam against the island's growing cliffs. The lava that shows its face to the sea is 2000-4000 degrees Fahrenheit and creates steam clouds that roll back over the cliffs while the magma quickly cools and is washed away into the sea. Poke-a-Stick Lava Tours are an excellent way to be safely guided across private land that was once a neighborhood of homes; each house wiped out by one of a number of lava flows down the side of the island.

July Fourth in the United States is a celebration of the Country's independence and everything red, white, and blue. While most eyes focus up into the night sky to see the fireworks shows, there was a another reflective show in the fountain pool at Bellevue's Downtown Park. This photo was captured by focusing the camera's lens down on the water. A longer exposure captures the light squiggling through the gentle ripples on the water's surface and creates an illusion of a crazed firework explosion.

Hawaii has been a wonderful lab for practicing photography. With afternoon rainshowers, it is easy to test out my camera's macro capabilities on raindrops. Just as in a wine glass, a raindrop can reflect an image upside down. This image was carefully arranged to show the reflection of a palm tree in a dangling drop of precipitation.

A long awaited vacation. A chance to see a new place in my own state. A delayed flight. A window seat. A sinking sun. I did not know what to expect when I flew over the Big Island and landed in Hilo, Hawaii. The Isle of Hawaii is the biggest in the state and has several different sides to show. Hilo is on the windward side where rain falls regularly and waterfalls have cut dramatic and deep valleys that are cloaked in the thickest and greenest vegetation I have seen. On the coast were fields in a dozen shades of green crops. This remarkable photo hit my camera's sensor shortly before sunset. It was a cloudy day, but my flight delay put me in perfect time to see the sun peak through the clouds for a spot of time during our decent.

This is a picture of patience.  At times, photography is much more about having patience and taking advantage of the circumstances de jour than going out with an intention of finding the perfect shot. You cannot plan to visit Big Ben and expect to carry home a crystal clear image on a sunny day in your lens. Chances are, it will rain that afternoon, or you will miss your bus, or tourists and business people will block your shot. But, if you leave yourself open to the circumstances or find patience to wait out the rain, you may perfectly capture a little girl's reflection in a pool of water nearby  with the clock tower over her shoulder . On my trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, I travelled to see the volcanoes. It rained and the lava was not flowing to the visible naked eye. I was travelling alone with a leisurely day planned to drive around half of the Island. I was about to walk through a small lava tube at the Royal Kona Coffee Mill & Museum to find some ...