Mama Focus

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we thought we’d turn our attention to the mamas in the house.

Shutter Sisters, in conjunction with the fine ladies of Mamazine are hosting the 2^nd MAMA FOCUS photo contest. No more excuses ladies. We’ve been talking about this for a while and now. It’s time to get on the other side of the camera—all clicks on you. Or, if you are so inspired, you can enter a photo of a mama friend too. Like the photo above of the beautiful Keri and her gorgeous son Sam. You can enter any shot you’d like with only one exception—the main focus must be on the MAMA. Yay Mamas!

The rules and how-tos are posted on the official MAMA FOCUS page at Mamazine so click over and see how it’s done. To make it really easy to enter, we’re using a Flickr Group to keep track of all the entries so you can just submit your photos to the pool and you’re entered. That way too, we can get inspired by one another’s handiwork. We’re good like that.

And we’ve got prizes! Blurb has got the grand prize winner covered while the runners up will get playful bangle bracelets from Give Simple.

The contest started on Sunday, April 27 and ends Saturday, May 31. Winners will be announced Sunday, June 8.

OK Sisters, get ready, get set…

Click.

what if?

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about mortality. Namely, my own. I’m not going to get morbid and depressing about it, I promise. But since my mind has been wandering amidst the what-ifs, I’ve decided to try being quiet with these inevitable thoughts (and yes, fears) and listen to what the angels are saying. You know, the ones that gently glide by beckoning the big questions;

Are you doing what’s important? Are you living your best life? Are you spending time on what matters most?

I think we would all like to answer yes but sometimes we just aren’t doing the things that matter, as we are clouded by daily demands. It’s the way it goes. But then there are the reminders that lift us from our fog, stories that stir our souls awake, or circumstances and situations that bring the big picture back into focus.

Jen Balantine’s question has been ringing in my ears and instead of leaving my list on paper, I’ve decided to begin to make a dent in it. I want to make a deliberate schedule to fit in the things that matter most; the things that I would do if I had only a few months to live. I plan on making a priority getting all the wonderful photos and stories of my children’s lives off of the computer and organized and into books and memory boxes. I want to create for my girls something tangible to hold onto, to look through, to remind them of their life growing up in our family. Growing up with me. I want them to know (even beyond the knowing that they will always carry with them) that I was here, that I am here, in living color. Everyday. Giving baths, braiding hair, sewing buttons on pants, dancing in the living room, making projects and school lunches, going on field trips and adventure walks and taking pictures. I plan to take time out to do the things I want to do…for me and for them. I’m considering it my date night with destiny. As simple as it may seem, this is what I would do if I knew I only had a few months to live so, I’m going to start doing it now. And I know I’m going to love doing it.

How about you? What would you do? And are you willing to start doing it now?

Thanks to all of you who offered hope through your beautiful images for the auction. The proceeds will be helping Jen and her son as she  faces days ahead that seem to keep getting tougher for her. The auction is up and running so head over and bid on your favorite things. Be sure to click on the item you have your eye on to get more info on the object or photo and the person behind it. It makes it that much more special. Thanks again. You are all incredible.

reflect, remember, recycle

I think this is quite possibly a blog crime, but I have opted today not to write a new post but instead, encourage you to read a post I wrote back in December. Gasp.

See, us Sisters wrote posts for this blog before we officially launched so there are some treasures back there in the archives that have barely seen the light of day. That plus this being Earth Day and all, makes me feel OK about recycling.

So, why this particular post? I just think that all sisters of the shutter can use a little encouragement now and again, to keep on keepin’ on; vigilant family historians, cameras at the ready, tirelessly lugging around the extra weight of the glass/plastic/metal that is our creative tool, even amidst the criticism of others—

When are you going to put that camera down?

Mom! No more pictures! 

You’re not taking your camera, are you?

Today, I want all of us to remember that our work as Shutter Sisters IS significant.  Can I get an amen?

Captured

There have been so many times in my life when I’ve uttered the dreaded phrase; I wish I had a camera. Too many to count actually. Like the time when we were in Spain and the battery in my camera died on our long, meandering walk through the countryside of a tiny village where we had spent our day. We were roaming up and down sloping hills, and as we dropped into a still valley, through the tall brush rose the ruins of an old church. Dark, time-worn stones still held a sacred shape on the overgrown holy ground. And right above the still pointed tip of the remaining peaked wall was the glowing moon, dangling in the late afternoon sky; a sight so breathtaking I was weak in the knees. And yet, I had no camera to capture it. At least not a camera that worked.

Photography is an art that can often take us by surprise. A moment we weren’t expecting happens right before our lens and-click-we grab it just like that. Events and expressions happen around us everyday that are photo-worthy. Although I don’t carry my camera everywhere I go, there are times, by a stroke of good fortune or maybe even synchronicity that I’ve had my camera with me at the perfect moment.

The other day as I was driving away from a portrait session, down the steep hill away from my client’s quite street, I headed toward the hustle and bustle of an LA Blvd. As I slowly approached the signal, there before me was an impossibly blue sky, dreamlike billowy clouds and this architecture that made the whole landscape come alive. It was as if everyone came out to play and I had stumbled across the fun. Sitting beside me, in the passenger seat was my trusty companion. What luck! Click.

Are there any pictures you’ve captured when you were especially glad you had your camera? Share your clicks.

Love Thursday: April 17, 2008

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them."  -Galileo Galilei

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We can't wait to see all the Love you discovered this week.  Happy Love Thursday Everyone!