Telling Life Stories Through Images
Welcome to another Life in Black and White blog circle post. Here’s a glimpse of my monochromatic life. Be sure to follow the blog circle to see some more amazing images from my photography friends. You can check out Meredith’s post here.
This month I wanted to keep it simple and just take a few images in the gorgeous morning light we get in our dining room. These two were mostly willing subjects.
Once again I am participating this year in my Life in Black and White blog circle with an amazing group of photographers. After looking at my post please following along in the circle to my friend Pamela’s blog post for a glimpse into her monochromatic life.
This past weekend my boys learned some fishing tips from their great uncle. They had a great time out on the water, and my oldest even caught a ling-cod. I’m so glad they get a chance to have this connection with their extended family. (More photos from the family day weekend to come).
It’s hard to believe we have reached the end of the year already and December is upon us. This December is different from last year… we’ve recently lost a loved one, and will be losing another in too short of a time. So this year we are trying to cherish each moment even more. In many ways, though, this December has been much like the others. We have our family traditions that we do, and our holiday routines. As I have gotten older and become a mother, I have learned to really appreciate the significance of tradition. This year my children seem to really value and appreciate it too. And while we may see the same Santa at breakfast each year, and my children will always order the same things for breakfast, there are so many other little details that I can see within the sameness. Each year, I will see my children physically growing bigger. I will watch their mannerisms as they eat – how they start to refine their grip on their forks, how they sip their drinks, how they order their meals. I will watch as the magic gets questioned, as they seek to find the truth and hold on to belief. And I will watch as they bicker and bug each other. As they try to push in each other’s photos and compete for our attention. But I know that my children watch too. They watch how we do things, and remind me when I forget things. They tell me about the traditions they find important. They remind me that these traditions are creating lasting memories that they love to share with others, and that they will grow up to cherish as much as I do.
Thanks for following the Black and White blog circle with me this year. I have truly enjoyed it.
Please follow the circle to Jennifer’s post.
Thanks for taking a moment to catch a monthly glimpse of my life in black and white.
Today is Remembrance Day…
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we pause and take a moment of silence to honour, remember, and thank those men and women who gave their lives to serve our country and keep us safe. Thank you for protecting us and keeping my country free. I hope my children will never see the horror that their great-grandfather’s saw.
Lest We Forget.
Please continue on through our blog circle to see what Ana has posted today.
It’s time for another glimpse of my life in black and white. Since yesterday was Thanksgiving, I decided to share about how thankful I am for the life I have. The last two years have not been easy. Our family has faced the loss of life, life changing illness, mental health problems, marital issues, job loss, and a car accident. There are times where my husband and I have hit rock bottom, sometimes individually and sometimes together. But through out it all we have managed to hold on. The ability to support one another, and to gain strength from one another is something we work hard at. I am so grateful to have the love and support of my husband, and my whole external family network. But mostly I am grateful for my children. They have been the light and joy in my life that reminds of all the good there is in the world. Their smiles, hugs and innocent view of the world, has kept me grounded and helped me to survive being an adult. They remind me daily to slow down and focus on the little joys of everyday moments. And throughout all the stresses, they have remained calm, happy and loving.
I am thankful that they have sat patiently and offered love during a few too many hospital visits to see family:
I am thankful that they have have given me hugs and wiped away my tears as we remember the little brother or sister that they lost. My four year old even offered his loving and gentle perspective on life when he and I recently visited the Little Spirits Memorial Gardens to remember his lost sibling:
I am thankful at the maturity my oldest has shown as he has persevered through missing a month of schooling. Now that grade four has officially started for him, he has taken on his studies with such a quest for knowledge and eagerness to learn:
I am thankful for the way my youngest keeps us laughing with his wonderful personality. No matter what happens he is the one we can rely on to make us smile:
I am thankful to be a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a friend, a documenter of all the things that make up our life. I am thankful that I am reminded daily by my boys to stop, pause, breathe and just be.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Please follow the circle to Vanessa’s post.
Welcome to another glimpse of my life in black and white. After reading my post, please continue on in the blog circle to see a glimpse of Melissa’s life in black & white.
It’s September… and it should be the second week of school for my son. Usually by now he is settled into his classroom, pencils sharpened and notebooks tucked into his desk. He would be telling me about who he gets to sit with, who is and isn’t in his class this year, and what his first impressions are of his new teacher. But this year is different.
Here he is waiting for his little brother to finish breakfast so we can leave the house. But he’s also waiting to start fourth grade.
This year has started the way the school year ended in June… no kids in the classroom and no teachers doing their jobs. Instead they are walking the picketlines outside of empty schools, trying to fight so my son can have an education he deserves.
The BC Government is slowing tearing away at the foundations of public education. Students in BC get $1000 each less funding than other provinces. Teachers are spending money out of pocket to create resources, learning materials and educational supports. Children with special needs are losing access to much needed supports. The government insists there is no money to meet the demands teachers are placing on them for (well deserved) wage increases, and class size and composition. While I understand budgeting, the government is also being unrealistic with it’s expectations of these hard working individuals. Class size restrictions and composition supports were stripped out of the contracts with teachers a few years ago. These need to be returned. Two courts have ruled that the government needs to bring this back. And yet, the fighting continues. Caught in the middle are the kids. Kids like my son, who is a well behaved student, who does his work and doesn’t need much help. The silent ones who don’t have behavioural issues or extra needs that demand more time. Classrooms have gotten so crowded and teachers are dealing with so many challenging students, they don’t have much time to spend with someone like my son. They don’t have help to deal with those that need extra attention. Their time is spread thin. My child deserves better than this. Yet we can’t afford to place him in private school. We can’t afford to have me stay home and homeschool him. Why should we have to do that? My husband and I were educated through the public school system. My children have a right to that same education.
Wage issues aside, these two opposing sides need to get it together. They need to negotiate, mediate, arbitrate… whatever it takes to get the kids in the classrooms – with the supports they need; with teachers who feel valued and supported; with the education they all deserve.
I am frustrated, tired, angry… and most of all sad for my son, and the thousands of other students out there waiting… just waiting…
Thanks for joining me for another glimpse of my life in black and white.
The last month I have been on such a personal journey to find and define my voice and my style in photography. I have come to realize that I love capturing those moments that make you look back on life and really remember it – good times and bad. As I work on my journey, along with my other full time job, parenthood, and marriage, I realize I owe so much to my husband. He helps to hold things together. He currently works from home two days a week so that he can look after and spend time with our four year old. Some days I arrive home to find them at war with each other. All this time together means they know how to push each others’ buttons. But they also have a very special bond. While I was in post c-section surgery, my husband was the one to hold and snuggle Liam during his first year of life. The very first smiles Liam gave out were to his daddy. So when I captured these photos of the two of them, I knew they portrayed that special connection they have. I hope as the years go by, and the arguments get louder, that they will always remember these daddy and Liam days – the good and not so good ones… and that they celebrate this time that they had together.
Please continue on in the blog circle to have a glimpse at the life of my fabulous friend (who takes the best self-portraits ever) Alice Che.
It’s time for another glimpse of my life in black and white…
Summer is officially here, and with it come sunny days with harsh bright light. So,this month I really played with lighting and shadows to try and get some really rich black and whites. Also, since I featured my nine year old last month, I thought the four year old could use his own post!
Thanks for taking a glimpse of my monochromatic life. Please continue on in the circle and check out my fabulous friend Jennifer.
It’s time for another glimpse of my life in black and white… today’s glimpse is a special one.
Nine years ago today I became a mom. My world was changed for the better, and a sweet little baby boy claimed my heart and made it his own. Caleb you are such a friendly, charming, empathetic and caring boy. You give the best hugs (which seem to be reserved just for me). You are a loyal friend and try hard to be a patient big brother. Thank you for making me a better person, for teaching me patience, compassion and composure. You, with the beautiful soulful eyes, made me who I am today. As I teach you about growing up in this sometimes difficult world, you have taught me to slow down, look around and appreciate my life. I love you, my Squishy. (Incidentally, dear followers, this sweet boy is how Squishy Prints Photography got it’s name… because of my little Squishy!)
Happy birthday!
And just for comparison – here is my little Squishy nine years ago… and also a glimpse of my photography nine years ago. Yup, we have both grown!
Please follow the circle to see a glimpse of Vanessa’s life in Black and White.
It’s time for another glimpse at my life in black and white. I have really enjoyed my Composition and Creativity class. It pushed me to really be dramatic with my use of light and compositional techniques. It’s amazing how changing lighting, and direction can really add moodiness and emotion to images. I practised seeing light with an egg in some different lighting set-ups, and then I also practised a little on my children.
To see more amazing black and white images please follow the circle to my friend and fellow classmate Jenn.
It’s hard to believe it’s April already! Wow! This year is flying by. For this month’s glimpse into my life in black and white, I am sharing a few photos that I have taken while doing a course over on Clickin Moms. It’s Sarah Wilkerson’s Composition and Creativity course. It’s blowing my mind. I was only able to get a study along seat, but I wish I was a full participant. We are only on week two and already there is so much to learn and absorb. In fact – five of us in this blog circle are in the course: Myself, Meredith, Jenn, Alice and Felicia!
Here’s a few examples of what I have been working on – I call this series “Left Behind”:
Now head over and see what Felicia has been up to in between her moments in the C & C class!
Felicia Chang
It’s time for another glimpse of my life in black in white. I hope you are enjoying the blog circle so far.
This post could also be called – the Week the Superheros Were Not So Super. We have been battling some health issues in our family, with my husband, and also with my children. It has been a super sick year so far. My poor little kiddos – we missed out on the big snowfall, the big Olympic hockey game and a few other things. But we are slowly on the mend, which means I can hopefully get out of the sick house and start photographing healthy people again soon!
Here’s a few captures of the day the Superheros were down.
Although it has not been the best experience, I’m glad that I captured this day. One day it will all be a memory, but I will still be able to look back and remember how they would each hold their heads when they were sick, and how they each had their special resting place.
Now please take a look at Melissa’s beautiful (and hopefully healthier than mine) blog post!