Shutter Sisters

  • journal
  • about us
  • shop
  • 2020 DIY Photo Calendar
  • contact us

Journal

behind the book : an interview with Honey Lazar

December 23, 2014 By shutter sisters

image_1_Lazar

It is with great pleasure that we speak with photographer & author Honey Lazar about her inspiring and uplifting book.

Shutter Sisters: Tell Us About Your Book.

Honey Lazar: My book is called Loving Aunt Ruth: Recipes for A Well Lived Life. Kristin Ohlson, Author, The Soil Will Save Us, wrote the jacket text for the book, which I’ll share.

Everyone wants unconditional love. Loving Aunt Ruth invites you to share in it.

Ruth Moss’s life was filled with pain and loss, but she responded by reaching out to the world with love. Her niece, photographer, Honey Lazar, asked Aunt Ruth if she could document her life in pictures and, in the process, become an audience to her wisdom. Her lessons in love are revealed in text as well as in Lazar’s intimate photographs. She believes Aunt Ruth and other loving exemplars provide a uniquely powerful guide to living well.

SS: Tell us why you wrote the book, Loving Aunt Ruth:  Recipes for A Life Well-Lived?

HL: I began photographing my Aunt Ruth as a way to get closer to her, but once I put the camera down and listened to her stories, her wisdom for living well, I felt a narrative evolve.  When I began taking Aunt Ruth’s photos, her children and husband were gone, and I asked her how she stayed determined in the face of so much loss.  Her answer became the anchor for the book and changed my life.  She said:

First, I accept that life isn’t easy.  I have my faith…but, I have a will to live, and that will comes from loving people.

SS: What did you enjoy the most about writing the book?

HL: Falling in love with Aunt Ruth, getting to know her legion of friends whose lives would enrich mine, and feeling a part of creating a book about living life through the lens of love.  My eldest sister was moving east, and my only local relative was Aunt Ruth, so I thought photographing her would help us bond.  The bonus was going to School of Aunt Ruth and learning the guideposts to living well that I didn’t know I needed and being treated to a decision making process that was predicated on loving people.  If you are going to bake brownies, bake an extra batch for friends…and so forth!

SS: What was the most challenging part of writing it?

HL: I asked Aunt Ruth if I could photograph her for a book without any thought to what I was saying, and she said, “Okay.  I will have a tea party, so you can meet all of my friends, because if you are going to get to know me, then you must know all the people who are important to me.”  If the book began with a party, the challenge was certainly how the book would end.  I didn’t want to photograph my aunt’s aging process, since she was 87 when we began, because her life was all about socializing, giving to friends, family, and community, so how to finish was a challenge.

Until…she began to plan her 90th birthday party that 165 people attended.  Problem solved…the book would end the way it began; with a party!

Loving Aunt Ruth by Honey Lazar

SS: What is your favorite photo you shared in the book?  Why is it your favorite?

HL: Aunt Ruth’s 90th birthday party is iconic and my favorite. She didn’t want gifts, so I sent postcards to the invitees asking them to choose 1-3 words describing her, and for me, the photo symbolizes all that Aunt Ruth meant to everyone.  165 people came, and I only know that many people on Facebook!  I love this picture.

SS: Did you shoot the photography specifically for the book, or did you curate the images you already had, or both?  What is the process like?

HL: I had no idea that photographing Aunt Ruth would turn into a book!  I documented Aunt Ruth’s life over a 3-year period, and by year 3, I was certain that I wanted to edit these images into a narrative along with the lessons I’d collected over the years of photographing.

The process was intimate, beautiful, and instructive.  I learned a lot about location lighting, but most importantly, I got lessons on love, loss, friendship, aging, and forgiveness that helped me beyond my dreams.  Both of my sisters died shortly before the book was published within 10 months of each other, and the photographic journey with Aunt Ruth gave me courage.

SS: What one tip would you share with people who want to start taking better pictures right now?

HL: Obviously, shooting every day matters, but my tip is really to learn about the photographic basics of light and time by taking courses or watching videos to enhance your skill set in order to make the images your mind already sees.

“Make sure you always have love in your life. It is the greatest gift of all.” -Aunt Ruth

Loving_Aunt_Ruth_book_coverPurchasing Loving Aunt Ruth:  A little book about being good should definitely do some good, and a portion of every sold book goes to The Intergenerational School, a charter school in Cleveland, my hometown, whose core of volunteers and mentors come from a center for seniors. 

In the spirit of Aunt Ruth who said, “Everything tastes better shared,” Honey is sending a PDF with 24 additional recipes not in the book to anyone who buys the book to give love this holiday season.

Honey Lazar

About Honey (in her words): “My dad was an artist. He was a brilliant photographer, a painter, an illustrator, and a filmmaker. He documented our family, the famous, and led his own advertising agency. He died when I was three, but his pictures and movies kept me close to him. I picked up a camera to document everyone and everything in my life as a way to keep memory close at hand. I love everything about photography, especially the part that tethers me to my dad.

I am a fine art photographer whose work focuses on long-term projects for exhibition and publication.  My work has been seen from Spain To New York and on the walls of my sweet Aunt Ruth’s apartment.”

Honey Lazar is an award-winning photographer who lives with her husband and 22-year-old cat in Cleveland, Ohio. Read more about all of her photographic accomplishments on her about page.

Find Honey Lazar: WEBSITE : INSTAGRAM : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : BOOK SITE

 

The Great Gear Guide

December 12, 2014 By shutter sisters

DP Mag Dec 2014 Cover

Remember when we asked you for some of your must-have gear suggestions? Well, we are thrilled to share that the article we were working on is now in print in the December issue of Digital Photo Magazine! You’ll find it on the pages following our monthly column (Point of Focus).  You can pick up a copy at your local newsstand (which can be found at Barnes & Noble if you don’t have a local newsstand). We’re delighted to have had the chance to share selections from Leslie Adams, Holly Clark, Annie Samuels, Kristina Rust, Nancy Lennon, Tracey Clark & Julia Clark.

SS Gear Guide in DP Mag Dec 2014

Special shout outs go to some of our most coveted gear & gear providers;  LifeProof, Fuji, BlackRapid, Canon, Epiphanie, Lensbaby, and Nikon. What would we ever do without you?

We’ll be asking for more of your input in the future so be on the lookout for our requests. You might just find your thoughts and/or images in print!

Focusing on EyeTime 2014

December 1, 2014 By shutter sisters

Above: Different Shades of the Same Grey by Felicia Simion. Future Voices Jury Winner

Above: Different Shades of the Same Grey by Felicia Simion, EyeTime Future Voices Jury Winner

For the past few years Shutter Sisters has had the privilege of helping to support the EyeTime Photo Competition hosted by the Morpholio Project. Tracey Clark was thrilled to be on the jury panel again this year.  She reflects, “It’s always so inspiring to get the opportunity to discover new photographic talent in a contest like EyeTime. Getting the chance to vote on the winners with so many creative and talented judges is such an honor.”

Above: Architecture in Limbo by Ben Tynegate. Future Voices Jury Winner

Above: Architecture in Limbo by Ben Tynegate, EyeTime Future Voices Jury Winner

EyeTime was assembled by photographers, professors and students as a means to publicly promote the research, exploration and investigation currently happening amongst today’s emerging photographic talent. The contest seeks to give a “voice” to these creatives by showcasing their work. And the entire contest is dedicated to an exceptional young journalist, Jessica Lum, who dedicated her tragically short career to the need of giving a voice to others.

Above: Street Barber by Binh Duong. Emerging Talent Jury Winner

Above: Street Barber by Binh Duong, EyeTime Emerging Talent Jury Winner

An award-winning photographer, reporter, editor and humanitarian, Jessica’s approach was best stated in her own words: “To truly understand a story we need a deeper level of interaction. If we desire to truly grasp the full significance of an image that we capture, we need to step out from behind that camera, gain a level of trust and converse with the human people to whom we wish to give voice.”

Above: Worlds Within Us by Dery K, EyeTime Morpholio Special Recognition

Above: Worlds Within Us by Dery K, EyeTime Morpholio Special Recognition

Other EyeTime 2014 winners  include photographers Javier Corco, Rongguo Gao, Tiberio Ventura, Turjoy Chowdhury, Alessandro Falco, Nicholai Go and Rainer Weston.

Above: Lovers by Christopher Lucka, EyeTime Emerging Talent Public Winner

Above: Lovers by Christopher Lucka, EyeTime Emerging Talent Public Winner

Congratulations to all of the finalists and to the winners and thanks to EyeTime for celebrating such talent and including us in such a gratifying experience. The winners are all featured at the EyeTime 2014 website. Be sure to check it out.

Everyday People

December 1, 2014 By shutter sisters

A collection of images captured with the Lensbaby LM-10 for the Traveling Lens Project.

Image by Tara Romasanta

Above by Tara Romasanta in Alaska

Lensbaby LM-10 image by Charlie Murdach 02

Above by Charlie Murdach in New Hampshire

Lensbaby LM-10 image by Anika Toro

Above by Anika Toro in Tennessee

Image by Stefanie Zelske

Above by Stefanie Zelske in Germany

Image by LaShawn Wiltz

Above by LaShawn Wiltz in Georgia

Image by Sarah Vasquez

Above by Sarah Vasquez in Washington

 

Moving Right Along with the Lensbaby LM-10

November 21, 2014 By shutter sisters

A collection of images captured with the Lensbaby LM-10 for the Traveling Lens Project.

A Lensbaby LM10 image by  Shelly Elsing-Goddard

Above by Shelly Elsing-Goddard in California

A Lensbaby LM10 image by  Nina Jensen

Above by Nina Jensen in Denmark

A Lensbaby LM10 image by Charlie Murdach

Above by Charlie Murdach in New Hampshire

A Lensbaby LM10 image by Toby Baldinger

Above by Toby Baldinger in New York

A Lensbaby LM10 image by Vaida Abdul

Above by Vaida Abdul in Lithuania

A Lensbaby LM10 image by Michael Morgan

Above by Michael Morgan in Illinois

A Lensbaby LM10 image by Tiffani Bearup

Above by Tiffani Bearup in Colorado

Playful Pops of Color

November 9, 2014 By shutter sisters

A collection of images captured with the Lensbaby LM-10 for the Traveling Lens Project.

LaShawn Wiltz in Georgia

Above by LaShawn Wiltz in Georgia

Stefanie Zeiske in Germany

Above by Stefanie Zeiske in Germany

LM-10 Image by Shelly Elsing-Goddard

Above by Shelly Elsing-Goddard in California

Chris Sneddon in California

Above by Chris Sneddon in California

Anita Starkoff in Florida

Above by Anita Starkoff in Florida

Claudia Lauro in Minnesota

Above by Claudia Lauro in Minnesota

Monochromatic Magic with Lensbaby

November 4, 2014 By shutter sisters

A collection of images captured with the Lensbaby LM-10 for the Traveling Lens Project.

Michael Petruzzi

Above by  Michael Petruzzi in Michigan

IMG_3411

Above by Leigh Love in Oklahoma

Above by Mia Camp in Sweden

Above by Claudia Lauro in Minnesota

Above by LaShawn Wiltz in Georgia

Tim Prust

Above by Tim Prust in Wisconsin

by Henry Lohemeyer

Above by Henry Lohmeyer in Missouri

 

A Traveling Fall Collection

October 20, 2014 By shutter sisters

Not much can be said about this lovely collection of images from the #travelinglensproject except, “swoon”. How golorious fall can be!

Above by Angela Alderman in Alabama

Above by Angela Alderman in Alabama

Above by Claudio Lauro from Minnesota

Above by Claudia Lauro in Minnesota

Above by Mia Camp in Sweden

Above by Mia Camp in Sweden

Above by Toby Baldinger in New York

Above by Toby Baldinger in New York

Above by Chris Sneddon in California

Above by Chris Sneddon in California

A collection of images captured with the Lensbaby LM-10 for the Traveling Lens Project.

Perspective Through Portraiture

October 14, 2014 By shutter sisters

Lensbaby LM10 Image by Tim Prust

Above by Tim Prust of Wisconsin

Seeing the world around us through a new lens is refreshing.  Even the smallest, unexpected shift in perspective can yield inspiring results; in our work, in our world and in our hearts. Witnessing the portraits being captured by the participants of the Traveling Lens Project is proof of that. The portraits we capture of the people we love are perhaps the most meaningful of all photographs. Whether they’re energetic or pensive, candid or posed, these are the kinds of images that leave us breathless and fill us with gratitude.

Above by Mia Camp of Sweden

Above by Mia Camp of Sweden

Above by Jote Khalsa of Texas

Above by Jote Khalsa of Texas

Above by Meredith Winn of Rhode Island

Above by Meredith Winn of Rhode Island

To see more images from the #travelinglensproject follow along on Instagram & check out our project gallery. To get more info about the Lensbaby LM-10  (which is what all of these images were captured with) visit Lensbaby and tell them we sent you.

Ding ding ding

October 7, 2014 By shutter sisters

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Lens (& Brotherhood too) is full swing with stops so far in California, Texas, New Hampshire, Missouri, Canada and London. That said, there’s no telling what might pop up in people’s view finders when given a photo muse like the Lensbaby LM-10 . It’s no surprise that there’s been all kinds of diversity in the the images that have been rolling in. And yet, oddly enough (or perhaps it’s not odd at all?) there have actually been some images that have very specific common threads. Remember, in this particular project, no one has been prompted or given a theme or specific subject matter to shoot which makes it quite serendipitous that, for example three shots like this pop up.

Lensbaby LM10 image by Kim Klassen

Image above by Kim Klassen in Canada

Image above by Tracey Clark in California (Disney's California Adventure)

Image above by Tracey Clark in California

Image above by Xanthe Berkeley in England

Image above by Xanthe Berkeley in England

What we love most about these discoveries is the reminder that no matter how many miles there are between us, we are always somehow connected and we think that’s awesome.  As the shots from this #travelinglensproject keep coming through from more destinations, it’ll be fascinating to see what other differences and similarities might occur. The adventure keeps getting more exciting!

« Previous Page
Next Page »

search posts

the archives

Copyright © 2025 · Log in