Category : B&W
It’s funny how time changes you. A few short years ago, I was not interested in taking portraits of people. Actually, it was more than “not interested.” I really hated taking portraits. I felt awkward and uncomfortable shooting photographs of people. I didn’t know how best to frame people, how to help them relax, nor how to capture an image that really represented the person I was photographing. And more often than not, the people I wanted to take photos of were fairly opposed to having their picture taken. They also felt uncomfortable and awkward. They didn’t know how to sit or how to stand, they didn’t know how to relax and just “act natural.” And then because we are all our own worst critics, people don’t often like photographs of themselves. So there’s that uphill battle to climb both as the photographer taking portraits and as the person allowing her/his image to be photographed.
But recently, I’ve had the precious opportunity to take some portraits of people who I really love. I have found ways to muster the courage to ask if I can take their photo, and more and more frequently, their answer is “yes.” I’m so excited to share some of these portraits of love. That’s what these photos are to me: portraits of love. They are photos of people who are so dear to me and they capture a moment of time that just the two of us shared.
My partner-in-crime, my colleague and collaborator, my Tribe sister, Sarah…
The witty, smart, clever, wordsmith, Sara….
The generous, always-has-your-back, holding-hope, Josh…
And last but certainly not least, therapist extraordinaire, emoticon-loving, bear-hugging, Andy…
I am so grateful for each of these people in my life. They have given me so much.
Thank you for letting me see you. xoxo
For you…
I love how a vintage camera, film, and an old car makes you question just when a photo was taken…
A new favorite self-portrait (click on the photo to make it bigger and on black–looks better!)…
I’ve let my Polaroid 210 Land Camera sit for too long. She’s been quite neglected to say the least. As I’ve seen many of my friends post Instagram photos with their own packfilm cameras, I thought I would dust off the 210 and take her for a spin in this final stretch of my current 365 project. As I was shooting through the pack of black and white film, I realized I had never taken a self-portrait with this camera. WHAT?! Seems crazy, but it was true. So, I quickly remedied that situation.
And here it is, my very first self-portrait with my Polaroid 210 camera…
I quite like the results and now feel inspired to play with this camera and my love of self-portraits. A new obsession begins!
Hint — click on the photo to see the image larger and on a black background. I think the photograph really looks great against the black.
Life has been a bit of a blur lately. Work has kept me swirling as I try to keep my head above water. And although I have felt completely overwhelmed and behind, Tony and I had a long-awaited for trip booked where we headed south last week to meet up with some dear friends (who we see WAY too infrequently) in a new-to-all-of-us-city. Then, approximately six hours after returning home, I was at the hospital having eye surgery to correct some problems I’ve had as a result of complications from my follow-up treatment a few years ago. I told you, a BLUR, literally and figuratively.
So within the week, life has gone from this…
to this…
A blur, I’m telling you — full on shenanigans to fashionable hospital gowns and eyes covered with ice-packs. So as I rest up and tend to some TLC for my self, I’m thinking of all I have to share with you. I still want to update you on my favorite film from the True/False festival (I haven’t forgotten). Then I want to fill you in on the highlights from our trip to Nashville (although that photo above does sum it up quite well!). Last but perhaps most reverberating, I had a great — and difficult — opportunity appear that has allowed me to work a bit deeper with my word for the year, and I want to tell you all about that, too.
But for now, I’m going to soak in the tub. Eat some soup. Practice self-care.
The swirling is in full effect. I’ve talked about the swirling many times before — the swelling to-do list, the the feelings of overwhelm, the lack of hours in the day. That’s where I am right now. Thick in the swirl and trying not to get pulled down. Thankfully, I’m still making it to the mat. And that is helping me to breathe. To take just one moment of stillness, and breathe.
If you are feeling the swirling, too, I invite you to take a moment of stillness, and just breathe. Maybe you’re at a red light in your car. Or in line for coffee. Or responding to your overflowing inbox. Or in a meeting at work. In any of these situations, we have the opportunity to take a few deep breaths. And trust me (and lots of research!), that small moment can help enormously. Breathe on, friends. xoxo
Sometimes the darkness takes over…
