So here we are, a quarter of the way into this year. seems.just.so.unreal.
1.) the middle working on his bike with his dad. You would think his bike was broken forever from the looks of his forlorn face. but it was quickly fixed.
2) the youngest. not sure if i caught it right, but he was hanging out in our bed one morning, which I know won't happen much longer and i just needed to capture his wry goofy looks.
3) my oldest's photo is down below. he was sick most of this week, so i am using a photo from easter sunday. i think he looks like a prep school boy who had a rough night with too many jelly beans.
project thoughts:
I love it. Last week in the comment section Max, from the blog Blackbird Has Spoke, wrote "my photos do seem better and yet i'm not doing anything different except looking harder!" i love this sentiment. because it is, for us, for us who are so very busy, it is the looking harder. longer. looking faster. scooping up moments & catching things as they are, in that moment.
like fleeting fireflies in glass jars....
along these same lines, i am curious how others are making this project fresh for themselves... how do you keep it from being being routine and route? i see this as a project to grow & learn from & i would love to know your thoughts and your own experiences of trying to keep things from being stale and blah.
project love:
have you seen these two? and these two? and these two? these two? (really -not kidding) and these four? all just superb.
hope you are well.
XXOO
Oh I read and enjoy your portrait photo posts. What you said is so true - it is how you capture what you see through the lens that changes. Remembering to snap at the right moment or being aware of what you are seeing. Over time my photos have changed so much. I love capturing peoples faces - in the moment - where ever their thoughts may be. Yes- fleeting fire flies.
ReplyDeleteChey xo
Oh Chey, again, you have wonderful insight and your thoughts make me smile so.
DeleteI just appreciate it ever so much that you not only read what I write but reflect on it as well.
hope that you have had a lovely weekend and that the start to your week is wonderful!
xo
Oh this year is completely flying by isn't it? I can't even believe it sometimes... your photography is ever changing and evolving, and I really enjoy being able to take the journey with you. Wishing you a lovely weekend x
ReplyDeleteIsn't though? the pace at which this year is flying by? I keep thinking -this can't be right -and yet it is.
Deletethanks so for your sweet note, i love to start off my sunday with a smile. :-)
happy sunday and happy start to this new week.
xxoo
firstly loving your pictures and words. As for me this project has made me switch the camera of auto (which it lived on for the first whole year of owning it) and it now lives on manual. I am exploring the camera's instruction book that sat dusty in the box, trying out new things every week, logging up a new skill, a new understanding and then i log on every week and think.....ahhhhhhhhh look at that......look at that......look at that.....how did they do that, get that shot, achieve that! my problem is not letting the project become a stick to beat myself with, another...you are a bit crap really aren't you Jane stick....does that make sense? so i am not bored, i am too early on in my learning for it to feel routine, my learning curve is too steep! and loads of people's work is inspiring me...I adore the clarity and composition of Jodi's work at Che and Fidel. Emily's pictures over at the beetle shack have this amazing light i love, this white light that colours pop against, her colours inspire me, i love everything about the pictures at cinnamon Girl again i think its the clean fresh feel to the pictures, i struggle to get that...my pictures feel musty still in comparison xxxxx
ReplyDeleteHello Jane! I really like what you have to say. I am not bored either -my learning curve is super steep as well. I think what this project helps me remember is that practice makes perfect and you have to return to it again and again to get better. The flip side is trying to make the inner critic that is tooooo much of a naysayer be quiet. I often have that feeling of "oh just failing yet again!" on something. But I am really trying to be intentional with all of my photos and words these days, and let my mistakes go a bit more. life is full of them right? the can be learning moments if we let them. xxoo
Deleteme again!....if you haven't yet go check out this blog for some amazing photography! it's seriously one of my all time favourite places to feel inspired! xxxx http://flanneryokafka.blogspot.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteoh thanks Jane! you are right! this is a place full of inspiration. thanks so much for telling me about it. I had never heard of it before! I sooo appreciate it. xo
DeleteI LOVE the photo of your oldest son! Such a great photo! I hope he is feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI am keeping the project fresh (well trying to keep it fresh) by exploring new angles/shot perspectives. So I am exploring with not just shots of my son's face each week in the traditional sense of a "portrait" but rather catching him in the moment (a moment I would like to document and remember and look back upon). I am trying to capture little anecdotes of his personality so I can remember this year and they way he is because time flies so quickly and his little mind is changing constantly!
I hope you are having a great weekend!!
I love your perspective on perspectives. :-) it is fun to explore different angles. I think I am having to have to do that more and more, sneak up on them & catch them unaware. as lately the older two are just so fussy when it comes to me taking their photo. I also agree wholeheartedly -trying to document the moments that will otherwise slip by -there is a way you just have to make yourself happy/content with this project. really make it your own -a part of your own life and the life of your child/children.
Deletehope you are having a lovely sunday!
xo
I don't take portraits but love anything that has to do with nature... Love your images! I hate being cliche but this week I love my mom even more... I get so much done in my every day life with her by my side! Have a nice one!
ReplyDeletesometimes I feel like nature can be so much more elusive in capturing...though I do so love to try to capture it and pin it down. thanks so for your sweet comments. xo
DeleteLovely atmospheric shots.
ReplyDeletethanks so much Laura! xxoo
DeleteYour boys are so beautiful, I love the expressions and moods you captured. The youngest and oldest look very similar. This portraiture P52 is wonderful. I imagine the end of the year/project becomes a pensive walk through time, the time we have so little of that rushes on by, just like you said. Am so looking forward to seeing more of your portraits! ... hoping you remain inspired :)
ReplyDeleteHello Catherine! I think that you are right, the oldest and youngest do look so very similar.
DeleteThe middle man, is his own beast some days (perhaps just like his mom, but don't tell him that).
As for the long term aspect of the project, my hope is to encourage myself (and others) to find the beauty
in the discipline of being involved in a year long project... And different ways to approach it.
thanks again for your ever sweet words. know they are always appreciated!
xxoo
You really can see the strong likeness in all three of your beautiful boys this week.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with the project is leaving it till Saturday every week...and then trying to come up with something...anything....a little bit different when you've only got the same locations and two disinterested boys to work with. But I'm going to keep trying...and try to remember to think of it earlier in the week too :0)
xx
Thanks so so much for your sweet words.
DeleteIn terms of the project, I too wonder at times how to fit it all in. Especially when my boys are feeling disgruntled.
I have been reading more of your blog posts and they make me smile so. I loved the interview you did with both of them.
Have you thought about having that, one weekend, being your "portrait?" It is such a sweet idea. I really loved it and I thought it is such a genius way to look at the portraits differently. I have a 13yo & there is a part of me that would love for him to take creative control of his own portraits. I guess that is another idea.
anyway well i am rambling....again. xxoo
That's a fantastic and very creative idea. I have this vague idea that I'm going to turn the complete series of photos into a photo book and give a copy to our families at the end of the year. But I could certainly link their interviews to their photo one week :0)
DeleteI think it's a great idea to hand over a little creative control to the boys too...how about if one week they all have to take each other's photos...could get interesting :0)
xx
These are so lovely portraits. I really loved the first image and the expression of your boy's face is exactly what you have described! :)
ReplyDeleteI also realised how different the photography becomes when you have grown up kids, whom you cannot always ask to pose and so you have to capture when they are busy best in their moods/expressions.
Have a great weekend!:)
thanks so much for your insight Preeti! Yes, the older they are I think the more invasive (depending on personality) they feel. There is a certain amount of power struggle involved at times and I certainly don't want it to become the thing we argue over every week.
Deletethanks so so much for saying hello!
xo
What a gorgeous photo of your son all dressed up, stunning in black and white. I also love the moment you captured with your boy and his dad, wonderful memories there. xx
ReplyDelete