Is there Beauty in the darkness?

Can this image be beautiful? Can you see the beauty within it? For years I stayed away from photographing in the dark. I judged it for some reason as ugly or evil. All the things I was taught growing up went right against the symbol of darkness.

I was drawn to take this image for a number of reasons, many of which are unconscious but nontheless I find beauty within this image. I love how the light touches the bricks and gives a bit of a sheen to reveal the texture of the bricks. I love the repetition and care that was revealed in how they were placed to create that pattern. I love the dark harsh lines of the fence I shot through which add some tension and a bit of drama to the image. Would this image be beautiful if it was full on sun shining down on everything? Maybe, but you would not see the texture of the bricks. You would not receive the drama of the fence and the feeling would be blah, in my opinion.

I have come to believe that darkness can reveal beauty.

Can you find beauty in the darkness?

Can you find beauty in your darkness?

Wisdom & Innocence.

Who in this photograph holds the wisdom and who holds the innocence?

Is it possible that they both do? What a wonderful match.

Do you think the grandfather can see himself when he was young? Some might say he is looking into the mirror.

Can he see the innocence in himself? Can he see the wisdom in himself?

This photograph is a favorite of mine and it for me is very thought provoking.

I love photographing Children and their Grandparents. The connection I witness is truly extraordinary.

Do you remember getting excited about a shell or a rock or the perfect stick? Do you think that same energy that it now might take winning the lotto always feels present when we hold onto our innocence? I mean a feeling is just a feeling right?

So is there wisdom in innocence or is innocence wisdom?

Perspectives

As a photographer I like to change my
perspective which allows me to see things I normally would not be able to see from my 6'2 stature. I find myself often either on the floor or up on a laddar or chair photographing. This brings a freshness to my work and gives us yet another way to look at something. So often I realize that my journey in photography has taught me so many life lessons. Is that because I am in my late thirties that perhaps I am more aware of this? I tend to think the older I get the younger I get. Does that make sense? I enjoy looking for the Easter Eggs that show up in my life especially related to my work. Do you notice the Easter Eggs in your life?

Sophie, for a small dog, has the appetite of a Great Dane. From her perspective the more feet under the table means more, more, more.

GOT SPRING?
Is Spring here? I have been waiting for spring to arrive. I keep looking out my window but it Winter is still vacationing with us here in the Northeast. Today I have the windows open to the studio the sun is shining and I am thinking about being outside.

I am ready for Spring are you? 

Truth is Beauty.
Honoring what is.

One of the aspects that I very much enjoy about photographing children is that you never know how they will show up.

When I first started photographing children I was very invested in a certain outcome of how the image had to be. I would get very invested in making it happen.

Almost always the child would sense my agenda and be less then cooperative. Making a space for what is to show up was a great lesson that I was given from my little clients

Now with time on my side I am able to stay detached to a certain out come. I know that as long as I am present and connecting with the child they are going to show up as who they really are. I believe there inlies the art of the image as it is based in truth which for me brings such POWERFUL content to the image and honors the person as who they really are. So I realize that both myself and my subject are colaborators in a sense. We make this agreement that we will both show up and be present for each other and then as I get out of the way the beauty of Truth shows up.

I am grateful to my little friends who are constantly reminding me to show up and just be!

Kennedy is the daughter of a dear friend of mine and I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Kennedy as she shared with me her many sides. These images to me summed it up for me.

To be so FREE that you can express how you feel in a given moment. What a great gift. Yes please!

 

Its St. Paddy's Day and all I want to do is play!

Have you ever woken up and decided that all you want to do today is play. I feel like playing yet I can't seem to find anyone else that is able to play today. I guess I will have to wait till people get out of work to have some fun. Or maybe I don't need to wait maybe I will play on-line.

LET'S PLAY! 

Grandparents.
These are my grandparents on my mother's side from Denmark. I have been going thru and scanning our family photographs into an archive. Its truly reminds me of how powerful and helpful photographs are to our family history.

My memories of being in Denmark in the summer time and going into the garden with my grandfather to pick strawberries and then to sit in their small kitchen and help my grandmother peel the strawberries for desert in the evening is a fond memory that I cherish. Finding this image of my grandparnts on the sofa in their home and how present and almost an all knowing look as they are being photographed shows me the essence of who they are and I am able to revisit them each time I see and experience this image. How wonderful it is to be able to SEE.

Photograph your Grandparents! Enjoy your Grandparents! Love your Grandparents!

 

Waiting or Awaiting?

It never ceases to amaze me of how we all arrive here. How we are destine to start so small and then continue to grow physically and mentally and spiritually.

I can only imagine the excitement the fear the range of emotions that a woman must feel as she knows that she is carrying another being within her.

I have started photographing the celebration of woman who are with child, awaiting, in bloom, pregnant, with bun in oven. None of these really seem to do this time justice. The energy that exists within a mother to be is simply BEAUTIFUL. Is there a word to describe this. All I can say is it truly is a time to honor and marvel at how small and how big we all are and to remember black,white, green, red, yellow, purple we are truly one and how wonderful we all are.

I found a wonderful magazine that I bought today called Plum the website is www.plummagazine.com enjoy!