Shutter Sisters

the sparkling fifth

By

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Sarah Jessica Parker has said of the characters in Sex and the City: There’s not just the four of us girls. There’s a fifth, and she’s New York City, and she sparkles.

Here, there’s not just the one subject—a boy, for his first birthday—there are two. The boy and the light.

A photo is a snapshot when light is absent—there, obviously, but not playing an active role. That’s alright sometimes. For when you grab the camera to snap cookie dough on a cheek, candles on a cake.

For me, snapshots become more conscious when that special sort of light plays to my favour by chance—inches from a windowpane on a cloudy day, all diffused and wistful, or a burst of beloved flare that bounces off the water, glowing like some watchful spirit.

Specialness in light can be summoned, too, by calling it on stage: tracks on the kitchen ceiling, for instance, thrown out of focus for just what I wanted—the feel of a vintage wonder wheel, a circus, stars for my birthday boy and his spirit-brother.

I need it today. Show me light that’s conscious and manipulated, or discovered by chance, featured as that sparkling ‘fifth character’. Send some my way, will you?

Comments

  5. A bit of light your way….happy birthday to your beautiful birthday boy and his spirit brother.

  7. good morning shutter sisters

    "The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other, and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out." james baldwin

    I had so many good ones to show today but i’ve had to whittle it down.

    Firstly, one for Kate – if she needs light sometimes the simple light can mean the most

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/2385647007/

    heres one of my favourite artificial light shots – beauty by machine

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/2238108549/

    and one of my favourite natural light shots – beauty by nature

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/582484392/

    have a lovely day ladies (and Jim)

    Nicky x

    ps http://www.last.fm/music/Marillion/_/Estonia
    enjoy

  17. Oh it’s beautiful Kate.

    Yesterday, I was out shopping for my son, and there was a woman in the store talking to her boy, repeating "liam, liam, liam…" throughout her conversation. I wanted to scream at her that liam was NOT allowed to be her son’s name or that she could at least shut the hell up about it for the next couple of days.
    Instead, I just left with tears in my eyes, thinking of and praying for you and yours. Especially today.
    I love you.
    Lora

  20. I just want to apologize with tears glistening in my eyes. I have not read your personal blog before and did not realize your back story until after I posted my contribution and read the one above me. Please ignore my son’s name and enjoy the pictures instead…I did not purposefully cause any pain on this day for you. I don’t know how to delete my previous post.

  21. I have several and I’m gonna share them all! 🙂
    I LOVE when the light is magical and unexpected, just like this first photo. I was shocked to see that despite the blurriness, I am in love with this picture because of the dreamy feel it gives off.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/marycalissa/2279755700

    This one, my dog in the water, the sun was perfect.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/marycalissa/2360355936

    My dog sleeping in a warm spot of sun.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/marycalissa/2454909576/

    This one, I loved how the sun even reflected in the cat’s ears… it made the moment that much more special.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/marycalissa/1387620359

    Concentrating on a winnie-the-pooh game completely unaware of the beautiful light.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/marycalissa/2207117851/

  23. Abra, please don’t feel bad about your contribution today. It was so beautiful: the photos of your Liam and his dad, the globe, the lyrics. I think it was one of those gifts. I love that there are other boys out there who are thriving, those who hear the name we chose called out in good cheer and ordinary life. Just scanning through and I won’t have time today to comment to everyone as I usually do, but everything’s so beautiful and you all totally nailed it… such beauty. You too, Abra.

  30. /Users/Emma/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/2007/July and August 2007/IMG_3746.JPG

    Here’s one from an exhibit in London last summer – Blind Light.

  36. I call this one "lighting on a budget" – I brought out a small oval mirror on a stand from my bathroom, and set it on the arm of the couch next to him to reflect light from my dining area. 🙂 Still isn’t that great of a shot, but I’m proud that I’m starting to consciously light things rather than just take photos, KWIM?
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/2455242272/

  43. I have always loved, just loved, how Liam’s light is often present in your photographs. It isn’t just perfect; it just IS.

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