The Nap Series

 

When my son Max was about 7 months old I was so keenly aware of how important nap time was. Not for him, but for me. I needed Max to go take his nap so I could eat my lunch, decompress, have an hour or two dedicated to “ME TIME”. But Max didn’t get the memo. He would stare up at me and laugh and laugh while I thought about all the things I wish I was doing instead of rocking him back and forth for what felt like an eternity. I finally realized that this nap time business wasn’t going to go away. I needed a way to shift my swirling thoughts back to the present moment.

I decided to bring my iphone to bed and once he fell asleep I took a photo of the two of us in whatever position he ended up in. Seeing that first photo, I was hooked.  When I saw how the light was falling on this frustrating situation my mind quieted. My heart burst open at the sight of the two if us, peaceful and content, tangled together in a compositionally pleasing snuggle. I started to notice deeper clues about our relationship that showed up within the photograph. Our closeness, and our deep connection was revealing itself to me in a way I felt inside but had never really seen in this way before.  The Nap series was born.

Two years later, I am so grateful for the collection of Nap photos of the two of us that document a time in our lives that is short lived and so precious.  I didn’t realize that I was trying to leave a situation that was truly incredible. What was the bigger lesson for me? Don’t leave before the miracle happens. Use the camera to shift perception from mind to soul. I remember this whenever I find myself frustrated, stressed out, or in fear. Bring it back to the present. Grab your camera and see with your heart.  Creating this nap series has increased my ability to “see” in ways I didn’t expect. It continues to help me connect more deeply with the preciousness of these fleeting moments.

Photo essay and words courtesy of Catherine Just. You can view a larger portion of the nap series on Catherine's blog.

What better photo essay to share when our prompt is "bed"? Share with us how you get cozy in your bed today and tag your snuggly shots #sselevate.

sunrise sunset

Sifting and sorting through the many images of starts and stops of each day, I was delighted and inspired by how much beauty the sunrise and the sunset offer. But for me, the start of the day that most touches my deepest soul are the sunrises that begin when I see pictures like this one. It's my own personal view of sunrise and it's as refreshing as seeing the first light peek over the highest mountain top.

But, of all the photos taken, of all the various subjects and times of day, my guess is that sunset must be the most photographed experienced to date. I have a feeling the inspiration that will come from the images we share today will be awe-inspiring, whether they are of sunrise or of sunset or both.

Share with us the very start to a day or the very stop...the time when nothing else matters but beauty and all the possibility a heart can hold.

something yellow

Color prompts are always some of my favorite days.  I love seeing the pool fill up with images all the same color.  Today we are seeking "something yellow". Yellow happens to me my favorite color.  When I see something yellow It makes me smile. 

Yellow evokes images of sunshine, lemons, golden hour, smiley faces, bumblebees, and flowers.  Like these pretty sunflowers I found on a walk to the playground. SO happy don't you think? All month I have been shooting the daily prompts with my IPod, rather than my DSLR.  I love just sticking it in my pocket and capturing my image each day.  A visual treasure hunt.

Today seek something yellow in your lens. Elevate your everyday with us.

Don't forget to tag your sunshiny yellows today, #sselevate.

And most importantly, have FUN!

looking down

There was an air of nervous excitement in the air as the kids headed out to the field to begin their first day of band camp.  Being the high school band photographer, I accompanied them and stood back a bit, watching, waiting to snap photos here and there as I begin to document the first days of the their new season. I watched as the kids haphazardly dropped their belongings on the ground, gathering in small groups here and there.  In one group, the 'seasoned' band members talked excitedly about their upcoming junior and senior years while in another corner stood the quiet freshman, looking so serious with their 'first day' jitters.  As I moved around, I almost tripped over this gathering of items on the ground and had to smile.  In looking down, I realized the story of the day was right there in front of me: bottled water, sunblock, an instrument.  So simple, yet so telling.  

Today, share your 'looking down' photos.  Be sure to tag your images #sselevate and play along with us.

Let's Eat

 

“Let’s Eat!” How many of us say those words each day, gathering our families together to share a meal? Food is such an integral part of everyday moments, it often time gets overlooked when we think about the beauty in the every day.

Yes, eating feeds our bodies, but it’s the moments beyond the food that feed our souls. Whether it is a simple chat with a friend over breakfast, or recapping the day with loved ones around the dinner table, food, eating, and connection go hand in hand.

“Let’s Eat” is the photo prompt for today. I challenge you to glance around your world, slow down, and look at your food as more than nourishment. Notice the moments while waiting for dinner to be set down on the table, a certain cute food habit someone might have, or a special treat you were able to share with someone you love. Even simple ingredients that go into our meals have a story. It’s up to you to discover that story through your own lens.

Share images inspired by today's prompt with us and be sure to tag them with #sselevate.

Image and words courtesey of food blogger extraordinaire Kristen Doyle of Dine and Dish.