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(Here are some thoughts on the monstrous task and amazing opportunities that we face as moms in capturing and preserving our families’ story, and how that relates to our personal creativity and artistic journey)
So my goal this year is to sort through, edit and blog my photos from the current month as well as that same month a year ago. Last year amidst a new baby, a new camera, and a new homeschool/charter school schedule for my kids most of the photos I took ended up being dumped into the black hole of Lightroom and never saw the light of day.
Knowing that you have taken a bunch of photos that live on your Macbook is not the same thing as mindfully looking through them and allowing them to tell their story. Working on learning my camera and developing as a photographer doesn’t amount to much if I don’t take the time to evaluate and finish what I start. And documenting my families precious moments . . . um . well . can it really be called documenting if all my children are left with is a digital scrap heap? nope. didn’t think so.
I used to scrapbook but all those piles of paper waiting for a home left me guilt ridden and the resulting shelves of albums that could be wiped out in an instant or decompose slowly over time left me feeling anxious and a bit futile. Now I am limiting my time and intentions to this blog, chronicling and backing up our story and my art – digitally. Not that I waste or let slip away those precious concrete bits of life lived. I frame favorite scribbles and schoolwork in brilliant Ikea frames and archive the rest in bright Target binders. I stitch cards and favorite pj’s into bunting strung across our home. Tiny hand and foot prints mark mugs filled with succulents beside collected bottles on kitchen counters. The bulletin board in my studio is overflowing with love from little boys and I mark down my love for them each year in their Birthday Book. (btw if you love to scrapbook, no hard feelings)
Anyhoo I’m determined to clean out my digital closet! You may see some images here that aren’t up to par with where my photography is at now but it’s all part of the process. Our history informs our present and I think the only way to move forward into an improved future is self critique. I would love to hear critiques from others to0, so if you have any thoughts on my images, process or story please let me know! I hope this look in to my memory keeping and future forming has encouraged you to allow yourself the freedom to find a unique process that works for you. I think it’s so important to have a way of looking at your life and expressing your experiences that fits you. Down with Mommy guilt over how you “should” keep track of your families story and in with introspective inspiration that leads to including said story to make everyday special! (wow that was a lot of in’s) Revolution anyone?
Ahem, after a lot of rambling here is a word about these particular photos… My husband completely surprised me with my 5D on our anniversary in August 2010. So here goes with some photos from last September that I took while still trying to figure out how to make the shift from tiny Rebel that didn’t have a lot of options, to ginormous black camera that I was a little overly awestruck by. Not great photos, but a very great moment, my little boys holding their little brother for the very first time….
Our baby Jeremiah, he was Fuzzy.
The big brothers, they were Amazed.
Mommy, was and is very, very Happy watching them grow and love together.
24-70 . 9-14-10 . really bad indoor light, taken by very sleepy Mama
