I was editing some photos the other night, after the boys went to bed, and I had an epiphany. Epiphanies, for me, aren’t anything life changing; rather, they’re little zaps of “ah-ha’s” that serve to remind me that I’m on the right track.
So I was editing this image and I thought this: you can never look at one of your own photos and separate yourself from the emotions you felt while taking the image. And whatever that emotion may be will have complete control over your opinion of the image.
And it’s because of that emotion present, or not present, at the time the picture is taken that every image tells a story.
I’m typically drawn to images with people in them because I can understand humanity better than I can architecture, or plants, or landscapes. But I paused at this particular photo because I realized that it, too, tells a story.
I think a lot about the memories I’ll take with me as my boys grow up. You can take all the photos in the world along the way, but the reality is that only certain memories will stick. So often, the mundane – the really beautiful mundane – slips away and lives only in form of a picture of a memory forgotten.
But this photo? It’s one I’d ordinarily skip right over, right off as nothing special; “because it’s boring… there’s nobody in it” says that voice in my head.
And I’m documenting it here, because this is a seemingly mundane memory that I don’t want to forget; of my boys sitting in the backseat of their grandpa’s pickup truck, no seat belts, standing on the floorboard watching in amazement as we pass cow after cow only to drive up to the haystacks, where my father-in-law knows all the birds hang out, and watch what seemed to be thousands of birds fly into the oblivion like some sort of mass exodus; my boys’ mouths open, eyes wide.
And then I thought, “ya know, I love this image”. Even if there’s no one in it.
I feel like even photos without people still have “someone” in it… that someone being the photographer. You obviously saw something that made you want to click, so the photo is an expression of you in that way. Personally, I love it. Birds are magical.
I only recently discovered your blog (and have been on a veritable archeological dig through your archives), but I’m simply enthralled by your posts. Your photography so honest, you have a lovely unique style. And your writing is what also, I suspect, makes you such a great photographer. You have an eye for detail, and the ability to distill the moment into the details that matter. To see the heart of it. And then to express it so clearly. I love the experience of peeling back the layers on this blog. Your posts nearly always make me want to have conversations with you.. LOL
I was tempted to write you a longish email, but, as a busy mama myself, I’m sure your time is better spent other ways than indulging my need to pour my thoughts out. But I did want to comment on this post, particularly, because I actually love photographs with no one in them. Because there’s no one then to distract from the picture of the photographer 🙂 It’s so poignant what you wrote about not being able to separate yourself from the emotions at the time of taking the shot. It often frustrates me actually as it makes shot selection nearly impossible for me. Too sentimental. Often months if not years must pass before I can gain any sense of objectivity.
Anyhow, thanks for keeping this blog, it’s inspiring in more ways than one. If you ever find yourself heading north of the border I would love to ask you to photograph our family. If you think you might be missing “true” winter – well, we’ve got snow you know. And -40 weather, that would surely make you appreciate your summers 😉
Hahaha, ya that surely would make me appreciate summer. Summer aside, what I really appreciate are your kind words. I know what you mean about certain posts make you want to have a conversation over coffee, or a beer, with the person that wrote them. I feel that way often. And I couldn’t agree more about years passing before I, too, gain any sense of objectivity. It always fascinates me what one person is drawn to versus another. Sometimes I’ll shoot photos for a family and there will be an image I’m not really feeling but decide to include in the bundle I give them only to come to find out that that particular image was their favorite. Perhaps it’s a separate topic, but I suppose it’s all related. In any event, I’m much too sentimental and shot selection is nearly impossible for me too. I always intend to try to tell ‘the story’ with fewer images, but I have yet to actually be able to do so… Thank you, again, for your sweet comment. I’m sure we’d get on great. And I’d love to travel North… one day. Although I hear vacations to California are pretty rad 😉 xo