fish out of water

These early days of motherhood have been quite the challenge for me when it comes to my photography. Truth be told, (I don't know what I was thinking...) I did not expect that I would be spending so much time at home, and that I would be shooting more at home as well.

As it turns out, I'm feeling like a fish out of water! Shooting at home is totally out of my comfort zone. I'm noticing that it feels very strange for me to photograph my home, my belongings, my family... I realized that all these years I have been focused on capturing only the outside: my travels, people, models on location, etc. Staying close to my heart is making me feel vulnerable. Do you ever get that? I suspect good expressive photography can come out of exploring these emotions. But I definitely need some warming up, which is why I'm sitting with this delicious book for inspiration and guidance.

In the meantime, since many of you are masters at documenting your lives, would you share with me some of your best domestic shots today? Show me those jackets hanging by your front door, the light coming through your window, your walls, your meals, even those dust bunnies under your bed. I want to be inspired by the real deal. Show me how to open up.

Comments

[cigi]

Being single with no kids, I'm rarely inspired to document my home life. Today was the exception:
http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/256365/

[Jennifée]

I'm rather fond of this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/3804599093/

Not the best shot technically perhaps, but I like it because it documents the loneliness I felt on that specific evening when my SO was out of town, and reminds me how that loneliness went away.

[Marcie]

Well..this isn't MY home..but it is A home...and an example of how the smallest details can tell the story of who is living there:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1297

[DorkyMum]

Great post! If you are used to doing travel photography, maybe look around your home and see if there are any objects from your travels that might make for a good shot... The things I take shots of around my own house might be pretty mundane, but they all have great memories attached to them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4292561339/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4292562627/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4292558559/

[Marianne LoMonaco]

My living room window - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariannelomonaco/5036960302/

[BlessedMess]

finally captured the nightly scene that plays out on my couch...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/5033380725/

And all the dust I'm not cleaning up can help make a pretty photo ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/5001217373/in/photostream/

[Masha Tkacheva]

Hi,
I really like taking photographs at home - most often inspired by my kids and kids of my friends.
But friends at their homes are a great subject too.
Thank you for the post, it reminded me some good moments.
Wish you great time staying at home, full of expiration and new ideas.
Masha.

Here are some of my images -
about kids:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/masha_tkacheva/5044155874/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/masha_tkacheva/5044168846/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/masha_tkacheva/5044155882/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/masha_tkacheva/5044155884/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/masha_tkacheva/5043567009/

about friends:
http://www.photoline.ru/photo/1238018132?rzd=au
http://www.photoline.ru/photo/1238198891?rzd=au
http://www.photoline.ru/photo/1051017299?rzd=au
http://www.photoline.ru/photo/1051017299?rzd=au

[Katy]

Apparently domestic for me is comfort food and drink :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katyharmer/4966245568/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/katyharmer/4985286352/

[Lillian]

I definitely hear you! I'm home with two little ones most of the time and I'm constantly challenged to find new material right around me or to see things differently and appreciate the beauty that exists right here, right now - even in the mess.
Not my greatest composition, etc-wise, but a meaningful photo all-the-same, and I care most about meaningful:)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lillianclaire/5036890299/

[Sarah Craig]

Here is a series of photos of my daughter and my husband on an ordinary evening in our living room. http://thecraiglife.blogspot.com/2010/09/15-months.html

And have you seen Bonnie Berry's work? I think she does an EXCELLENT job capturing her life on film. http://www.bonnie-berry.com/blog/

[Puna]

I love this photo! It reminds me of my childhood days in Thailand.

This may be a shameless promotion but I do love this photo. http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2010/09/whats-out-your-window-3/. It's just a little light on the wing of the airplane out my window.

Simple but it's serene to me and I hope you will consider playing.

[Amy]

This is an old shot from last year, but it's remained my favorite "everyday" shot that I've ever taken. My daughter was just learning how to draw smiley faces, and she filled page after page with them:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15772313@N07/4278943350/

[kristin]

be gentle with yourself new mama.
it is such a life changing event, and soon you will find your way in these new waters.

myself now being a momma to 3 souls, so much of what i shoot is home centered. it can be chaotic, messy, but beautiful and cozy. i love a napping child, an unmade bed full of soft thrifted sheets, wash hanging in the sun, and creating at a favorite corner or table. this is my most recent fave of my young ones waking up and going right to their craft table. a quiet morning moment.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/4937333347/in/set-72157621920540902/

i also made a set just for the love of my home....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/sets/72157621920540902/with/4937333347/

[Kat]

I normally don't take home shots either! I identify with you there. But since we have moved far away from family and friends I've photographed our living space for them, almost a year ago. Now I'm glad that I have these!
http://www.kateyeview.com/2009/10/decorating-is-done.html
http://www.kateyeview.com/2009/10/kitchen-composition.html

[Jessica]

I pretty much only photograph in my home. Mostly because I'm such a homebody these days with young children but also because I find great inspiration here.

An afternoon in the sun on my bed:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27279362@N05/5016453415/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27279362@N05/5017049916/

The summer harvest:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27279362@N05/4977717902/

[Brenda]

I find that I do a lot of photography at home because I can find so much inspiration here. Where I live, the grasses and hills are brown for the majority of the year and I find I become uninspired to do landscape images. I'll do macros, abstracts, around the house, cooking and shots of the grandkids:

http://www.pbase.com/skiingrn1/image/103407262
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50434777@N00/5040910864/
http://www.pbase.com/skiingrn1/image/123686927
http://www.pbase.com/skiingrn1/image/109252502


You can have a lot of fun with the items and people in your home.

[Bettina]

Oh i think i need to spend a little more time inside too!!!! I rarely think of picking up my camera in my house! Some great post so far and some good inspiration!

Here a couple i found:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4884634122/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4884032503/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/5041157300/

[P]

I've witnessed this so many times and finally pulled out my camera.

http://jpgmag.com/photos/2182237

[sharon]

stealing cookies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48873192@N04/4622214513/

holding baby
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48873192@N04/5041945109/

unhappy baby
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48873192@N04/5042569462/

little feet
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48873192@N04/5044765824/

best spot for a nap
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48873192@N04/5044143177/

big brother
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48873192@N04/5044143115/

[sarah]

I seldom photograph my home, but was excited when our new french cabinet arrived ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shorelinesphotography/4933981324/in/set-72157624811872307/

[Jessica Sweeney]

A lot of my photography happens at home. It's a great setting because there's no pressure. I can take my time, arrange elements as I see fit, or maybe chase the cat around the room with my camera for half an hour (about how long it takes me to get a good, in-focus photo of her).

Here are a few flower macros from last week on my back deck. Looking at them you would have no idea that I took them at home.

http://quotidian-photography.blogspot.com/2010/09/getting-closer.html

[bridge]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/2967589855/in/set-72157613174564109/
Claire hating her peas, she ate the salmon though.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/3735130967/in/set-72157613174564109/
the daily scene.

Enjoy your shifting focus, you will find major beauty in the daily grind and baby growing. The dishes, the dinners, the beautiful mess.

[cynthia]

I know what you mean about shooting out of your comfort zone. As a stay-at-home mom, most of my photos are shot at home and my subject ... my kids doing what kids do inside or in the backyard. My photoblog (http://apictureintime.wordpress.com) is full of home life photos.

[melody]

Couple of home shots:

A bunch of love http://www.flickr.com/photos/melsphotophun/4569864555/

and

A glimpse of "relaxed" homeschool http://www.flickr.com/photos/melsphotophun/4862521204/lightbox/

[Jenny]

It's funny, but as a natural light photographer, I tend to book sessions outdoors, yet I have so many images of my children at home that I treasure!

Here's a few:

http://www.jenniferblaauw.com/2010/09/it-was-late-too-late-but.html

http://www.jenniferblaauw.com/2010/04/when-i-talk-people-listen.html

http://www.jenniferblaauw.com/2010/04/by-light-of-silvery-moon.html

http://www.jenniferblaauw.com/2010/03/intense-concentration.html

[Heather]

Here are a few of my real home moments

the put your shoes away moments
http://www.flickr.com/photos/htekmo/5042880973/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/htekmo/4446414409/in/set-72157605108082204/

the just one more video game moment
http://www.flickr.com/photos/htekmo/4841292781/

the brush your teeth moments
http://www.flickr.com/photos/htekmo/4835870493/

it all looks so much nicer in pictures

[mosey]

Unlike you, I would LOVE to feel confident in taking more photos of people/places outside my home. I'm not there yet. But I call some of my at-home photos the "beautifully mundane". Like this one the other day:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a-la-mosey/5043027981/

[thea]

yes it makes me a bit tender...it was while home with Trey when he was little that my love for photography bloomed. Go with it. I think you will fall in love with it:)

[Lisa G.]

I bet you'll get used to it soon enough. you discover a lot. then you get moments like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yarnattacks/5034090150/ when your baby falls asleep...on the floor...by himself.

[melissa]

i've always used my home – and gardens – as a photo lab ... for as long as i can remember. this past year, since i retired, i've done this more than ever. don't think there's an inch of my home that hasn't been photographed (including every flower in the gardens, and probably every bug and butterfly!). here's a small sample set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonpiepuck/sets/72157624958607333/

and speaking of photographing the dust bunnies ... i actually took this picture of the debris i swept up one sunny day last winter. i thought it was telling that even sea glass could be found in the pile!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonpiepuck/5045857981/

[Deb]

As a mother I am constantly surprised what my child does and how beautiful she is. Photographing her is almost as good (better, even) than traveling the world and shooting other people and places and things. Being a photographer is a wonderful thing, but being a mother and a photographer is incredible! Here is my shot for today: http://www.flickr.com/photos/debneweyphotography/5046388962/

[Nichole]

I take so many photos at home. Like other posters, I'm mama with a little one, so home is where I feel most comfortable whipping out my camera.

I don't upload to flickr on a consistent basis. But you can check out my blog as I post a few photos there.

Have fun discovering a new path of inspiration!

[Hannah]

It's been so cool to follow your journey into motherhood :)
Here are some of my domestic shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannahmayo/4446355016/in/set-72157623994739396/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannahmayo/4352849392/in/set-72157623994739396/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannahmayo/4317831446/in/set-72157623994739396/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannahmayo/4825451910/in/set-72157623994739396/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannahmayo/4710262765/in/set-72157623994739396/

[kathy mcelroy]

How about something as simple as a lamp or a light bulb. I posted a few photo's on my blog...
http://kathymcelroy.typepad.com/stories2tell/2010/09/let-there-be-light.html#comments

[Stephanie]

I take a lot of of photos around my house and yard...sharing them always make you feel a little more vulnerable.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgracephoto/5048482737/

[littlepurplecow]

I love your image, Alex.

Elizabeth Fleming is one of my favorite fine art photographers who focuses her lens primarily in her home:

http://www.elizabethfleming.com

[Trish]

These are two of my favourite domestic images. I'm still learning how to use my camera. In this case I was only JUST starting to get out of the "training wheel" modes, with Aperture priority. Check out my blog entry for two shots of the morning sunshine on my pillow. :)
http://ceilidhontherun.com/?p=384

[babyhawk]

Fish out of water is certainly the odd one out as you just feel uncomfortable when you are not loved and cared for.