two rivers and a hammock

I can still hear their laughter bouncing across our woods, splashing into our stream and back across the front yard. Even now, while this hammock lays empty... I can still see their smiling toothless grins from this day. Summers in New England are like bits of gossamer woven together with sunshine and magic. We hold on tightly (to each other, to the seabreeze, to the joy) because just like childhood it passes in the blink of an eye.

I hold this moment with grace while balancing the camera before my smiling eyes. I fired off many shots in succession because of their agreeability in front of my lens. Days like this are fleeting: self consciousness creeps in more and more as we reach this cusp of boyhood. I can't help but find myself missing the days when the camera was much more an extension of our lives. It's now a delicate dance of permission and respect, playfulness and pondering. I seldom get this gift... yes, I bear witness to their bond, but the camera is not often allowed at this age.

But every now and then they allow me this. And I receive it with gratitude.

These moments dance before all of our lenses! We are all simultaneously watching our children grow up before our eyes. How do you move forward with photographing your children when they request it not be around? Let's share ideas and thoughts with each other today. And be sure to share with us your favorite summer moment from the weekend. Share it in the comments below and don't forget to tag your images #ssmoment in our OWP flickr pool.

Remember, we're kicking off a new feature here at Shutter Sisters: Photo essays. If you've got a collection of 6 images you'd like to see featured here as a photo essay, give us a shout. We love hearing from you and sharing your work.

Comments

[Marcie]

It's definitely a dance of knowing when to step in with your camera..and when to allow them their privacy and independance. And then - you start taking candid shots..capturing candid moments of others' kids:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/7/15/liberty.html

[melissa]

My plan is probably not the best, but I figure that if I keep having babies, I'll always have someone to take pictures of. With my older kids, I either take candid shots here and there (which they don't seem to mind), or if I want to take a more specific picture, I ask. They usually oblige. I am not beyond bribing a little bit, though. ;)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissatalbert/7544833214/in/photostream

[Sue]

So far, I have three willing subjects. But I know the time will come when they are not so willing.

My youngest grandson as he goes through a serious of emotional reactions to learning how to play chess with his grandfather: http://suehenryphotography.com/httpsuehenryphotographycom/2012/2/21/learning-to-play-chess.html

[Becky Sue]

I encourage my kids to be natural and to not give me the cheese grin. I remind them that whatever face they are making it will be frozen in time so often they will adjust to a nice/natural face. But then other times I get this...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/7582194970/

[DebC]

Me photographing my (3) kids .... never was an issue.
Never really thought about it.
I photograph.
Period.
Everyone knows.
Childhood does pass in the blink of an eye.
Did you know there are 940 Saturdays from birth to age 18?
Too short.
Too short.

[rakusribut]

though i have no children of my own, i know about the joy of capturing someone you love.....

http://exploringwithmycamera.blogspot.nl/2012/07/talking-in-photographs-part-3-portraits.html

[rakusribut]

though i have no kids of my own, i do know the joy of capturing someone you love....
http://exploringwithmycamera.blogspot.nl/2012/07/talking-in-photographs-part-3-portraits.html

[damiec]

these are wonderful. each on their own, and together they tell such a beautiful story.

though i know it's not true, i feel with most kids, and many adults too, i have this invisibility cloak that goes on as soon as i start shooting. i dont ask for poses or smiles, and in short time most forget about me and my camera.
and while sometimes I want and need that full-faced countenance to hold on to a moment, often all i need is a back or a hand, or a blurred bit of them. something that i think will feel far less intrusive as they inevitably become more camera aware and less tolerant.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/7586194340/in/photostream

[Johanna]

Well, a photo book just arrived today, the one I've made for my son's 18th birthday. Such a profound project for me to go through all those photos, all those years. The 940 Saturdays (thanks DebC, I didn't know). Yes, it makes me emotional, a bit sad too. But most of all it is a huge feeling of gratitude, to have been able to witness it all. I just hope that when he sees all the pictures in his book they can bring back something precious to him too.

How to take photos of a child who's growing up? Well, my boy never hated it. You need to have mutual respect though. He knew how important it was for me to take those shots because I talked to him about it. So he wanted to hand it out to me. And I always asked for his permission to share the photos with other people. If you go to my Flickr account you don't find a photo story of his childhood there. Too private to be shared in public, we agreed about it.

The relationship between a mother and a child is uniquely intimate. You just can't go around holding a camera in your hands as if it was a weapon. I think it is good to ask the child what kind of photos he/she wants you to take. To see the camera as a toy you play with together, as a mode to caress.

[Chelsea]

River looks so much like you Meredith!