Honesty in photography

Want to know a secret, most of us photographers are not honest, we're storytellers. We see a picture, we create it with our lens and then manipulate it to what emotion we want to convey. Seriously its that secret that the greats know best. They understand how to convey emotion consistently in their pictures in order to tell a great story and the best photographer out there do it in every single picture and just understand people.

I was thinking about this while taking this picture today. Here is the "story" behind the photo. My oldest got sent home from school today with a fever. As a result he has gotten a lot of extra love and cuddles from mommy today, which has put him in a cuddle bug mood. While rushing to watch an episode of "The Berenstein Bears" the boys have been anticipating, Elliot slipped on the ground and fell. As a result I kindly asked him "Are you ok, are you hurt?" Then Erik responds "Come here Elliot for a cuddle, I'll make you feel better."

Its a dream of mine that my children look to each other for comfort as I do with my own siblings, and my boys having a strong friendship/relationship is something I feel passionately about and foster in the best way I know how. So when Erik did this I wanted to capture the moment forever but of course said "hold that pose while I get my camera." Then I ran into the other room messing with my ISO and exposures while I ran back, until I thought I had it close enough to just snap the moment. In truth I got the shot, not the original sincere look I was going for. This is why not all moments should be photographed honestly. I did get enough of the photo to tell you my story the way I wanted it to be told and the way I envisioned it.

But here is the truth, it wasn't perfect, this photo worked and it was good enough, but I wanted more. When I first snapped this moment, this is the very first image on my camera. In no way was it showing what I wanted or telling the story I felt emotionally connected too.

 

I tried again, and got the shot that does show my story, but it wasn't perfect and didn't capture that first hug my kids gave each other that was so sincere it melted my heart. So I tried again and got this shot. Sometimes though you have to know when you have enough and walk away from what was in your head.

In all honesty, for every single photo session I shoot professionally, I am trying to tell a story, but honestly it just a posed emotion. Its finding the truth that makes the best photographers the best. You can have all the technical skills, the visions, the location, but its the emotion that makes the photograph. When I am photographing a family I want to show the truth of the love and connection in that family in the best way I can, with the limited knowledge I have about that family. Mostly its a pretty setting with a beautiful family and it works, but its not great until the emotions come out. The same goes for headshots, weddings, what have you. Until there is an honest emotion or an honest moment the picture is just good enough. Let's just say photojournalist have my utmost respect.

End of January

Today is the last day of January and I felt like I have spent this last month in a haze and as it was a beautiful spring day, my haze is over, and its time to wake up and smell the flowers. So what is my favorite method, to take pictures.

Today didn't start that way. I saw it was 80 when I went to pick up Erik from school and decided then and there from 3-5 we were going to be outside today. No arguments, no excuses, nothing. It was just too gorgeous of an afternoon to spend indoors. So we woke Elliot up from his nap, took his snack and went outside.

Here are our escapades from today. A clever way to use an old device. I told Erik "wait I'll take a picture while your in it." Erik says "Mom hurry up I can't hold it very long." haha Not sure what that meant, but it was a fun way to start an afternoon of pictures and of course brother always want in on them too.

 

 

I like this picture because I was working on Elliot's photobook today and commenting to Erik how much I love it when Elliot did this pose in pictures and how cute it was. This was Erik's version.

Then soon after our game we had a total "brothers forever" moment. Today even started that way as they didn't fight all morning and Elliot said to me "mommy I want to wear gray and black today just like Erik." He was really upset when I made him wear the matching pants instead of brown ones.

 

One nice thing that has happened this year is we have made some neighborhood friends. Not the type of friends you need to call and schedule a playdate with a week or so in advance. The kind where you can say "we are going to be outside riding bikes in the front yard today so bring your bikes over and the kids can play for an hour." Its nice not having to plan and for the kids to have a quick playdate. Definitely helps the 5 year olds are the same temperament.

Testing limits to see how high we can go down the hill and still make it into the driveway. It gets higher all the time.

How many kids can fit in one wagon? Apparently 4 today. We'll see what happens next time.

Lastly just having some fun with sun flare and see how far I could take it before it didn't work. Without a lens hood I can't take it very far sadly.

Then here are a couple of gems I found on my camera while downloading today. This picture is one of the "photograph Elliot funny sleep positions." All year we have been talking about doing this and creating a page in his book. Of course once I take just one picture he hasn't done a weird position in weeks. Sadly I think he might have outgrown this stage.

Just a cute picture from Christmas Eve of Carl reading to all the kids. We love books around here.

{Sneak Preview} Prosin Family

Today I had the pleasure of photographing the Prosin Family. They have a 3 year old boy, the exact same age as my 3 year old. As boys are he was full of energy and much more interested in the playground than taking pictures. I need to rethink taking pictures near playgrounds with the under 5 crowd. Its very distracting although the background is gorgeous and we worked with it very well.

Aaron and Amanda were so much fun to work with. Amanda is a fellow academic so we related well and Aaron is also a photofile so we could talk shop easily. Zach, well he was just a three year old with some of the most gorgeous blue eyes I have seen and full of energy. You could easily see how much love and how well this family worked together.

We spent the afternoon in the park trying to capture some family pictures; some in the moment and some posed. The highlight of the day, a tree Zach could climb himself and an old fashioned playground where he could climb everything. This boy was definitely a monkey in his past life.

 

 

 

 

Learning to ride a bike

This is a major milestone in a child's life. I had vision of all of us heading to the park or Erik's school yard since that is the nearest flat ground, and I would have my camera out while Carl carefully instructed Erik. He is my first and this is what I thought happened with every child because that is what the movies told me. I am serious when I say that!

Then this summer right before Erik turned 5 he expressed an interest in learning to ride a bike without training wheels so we purchased bikes to use in Michigan. We went to one of the many deserted asphalt roads and tried to teach him. Erik just couldn't balance, over and over again he would go about 5 feet and fall and get frustrated and hurt. After a day or two of trying he decided he didn't like it and we gave up on the idea of a two-wheel bike and stuck the training wheels back on. I wasn't going to force the poor guy.

There is one thing I know about my first born, he likes to be in control and likes to do things independently in his own way and in his own time so when I least expect it he already knows how to do it and I didn't even have to teach him. This is exactly what happened yesterday.

We were at his friend's 5th birthday party and while I was watching Elliot in the bouncer Erik is in the drive way picking up the two-wheel bike and trying to ride again. The hostess instantly informed me worried he might get hurt. I walk over there to see my boy riding down the hill perfectly steady like he already knew how to ride a two-wheel bike.

Now I know for a fact that this is a new thing for him. We were at this exact same house and he tried the exact same trick just two weeks ago. Instead of riding, he kept falling and couldn't balance, but in just two short weeks, something just clicked for him yesterday. Their house provided the perfect Erik learning opportunity, an environment he could control himself. He rolled down the hill to get the bike started and then crashed into a wall to stop himself. Complete control and the only way Erik would do it, no teaching involved for my very independent child.

So we came home, it was dark, but after the birthday party we were all excited to try again and see how much of a fluke it was. Carl took off the training wheels and we went outside to play while dinner was in the oven. Guess what, he did it again on his own without and help, he just needed us to start him. Then realistically we waited until the next morning to teach him the final step.

So here are some pictures of my "little" boy who taught himself how to ride a bike. He can now start, stop and break all without falling. Our next step will be mastering our crazy hills without putting his life in danger. I definitely see some bike path rides in our future and he goes so much faster on a two-wheeler than with training wheels. This is going to be an adjustment for all.