Focus

Throughout the day, we move up and down along our journey. Passing from light to dark and back to light again. Sometimes when the planets align, when the sun is nearing its descent, I'm given a gift called 'time of day'. I sit half in and half out of the kitchen door. My bare feet on the back step while my son plays in the dirt with his trucks. He lays there all Zen like, lost in his own world while I sit with camera in hand as dinner simmers on the stove. The late afternoon sunlight streams in, and I can't help to think that life couldn't get much better than this. The closeness we have while in a different headspace from each other is most magical. I learn of him, of all his details while behind my camera. Of course some days, my camera is used as a shield or filter for true-life realities not so sunny. But on an afternoon like this, my camera is the magnifying glass. And the beauty I find is that he is willing to let our worlds gently mingle. We brush up against each other at this time of day. When I am mother/photographer/dinner burner/chore slacker/multi-tasker. And he is the barefoot boy child zooming trucks over clumps of dirt.

As he grows into himself, I find myself a mere observer. Not completely understanding the language or the rules of his boy planet. Sometimes I inch up close to him with my camera to capture this life of his that is only his. This breath as it slips and slides and grows before my very eyes. Wanting to remember it all overwhelms me. And so I focus. I have come to learn by taking photos throughout my days and weeks that what I'm trying to preserve is my perception of how life is. What I want to preserve is the way the moment finds my heart. While looking through my photo archives, I discover that i mainly focus on sunlight: how it feels splashing down across his shoulders, how it appears to me on afternoons like this. Today I focus on the leaf he discovers and offers up to me on a rock pedestal, "Keep it safe for me, Momma." This is his gift to me, and it's more precious than I ever knew. He gives me this time, this memory, and this space to document it as I see it.

There's something magical viewing life through someone else's camera lens. Most often it's a stranger... a person who captures something so universal, that you instantly feel as if you know them. There's kinship in the subject of the photo, the angle, the color, or the focus that speaks directly to you. This sense of familiarity is what keeps me coming back for more. I find myself at the doorstep of Shutter Sisters every morning with my cup of chai. I'm so grateful for this space to share my own today. So, share with me a bit of yourself, will you? What is your focus? The motion, the solitude. the calm, the chaos? Leave some links and share your focus, so we may learn a bit about yourself as well.

Photo and post courtesy of today's Honorary Sister/Guest Blogger Meredith Winn (aka camera shy momma).

Comments

[Marcie]

What a beautiful post. Here are a few recent ones of mine...

The motion:
http://marciescudder.blogspot.com/2008/04/courting.html
The calm:
http://marciescudder.blogspot.com/2008/04/rose-blush.html
The solitude:
http://marciescudder.blogspot.com/2008/04/golden-triangle_22.html
The chaos:
http://marciescudder.blogspot.com/2008/04/swizzle-stix.html

[naomi]

Here's my little bit of clear calm:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2445088524/

[Shelli]

Beautifully written post! Here are mine.

Motion:
http://www.mamaofletters.com/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy.html#26

Calm:
http://www.mamaofletters.com/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy.html#27

Solitude:
http://www.mamaofletters.com/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy.html#28

Chaos (I posted this once before, but it feels very appropriate to me):
http://www.mamaofletters.com/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy.html#18

[DanaB]

Macro shots bring tiny details into focus...I hope to live every moment focusing on the details in such clarity that I never forget them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/windowswideopen/2429908772/

~~

[kristin]

this week my little one and i got to be roomies on a roadtrip. this shot is a fave of our trip.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2449044217/

[Carrie Harvey]

My focus? Probably finding the solitude within the chaos: Here are two examples: one reflects perfect solitude, the other solitude within chaos (actually getting my two girls to sit still long enough to take a "good" picture!!.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23724564@N02/2442064704/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23724564@N02/2442063824/

[maya]

my focus is on carving out little pockets of time where i can do something i want to do.

http://springtreeroad.typepad.com/springtreeroad/2008/04/harriman-pt-1.html

[jenn]

My photostream has recently become a collection of works that could be titled 'finding the quiet moments in an otherwise stressful time'. Also, as I've been getting off work late, I've been playing a lot with twilight shots. I have a little point and shoot, but it does have the ability for me to fix an ISO or exposure time to a certain degree. I love the colours that come out at that time of night.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennemmer/sets/72157604796062877/

[Amy]

I think my focus is just happiness:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellaminnowpeas/192368554/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellaminnowpeas/201022318/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellaminnowpeas/431893854/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellaminnowpeas/1836924352/


Although there are admittedly other expressions as well...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellaminnowpeas/222980296/

[cuzamora]

My focus is pretty much always my son-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74752856@N00/2444799312/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74752856@N00/2443969973/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74752856@N00/2216656729/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74752856@N00/2299219496/
He inspires me each day because no matter what obstacles still remain for him, he always does it with a smile..or giggle..and with strength of courage.

[Staci]

i look forward to visiting Shutter Sisters every day... thank you for your beautiful, reflective post today! i've been contemplating some of the same aspects of life...

http://curlyqpress.com/wordpress/?p=77
http://curlyqpress.com/wordpress/?p=65
http://curlyqpress.com/wordpress/?p=55

[Sierra]

Such an intriguing question!

My focus is finding and sharing beauty. Especially when its in the faces of those I love (http://heyitssierra.com/blog/2008/03/15/sarah-with-ice-cream/) or in the details that might otherwise be missed (http://heyitssierra.com/blog/2008/04/29/after-the-storm/).

[Ginny]

These photos speak to my focus both professionally and personally-

http://monkeymemories.blogspot.com/2008/04/spread-your-wings-and-prepare-to-fly.html

Professionally, I'm a kindergarten teacher. We're so close to the end of the year and I'm getting ready to let my little ones take off and soar. I'm just amazed at the progress they've made this year and I'm so proud but also a bit sad at the same time.

Personally, my little toddler has taken HUGE steps towards independence and has just learned so much this past week. Even though he's not quite two, it feels like the first steps for him to fly...

[kyra]

so beautiful! thank you for sharing. i love your photographs. they are stunning, like paintings.

[Kacey]

I just love this thought you had! "What I want to preserve is the way the moment finds my heart." I so feel the same way!

I find myself focusing on reflections and shadows. Maybe it's my way of seeing the meaning behind the meaning. I seem to focus on just the tiny things in life. The simple moments.

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/04/05/life-in-focus-glass/
http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/04/04/signs-of-aging/
http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/04/15/a-man-and-a-woman-at-an-antique-mall/

[megan]

right now, i'm trying to focus on capturing the moment:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meganmona/2450514863/

[Lu]

My focus is being in the now, being in alignment and accepting my purpose.

http://flickr.com/photos/ldb/2428439315/
http://flickr.com/photos/ldb/808482174/
http://flickr.com/photos/ldb/808482224

[cotterpin]

Since my life is usually about the chaos, I tend to focus on the best case scenario, the light at the end of each tunnel...

http://cotterpinhouse.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/miles-to-go-before-we-rest/

[Sheri]

oh meredith, this is full of wonder and wonderful.

"What I want to preserve is the way the moment finds my heart." yes! thank you.

today i'm focused on mamas with cameras like you: http://www.mamazine.com/Pages/mamalike484.html

[Lawyer Mama]

Meredith, this was a lovely post. Thank you for bringing us into your quiet calm.

It seems that my boys are constantly in motion, but there are those unguarded moments - the ones I love to capture.

http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2445064970/

[Jennifer Jeffrey]

Wow. Sometimes I feel like having a camera in hand is somehow a bad thing, like I'm using it to separate myself from the moment, or that by taking photos, I'm not truly "in" the present.

But with this post, you've revealed the opposite. That the camera is a way to focus even more deeply on the present, that it provides a way to be even more connected to light + breath + motion + NOW.

Thank you.

[Alyssa Hedge]

Meredith,

You find the most beautiful way to meet life as it unfolds. I am sure there are days your writhe against what is being sent your way, but then through your lens you always manage to find the beauty, the peace and see through to the truth and heart of the moment. Thanks you so much for this post!

I'm in a very challenging time with my son, but through my husband's lens and sometimes my own - I see his truth..

http://www.hedgefamily.net/blog_images/Apr_08/TylerCl_Lg.jpg

[Amity]

I am so very proud to have you as my daughter!! Love you!

[tracey]

we are thrilled to have you sharing with us today Meredith. this is a wonderful post and a gorgeous photo. xo

[Kathleen]

I must say, in the past few months of enjoying Shutter Sisters, my focus on photography in general has increased. Thank you all! I am learning new things every day. What a community of artists.

Focus on FUN!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630286@N05/2446809613/
Focus on color:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630286@N05/2443329579/
Focus on light and on composition:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630286@N05/2434343175/

[littlepurplecow]

Loving sharing this space with you Meredith. Thank you for being here and contributing your images in our flickr pool. My focus is to discover or create and share something beautiful or thoughtful each day. Most often this takes the form of a still photographic image, but today it's a video:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlepurplecow/2453091794/

[lizziemarie]

Because of Shutter Sisters, my focus has been getting out and using my camera.I am grateful to you ladies for giving this fledgling photographer some ideas and the confidence to go for it! Always, family, flowers and food.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizziemarie/2452722188/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizziemarie/2398110799/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizziemarie/2449771426/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizziemarie/2398112675/

[lizziemarie]

oh, and more flowers :>)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizziemarie/2451890551/

[jen]

mines up :)

[Elizabeth]

I love photos that express to me a little bit of all the attributes you mention - motion, calm, solitude, and chaos. Every once I a while a capture an image that almost gets there. Thank you for this lovely post!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/esabet/2337967381/in/set-72157604115135213/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/esabet/2381888068/in/set-72157604346777072/

[Dawn]

i think her stillness is almost hypnotic.


http://nolegirl.typepad.com/my_weblog/

[amanda]

beautiful thoughts, meredith. thank you.

[melanie]

Lately, I have been photographing nature and things that make me joyful. :)

http://www.melaniehocking.com/Off_The_Map/blog/Entries/2008/4/29_Shutter_Sisters_4.29.html

[camerashymomma]

thanks everyone, for all the love and comments. what wonderful photos that ya'll have shared today!! and what an amazing group of sisters! thanks for the warm welcome.

[Rachel Parton]

Motion: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2455756946_27d133b0ba.jpg?v=0

Calm:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/2455757188_08d0757e88.jpg?v=0

Solitude: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2454933953_ddc4105034.jpg?v=0

Chaos:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2455761826_2110d4f545.jpg?v=0

[kenny]

thank you baby, just for being you... i am an idiot for not seeing the obvious.
that is why i love you, you help take the blinders off this dumb ole horse.