Anniversary

"Twenty-one years with the same woman — Wow! And what a woman. I'm looking forward with interest and anticipation to the next twenty-one years. And if my love for you grows much more — big as I am — I won't be able to contain it." -Jack Anniversary note to my grandmother-in-law I found today while sorting through her old photos. Jack died of a massive heart attack shortly thereafter at the age of 41. No wonder why at 90+ she still spoke of him with such enduring love.

Dreams, Dream, Dreams

The latest "assignment" in my amazing 24 weeks group centers around the theme of Dreams... I had a shoot 2 weeks ago that happened to lend itself to the theme, particularly when I began adding textures, duplicating images and otherwise having fun in Photoshop... When you've looked thru my work, please continue to the link provided at the bottom and check out all the talented artists in the group :) Sweet dreams!

Now for some true dreamy goodness please check out the work of the uber-talented Becky Earl.

Takes My Breath Away

When I first read the assignment, I assumed I should attempt to create the most fabulous, breathtaking image I'd ever shot and edited. I envisioned a big set up and trying to do something clever with light and processing.

 

But this has been a difficult few weeks. 

 

Instead, the words took on a different meaning. Frankly, it's felt a bit claustrophobic around here. It hasn't taken much to for me to feel like I didn't have much breath in my lungs between paying taxes, releasing a new texture pack, sharing a car with a husband who was working long hours away from home, losing a washing machine and an external drive, tons of school and sports activities, and the untimely passing of some people who were dear to me.

 

My tank was empty.

 

On Tuesday, someone asked for an example from an old session. I'm not the most organized girl and it got me looking thru a bunch of old pictures I'd taken and never "developed". I started thinking about these lost images and the forgotten beauty in them. In my personal archives, sometimes my focus was off, or perhaps my kid's expression didn't seem quite "right", or perhaps I'd under or overexposed the shot or flat out hadn't nailed the composition. But there was an honesty and a simplicity in some of these forgotten shots from days at the park or afternoons at the beach that I loved.

 

So I'm putting on my mommy-goggles and I'm allowing myself to enjoy the simple authentic beauty in these moments and I'm sharing them with you. I'm sure they will underwhelm you but you know what is in my heart. These are treasured moments when I wasn't begging a kid to look at me, to sit here, to wear something else, to stop tickling his brother. Just moments that were real and relaxed. I added a texture and a few curves, but largely left them as they were shot, editing time about 15 minutes total. I wanted them to stay simple and unglamorous.

 

And in remembering these moments, I felt myself reviving a bit. I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed, but remembering what is at the heart of photography and why I ever wanted to do it reminds me that creating art without expectations can be very healing. That it isn't about processing, or textures, or wardrobe or props. It's about remembering the everyday beauty in our lives and the days we have to spend with the people we love.

 

Swinging...

Thanks for listening. Now prepare to be inspired by the rest of the group! Next up the talented Becky Earl.

Cinemagraph Challenge Part 2

Continuing my practice with Cinemagraphs with my fabulous band of fellow photographers from the 26 week challenge group. As you may recall, this month's challenge technique is Cinemagraphy (though the last is just a still). The theme is "Once Upon A Time". I worked with that theme very loosely but played with the idea of taking a shot that looked like it was from a different time and also exploring the passing of time by how light changes on my subject. Once you've looked at my work, please continue on to view the rest of the group. The texture used in processing is from the upcoming Super-Grunge Textures pack I created :)

Next please check out the work by South Eastern CT Custom Child Photographer, Breeze Floyd

Cinemagraph My Sanity

This week's challenge is dedicated to the people who keep me sane... But using the sort of creepy technique of Cinemagraphy.         

 

As photographers, we are always looking for ways to challenge ourselves. This year I am taking on an exciting new challenge, a 26 week project. It is similar to the 52 week project most of you are familiar with, except this year we are working on techniques along with our themes. Our themes for our 26 week project will be more thought provoking, so it will be fun to see the different interpretations. I am working along with 12 other AMAZING photographers. Each month we will have a different technique we are working on, and each week we will have a new theme. 

For the month of February, our technique is Cinematograph/Video and our theme is “The people who keep me sane”. The top image is my kiddo. Both of my boys anchor me for sure. The self portraits images are a little less sane, but this is a kind of creepy technique if you ask me so I embraced the weirdness...

At the bottom, you can see my two crazy boys, not animated, just being sweet. Just because I wanted to honor their amazing ability to make me always remember what is truly important when things go haywire. It's slightly grainy - I had to shoot at a super-high iso because it was nearly dark...

After you've see my pictures, be sure to continue clicking through the different photographers links so you can see the complete circle. Be sure to come back in 2 weeks to see our next theme, you don’t want to miss it!

Next is is Misty Dawson,  a  Phoenix Photographer.

(The photos are edited with the following textures... Lost Story from Illuminations 2, Unnamed Texture from the upcoming Super-Grunge Set, and StarSpangled Blur from Illuminations 1 :)

The View From Up Here

As photographers, we are always looking for ways to challenge ourselves.  This year I am taking on an exciting new challenge, a 26 week project.  It is similar to the 52 week project most of you are familiar with, except this year we are working on techniques along with our themes.  Our themes for our 26 week project will be more thought provoking, so it will be fun to see the different interpretations. I am working along with 12 other AMAZING photographers who will be challenging me as the year goes on.  Each month we will have a different technique we are working on, and each week we will have a new theme.  

For the month of January, our technique is unique lighting. I missed the first week and so I'm combining this week and last weeks themes "View from Up Here" and "Let's Get Close".  After you see my picture, be sure to continue clicking through the different photographers links so you can see the complete circle.  Be sure to come back in 2 weeks to see our next theme, you don’t want to miss it!

Obviously this is a pretty literal interpretation of the challenge in that I set up the shot of my boys and I and asked my husband to shoot it, standing almost directly above us. We all laid down next to a large window at end end of the day as the light was softening.

Thank you Jules Trandem for inviting me to participate in this challenge. I've been TERRIBLE about updating this blog and I am looking forward to this project helping to change that.

Thank you for visiting and please click thru all the photographers participating. Next please check out Phoenix Photographer Misti Dawson.

Avery and Pumpkin (then Murray, after Pumpkin tried to eat my camera)

Avery's room is being redecorated and she and her mother decided they'd like to feature photographs of her at the stables with her favorite horses.

Textures used include Chocolate & Rusted Rainbow from JD Illumination Textures, Rumble from TP2 and Sands from TP3.