Sometimes I just can’t slow down. When I find a new passion I like to run with it. Not just a jog, either. A full blown run and sometimes sprint to see how much I can learn, and how to keep that process of learning fresh every day. Well, you know it is kind of hard to do it every day, but let’s say most days. So I have a new passion. Most of you who are friends with me on Facebook already know this, as it has become evident by my hundreds of postings, but my new love is Photography.
How did it start? Well, I have always liked taking pictures, especially of people. My kids, my friends, my colleagues. I guess it started like most things start with me. You see, every year, instead of making a New Year’s resolution that I may never keep (yeah…you know…like THAT one), I promise myself that I will learn one thing new. Not just learn one thing new like a fact, or trivia, but really take the time to MASTER one thing new. It is a process that usually takes a year, and then longer. I give myself the whole year to do it. It is cathartic. It is a resolution I keep, because I wouldn’t want to learn something new if I didn’t sort of like it to begin with. It is not easy. It takes an endless amount of discipline, hours, humbleness, determination and excitement. All of which can be absolutely draining and soul-filling all at the same time. So what started it? Well, usually, like anything else that triggers something in me, I was inspired. This time, I was inspired by a childhood friend. A friend I grew up with since Kindergarten. I friend with whom I wasn’t so close to, but we weren’t so distant either. I remembered really great times with his Dad, Mom and sisters in their backyard pool when I was around seven or eight. I remember his Dad passing away, and the sadness and loss his family felt. I remember my Dad stepping in and mentoring my friend through music and friendship. My Dad was our school’s music teacher. He learned guitar from my Dad. I do remember that pretty vividly, because on most weeks my lesson on french horn was right after his during lunch. These memories turned into just that. Memories. We got older and had different friend sets. I did my music thing, and he was named one of the top entrepreneurs of Philadelphia not long ago. Successful and creative in every sense of the word. To be that successful, I thought, means that my friend was probably really creative as well. I didn’t see too much of that while we were growing up, but I saw it one day after friending him on Facebook.
I noticed he started posting pictures from Flickr. He was doing a 365. Sure, I was familiar with the concept. Not clueless, I clicked through to his Flickr site and my jaw dropped. I was surprised. Surprised, a little in awe and now completely taken with his work. I quickly got into his space, but it felt a bit invasive. Photos do that, you know. They are very personal, and when taken well like these were, they feel alive. A steady pulse of quiet family moments. His pictures are mostly quiet. Quiet and lyrical. Then, a really loud picture will appear. You can’t ignore it. I think that is probably what he is really like inside. There is a humbleness yet complete refinement in his work. I was hooked.
I wanted that. Selfish? Maybe. But I wanted to be that good. It takes a lot of time, for sure. My photos will never look like his, because I am not him. That is the beauty of it. There is a safety in just having to be you, and now that I am older and wiser, I like that. A lot. So off I went. To learn, to play, to navigate this whole new world I knew nothing about. So after I got a little more familiar with my camera and really researched things, I started my own 365. I then opened up a private group on Facebook for other friends who wanted to take this journey with me. We have learned so much. My photos are now so much better than they used to be, but still have so far to go. I love my subjects. They are usually family, friends and colleagues, just like before when I just clicked some pictures, but now they are taking on a new life as I get better and better. Learning is everything. If you are not making a concerted effort to learn every day of your life, you are missing out. I am not taking any day for granted. I think Katie has taught us all a lot about that.
So I wanted to share a couple of photos with you. Maybe you would be interested in seeing more, in learning more with me, but I know this is not a photography blog, so I am not sure how much interest you would have in taking this journey with me. Comments would be appreciated. So I work with both a Canon 7D and a Canon 50D. Here is some of my journey:
Emma:
Sophie:
On The Set of Carmen:
Our Maestro
Kids:
Some more adult clients:
So there you have it. A sample of some of my work. Hope you enjoyed this, because it is a really wonderful process to be in, and I would love to share more with you if you are enjoying it too!
boo hiss. But I DO have to tell you that there has been some CRAZY beautiful projects going on this time around, so go check ‘em out!
