I’ve always been a hands person. Thinking about any friend I have, I can very clearly conjure up an image of their hands. Some are strong and look like they could do many hours of work in the hot sun, others are more delicate and gentle, with long fingers and painted nails. One friend of mine has so many lines crisscrossing all over her hands, that she is surely an old soul. And then there are Ben’s toddler hands, that are like little starfish exploring the world.
One of my all time favorite photos of hands is a shot that Jen Lemen posted on this site (with a beautiful story) And oh my goodness, in the Shutter Sisters pool on flickr are some of the most stunning photos of hands… wow people! This week’s challenge is to explore photographing hands.
I am moved by how much hands can say in a photo, how much love can be transmitted by a gentle squeeze, how much life they can hold. There is a Rumi quote I love: Look at your eyes. They are small, but they see enormous things. I think the same goes for hands. They are small, but they hold enormous things.
Cor says
‘little starfish exploring the world’….i love that.
great photo.
"long time reader, first time commenter!"
Cheryl Doran-Girard says
I, too, like making images of hands–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/3170021934/
Shawna says
The first memory I have of meeting my husband (I usually forget first encounters, I regret to say) are of his hands. Soft and dimply, not like my own knobbly, spindly and cracked knuckle hands. I have a feeling this topic will make great fodder to get me through another week of 365. Thanks for the challenge!
kosenrufu mama says
THANK YOU FOR THIS CHALLENGE, ALWAYS A WONDERFUL INSPIRATION FOR ME!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3202944227/
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/
brittany says
i love these chubby little hands and all of the exploring they do. so busy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/3175169112/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/2734410595/
Missy says
I posted just last week about my little collection of photos of my son’s hands:
http://huggingthemidline.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/touched.html
Kath says
My own hands are starting to look like my mother’s hands. I catch flashes of her hands in mine, especially when I’m peeling vegetables or knitting. When I remember my father, I remember his hands first, then his face. He had hard working hands.
sandi says
As a manicurist, I have seen many, many hands. All so different. Here is a photo of some tiny ones. ๐
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandis_art/3203033695/
marty says
My kids hands…always so quick to reach out…I love the way they see with their hands…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyhadding/2956377801/in/set-72157604577077366/
camerashymomma says
i am also a hand person. knowing who someone is by the familiarity of their hands. these photos are a great inspiration as i feel that my hands have changed recently. here’s an old photo i wanted to share, but i’ll work on this over the weekend. thanks for the inspiration!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2462009821/
benzismama says
I have a flickr series dedicated to hands and things being held. I’d like to add more to it soon. Thanks for the inspiration!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benzismama/sets/72157607229551034/
Tracey Clark says
Really sweet post Andrea.
I can’t help but be reminded of this-
http://traceyclark.com/shuttersisters/home/2008/10/8/a-likeness.html
.
owlhaven says
Here are the hands of my superhero mama and my oldest daughter!
http://www.owlhaven.net/2009/01/17/my-mothers-hands/
And here are the hands of my oldest daughter and her fiance’ admiring her new ring!
http://www.owlhaven.net/2009/01/01/the-ring/
Andie says
I read this post early this morning as I had been up painting most the night. Here is a pic of my hands:
http://wifemotherpainter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/been-busy.html
a.
Jeannie says
I wish I had some hand pics; I take photos of feet on the beach!
However, the loveliest hand picture I’ve seen lately is one I saw just yesterday. I encourage you to visit http://www.nieniedialogues.com and possibly ask Stephanie Nielson for permission to include her photo here.
If nothing else, please visit her site. It’s beautiful and poignant and fits perfectly with your topic.
Love your site. Now I need a better camera!
Denese says
My grandson moves his hands in exactly the same way my son did when he was little. He splays them out behind him when he’s very intently inspecting something on the ground.
http://dlouisianat.blogspot.com/2008/12/few-of-my-favorite-things.html
picture # 12
Kristin says
Hands have also become a new phase for me as well, although I’ve been focusing on my own hands for my 365 blog! This inspires me to focus on some of the other hands that I am surrounded by as well. Its funny how it is impossible for me to come to this site and NOT be inspired in one way or another:)
http://mothershand.blogspot.com/
Dory says
This musician taught himself to do calligraphy backwards to create art work to sell at resorts in Ghana, supplementing what he made leading choirs to support his family. I made him laugh as I took many photographs of his hands as he worked and we talked about life, gifts, faith, family and the meaning of our names.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorothyf/2504228426/in/set-72157605132466189/
Diane Schuller says
I too have always been intrigued by hands. I seldom see other people so that’s why my photos reflect only my landscape, my home, and animals. Rarely do I ever see other people (except my husband). I can go weeks, sometimes months without seeing another human being. If I lived in the city I would be taking photos of humans all the time! I’ll try to do a one day road trip this week if it warms up and see if I can sneak a few photos of strangers hands. Either that or my husband is going to have his hands photographed a lot ๐
Diane
http://www.albertaphotography.wordpress.com/
Marcy says
I took this a few weeks ago, commemorating me and my husband’s 5th wedding anniversary.
http://flickr.com/photos/mightymarce/3165196768/in/set-72157611977506299/
Just Jinny says
My husbands hands..as they have always been and probably will always be.
http://realworldgirl.blogspot.com/2009/01/superhero-photo-challenge-hands.html
Kelly says
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3203590643/in/pool-shuttersisters
Hands that are too still.
laura-dolcepics says
I love those images you linked to and yours as well. I haven’t done hand detail shots in a while but I really should.
http://www.dolcepics.com/dailypic/daddys-touch/
mary says
here is a self-portrait:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/2493139550/
Toni says
I love baby hands – so pudgy and soft and sweet.
http://dailyvignette.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/what-child-is-this/
This will be an fun challenge and I’ll have to see what I can get during the week.
spread your wings says
that’s a beautiful and touching photo.
my daughter took this of herself and her boyfriend – i love everything about it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterxdown/1368397882/
vanessa says
i love that quote! this is one of my favorite wedding photos…
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3203824157_059b7c4b00.jpg
Liz says
i wanted to show my hands after painting. not the best photo, but it shows off the paint!:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/3069633521/in/set-72157608993525565/
piano hands:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/1231979707/in/set-72157594587515983/
i was inspired to take these after seeing my roommate’s pictures of her hands in black volcanic sand in hawaii:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2985179333/in/set-72157601163338911/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2986035338/in/set-72157601163338911/
i should take some more….
Secret Agent Mama says
My favorite hand shot is this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/2382107997/in/set-72157604353907050/
elianne says
http://zus.my-expressions.com/archives/10864_1427783206/286129
Rebecca says
I’ve always been obsessed with hands. I can remember my affection for my little sister’s chubby short fingered hands when we were little and now I try to preserve my children’s hands with any and every hand craft I find.
This photo was taken when my youngest was 3 and we were picking strawberries. You can see the stains at the tip of each finger. Oh how I love it!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/3204427657/?addedcomment=1#comment72157612692754662
kristin says
total accident that i shot this today… but it fits. so yay!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3204180385/
Suvarna says
Oh I am looking forward to this challenge, here are some older shots for now.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10751420@N07/1384474718/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10751420@N07/2992565737/
Bonnie says
He fell down and landed on his hands on the driveway. Look at his face behind the hands. Poor baby!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonniebythebay/3205537746/in/photostream/
Geri says
I love images of hands too. I’ve heard that artists say they are the hardest thing to draw.
Chris says
I absolutely love photographing hands, especially those of the elderly or small children. My grandma is a favorite subject for me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/3205972192/
Molly Merrick says
I love it! Here’s a whole set filled with photos of hands:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/molly_merrick/sets/72157608242615875/
Some of my favorites are my mother’s hands:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/molly_merrick/2678585506/in/set-72157608242615875/
And these hands of some of my friends:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/molly_merrick/137704672/in/set-72157608242615875/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/molly_merrick/2957128462/in/set-72157608242615875/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/molly_merrick/2957128462/in/set-72157608242615875/
Jacque Braun says
My hands and my (then) 7 year old son’s hands together.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/braunalog/394623592/sizes/m/in/set-72157603196018189/
Cindy says
hands of a great grandpa
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atechsan/3196705181/
hands of a bride and her mom.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atechsan/3196701415/
Suzanne says
Here’s my attempt. It’s not the perfect photo and only my third self-portrait, but it’s strange how emotional taking a simple picture of my own hands turned out to be.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33156612@N07/3206625375/in/pool-shuttersisters
maz says
Dancing Hands……http://divingforpearls.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/dancing-through-life.html
bleachusd says
I’m right there with the hand lovin’… I once went through a meditation on hands that I find myself continuously returning to year after year.
"Think of all the hands you have touched and how much they have left an imprint on you. Handprints are actually heartprints that can never be erased. The hand has its own memory. When you touch someone or are touched by someone, you exchange hearts with each other. Think of all the places that carry your handprints and all the people who bear your heartprint. They are permanent, and will last forever."
So profound.
http://flickr.com/photos/bleach226/1695544998/
jenny murray says
This is a fun challenge. I hope it’s okay that my hands photo is part of a diptych…
http://flickr.com/photos/lipseyebrows/3189818721/
JoAnne says
Thanks for the inspiration…my kids were playing with clay today and I missed the photo op because my hands were covered in clay. Jordan, my 7 year old daughter consented to pose after the fact.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31299004@N02/3207381175/in/pool-shuttersisters
CartwheelsAtMidnight/Paige says
What a great post and I almost missed it! I have 2 hand photos that I love and speak deeply to me:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cartwheelsatmidnight/2885313334/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cartwheelsatmidnight/3124446358/in/set-72157611395475615/
I couldn’t pick just one.
Christy says
I got a rare opportunity tonight. Come and see!
http://yankeeinontario.blogspot.com/2009/01/hands-are-for-loving.html
Amy Kingman says
This is my favorite hand photo, taken of my grandma’s hands while we made candy together for Christmas. They’re two of the hardest working hands I know.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aimabo/3116840232/in/set-72157611370806734/
Sharon says
First I got this picture of my friend showing my son how to play guitar. I never think to zero in on hands, but this time I did:
http://flickr.com/photos/queenofsheba/3207386030/
Next, I read this post. It must be kismet. I am up to the challenge of focusing on hands this week!
Melissa (Photomom86) says
love hands – they really do tell their own story
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24035778@N04/3208498696/
Vanessa says
little boy hands making beautiful offerings: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/2920725031/in/set-72157607454224383/
Emily says
http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_love_photography/3209066947/
I love the contrast between a parent’s hand and a toddlers, especially a dad and son.
Happy Monday!
Jaime de la Cruz says
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aslansland/3192705374/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aslansland/3159105133/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aslansland/sets/72157610655176309/
I have three here……my favorite thing to photo…the hands!
Blazey says
Across the generations.
http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/2957587528/in/set-72157606059217017/
CarrieJ says
I am sure I have more pics of hands, but this is the one that popped into my head immediately. It is the most recent. My daughter brought me a flower, which happened to be from one of my Grandfather’s camelia bushes. I always feel so close to him when I am in his yard. He loved the trees and bushes so!!
http://flickr.com/photos/59369873@N00/3204816793/
and I love my little preemie’s hands here. He looks so serene, just waiting for Mommy and Daddy to be able to take him home.
http://flickr.com/photos/59369873@N00/3191133539/in/photostream/
crystine says
I have always loved hands. I remember as a child that the only thing that got me through a church service was examining my mothers hands…detail by minute detail. As a momma now myself I was in awe of my sons hands as he would dreamily awaken at night. They would float and dance above his head as though in water…thank goodness I am a light sleeper.
Today we had rainbows. Always a good thing in my book. Generally they can be hard to catch but not so today..
http://flickr.com/photos/23187215@N07/3211288441/
Deanna says
Dad & my little one were playing around when I snapped this photo…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buneluvr/3212187558/
brandi says
my very favorite picture of my hands:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/2521578554/
and then the one where I decided I didn’t need my thumb anymore…lol
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/3192994792/
mamie says
i took this for my 52 weeks project but i was struck by the fact that my hand was empty. this is a rare occurrence these days.
http://flickr.com/photos/16401019@N00/3213744228/
jennie lee says
yes, i agree–hands tell so much stories. and they’re so graceful to look at, whether they’re old or young, smooth or wrinkled…
when i was in india, people kept coming up to me to admire my hands. they say i have such long fingers, and that it is a sign of being creative. i have my doubts on such sayings, but it gives me a happy feeling to believe in that :o)
picture of hands in india: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinita_jill/2091357623/in/set-72157600074073145/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinita_jill/2092140702/in/set-72157600074073145/
picture of a hand in beijing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinita_jill/3215494202/
shirbit says
My mother’s hands, http://www.flickr.com/photos/32528287@N03/3214690285/
Kizz says
My most recent hand shot. I’ve always loved people’s hands.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31403417@N00/3207390828/in/set-72157612533516613/
jill says
What a coincidence… I was playing AT THE BEACH (sorry to those living in the cold weater, us Californians are so annoying like that) last weekend, trying to figure out how to make a heart with my hands with the view of the sun and ocean in the background… AND take a picture. I guess I really needed 3 hands.
I enlisted the help of my 7 year old niece… we sort of got it accomplished!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justjill/3214000349/
marybethvolpini says
life in your hands…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marybethvolpini/3216187328/
Diane says
My big boy’s hands…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mackvilleroad/3214695135/
Steph says
I’m amazed at how much my children’s hands look like mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tcymom/3214637519/
sarah says
a few hands from my photostream. i’m inspired to take more!:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradleysofaustin/2788130137/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradleysofaustin/2844173735/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradleysofaustin/3046709761/
Aubrey says
My hands. My husband says they look like an old Ladies. My mom, says that I was born with "old" hands. She considers me an old soul. I see them in my youngest daughter. And I am happy for her.
Here is a post with a photo of my Hands High Hopes for the future:
http://aubreyplays.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-five.html
Stephanie says
I’ve always loved this photo of my best friend”s hands:
http://flickr.com/photos/32835633@N04/3217647253/
And this one. Although it’s just a photo of my hands, to me it tells a whole story about the changes in my life the past year:
http://flickr.com/photos/32835633@N04/3217668765/
Stephanie (Khya) says
I love hands! This comes at a good time as I’m trying to do a series of hands and precious objects. Thanks for the challenge!
http://khya.typepad.com/khyas_journal/2009/01/preciousssss.html
Kace says
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kace_chalmers/3219974741/
I love this photo of my newborn’s hand. It’s now soft and pudgy and childlike and won’t have thin, wrinkled fingers again until she’s much, much older.
Maya v. says
Buddha’s hand….open and welcoming.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mayangsari/3010568469/
Sheryl says
I took this of my husbands hands awhile ago, but still love it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/monsoonaz3/2213075277/in/set-72157603608758359/
Jabelico says
Yes! I am also a lover of the small, but enormous things of this life…thank you!
http://www.redbubble.com/people/jabelico/art/1930650-8-hands-of-an-artist
http://www.redbubble.com/people/jabelico/art/1836342-8-t-r-u-s-t
Wanda says
My hands at rest: http://whatwouldwandado.blogspot.com/2009/01/love-thursday-continued-on-friday.html
Martha says
I love my mother’s hands:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/3256604995/
Megan (Trees & Bees Photog) says
Here is one of my favorite hands photos, of a preemie holding her mama’s hand.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marleysmama/2794552027/in/set-72157604459932241/
Heather246 says
These hands belong to two of my little boys. Brothers. Best Friends.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36677128@N02/3382696022/
Amber says
I love my daughter’s hands. She does so many wonderful things with them!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/westars3/3376159433/in/set-72157615770078188/