P52/Week 21: "Dream" - The Long Walk Home

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.

This week's theme for the P52 challenge is "Dream."

The most prevalent dreams in my life, even those that I remember since childhood, especially those really, have all taken place after dusk. So much so that sometimes when I'm out at that time of day for real, I often feel as though I'm in a dream.

A common theme in those dreams is that I have to find my way home at that time. There's always little distance visibility, street lights are aglow, the sky has that magical shade of blue and I'm alone. Sounds unpleasant or scary, but isn't always. Sometimes it just feels like a special time.

That's what I was trying to capture here.

It's the first time I've intentionally tried to photograph during the "blue hour" in an effort to capture that blue light. Feels like a dream.

Hanah

As promised here are more shots of Hanah. She definitely make's a photographer's task an easy one. She showed up with ideas of her own for what she wanted as well as those intense eyes and gorgeous hair. She's so beautiful and loves to have her photo taken.

Makes Me Happy

Another happy photography moment for me this weekend. I had the chance to photograph sister's family. It was a belated Mother's Day gift from her kids to her to tolerate my camera and my poses and my silly games meant to make them smile and show their love for each other.

Well, there's one kid, who has no problem with the whole idea. In fact, it might have been a gift for her as well. She loves the camera (and vice versa) and is just a girl who knows how to have fun.

 

I took a handful of others of this beauty, but I think I'll make those a whole separate post. 

(Done. Here they are.)

Then there's her sweet modest brother. He has no idea what a handsome young man he is and is about 10 different kinds of shy in front of the camera.  But, c'mon, look at this guy...

 

But, give him the opportunity to speak and he'll have us all laughing til our sides hurt.

My thrill is in thinking of what these photos will mean in 10, 20 years. Even when grand kids come along and they get to see what a fun, loving relationship this tight-knit family had.

 

 

 We also got the poses in. They are such a beautiful bunch.

 .... and just some things I wanted to try for cool's sake.

Grateful

Kent and I seem to be on the same page. He introduced the Sweet Shot Tuesday this week with a story about his boy scout troop and a powerful evening they had sharing photographs and a movie. It struck him how fortunate we are to have the gift of photographs.

I had the same epiphany just yesterday in the shower, where all the best epiphanies occur. I was thinking over a photo shoot I did with my sister's family and realized how very, very blessed we are to have this magic thing called a photograph. Isn't it amazing that we're able to take some thing real and make a 2 dimensional representation of it? It's hard to wrap my brain around some times, but, then again, I'm not much of a science person. :-)

But, consider all the important moments that we are able to look back on even if we weren't present, or even alive when they happened.  On a smaller scale, the family memories and documentation that are possible is such a gift.

One moment on a walk through our neighborhood that might have otherwise been forgotten, but with the photograph will be remembered for our nice family time spent together and of course, for the beautiful golden light.

Linking up with Sweet Shot Tuesday

Making Fun Outta Nothin'

Long story short:
Last night I parked my car a bit further down the driveway than usual. Apparently I'd broken a tacit understanding with the neighborhood birds. They were not happy and they let me know in their not-so-discreet way.
So the car needed to be cleaned.

Enter my two favorite boys. When I told them what I needed them to do, I got a few grumbles, but by the time the bucket was full of sudsy, soapy water, they'd found some fun.

 

 It may take them 4 times as long to do certain chores, but they can always make a game out of it or just plain enjoy the fun.

I was surprised and pleased at the pride they took in the task. They wouldn't call it done until they'd cleaned every nook of the car, not just the bird droppings, which is all I really asked them to do.

These boys definitely know how to turn a simple thing into a special thing.
I'm linking up with Simple Things Sunday.

Street Photography Part Deux

Finally tried a do-over after my first attempt at street photography. This time I actually saw some people.

I woke at 5:45 and argued with myself until 6:10 about whether I should get out there. What did I stand to lose? So, by 6:20 I was in the car. I figured I was too late since the sun was already up, but that wasn't necessarily the case with the buildings hiding it until well after 7. Plus most people didn't start showing up and moving around until then either.

These next two might be my favorite:

 

I even managed to ask a few people if I could photograph them.  Only the sort who looked like they wouldn't mind, of course. Though those are usually the ones with the most personality anyway.

 Mostly I stood at a distance and stole the shots. Hey, it was my first time.

Not a surprise that I found it easier to photograph inanimate objects and scenes.

P52/Week 20: "Motherhood"

With a theme like "Motherhood," this photo ought to get your attention, or at the very least confuse you.

But, hear me out...

After 13 years of belonging to the wonderful demographic of 'mother,' there are already volumes I can write and photograph about motherhood. The tiny toes, the growing toes, the dandelion bouquets, the waist-high hugs, the butterfly kisses, the "I love you, Mommy"-s ...sigh...It's fantabulous.

But, one thing that strikes me over and over again as I venture through this world with my boys at my side, is how much they teach me to appreciate and to wonder.

As an example, history is one of those topics that I never found terribly appealing. Dates and names, right? But, as they grew to become more and more interested in the fascinating story of our world, I was only beginning to see it as a story.  Why did the Greeks believe in so many gods?; Were pirates trained fighters or did they just hack and slash?; Why did the vikings raid other countries?; What happened to the Celts or the Mayans or the Aztecs?

And it's only because I'm a mother that I could stand, just as interested as they, to watch a man bending iron and listen to him explain why blacksmiths were so important in colonial America.

It is a fascinating world out there and that's just one of the many, many things I've learned and appreciated only because I entered the world of motherhood.

The photo that almost wasn't - Sweet Shot Tuesday

Geography study has become quite a production in our house. Each country we study is celebrated at lesson's end with a food day featuring meals from morning to night that are typical of the country.

I've been halfway decent about taking photos of our food explorations. But, well, sometimes I forget. It really takes a lot of work to make these exotic meals and I just figure that I'll be spending the whole day in the kitchen, so my camera, doesn't always cross my mind (hard to believe, I know).

Egypt was our latest adventure with ful medames (fava beans, onion, parsley, lime, tomato) for breakfast, Kushari (lentils, rice and macaroni with a tomato/onion topping) for lunch and dinner was falafel on pita.  The ONLY photo I got was this and believe me, it barely happened. It was only because the pita dough needed to rest for 10 minutes and I happened to think of it.

I'm happy I at least have it. So, I'm linking it up with Sweet Shot Tuesday (now under Kent Weakley's watch).

(Love the tagline!)

Simple Things Sunday

I've been looking at a lot of street photography lately. I watched a Kelby video, which was a day of following photographer Jay Maisel. This mixed a bit with the work of Elliot Erwitt hasn't necessarily changed what I'm photographing dramatically, I do think it's had a touch of influence. I couldn't help but see something in these in at least capturing the gesture:

Maybe it's just the black and white and I'm reading into it in my hopefulness.

But, regardless, I do love these candid shots.

Linking up with Simple Things Sunday:

Best. Kids. Ever.

As further proof that I have THE best kids in the world, I offer this:

No, not just their beauty and modeling ability, though there is that. Mostly it's that yesterday, the boys agreed to head out to the park for a photo shoot fresh out of bed and before they even ate breakfast.

The light was amazing and well worth the effort (at least for me ;-)  ). We got about a half an hour in, with each of them assisting with the reflector in turn, before they had had enough and we happily went home.

But, wait.... there's more!

As if that weren't enough, they also agreed to go to the same park after dinner so that I might see how the light falls at that time of day. It was equally fantastic and fun and they got a kick out of my joy at seeing it.

You can see what I was so happy about:

Even went for some back-lighting and sun flare. 

Seriously, these kids spoil me to no end. There were hints that this was an early Mother's Day gift, so I guess I shouldn't push to expect it again today... or tomorrow... or the next day. But, I can just sit and sigh over these until they're willing again. 

Lest you think me selfish and self-serving, we did fit in a few fun shots that were more their style:
(not that I don't love them, too):

 ...and I let them play with my reflector/diffuser:

The icing on the cake was later that evening with this conversation:
Enzo: I'll be happy when I'm older with all of these photos.
Me: Yes, you'll definitely have a well-documented childhood.
Enzo: Yea, but also, it's just nice because I like spending time with you.


Ok, Mother's Day has officially arrived and I'm a happy Mama. :-)