Filed under:
Photography,
Personal — Dave @ 11:13 am
I enjoy taking photographs.
I enjoy taking photographs of people, places and things.
Sometimes these photographs make me happy.
Sometimes these photographs make me sad.
Sometimes these photographs have no impact on me at all.
Sometimes these photographs mean nothing to one another.
I still, however, enjoy taking photographs.
With all that said, I am coming to a conclusion about myself. One that should have been apparent to me many years ago. I’ve always patterned myself a “late bloomer” in so many facets of this life. I left my parents home later than most. I took longer than most in getting to “where I am today”. I experienced various “life lessons” at stages that were, well, later than many of my peers. Yet I am in no hurry or don’t deem that I travel with all due alacrity though this life. So it doesn’t surprise me that I am only now having some sort of epiphany when it comes to my photography.
Weddings, which are what I mainly shoot, normally lend themselves to this epiphany.
It’s something that I know I’ve tried to get better at; wedding over wedding and year over year.
But this, now at least, goes beyond weddings.
I no longer want just to take photographs of detached people or things.
I no longer want images to be lonely.
I want a series of images.
I want photographs to have friends, family, brothers/sisters, aunts & uncles, cousins twice removed and grandparents.
Yes, I want each photograph to tell a bit of a story but, at the same time, I want that photograph to be a larger part of a story. Just as each of us are our own individuals yet, at the same time, unless some of us have been hatched or grown in a hothouse or cloned, we are also part of a larger family, community, city, country, race, and species.
So, while what I say here may not be news to anyone else out there; especially you, gentle reader, it is, to me, an important realization that, while standing on their own, my photos should be part of a larger collective and be used to tell the story of the people, places, animals, and even inanimate objects that I shoot.
I will aim to do this.
I will do this.
Cheers,
Dave
Filed under:
General Crap — Dave @ 12:40 pm
With all the running around, the prepping and such, it’s been rather hectic of late.
I am, for the most part, an awesome “Christmas” person.
By that I mean, I enjoy the season, the family, friends and everything else that goes with it.
This year, however, I just can’t quite “get with it”.
It’s been an interesting, if not roller coaster, year.
I’ve loved and been loved and while I wish things were different, they are as they are.
Being the person that I am, regardless of what others may say about me, I care for everyone I meet; everyone I have (and continue to) love; everyone who wishes me well and everyone who wishes me ill; I really don’t have a need or desire to hate or despise anyone.
My work, professionally, has been good this year. I actually feel like I’ve accomplished something and helped out. That’s a good thing.
My work, photographically speaking, has been “ok” - I tend to be more critical of myself in this area. I guess it’s because I know there are so many excellent photographers out there shooting both wedding and street and being able to produce wonderful wonderful images that leave me in awe.
My father, my brother, Camille, my Aunts & Uncles, all of my cousins and my friends (near & far) have all kept me grounded and made me feel like I matter.
Thank you all for this. It’s appreciated.
I find myself, as I grow older, being more emotional about things in general.
I ponder things a lot more than I used to.
Reflection, I guess, is a good thing.
Most of my reflection, at this time of year, is focused on correcting things that have, seemingly, gone “wrong” this year in one way or another. I’m not saying that I can, or should, or could, correct things but I know that at least by reflecting on these things I can hope to “make it right” the next time I encounter similar situations in the near (or distant) future.
I do, as always, think about my Mother at this time of year.
I do miss her so and yet, I know she is still with me.
Mom, there were times this past year that I could have really used a hug in a way only a mother can hug her child - I am happy to settle, however, for pleasant thoughts and memories of you. 
So much time flies by so fast as we age.
I’m really realizing that it’s important to take a breath and review where you are, where you stand, how food tastes, how people feel, how warm is the sun, how cold is the wind, and how beautiful is the world (and everything in it).
So fast does the time fly that I really need to concentrate on those things or I may miss them.
I guess, in the end, I am, in my own way, in the Christmas spirit. Maybe not as boisterous as in the past but still, in my own way, I’m jumping up and down and yelling on the inside after writing this set of meandering thoughts.
With that, I wish all of you, each of you out there, a very warm, happy, joyous and peaceful holiday. The best of the season to you, and yours, and for the year to come.
I hope the coming year, decade, and life greet you with prosperity in your endeavours and enough love to overflow the vessel of your heart.
Cheers,
Dave
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