Shutter Sisters

on my way back home

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There is gratitude during those minutes following a long day of work. A lesson in cultivating a spirit of self-love, and acknowledging the things that are important to me. It’s a bit strange. I cannot wait to go back to the ones I love and yet very much enjoy feeling that sense of completion, of connectedness with my self.

For the past few weeks I’ve developed a habit of taking photos on my way back home. I love how they reflect those moments in between the many demands and commitments of daily life, and remind me to slow down, and give thanks for everything that happens to me.

How about you? Do you have those moments during morning or evening commute? If yes, do you pull your camera and capture them? Please share with us today.

the six questions featuring Bonnie Tsang

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Image Copyright Bonnie Tsang

I remember coming across L.A. based lifestyle and wedding photographer Bonnie Tsang’s blog a few months ago, and instantly falling in love with the way she approaches life, natural and real, and shares her passion for art, design and food with a most delightful sense of style, simplicity, beauty and attention to details.

Bonnie is one of the most creative, talented and hard-working photographers I know of, and a most awesome mother who inspires me to keep doing what I love and enjoy life the fullest. I am most happy and excited to share with you her answers to our Six (actually Eight!) Question interview today.

1. What’s the story behind this photo?

It was taken almost two years ago. My photography business started to do well at the time, but I found myself having less time with my daughter, Venise. So one free Sunday, she and I decided to spend a day together and took a short road trip to Joshua Tree. We stayed until sundown. I took a picture of her collecting and putting little rocks into her shorts’ back pockets as the sunset light glowing behind her.

2. What was it that lit your photography spark? Do you remember a particular camera, course, person, roll of film?

My Dad was a professional photographer before I was even born, so I grew up with photography. But what really got me started was this doll called Blythe (http://www.blythedoll.com) and my daughter, Venise. I took one shot and that was it, I couldn’t stop.

3. What’s your photo philosophy? Does it reflect your life philosophy?

My photo philosophy is simple – to capture and report the reality. I always believe art was created to document life’s important events. And that probably does reflect to how I see life – live your truest self.

4. Where do you look for inspiration?

Family and friends that I surround myself with. We often go far and beyond to look for ourselves, for inspirations, but the truth is we have it all within ourselves.

5. What would you say is one of your ‘signature’ editing tricks, themes or style? What do you think makes an image recognizable and uniquely yours?

This is actually a tough question for me and I always get asked this! It’s tough for me to answer because… how do you turn your feelings into words? There’s no word for feelings, something that’s untouchable.  We might say, “Oh, I love that person because she’s nice, she’s pretty”, but it’s not, it’s MORE than that. I don’t edit images base on what is “Bonnie Tsang” because I’m always revolving. Maybe I’ll know in 20 years.

6. What aspect of your photography are you constantly working on, trying to improve?

Everything.

7. If you could go anywhere in the world for an epic, weeklong photo excursion all by your luxuriously unhurried self – regardless of money, time or childcare issues – where would you go and why?

My hometown, Hong Kong. I went few years ago and, sadly, I wasn’t really into photography at the time, so it’d be nice to go back.

8. Are there women out there that you consider your shutter sisters? Who, and why?

There are two ladies that I look up to personally and professionally – Carrie Cook and Jen Gotch. They’re both my very good friends and they’ve been around shooting a lot longer than I have been, but they’re always very encouraging. Sometimes when I’m stuck at something, whether it is about life or photography, they’d say to me “you can try this” or “how about if you do this”. They challenge me to do better in the most nurturing way. And of course, their work is amazing!

Thank you so much Bonnie!

You can see more of Bonnie’s work on her personal blog, professional blog, portfolio, and if you’re on Instagram you absolutely HAVE to follow her @bonnietsang.

unexpected inspiration

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Photo inspired by Sharon Montrose’s wonderful Tails series.

“How do you persuade an energetic infant monkey to pause long enough for a photograph? You don’t. “I put the camera in front of him, let him do whatever he wanted and tried to capture his natural charm.”

Sharon Montrose is one of my favorite photographers. And though I have no intention of becoming an animal photographer, the creativity, the sense of passion and playfulness that she brings to her work inspire me every day.

How about you? Is there a photographer whose style couldn’t be more different than yours or than what you aspire to and yet whose work inspires you? War photographers, humanitarian, documentary photographers, fashion photographers, food photographers, sport photographers?

Today share with us.

let nature be your teacher

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“Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher. ” – William Wordsworth

I was the first person coming down the slopes. The one who would stop every 5 minutes just to take in the glorious landscape or lie down on the freshly fallen, cushy snow. And some days the wind blowing on my face would move me to tears. Spending time in nature, whether in the mountains or at the beach, is always a humbling, exhilarating experience that reminds me to slow down, delight in the simple things in life, embrace the unknown and live each moment wholeheartedly.

Today share with us how nature inspires you. Share what nature teaches you.

your best memory 2011

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I can’t help it. The last week of the year I have to thumb through my journals, dig into my archives and look at all the photos that I took the past 12 months. What I love most about doing this is that it helps me acknowledge that I’m nowhere near where I thought I would be a year ago, and that it’s okay. This makes me profoundly grateful for every experience that enabled me to learn and grow, for the people in my life, and mostly, for the memories that I now get to cherish and look back on fondly. The photo above was taken during a family trip in Switzerland. And this is my best memory of the year 2011.

Today show us yours.

the six questions featuring Christine Pobke

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Image Copyright Christine Pobke

I am most excited to feature award-winning lifestyle, wedding and portrait photographer Christine Pobke. Christine’s masterful use of light, teamed with a most genuine spirit, attention to detail and unique way of capturing the true beauty of every moment, whether she’s shooting a wedding or traveling to far away lands, always and constantly inspire me.

Christine kindly accepted to answer our Six Questions interview (actually, she answered all 8 questions!), and I couldn’t be happier to share her answers with you today.

1. What’s the story behind this photo?

This image is from morgan and Katie’s beautiful hunter valley wedding last year. We had pulled over to so many “fields” along the road, only to discover (in the heat!) that many of the paddocks were fenced off or private. My usual philosophy when shooting in a new place is to “ask forgiveness, not permission,” so we had full intentions of jumping fences to get that shot. However, this particular field had big flat out signs to “stay out” so we thought it’d be best to drive on and keep looking! Katie was in amazing spirits that day (obviously) but in spite of all the difficulties, she kept a positive attitude and beautiful smile on her face all day. This was photographed as she saw the “stay out” sign, and was walking towards me to tell me the outcome. With a big big smile.

2. What was it that lit your photography spark? Do you remember a particular camera, course, person, roll of film?

The great ocean road in Victoria… My husband and I did a long road trip driving along the victorian coast and its beauty was astounding. To prepare for this “wonder of the world” I purchased a canon 450d in January 2009 and fell in love after hearing the first shutter click. It was love and obsessiveness and passion from that point on.

3. What’s your photo philosophy? Does it reflect your life philosophy?

My photo philosophy is to capture as much of yourself and your connection to that subject in that image. It’s kind of derived from the famous Ansel Adams quote, where he said: “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” As much as my images are of people and their happy days and beautiful families, it’s also about making sure that your happiness and joy and thrill emanate in your images (or at least that’s what I aim for anyway!).

4. Where do you look for inspiration?

Books, magazines, art galleries, korean movies, philanthropic organisations and movements.

5. What would you say is one of your ‘signature’ editing tricks, themes or style? What do you think makes an image recognizable and uniquely yours?

Backlit bright sunshine, and portraits of couples, families and children laughing at my silly and often ridiculous jokes. (or at me perhaps?)

6. What aspect of your photography are you constantly working on, trying to improve?

Pushing myself and my boundaries of whatever self-constructed “norms” I’ve imposed on what I think photography is. I’m constantly working on educating myself through books and other courses (I’ve recently completed a book-making course on how to create and bind your own books!) so that above all, I am growing as an artist (not simply as a photographer). I am a firm believer in knowing that when creativity is practiced + cultivated, and my growth as an artist expands, it will somehow translate into my photography.

7. If you could go anywhere in the world for an epic, weeklong photo excursion all by your luxuriously unhurried self – regardless of money, time or childcare issues – where would you go and why?

Nepal. Nepal is one of those places that I’ve always been drawn to… Maybe in a former life I was a nepalese trecker? 🙂 it’s a place that i know i would feel “at home” in, and I’m so very fascinated by its people, its history and its landscape. and because I’m such a people-dependent person (you’ll never really catch me on my own – I get very needy!), it’s strange that i can actually see myself on an excursion by myself in nepal. So it must be a sign! 🙂

8. Are there women out there that you consider your shutter sisters? Who, and why?

Lee Grant is a korean-australian photographer who I fortuitously met here in canberra recently. She’s a photographer who truly does “think outside the box” and it’s so inspiring to see someone doing something so well, driven purely by their passion to create art (you should see her last exhibit, “belco pride,” currently on display at the Australian Centre for for Photography in Sydney. Lee is currently doing a beautiful photographic project examining how Korean migrants establish a sense of “belonging” in a foreign country (read more about her project here. While obviously not on the same artistic plane as Lee, I do consider her a source of inspiration, and therefore, a shutter sister!

Thank you so much Christine! You can see more of Christine’s work and learn about her workshop on her blog and website. Christine is also offering a two-hour mentoring session to benefit the Epic Thanks 2011 campaign.

Epic Thanks

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Thank you. Thank you for sharing images of gratitude and for your generosity in supporting the Epic Thanks 2011 campaign this past week. Together we’ve helped raise enough funds to build a secondary school with four classrooms at Shepherds Junior, restrooms, solar power, a science lab, a kitchen and enough beds for the school’s first class. I am so, so thankful for the way we rallied around this project, and for what our small group have helped achieved.

Taking a moment to shift attention and reflect on the many things that I’m grateful for have had a magnifying impact on my life and the life of my family, opening our hearts to the incredible gifts that we’re given. At the beginning of this week I said that a simple act of gratitude could change everything. Today, I have never believed that more. I hope you do too.

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And the winner of the giveaway is Debc! Congratulations!

Unleash your thankful heart

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For the past couple of years I’ve been blessed to collaborate with visionary individuals on various projects that helped improve the quality of life, education and the future of children around the world.

One of these extraordinary individuals is Mama Lucy who sold chickens and turned her income into an education for hundreds, founding Shepherds Junior School in 2003 in Arusha, Tanzania. Mama Lucy’s oldest students have recently graduated from the seventh grade, their final year of primary school. With over 500 children now following their footsteps, classrooms at Shepherds Junior are full, so more are needed for Mama Lucy to offer secondary education. 

This year for Thanksgiving, Shutter Sisters is proudly teaming up with EpicChange.org in a massive online gratitude effort called Epic Thanks to build a secondary school so that the children at Shepherds Junior continue their educations in Mama Lucy’s loving care until they grow up ready to transform our world.

The fun part? You are all invited to join the movement! During the week of November 21-25, 2011, submit a very grateful photo to Epic Thanks’ world-changing photoblog of global gratitude and write a post about someone or something for which you’re thankful (share on Facebook or Twitter #EpicThanks).

The awesome part? Contribute and raise funds in honor of whomever or whatever you’re most thankful, and be entered to win a fabulous giveaway that includes:

One Epiphanie Bag

One Shutter Sisters book

One gift certificate for an 18″ print on glass from Fractureme.com

One “Click therefore I am” T-shirt from Cara Rose

One 4-month membership for Shutter Sister Kim Klassen’s Photoshop Test Kitchen membership site.

One London vs Paris postcards set

How? Simply donate $5 via our ChipIn page or the Epic Thanks Give page (click on the “Donate” button) and leave a comment below sharing what you’re most grateful for and/or a link to your blog post. Winner will be announced on Saturday, 26th.

Unleash your thankful heart and watch how a simple act of gratitude changes everything!

advice

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While updating my personal blog last week I stumbled upon across a link I had shared a while ago titled Advice. It’s a collection of thoughts on what every aspiring photographer should know that range from “learn to say I’m a photographer out loud with a straight face” to “style is a voice, not a prop or action” and my favorite “never compare your journey with someone else’s. It’s a marathon with no finish line. You will never “arrive”. No one ever does.” I read this list a long time ago, but I realize how some of these words have settled somewhere in a remote corner of my mind, offering comfort, encouragement and perspective when I most need them.

What are the advice, the words, the thoughts that other photographers, friends, teachers shared with you that have helped you when holding a camera? Please share with us today.

fall colors

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1. september night, 2. ~ Fall Colour~, 3. breathe in october sunshine, 4. Red Onions, 5. painting fall, 6. Baby pumpkins

Maybe it’s because we do not have celebrations like Halloween or Thanksgiving to look forward to where I live, maybe it’s the rapid change in light, or my kitchen countertop that is slowly turning into a pharmacy shelf, but the transition from summer into winter has not been easy for me this year. And the only thing that helps me get through the darker days, besides blowing on a warm cup of tea and thumbing through favorite books, is to pay attention to the beautiful colors around me. The warmer shades of yellow and orange, the wine and roast-colored hues. They all remind me to look beyond the circumstances of life, and delight in the beauty of the simple things.

Today show us your fall colors.

Photos from our Shutter Sisters Flickr Group.