Yin and Yang

 Sometimes I feel like I have bipolar disorder when it comes to photography. I have two great loves, nature macros and people portraits. In many ways they seem so different, but when you really start to dissect it, maybe not so much.

Partially because, when I shoot people, I end up all up in their faces, in their eyes, trying to catch the intimacy of the moment. I don't go telephoto like many photogs do when they are shooting people, because they don't want to crowd their subject and make them feel uncomfortable. For better or worse, I use a shorter lens and crawl around, up, down, and on top of the people I am shooting. Luckily most of the time they are children, who seem to tolerate my antics better than adults. I make faces at them, or in desperate times, even pull out the silly noises from behind the camera.

All of which I don't have to do when shooting nature. When I am rolling around in the dirt, I enjoy the silence. The calm. The fact that I have to control my breathing to be absolutely still since I don't use a tripod when shooting very close macros. It almost becomes meditative. Zen like. Peaceful.

Such different experiences, but both essential to making photography such a rich part of my life. The laughter and the peace. The yin and the yang.

Thanks to Aimee aka Greeblemonkeyfor being our gracious guest blogger/honorary sister today and for sharing her perfect photograph and words with us. Aimee has also offered one of her stunning 2009 calendars from her etsy shop today for our giveaway. Leave your comment for a chance to get your hands on it! It's one beautiful way to keep track of your New Year. And be sure to visit her blog for yet another super sweet greeblepix contest this month.

Comments

[michelle]

beautiful.

[Michelle]

Beautiful photo. I always enjoy your photos and especially your nature "subjects". They exude peace and calmness. But, I have laughed out loud and smiled so often at how you've caught your human subjects too! I hope you stay bi-polar for a very long time. ;-) Thank you for sharing your work so openly. It's inspiring.

[Celia]

beautiful shot - and i LOVE Aimee Greeblemonkey's work! Cool giveaway!

[monstergirlee]

Hi Aimee, great photo. One of the things I really like about macro (or in my case just plain old close-up as I have yet to acquire a macro) is how the eye of the beholder can make the ordinary or even ugly look so freakin' cool!
I like your thoughts on Yin and Yang. You know I don't do much portraiture but your stuff is amazing.

[Dawn]

Nice post, wonderful pictures~

[kath]

I don't have a calendar yet. This would be a perfect gift for me. Yin and Yang. Love it.

[Chocolate on my Cranium]

Beautiful photo. I'm just about to go out and try to capture the beauty of the pogonip on the trees, barbed-wire fences, and anything else that takes my fancy. Pogonip is an Shoshone Indian word meaning white death. It was their word for the freezing fog that comes in the mountain valleys during early morning winter hours leaving a sheet of frozen ice crystals over everything. I hope I can be successful!

[sammie]

so what i need!

[Autumn]

I aspire to be a franction as good of a photographer as Aimee.

[Jackie]

Macro nature, one of my favorite modes! I have yet to muster up the courage to get serious about potraits, but I like the idea of getting in the faces of peeps, and crawling up, down, around and on top of people!

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

Lovely photo..I, too, find myself with similar yin/yang tendencies...

[Lashley]

Nature macros and people shots are favs of mine as well! I think they go together quite well.

[betrank]

I love Greeblemonkey and this post is just one of the reasons why. Great stuff! Now just think about a Shutter Sisters gathering where we could all be rolling around photographing nature and photographing eachother as we were photographing nature.

Run on thought I know but... how awesome would that be??

<3 the Greeblemonkey

[Sherry]

This post reminded me that one of my goals is to not be shy about photographing people up close. My daughter is much more gifted in that area. My reserve bugs me and in 2009 I'm so getting over it! Thanks for the calender giveaway.

[cathy]

beautiful!

[marty]

I tend to shoot portraits rather close as well...for me it's about the people not the location other than what it adds to them...how it can reflect happiness, joy, peace, energy...

[Sharon]

Great photo. Interesting parallels between macro photography and portrait photography. You've inspired me not to zoom but get up close and personal with my subjects . . . and the kiddos are a great place to start.

[Sue Carter]

I love macro photography and agree totally with Greeblemonkey. That's why I love to shoot macro.
Thanks for sharing!

[Sonja]

love her work!

[devan]

yay! love it!

[ELK]

photos are lovely ...the calendar would be well used!

[Bari]

I just found you and am so excited to learn and be inspired by you. My daughter is expecting twins in a month (3 precious ones under 3!) so I am eager to improve my limited photog skills. Love your site

[Rebecca]

So beautiful! What a lovely capture. I would love to enjoy this on my wall! Hi, Aimee!

[karin]

wonderful! i love new calendars. fresh starts, and clean, empty pages with which to place the memories as they happen ... I'd love to win!

[Tracy]

gorgeous photo and interesting post. thanks!

[MGF]

I have follow Greeblemonkey for a short while.

Love the toes.......

[ConnieC]

That calendar is beautiful.

[mary]

I concentrate on nature because my family refuses to pose for me. ;)

[norah]

Beautiful photo!

[Julie Alvarez]

I do both things the same! Move around my human subjects with a short lens, and catch my breath without a tripod when shooting macro...

[buttercupyaya]

Thank you Aimee for putting my thoughts into words I couldn't put together so graciously. I do the same -- up in your face business. ;)

[Brinn]

thanks for the opportunity to win!

[Bria]

Happy holidays! I love finding inspiration here.

[Janet]

Very cool photo! Sign me up for the giveaway please.

Janet

[Sheri]

Just beautiful. Thank you. I'd love to have one of your calendars.


unexpectedblissblog(at)gmail(dot)com

[~Kristina]

great post! awesome thoughts.

[robin alias rstedem]

the details are quite amazing...I believe that's what makes a truly wonderful picture..thanks for sharing such a beautiful capture

[stella]

I love coming to this site for inspiration when I just don't know what to photograph.. thanks for keeping it coming! xx

[meghann]

I'm a huge fan of Aimee's work, and it would rock to win a nature calendar!

[Janine]

i love that photo. so many different things to look at in such a small photo.

[Jodyangel]

Nice to meet you Aimee! We share similiar sentiments about photography. I am not sure what type of photography I love best...yet. I do love outdoor work. People are harder for me. Maybe because they move lol. But I love your work and would be honored to win your calendar!

Merry Christmas!

[Kyla]

What a BEAUTIFUL photo! Love all those details!

[t does wool]

yes.,lovely work here.

[Esperanza]

love the photo

[fruitlady]

Lovely shot. Of course I would love to win the calendar that I screwed around and never ended up ordering...

[Lisa]

Great photo!

[Melissa]

Oh sign me up for this giveaway!

[victoria winters]

I love macro nature and people photos too! Now, pick me please! :)

[robin]

what a thoughtful post. very true.

[LB]

I love nature macros! Lovely.