Shutter Sisters

the lost years

By

 

After watching the Kelly Corrigan video about capturing life’s everyday moments, I realized that digital photography has changed the way I document our lives.  I can scan through thousands of digital images of a freckly 12 year old, crazy dogs, and weekend adventures in Florida. 

But there is a glaring hole in the family story that makes me teary-eyed.  Like most of you, I missed capturing all these same activities with my older child.  We have an occasional photo from an old film camera or school photos but that is the extent of it.  No heartwarming shots of silly toothless grins, skateboarding with friends, or camping at the ranch.

I am now making it a point to seek out moments with my him before he heads off to college in January.  Quietly, I snap away as he strums his guitar, plays the piano, or falls asleep on the sofa.  I can not fill in all the lost years but as I hold these photos in my hands, I can see the little boy that he once was and the man he is becoming.

Take a few moments today to capture your loved ones as they go about their day.  Don’t let even the simplest of moments pass you by.  You won’t regret it.

We are giving away one $100 Paper Coterie gift card EVERY SINGLE DAY of September to one of YOU! All you have to do is share a comment each day before midnight EST for your chance to win that day’s random drawing. Be sure to leave links to your story shots.

Comments

  1. This is such a great reminder! Recently I've come to understand that I want to take photos to remember the details of my story, rather than to capture images for somebody else. It's easy to forget that much more of the story takes place in day-to-day life and not just on special occasions.

  3. This is so awesome. I feel the same about my oldest. There are about 16 photo books though that say I supported film hardily.I miss going through the digital and seeing more of him. I asked him out to dinner tonight. Ill have to remember to take the camera and capture an everyday moment with him.Thanks for the reminder!!

  7. every time i hear someone say, "I can't believe it is already [insert name of month that has come way too fast," I think whether I missed out on capturing a part of the month that just flew by. i definitely need to be more conscious of this throughout the month!

  8. This hits so close to home. I have a senior and junior in high school. For one thing, they run when they see me with my camera. I have a computer full of random images of them when they are in their middle years and boxes of prints of them as toddlers.
    I took them out this past Sunday to get some senior photos of my son. This one is of the two of them. It was my daughter's idea to do this shot. The light was harsh and my focus was off, but this is a new favorite of mine.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlm513_jens_pics/6168647581/

  10. I have so much the same feeling. Of my 18 yr. old, I just don't have a huge amount of photos. With each child I've had, I believe the amount of photos has gone up, to now where with my 2 yr old, I have taken thousands and thousands of photos of him in his relatively short life. My first daughter has a huge gap in photos, as we had just gotten our first digital camera, and all the photos are saved on Zip drives, and I haven't had much success trying to find a way to transfer them reasonably.

  11. What a wonderful picture! It's a keeper for sure. My husband hates pictures so I secretly take pictures of him to preserve memories for years to come. Great post with some great points!

  13. Thank goodness for digital! I'm super lucky because digital was here to stay before my son was born, so I've been able to document more than I could have with film. I only wish I had gotten into it much earlier than I did… I would have had better photos from his babyhood. As it is, I look through my photo files and see some months had only a few photos, and I wonder why. Now, the camera is out almost everyday, and even when I'm on a photoshoot, I'm sure to snap a few of him (because he sometimes goes with me!). šŸ˜€

  14. This is why I can not bring myself to erase any photos i take on my phone. Sometimes i sit here and just flip thru every single one, and I can vividly remember when it was taken and why it means so much to me.

  17. I have two little girls and luckily got a digital camera their first year. I love looking back at all of those every day moments…always wishing, despite the thousands of images, that I had captured more.

  18. can definitely relate to this post. although i did take quite a few film pictures back in the day. we just sent our oldest off to college this year and ever since his high school graduation it's as if i've had a film reel playing in my head of all the years that have passed. and the wish that in addition to more photos, that i had more video and audio of how he sounded as a young boy! *sigh*

  20. this touches me. it's true the photos get fewer and farther between as our children grow older. that's why i was pretty conscious of getting photos of my daughter during our last summer vacation. trying to catch her unawares – it's those moments that tell the story of them better than the posed photos. She'll be graduating from college soon and i'm afraid our time together will be less and less.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5927569654/

  21. I've been lucky to have a digital camera since before having my children. I've always taken the camera out a few times a week to capture our daily life. A feeling a joy comes over me as I look back over their early years.

  22. I'm so lucky digital was here before I had my first and all those moments are captured for both my kids! I recently bought a fireproof, waterproof backup hard drive, so hopefully all those precious moments are safe and secure forever! (I really must print more out though…)

  24. I actually feel this way about my youngest. I was just learning to use my camera when my son came along and I think I photographed everything he ever did. When my daughter arrived, the chaos in our life more than doubled and I didn't seem to carry along the camera as often. She's getting bigger everyday, and I feel like I'm missing it sometimes. Here's a shot from Monday. She may not always be interesting in holding hands so I'll cherish this time: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anngeedee/6164372503/in/photostream

  25. I feel this way about almost everyone in my family for different reasons. Some because of age, some because they change so quickly. We don't have a lot of photos of my husband as a kid, so I've spent a lot of our time photographing us doing different things. The dogs? Forget it… they aren't immune. I photograph almost their every movement. Laying on the porch? Photograph. Standing in the yard? Photograph. I just feel like the day-to-day are all of the special moments I don't want to miss and need to preserve as our family history.

  26. I really regret that we don't have many pictures of my grandmother towards the end of her life. We often think about capturing kids growing but not so much about our elders who are heading towards the end of their journey with us.
    Love that you have made capturing your son in this moment of his life a priority , Tammy.
    Thanks for the giveaway !
    Happy Snapping !

  28. This post is such a great reminder to catch those everyday moments (even if my husband is annoyed that I have my camera with me AGAIN). This shot is of my youngest about a month ago… he LOVES motorcycles (well any vehicle for that matter). He's actually making motorcycle sounds while he drives this bike on our table. I guess the Harley my husband bought 4 years ago was a blessing in disguise, as my little guy loves to just look at it whenever he gets the chance… nevermind watching (and hearing) Dad go for a ride!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/58861148@N02/6169571035/in/photostream

  29. I can totally relate to this post. I just sent my second son off to college last month. My third and youngest was born in 1998 and we got our first digital camera in 2001 or 2002. But I really didn't know what I was doing with it until two or three years ago. I do have photos of all my kids when they were little, but oh I wish I had then the camera (and technology) I have now.

  30. Wonderful, beautiful post; like so many, I have tons of baby/toddler prints but the last 10 yrs are just holidays and special events. Those everyday moments only captured in my memory. My camera is out, thank you!

  31. I love these little moments šŸ™‚ the real moments in every day life are treasured. you can't get those back

  32. Your so right about the photos. In fact next time me daughter returns from college I will take alot of pics, whether she likes it or not LOL. Thanks for sharing such a generous giveaway.

  34. Ugh. I'm really feeling the emotion about this topic in the last week or so. My oldest (now a Middle Schooler) turned 12 last week…. a few weeks after my youngest started full-day Kindgergarten. I watched a video linked the other day from a favorite blog called "Gift of an Ordinary Day" and it made me realize how fast time is going and how important it is to take pictures of every day moments.

    My 12 year old doesn't like to pose for me anymore. I pretty much have to sneak pictures of him. The good part is that he plays lots of baseball so I can photograph him as much as I want from a far. I try to capture him in action, but also like to capture emotional shots of excitement, celebration, etc. One particular game this past summer we had just returned from a three hour drive after laying my husband's grandmother to rest in Vermont. The kids were having a close game. My son was up to bat with 2 outs and 2 strikes against him. He came up with a clutch hit that put the team ahead. While the other team warmed up another pithcer my son walked over to his teammate and friend. I captured this shot…..

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/29333822@N07/6170302918/

    He told me later that he had prayed to his Great Grandmother for her help at bat. I'm glad I always have my camera out at my kids' games!

  35. thankfully I took lots of film photos of my oldest when he was younger, was feeling guilty about the lack of photos when his younger brother came along, but now that I'm digital I've made up for some of the younger and now the older doesn't want his photo taken! What's really sadly lacking… are photos of me šŸ™ since I'm the photographer I'm rarely in them. I have to really make an effort to remember to hand the camera off to my hubby and cross my fingers that they'll be in focus šŸ˜‰

  38. I am on my 3rd online digi photog course this year. It's revolutionize the way I document the large and small moments of my life and transformed my artistic life. I too mourned the fact that if I had only known then what I know now, but then realized that the tools we use now-digi cams, Picnik, photoshop and all that good stuff was not available in the past. The good news is that I now have the equipment and skills to use to my best advantage and I am determined to do so. It's added another layer to the story telling of my life.

  42. So so true. I take all I can get – especially of the older ones. That and I have a huge scanning project ahead of me because I was good at documenting back in the film days – I just don't have the digital files to prove it.

  44. I love the reminder to continue to snap pictures as our kids get older. I want to be an old lady sitting down with my grandkids flipping through photo albums one day and telling them stories about their parents. Here's what I'd say about this one: Your Dad (who was 9 at the time) and I use to play HORSE after dinner. I would try to take his picture, but all he would let me do is take a picture of his feet (true story from tonight!):

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/50654891@N07/6170580305/

  46. I agree with Bonnie above about getting their voices – I have TONS of pics but hardly any video – mostly of my oldest until she was about 2 then I really dropped off!!

  52. I started to cry reading your latest post. I think most of us who have older children feel that way. I have great silly, funny, beautiful shots of my youngest but my older two are gone and when home in and out so fast I barley have time to say hi!!!
    I try even if they are scruffy looking to take as many photos of them as I can now, they still give me a hard time, but I know they will as much as I appreciate it in the future!!!

  53. After having had both of my children grow up and move on with their lives, I can tell you that the pictures I have of them from over the years are more precious than ever. It's never to late to capture their smiles or unique ways or even years later, them falling into a deep contented sleep when they come home for a visit and curl up on the couch.

    Thank you for inspiring us all to remain passionate about our lives and our pictures. What a gift to have a place to share with one another.

  56. modifications of Uggs design alter guys and girls methods too. guys and girls no a awesome provide an awesome provide additional think it merely produced for winter instead they think it is so extraordinary that guys and girls of complete age broad assortment and sex will locate out their boots in Uggs.Unlike other boots,

    <strong><a href="http://www.uggsonclearanceoutlet.net">uggs on clearance</a></strong> is good for you on winter if you have the ugg shoes
    <strong><a href="http://www.uggsoutletstoresale.net&quot; title="Uggs Outlet Store">Uggs Outlet Store</a></strong> you can choice the shoe sfor you on the winter
    <strong><a href="http://www.monclerjacketsoutletstores.com">Moncler Outlet</a></strong> is good for you on winter if you have the Moncler
    <strong><a href="http://www.uggbootsclearancesaleoutlet.net">Uggs Clearance</a></strong> so individuals finds intricate to locate the awesome Ugg boots outlet
    <strong><a href="http://www.uggbootsclearanceonsale.net">Ugg Boots Clearance Sale</a></strong> are you like ugg shoes
    <strong><a href="http://www.uggsclearancesaleoutlet.net">uggs clearance</a></strong> is good for you on winter if you have the ugg shoes
    <strong><a href="http://www.moncleronlineshop4.com">moncler online shop</a></strong>
    <strong><a href="http://www.uggsclearancesaleoutlet.net/blog/">uggs clearance</a></strong>
    <strong><a href="http://monclerclearance.net/">moncler clearance</a></strong>
    <strong><a href="http://cheapmonclerclothing.net/">cheap moncler</a></strong>
    <strong><a href="http://moncleroutletblog.net/">moncler outlet</a></strong>
    <strong><a href="http://www.uggsclearanceonsale.org">uggs clearance</a></strong>

  57. <p> Usually when a small business owner is making a list of all the marketing materials he needs, heā€™ll forget about letterhead. Other business owners may not think letterhead is that important. But letterhead is extremely important. Along with a business card, a nice letterhead gives off a feeling of a professionalĀ <a href="http://www.cheapuggbootstu.com">cheap ugg boots</a>, established company.|||ā€¦include your logo.You should already have a logo to include in all of your marketing materialsĀ <a href="http://www.sale-cheapuggboots.com/ugg-stella.html">UGG Stella</a>, but if you donā€™t, get one. Generally, logos are the centerpiece of letterhead design. Your letterhead will be seen over and over again in direct mail lettersĀ <a href="http://www.uggsonsalesu.com">uggs on sale</a>,Seashell Rose Bailey Button Ugg Boots 5803Ā <a href="http://www.uggoutletsstoreu.com">uggs outlet</a>Ā Women ugg top handles-013 Women ugg top handles-013 ugg Red Fashion Slippers DoubleĀ <a href="http://www.uggsbootssalesu.com">ugg boots sale</a>Ā ugg Antheia Hobo PM Olive M93199<a href="http://www.uggsbootsoutletu.com">ugg boots outlet</a>Ā ugg white CC Logo Ultra Soft Studded pearl Flap BagĀ <a href="http://www.uggbootsuksaleu.com">ugg boots uk</a>, invoices and other business communications, so you need to get your logo on there so people will recognize it when they see it other places. </p>

  58. blue uggs

    The value segregation study is simply essential as soon as,blue <a href="http://www.popularbootshome.com&quot; >uggs</a> and many others,One effective way of breaking in a new baseball glove is to wrap it in <a href="http://www.winterbootszone.com&quot; >uggs for cheap</a> a towel when not in use,Motocross boots for women and kids,for this reason limiting and <a href="http://www.winterbootszone.com&quot; >www.winterbootszone.com</a> deferring critical income taxes in the dividend.

    Related:

  59. <p> We offer you a one-stop web hosting solution louis vuitton, company?<a href="http://www.louisvuittonoutletsu.com">louis vuitton outlet</a>,chanel bags, you save yourself a lot of headaches. Thus you will enter into the global Internet space quickly,louis vuitton<a href="http://www.buberrybagssale.com">burberry bags</a>, at a very reasonable cost.?We offer you a one-stop web hosting solution burberry scarf?<a href="http://www.burberryscarfon.com">burberry scarf</a>,chanel outlet, which will let you build a successful online presence through various helpful services. By completing everything under one company, you save yourself a lot of headaches. Thus you will enter into the global Internet space quickly, at a very reasonable cost.?We offer you a one-stop web hosting solution?<a href="http://www.uggsclearancebootsu.com">uggs clearance</a>,burberry bags, which will let you build a successful online presence through various helpful services. By completing everything under one company burberry bags, you save yourself a lot of headaches. Thus you will enter helpful services. By completing everything under one company chanel sale handbags<a href="http://www.chanelmallsale.com">chanel handbags</a>,43-48.html?We offer you a one-stop web hosting solution chanel handbags, which will let you build a successful online presence through various helpful services. By completing everything under one company?<a href="http://www.chanelbagsmalls.com">chanel bags</a>, you save yourself a lot of headaches. Thus you will enter into the global Internet space quickly?<a href="http://www.louisvuittonoutletmallu.com">louis vuitton outlet</a>, at </p>

  60. louis vuitton sale http://www.louisvuittonsaleon.com
    ugg outlet store http://www.uggoutletstoresu.com
    louis vuitton outlet http://www.officiallouisvuittonoutlets.com
    burberry outlet http://www.burberrymalloutlet.com
    cheap louis vuitton http://www.louisvuittonofficialoutlets.com
    louis vuitton outlet store http://www.louisvuittonoutletsofficia.com
    Uggs Outlet http://www.officialuggsoutletmall.com
    louis vuitton outlet http://www.officiallouisvuittonoutletus.com

  61. Most blowers are single stage: Air travels around the blower housing once and is discharged. Two-stage regenerative blowers can provide almost twice the pressure or vacuum of single-stage units. In a single-impeller Knit Suburb Crochet <a href="http://www.officiallouisvuittonoutletu.com&quot; title="louis vuitton outlet" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">louis vuitton outlet</a>, two-stage unit Uggs Knightsbridge For Women ZV2 <a href="http://www.cochanelhandbagsmall.com&quot; title="chanel hadnbags" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">chanel hadnbags</a>, air makes one revolution around the front side of the impeller. Then Ugg Classic Mini Outlet <a href="http://www.officialoutletlouisvuitton.com&quot; title="louis vuitton outlet" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">louis vuitton outlet</a>, instead of being discharged Ugg Jimmy Choo Outlet <a href="http://www.officialuggbootsoutlet.com&quot; title="ugg outlet" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">ugg outlet</a>, the air is channeled to the backside of the impeller through internal porting. Air then makes another revolution around the backside of the impeller before it is discharged. Other two-stage configurations are also available Burberry Caps <a href="http://www.uggsoutletsofficial.com&quot; title="uggs outlet" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">uggs outlet</a>, including designs that use two separate impellers in one housing or two impellers and housings. Among the major benefits of a regenerative blower is its lack of maintenance and monitoring requirements. The impeller is the only moving part and is wear free and does not come in contact with the housing channels. Self-lubricated bearings are the only parts that wear. Regenerative blowers are oilless and have no complicated intake/exhaust valving. Most can be mounted in any plane and Fashion Show Collections <a href="http://www.burberryofficialsite.com&quot; title="burberry official" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">burberry official</a>, with dynamically balanced impellers Damier Azur Canvas <a href="http://www.officialuggbootsoutlet.com&quot; title="http://www.officialuggbootsoutlet.com&quot; style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">http://www.officialuggbootsoutlet.com</a&gt;, generate little vibration. Because they are nonpositive displacement compressor/vacuum pumps Louis Vuitton Bags <a href="http://www.lowlouisvuittonoutlets.com&quot; title="louis vuitton outlet" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">louis vuitton outlet</a>, they discharge air that is clean and pulsation free Uggs Classic Fancy For Women ZPT <a href="http://www.officialuggoutletmall.com&quot; title="ugg outlet" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">ugg outlet</a>, which are important considerations for today's plant instruments and controls. The majority of blower failures are caused by improper installation or operation. Regenerative blowers have close internal clearances between the impeller and housing. It is important to prevent foreign material from entering that space. Ingested debris wedging between the impeller and housing can cause the blower to lock up and lead to a catastrophic failure. A blower should always be equipped with an intake filter. A 10-micron size is usually adequate. Filters must be kept clean. A blocked filter will starve flow. Overpressurization can also cause deadheading (zero airflow through the blower) and catastrophic failure. Some blowers tolerate deadheading Ugg Brown Boots <a href="http://www.officialuggoutlets.com&quot; title="ugg outlet" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">ugg outlet</a>, but other models (typically those above 1 hp) must have air passing through them for cooling. If air does not pass through the blower Ugg Chestnut Classic Short ZYD,<a href="http://www.lowlouisvuittonoutlets.com/messenger-bags-and-totes.html&quot; title="Messenger Bags And Totes" style="text-decoration: none;font-weight: bold">Messenger Bags And Totes</a>, heat builds up in the impeller causing it to expand at a faster rate than the housing. Eventually the impeller locks up with the housing and the blower fails. A relief valve prevents overpressurization and deadheading conditions and allows air to pass through the blower. For additional information please refer to Canada Blower Co. web site http:// canadablower /index.html. Susan TerlitskiCanadian Industrial Process DesignerCanada Blower Co.http://canadablower http://canadablower /blowers/index.html