Favorite from August - I Clicked It Up A Notch

I don't think I have any reason to publicly lament the end of August. I know there's a general and popular consensus that it came too fast. So, I'll just look back on it lovingly as we dive head first into September and all of it's apple-producing, cooling-relief, sharpened-pencil goodness.

So, here's my loving look:

Nico wanted me to take photos of him in this costume. He's writing a novel that takes place during the French and Indian war and wanted to act out and get a feel for his characters. I love his method, especially when I get to play, too.

When we looked over the shots, we found that we had different favorites. He liked the poses where he hid behind the woodpile and loaded his musket the most.  He doesn't like this one because his very modern shorts are too prominent. I reminded him that our motives are different. While he wants authentic character portrayal, I want to show how magical it is to see a boy's imagination take form and flight.

Sharing at Click It Up a Notch as my August favorite..

July Favorite Photo - Watermelon and Wagon Wheel

Choosing a favorite photo each month has been a good exercise. Usually, by the end of the month, I've already posted what I consider to be my best photos or at least those that struck me the most. I'm reluctant to show a photo twice, lest I bore even myself. (Not that I haven't done it.)

Some months I remember to save a good one for last, but, well, you know how remembering goes.  So, here I sit, sifting through the month's photos looking for something that I may have overlooked.  Having a rotten memory has it's benefits though, because when I do find something that I "remembered less," it's like finding a hidden gem.

Eureka!

My boy enjoying his all time favorite food in the warmth of the evening light. <3

Linking up with Clickin' It Up a Notch

Click it up a Notch - June favorite photo

Another month come and doggone gone-by-fast.

It was a tough month for photos. There was a faulty lens (now in repair) and just one of those slumps that come and go with any craft, I 'spose. So, the pickins were slim but, that doesn't keep me from choosing a favorite.

I had this one printed and already loved it, but then saw Elizabeth Halford's video tutorial on bringing out freckles and had to apply it to this sweetie.

As those freckles fade and this jaw line and adam's apple become more pronounced, it's nice to have this portrait of his last days in boyhood. The easily-enticed smile, the empty tooth hole and the simple cut of his hair may be gone in a matter of months, definitely within a few years, but he'll always be my baby.

Linking up with Click It Up a Notch - June favorites

Do the Monkey - Favorite Photo of the Month

How is April over already? I'm thinking this might all be part of an elaborate April Fool's Day joke being played on me by my boys and I'm really sitting at April 1st.  I'll get back to you tomorrow and let you know if I'm right.

But, I'm going to go ahead an hedge my bets here and still post a favorite from last month, whichever month that might have been.

This is from my nephew's wedding. I'm one of six siblings and this was the first time in too many years that this many of us and our respective children are all in one place and we were celebrating every minute. That's my dad in the pink shirt leading the dance.... whatever move he would make (mostly silly - they're doing the monkey here) everyone would mimic. So. much. fun.

I got up on a chair (thankfully, I'm not a heels kind of girl) and took this shot. This is my favorite for so many reasons, as you can imagine. I know we'll all cherish it and the memory for a very long time.

Linking up with Click It Up A Notch

Favorite Photo for March

I've been saving this one.

The boys and I spent a very sunny Saturday late-morning early in the month at Station Square. It used to be the train hub for Pittsburgh and now is a gorgeous tourist attraction/late-night hot spot/shopping district.  A lot of the train station architecture and history remains in tact, which, of course, is what makes it so interesting.

The day was very bright like I said, so challenges were present. But, I got a handful of shots that made it worthwhile for me. We went to Moe's for lunch afterward, which made it worthwhile for them.

This, my favorite shot, was taken out of view of all of the finery and attraction of the place. Three utilitarian doors, which looked like they probably house maintenance equipment or the like. I love the urban, well-used feel of the backdrop, the boys' poses and the way the window balances the third door with the occupancy of other two.

I'm posting this as my favorite photo for March over at Click It Up a Notch.

Best Shot from February

Time to weed through the month's photos and choose a favorite for the Click it up a Notch challenge.

Not much weeding to do though, since, just today, Nico volunteered to pose for me a few hours before sunset and we went out to have a session.  I didn't get a lot of shots before another duty called, but, in those few moments of looking through the lens and seeing him standing so tall in his hoodie I realized what a young man he's becoming.

He's no little boy anymore.  Sure, I've known for a while that he's threatening to pass me up in height any day now (not saying much).  I know when he hugs me and tells me I'm 'the best mommy ever' but then runs off to make his own iced tea or read Bleak House, that my days of hearing such notions are numbered.  And even though he still asks for permission to check out the Lego web-site, the day he can out manage me on the intricacies of file-downloading and network-maneuvering is imminent.

None of this is news, but, when I looked through that lens today, I was able to stop and see the lean, tall young man with the gentle smile and thoughtful eyes, and I almost couldn't imagine that he was the same little bubbie with the chubby cheeks and all the questions.  Oh my, how he's grown.

That's why I love photography and that's why this is my February favorite:

 

 

I also posted this photo for critique with Mom Tried It's Blog Hop.  Have mercy... LOL

Click'n it up a Notch

Favorite photo of January is the question.

Here is the answer:

I've been shooting a lot, so I did have to think about this. But, I was looking through this session again yesterday trying to decide whether I liked the black and white processing and fell into this photo.  I think I had judged it too harshly at first. I like it... that is all.

I'm linking it up to Click It Up a Notch. Can't wait to see some of the other beauties.