Yesterday Bea told me, "Mama let's go sit on the steps and drink our ice tea. It's so cozy." She's so joyful these days, it makes my heart quiver. These little innocent, playful sentences that tumble and roll off of her tongue all day long...how I wish I could bottle them up, record them and replay them over and over as the soundtrack to my life. Ah...but this soundtrack only adds one track after another. It's unable to repeat, so it seems.
I don't think I'm ever without a camera anymore. I usually have my real camera tucked away in my bag or basket. And if not, I've got my iPhone. This is a habit of mine that has changed over the years. Because I went through a long period where I took hardly any pictures. Nothing of the day to day and just a bit of special ocassions or trips. How different from now. But lately (particularly this season), I'm constantly quizzing myself, wondering what it is that I can find to photograph. It's become a mental exercise for sure. Keeping my eyes receptive and open - to anything - and continuously learning how to use my camera to recreate the image I see through my own lens.
I've got so much more practice to do. There's so many more ways that I'd like to improve and expand. But I'm completely fine with it. Because throughout this whole learning process, toting my camera around and matching up the viewfinder to my eye, has never felt like work to me. Taking pictures is constantly fun and joyful. And let's face it - the combination of me and a camera coupled with having an adorable kiddo in my constant presence makes for a serious habit.
I'm here to confess that my DSLR is a godsend. My second pair of eyes. Anything is possible with my little black box and the right lens. And if I had to ponder my most prized material possessions, the camera would be somewhere at the top of the list.
Today I took it with me outside thinking I probably wouldn't use it. But as I was splashing around with Bea in the pool, I kept seeing the big red sun shining down upon us with such loyalty and the gentle blondness of the peach fuzz which graces her little back and the drops of water reflecting the golden light.
And well, I was so glad that I had my camera. Bea let me snap away for about two minutes and I'm so grateful. Because at the end of the day, I simply love uploading and revisiting these little frozen moments in time.
No matter the hardships. No matter the challenges. I'm in agreement with the little one. This life is one to get cozy with.
What will she one day think of all these shutter releases aimed at the tiny moments of her childhood? I wonder.
Beautiful writing Nichole, simply lovely words!
Posted by: homebird | July 29, 2011 at 06:29 AM
"What will she one day think of all these shutter releases aimed at the tiny moments of her childhood? I wonder."
she will be so happy she has a mommy who cared that deeply...
Posted by: ladycordelia | July 29, 2011 at 07:11 PM
or she'll think her mom is an overbearing kook! :)
Posted by: Nichole | July 29, 2011 at 09:23 PM
Aw...thanks! Hope your little one is fully recovered now!
Posted by: Nichole | July 29, 2011 at 09:24 PM
Stunning photos Nichole! I think she will love the beauty in the moments you have captured.
What DSLR do you have? I have the Nikon D90 and it is so heavy! Sometimes I think 'Why am I keeping this really heavy camera on my shoulder' until I catch that perfect moment which makes me feel so happy! But I don't have an iPhone so I have no choice but to keep carrying it around...It's quite addictive isn't it?
Posted by: mamaUK | July 30, 2011 at 07:20 AM
Not only are these photographs beautiful in their natural simplicity, they also depict Bea's childhood how it really is. All her days, all your moments together, line up like pearls on a string.
Most of the photos I have of myself as a child are images were I am placed in front of something - as if the goal was to capture as much as possible in one shot. I find myself searching for details in that background, hoping that they will tell me something about me.
When I had my son in 1993, there were no digital cameras around, and I would ruin myself on film. People found it strange that I 'wasted film' on his neck, his hands, his feet and all blurry images of him running around. Today (he's soon 18) I am glad that no film was ever wasted on him. It was all worth it - every single one of them.
Posted by: Lilli | July 30, 2011 at 07:48 AM
So lovely Lilli...Yes, my childhood pictures are much sparser than Bea's (of course):) And like yours, of the posed fashion. It is somewhat a mystery to me as to what I was really like as a child. I remember some things... but of course, there's a lifetime that we forget. The memory is such a fascinating beast, isn't it?
I sometimes crave film photography once again. There is definitely something to say about the long wait and unknown results of the processing. Good stuff...I'm sure your son has a beautiful collection of photos from his childhood.
Posted by: Nichole | July 30, 2011 at 07:46 PM
I have a Nikon D60 which I love. It's not too heavy, but definitely bulky especially if I am using my zoom lens.
Posted by: Nichole | July 30, 2011 at 07:49 PM
...I would like another lens really, I have a 50 mm f 1.4 G lens at the moment which I love but I really don't know enough about photography to choose another one :)
Posted by: mamaUK | July 31, 2011 at 08:19 AM
I have that lens and I use it a lot -especially indoors. I love it and would love it even more if it had auto focus capability (on my camera because it's more entry level than the D90, the focus is in the lens itself, I think). Any hoo, manual focus gets tricky when photographing moving children.
The other lens that I love a lot is the 55-200. I love to take that one when we are outside. I can zoom in from far away and it is auto - focus.
Posted by: Nichole | July 31, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Inspirational post. This will give much motivation to all the professional camera men. When they will get tired of clicking images just let them read it then they will again get active to work.
Posted by: Ashley | June 20, 2013 at 01:59 AM