a day of heartfulness

 

How many of you have had this happen: You’ve been out all day shooting easily over a hundred photos, come home, upload the photos to your computer and as you quickly go through them, your eyes stop on one or two (or more) that evoke such a strong emotion you have to catch your breath? Like me, I’m sure it’s been often.

When I finally decided to get serious with my photography I took hundreds of photos that were good, but as the years passed I noticed that while my photos were still good, they were changing. They were getting better and I assumed it was due to experience through the years, but then one day a friend pointed out something about my photographs that hadn’t occurred to me before, “Wow, you can see your heart in your photos”.

Now, looking back, I can actually see when the change began to occur: after the birth of my children, the passing of my brother, and the decline of my grandmother to name a few. With each one of these experiences a little bit of my heart would unlock and open, filling in the cracks and crevices with the love that was obviously needed there.

Some of you are probably nodding your head as you read this, completely understanding while maybe some of you haven’t gotten to the point where you’ve been able to completely unlock your heart and throw away the key yet. The bravest thing you could ever do is to love. Imagine what it would feel like to respond from your heart and not your head? When we open our hearts, our world begins to expand.

Let’s have a day of heartfullness – try acting from your heart today. Grab your camera, open your heart and feel the love. Respond to the world as if your heart were guiding you. Once you’ve done that, feel free to share with us, or if you already have photos that show your heart, share those, too. We’d love to see them.

Picture and words courtesy of Guest Blogger / Honorary Sister Chris Sneddon of Everyday Heartbeats, aka, Jerolds Sis or as I call her, just plain wonderful.

Comments

[Stina]

I sit here nodding my head! I love this post.
//Stina

[Sue Henry]

A few -- "from my heart" that touched my heart:

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/take-me-home-country-roads/

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/a-new-tradition/

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/my-heart-is-full/

[Marcie]

What a beautiful post. Resonates so perfectly with me.
Here's one - simply opening my heart to the first signs of real spring:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=733

[Claudia]

I really love your photographs. They are an inspiration. Claudia

[Alicia]

i completely understand the feeling of taking a lot of pictures and rushing home just to find those few amazing, perfect ones. it's why i always hurry in, straight to my computer and start uploading immediately upon arrival home! last weekend, i captured a moment of my nephew... when told he could pick out a rock from the tiny beach, he stopped where he was, and informed his mama that he wanted the rock he was standing on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/3375194989/

happy monday!

[elk]

what a very important post...your work inspires Chris

teenage daughters are challenging subjects so a quick sooc snap one fall afternoon as we were rushing somewhere makes my heart jump:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2952730581

[Puna]

Here's my day of heartfulness. I was having a hard day, but snapping pictures of little innocents cheered me up.

http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/a-day-of-heartfullness/

[benzismama]

I caught this one last week.

http://photosbytracie.blogspot.com/2009/03/every-little-thing.html

[renee @ FIMBY]

Wow, thank you what a great post. Opening my heart more and more I become feel vulnerable - ouch, definitely a risk but the beauty & love that you see from that that place is worth it.

[Lu]

wonderful post.

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

I am slowly peeling back the layers..........

http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com/2009/03/clearly-out-of-focus.html

-WW

[shelli]

Inspiring post.

[Heather]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36243122@N05/3348359231/

[Karyn]

i've taken a lot...but this one still means so much - you can read the essay that goes with it too...
http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/1369977

[Mariella]

Yep....it's all I see. What a great reminder to start the week!! xoxo, ~ M.

[Leslie]

Such a lovely post, here's my favorite heart felt moment.

http://lesliephoto.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-photo-was-taken-while-back-but-it.html

[simple effulgence]

What a great post!

Here is one striaght from my heart...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simpleeffulgence/3361136286/in/set-72157615811306083/

[cloudscome]

I love this post. Yesterday I was just sitting in the sun watching my boy play and was struck by the joy and creativity he follows. He's got my heart. http://sandycovetrail.blogspot.com/2009/03/playing-outside.html

[spread your wings]

wonderful post and photo.

this photo fills me with tenderness
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/3390390065/

[Charlane]

shots with heart and meaning always strike me harder and deeper than what I call "seed catelog" shots.

[Sara]

I take a ton of pictures of my kids but a few from the park this day I really loved.

http://indigoamethyst.blogspot.com/2009/03/beautiful-day-to-play.html

[Alejandra]

The picture and the post are both lovely.

Here is the first picture that I thought of when I read the post:
http://fotografias-fotografias.blogspot.com/2006/09/happy-belated-birthday-to-one-of-my.html

[Jamie]

I had one of those moments this weekend: http://umbrellablog.com/2009/03/smell-the-daffodils/

[meg manion silliker]

there are so many moments that make my heart skip a beat - but most recently, i would have to say this one does it for me....thump thump.....http://bluelimephoto.blogspot.com/2009/03/3-yr-old-many-faces-of.html

[sebrina]

yes!!! Nodding away :) Here are a few straight from my heart!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunmamma/3362632204/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunmamma/3337856826/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunmamma/3398572553/

[Tiffany Sanders]

Chris this is great! Not just cause your my friend but really and truly an inspiration and mentor with my photography! Thanks sister love you!

[Diane Schuller]

I'm nodding my head ... I've had that since my mother died. Here is one recent image of love:

http://albertaphotography.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/blog-love-over-internet-discussion-lists/

(although the post accompanying it is not about love -- the photo was intended to be a foil for the negativity and to bring about love through its presence).

Lovely, lovely post!

[Kelly]

i completely understand this feeling - I'm realizing as I'm shooting every day that I do have a style, that it's developing, that it's often soft and light and delicate, and sometimes gritty and dark. When you shoot every day, you can't help but capture your mood... Here is one from a walk with my sister and my daughter the other day that tells how I felt about our evening walk: tired, soft, happy, hopeful... http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3393014688/

[stephanie]

Here is my heart:
http://slsmithphotgraphy.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/9-years-ago.html

[kimberlee]

A baby lost
A baby born
A marriage broken
A finding of myself

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59339563@N00/3399314003/
My baby girl.

[Heather]

Here are my offerings from a heartfelt day . . .

http://mamamutterings.blogspot.com/2009/03/heartfelt.html

[CarrieJ]

I find it easier to "show my heart" when I am in my comfort zone. I had such a great time at this birthday party, watching the girls interact with each other, the dynamics of how they played. Many of this pics tug at my heart, maybe just because I love each of these kids so much!

http://thejaxon4.blogspot.com/2009/02/162-crawford-birthday-bash.html

[Georgia]

i understand.
one thing that pushed me to buy a camera was the death of my father. there are so many heartfelt moments i would have loved to capture while he was here. i don't want to let any moments like that pass by without at least trying to somehow capture them. this is one of the first pictures i took when i finally bought a camera.
http://shuttersisters.com/home/2009/3/30/a-day-of-heartfulness.html

[Georgia]

oops. i copied the wrong URL. i'll try this again.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-heart.html

[Matt Bamberg]

Your photographs really have a unique mystique. Matt Bamberg, The cover of my book, http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Secrets-Create-Winning-Photographs/dp/1598639021, has my most favorite photograph on it.

[Chris]

Ladies, I just love reading the comments you've left in regards to my post. And your photos? Wow. I am so moved by it all I had to post about it:
http://everydayheartbeats.com/2009/03/30/thanks-to-the-sisterhood/
Thanks for your beautiful words and thoughts. We're an amazing bunch of gals, don't you think?!

[chocolate covered musings]

celebrating with friends i was able to give them a gift - photographing the moments that made up their gathering

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoniewise/3300570622/

[kristin]

found on a beach walk with a new friend. the universe can be wide open and full of love if we are only ready to see.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3399352495/

[Kasia]

I realized this after the death of my grandfather. I was the only one with pictures of him and it struck me as such a shame. Most people don't like the way they look in pics but thats not what matters once they pass, it's the memories those pictures invoke for the living.

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