Oh, hello there! Yes, I’m still here. And yes, I’m making more of an effort to pour some time into this blog.

So let’s start this streak back up with Friday favorites…

If I make it to Austin anytime soon, I’m checking out the Magnum exhibit at the University of Texas. It sounds amazing! (And Texas friends? Y’all better look into this for me!)

Some famous photographs have been recreated using Legos. Awesome/hilarious!

Somebody had to say it. I’m glad Jean-François Leroy did.

Andrew Fingerman made an excellent list of marketing ideas from outside the photography realm that us photographers should make use of. Umm, yeah. I need to work on all of these…

Cleva Media is blogging the World Cup. The Big Picture has posted various images from opening weekend. (I love/cringe when I see the photos of the photographers and how crowded it is. But the colors! And the action! And THE WORLD CUP!)

This list of the top 10 ways to make a photographer fall in love with you made me smile.

Happy Friday, y’all!

I’ve been slacking this week, but I have a favorite for today. One favorite. An important favorite.

And you can go see it here.

(Hint: Engagement + photos with an old friend + chilly weather + me and my love = happiness.)

My co-worker Brittany and I spent Wednesday covering the funerals of two teenage boys who lost their lives in an oil tank explosion over the weekend. Her story is beautifully written and heartbreaking.

My co-worker and fellow photog Matt was featured on Wall Street Journal Photos of the Day with an image from Monday night’s Saints game. Yay, Matt!

My friend Elizabeth shared an article on connecting with kids from behind the camera. An interesting read and some good advice for those of you who snap a lot of portraits.

One of my favorite photojournalists, James Nachtwey, spoke at Photoplus last week about the impact of images. I wish I could have been there to hear him and see the images.

NYT staff photographer Michelle Agins talks about documenting poverty for the annual New York Times Neediest Cases Fund and how it has impacted her life. I love what she says. Definitely play the multimedia piece, y’all.

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Happy Friday!

That’s right, folks. Friday Favorites. I’m starting this new little feature to showcase work I’ve seen around the Internet that is wonderful, as well as any other things I might like (this week), find amusing, beautiful, sad, encouraging, etc.

Because what better way is there to end the week than spotlighting some things that inspire me and make me smile?

Let’s hit this thing off right:

Canon announced the 1D Mark IV. Que drooling and crooning over a camera body that is ENTIRELY too expensive for a newspaper shooter. (A girl can dream, though, right?) Here’s to hoping the AF isn’t wonky like the Mark IIIs were/are.

Tear alert: TIME showcases an amazing photo essay called “Strays to the Rescue” on their Web site, featuring images and clips from a new book (To the Rescue: Found Dogs with a Mission, by Elise Lufkin and photos by Diana Walker.) Check it out here.

To my AP Style-loving friends: @FakeAPStylebook has made me chuckle for the past day.

My friend, Crystal, has a featured intern diary up at Sportsshooter. While you’re at it, mosey on over to her SS page and Web site. You’ll be thankful you did.

AP shooter Brennan Linsley was quoted on the NYT Lens blog yesterday on the Pictures of the Day post. Not only are the images strong, but his words ring true about the impact of photography.

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To my shooter friends, have fun at high school football tonight. (I know I will!) And to everyone else, enjoy your evening off, whatever you may end up doing!

Happy Friday, everyone!