Photobucket

125

sidenotes

It's a Pajama Party!
We're excited to announce the GapBody Pajama Party in The Shutter Suite! Sweet.

Find Us on Facebook
We're extending the sisterhood in Facebook. Come join us! And RSVP for The Shutter Suite over there too.

Ultimate Photo Contest Winner
Congrats to Jaime of Camera Shy for winning the National Geographic giveaway!

A Little Americana
There's a neat project going on over at Jen's Place. It includes film. Remeber that?

Photography Book Now
The count down has begun. Have you made your book for the PBN competition yet?

Looking for something amazing to do with your favorite little shutter sisters? Check out this amazing dose of goodness for girls from our favorite dancing mermaid.

Follow our Tweets
We're seeking shutter sisters on Twitter. Find and follow us @shuttersisters.

 

Shutter Sisters. Get yours at bighugelabs.com/flickr


Add to Technorati Favorites
kirtsy!

Featured in Alltop
My site was nominated for Best Photography Blog!
search
« Look Who Cleaned Up | Main | sunday school: how i learned to stop worrying and love the blur »
Monday
03Mar

pet cemetery

030308_600.jpg

This Monday’s post is courtesy of the lovely Steph, who photographs as a foundation for her illustrative work.

Steph bewitches me with her treehouse ramblings, her eye for super-funky little clothes, her sketches, and her perfectly joyful way of capturing life as a mama to scruffy, inquisitive, rollabout boys.

She writes:

There's a perfect riparian hike up an open space preserve near the house that pauses at a quarter mile, if you are looking for it, with a set of mossy stairs that lead down to an old pet cemetery.

As I had hoped, he became saturated with the place: jumping off every stone, stomping on every ant, smudging himself into the wet earth, collecting grubby fistfuls of small sticks along the walk. His proud stride, the happy, bouncy swagger he gets when we're together: it just makes me want to burst. I love it. And, as usual, in anticipation of this display, I brought my camera.

I wish I could sling a camera like the professionals do, working quickly with finesse and understanding the technical aspects of photography, but I simply am too busy trying to capture all of these fleeting moments.

The best photographs I manage to take are those that capture what all mothers adore: acrobatic preschool gestures, the details in terribly food-stained clothes, the paint that gets under fingernails, a mass of bedhead, a noble negative space, the thoughts behind a dark brow or the silence behind an overbite.

+++

I like to have an image library within the pages of my sketchbook so that I can refer to it for paintings or illustrations. While I have some practice capturing gestures freehand, my photography has been tremendously helpful in compiling studies of their facial proportions so that life-sketching is more fluid.

If I didn't have the photographs I'd have to make the kids pose, which would interrupt everything.

And by everything, I mean that chaos which is a house of boys: flying Legos, the hiss of supersonic jets, beaming laser blasters and the rubble of broken alien spacecraft. Dirty bare feet on clean white sheets. Questions falling like rain, books everywhere.

The dog chases the stampede, and I follow furiously with my camera.

+++

This week, show us your little boys. Let’s see your favourite puddle-jumpers, sandcastle-stompers and mischief-hunters. TAG! You’re it.

Reader Comments (48)

i love her words, the perfect description of all that is boy. here is my earth lover taken today while gardening with me:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2306971656/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commentercamerashymomma
The baby in my boy is caught only in glimpses now. He's turning into such the little boy now. Here's my contribution:

http://mamadb.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-little-boy.html
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMama DB
Oh do I have a little mischief hunter. He has such a different outlook on life than his sisters, not afraid of anything and ready to try it all.

Here you can find my pictures of my little man:
http://aphotomom.blogspot.com/2008/03/memories-of-summertime.html
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMelissa
My oldest boy, and his best friend, flying:

http://tinyurl.com/3ymsnq

My different drummer:

http://tinyurl.com/35esvm
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterShama-Lama Mama
My mischief-hunter is a girl but she has boy cousins to lead astray.

Here she and her youngest cousin have just been told by his big brother that a vampire lurks the other side of the glass.

http://roobyred.typepad.com/magpie/2008/03/mothers-and-aun.html
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJo
What a beautiful post! "Questions falling like rain..." I love that.

Not long ago, I posted some pictures that go perfectly with this prompt. Thanks so much for letting me show off a little more!


http://web.mac.com/pabis/Mama_of_Letters/Blog/Entries/2008/2/5_Showing_Off.html
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterShelli
Thank you steph....

I don't have any boys, but I have friends with boys... :)

a fun one:
http://atheart.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/the-boys/

a "serious" one:
http://atheart.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/teddy/

I love looking through all of the photos here... it's so inspiring.



March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commenternatala
My deep thinker (during a break from learning to walk this weekend):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/giggletwig/2307683670/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commentercorey (giggletwig)
Here are a couple of my son and his passion from the weekend

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justexpressive/2307725094

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justexpressive/2304776676

and one of one of my nephews for good measure :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justexpressive/2306926195

March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRaven
I am blessed with four boys. Life is insane...especially with #3 wild child.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lashawn/2277267869/in/set-72157603870261358/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterLaShawn
Love this post! It's so beautifully written, and with three boys of my own, I could have written it myself! You captured my feelings perfectly, especially the "chaos which is a house of boys". Here are three shots of my boys:

A recent trip to the zoo where we couldn't pass up the t-rex skeleton:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73718243@N00/2279264239/

My boys' recent favorite Sunday morning activity:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73718243@N00/2279262871/

The blur that is life with boys:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73718243@N00/2259050983/

Lisl
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterLisl Sukachevin
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commentertoyfoto
Pondering his next conquest at the park:

http://flickr.com/photos/whoorl/2307894492/

And, he found it:

http://flickr.com/photos/whoorl/2307090623/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterwhoorl
My nephew

Give the boy a field to play in and this is what you'll find - http://www.flickr.com/photos/24386794@N08/2307112489/

Spend a day with the boy and at the end of the night you might be rewarded with this - http://www.flickr.com/photos/24386794@N08/2307916740/

March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAllison Massie
Here are two of my boys at our home in the country:

http://wifemotherpainter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/02/the-farm.html
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAndie
My "boys" aren't human... hope this still counts. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carmensandiego/577564993
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterBetty
He's not so little any more but he'll always be my baby! http://www.flickr.com/photos/whatswanniettaknittingtoday/2308071816/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterWannietta
My lizard boy:
http://flickr.com/photos/hudster/2304552673/

And from the other day...his first major "boo boo"
http://flickr.com/photos/hudster/2293774571/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterjillian
After 3 girls, we had a boy. And boy, are they wired differently!

My capture though has to do with a little boy and his daddy. Less the little-boy-grubby stuff, and more looking up to the big guy.

http://makemineaquad.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/the-future/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAileen
I love the sky behind my son in this shot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35959139@N00/2305529513/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterleigh
...
....
......

waits patiently to show off her 3 girls....

:c)
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commenternicky thomas
She describes life with boys perfectly. I just had my third, and I can't imagine life without the noise, the dirt, and the joy.

http://flickr.com/photos/queenofsheba/2308264802/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSharon
love those boys. i have dual boy love over here too. here's a peek into my world of boyness:

http://flickr.com/photos/storygoil/sets/72157603625079173/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSheri
i am SO in love with my little guy! dirt digging, frog finding, flower (weed) picking, leaf throwing, train toting, JOY.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2308293788/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2232998620/in/set-72157603783772137/

March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterkristin
First time poster! Had to share my little man having a ball in a big puddle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80816501@N00/2307572431/in/pool-shuttersisters
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterKara B
Love this post! I don't have a son but I've got the next best thing--a scamp of a daughter! http://www.flickr.com/photos/maypapers/
March 3, 2008 | Registered CommenterTracey Clark
Ah, Steph is the best! I have long enjoyed the antics of her lovely boys and her beautiful words (and photos too - you are too humble Steph). Although my boy is a big old thirteen year old now I do still long for the crazy muddy days now and then.
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterleslie
thought i'd add on of my older son and my brother and nephew in my brothers garden, getting dirty.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35959139@N00/2307910715/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterleigh
I love "boy energy." What is it about them that can take any innocent walk in the snow and make it a "search and conquer" mission?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630286@N05/2307894025/

What a great photo idea.
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterKathleen
Watching my boys play with their little sis makes me reminisce of my childhood. The spontinaity makes me smile. To be able to take a picture and save it for later is a treat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/veridianblue/2307876645/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJennifer
I don't have nearly enough photos of my boy. I have lots of pics from his younger days but they're not digital. Now, at eleven, almost twelve, he's busy with friends and not so interested in hanging out with mom. Here are a few...

He's the guy in the stripes: http://flickr.com/photos/peculiarmomma/842896785/in/set-72157594365703143/

And he's a great big brother:http://flickr.com/photos/peculiarmomma/1119689338/in/set-72157594365703143/

And an awful cute firefighter: http://flickr.com/photos/peculiarmomma/438240025/in/set-72157594365703143/

Thanks for the reminder to chase him down with the camera. They grow too too fast!
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterShalet
I've grown to appreciate the "in the moment" photos over the posed ones. Great post!

Not a boy...here's mine:

http://ijustlovebeingme.blogspot.com/2008/03/best-shot-monday.html
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterDana
I don't have a boy, but I DO have a cape wearing, sword wielding, tball playing tomboy....does that count?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandaroo/2308641763/in/photostream/
March 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMandy
I'm a little late, but here's my little stinker. He's so adorable sometimes and such a stinker other times. I hear that's a boy thing...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginnahendricks/2309564807/
March 4, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterGinna
March 4, 2008 | Unregistered Commentersimply
I'm a little late getting here, but here is my son, from when we were hiking this weekend...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/muckyyuck/2310666329/
March 4, 2008 | Unregistered Commentermel from freak parade
Traveling from sweetsalty. What a nice post. We have several family members, Lilly, Buster, Silver, Sam, Peacor, buried in the woods behind my childhood house. A rock for each of them, so the bears wouldn't disturb their resting place. Our own pet cemetery. The picture link is of My boy Eben(red head) and his cousin Sam(blonde) in the trails behind my sister's house. They are boys in every sense. I would't have them any other way.
http://babyeben.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/l_8048a5ff7c4073653cb1490c62099685.jpg
March 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJulia
Taken almost a year ago, but one of my favorite pictures of him:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roguesuttons/533854001/

At almost 18 months old, he's starting to really test my patience. I find myself going back to these pics to resist the urge to sell him to the gypsies.
March 7, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRogue Mama

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.