I was busy today with last minute cleaning and furniture arranging, food shopping and a stop at the mechanics for one adjustment on the car so all my shots were rushed and quite frankly- BAD! However, while waiting for the car I began reading God is at Eye Level by Jan Phillips. Diane Owens had recommended it and it has lived up to her endorsement!!
In the early chapters Jan relates how her personal journey with photography began. One thing that struck me was her connection to family photos and the impact they had on her own identity- both as a person and as a photographer. I loved the fact that her first official camera was a Kodak Instamatic, much like my beloved little point and shoot which I use now. I also loved her descriptions about the feelings which come over her as she gazes upon old photos capturing moments in her family history. It was as if she had interviewed me and was now recounting the things I had to say.
I know I will be re-reading the three chapters I read today (because I must sticky note all the pages that had something meaningful to me on them!!) but in the meantime, since I had no useful photos today I decided to pull out one from the family archives. This is a shot of my mother and father on their wedding day. The fellow behind them was their best man and my father's best friend. The little boy is my cousin. I believe the lady on the right was a college friend of my mother's and the maid of honor. These are the times I wish Dad or Mom was still around to fill in the blanks (What was my cousin so shy about? Who is that lady? And what was everyone laughing about?). Instead, as Philips pointed out, this picture and others are "a story calling on my imagination to fill out, find my place in, or take a lesson from it. Collectively (meaning all family shots), metaphorically, they conjure up a mighty tree of which I am a small but important branch". But more simply put, I am drawn to the joy of the moment and love I see between my parents.
I'll be hit or miss over the next few days while I'm visiting with my family but I'll keep up with what I can and catch up with you all ASAP!
This is so sweet. I was just talking about old photos with a friend from my hometown...after I posted one on facebook of what I am sure my mom told me was a 'fake birthday" that she had for me, just to keep me happy. It was not really my birthday. But my brothers do not remember it or the event in the photo. I know my mom told me that though..and in the pic, the cups have a stylized Santa on them...and not birthday images. And the kids at the party are my oldest brother's friends. Not mine. It had to be like mom told me. But she is gone..so I will n ever know. I need to read this book you are talking about> maybe this summer.
@olivetreeann So glad you like the book--and thanks for letting me know. I love this photo--such joy and love, and the shyness of the little boy, that you could write a story about it.
These old family photo are truly priceless. I need to get a copy of that book. I am actually starting to work on a short devotional book based on things I have learned in my photography
@digitalrn Thank you Rick! @espyetta Thanks Marybeth! I'm enjoying it and it's a quick read although thought provoking. You will like it! @summerfield Thank you Vikki and thank you for the fav!! @bellasmom Thank you Dina and thank you so much for the fav!! @taffy Thank you Taffy! @vickisfotos Thank you Vicki! @alia_801 Thank you Alia! @sangwann Thank you Dione! @la_photographic Thank you Laura! @prttblues Thanks Bev! @eudora Thanks Diane- and you're welcome! @jborrases Thank you J! @thepinchins Thank you Pinchins! I'm not sure- could be. I've ordered 3 books about photography recently and this was the first to arrive. @lilminimonka Thank you Brianna! @bruni Thank you Bruni! @bkbinthecity Thank you Brian! You will definitely enjoy it. I have toyed around with the idea of a devotional using my photography and the Ready for the Road pieces I've been sending you. @luvmynynix Thank you Laurie! @cimes1 Thank you Carole!
For those of you who might be interested:
God is at Eye Level (Photography as a Healing Art)
Jan Phillips
c. 2000 Quest Books/Theosophical Publishing House
ISBN 978-0-8356-0785-8
How perfect. I am just starting to digitize the family photos and, like you, am most moved by things like the camera's capture of my parents' dazed and happy expressions as they are falling for each other. Thanks so much for posting this! And for the book recommendation!
What you see here was very typical of my parents- lots of love and lots of laughter. When my mother died at the age of 52 a large part of Dad died too. He still had a lot to live for but it was never as joy-filled after she was gone.
@espyetta Thanks Marybeth! I'm enjoying it and it's a quick read although thought provoking. You will like it!
@summerfield Thank you Vikki and thank you for the fav!!
@bellasmom Thank you Dina and thank you so much for the fav!!
@taffy Thank you Taffy!
@vickisfotos Thank you Vicki!
@alia_801 Thank you Alia!
@sangwann Thank you Dione!
@la_photographic Thank you Laura!
@prttblues Thanks Bev!
@eudora Thanks Diane- and you're welcome!
@jborrases Thank you J!
@thepinchins Thank you Pinchins! I'm not sure- could be. I've ordered 3 books about photography recently and this was the first to arrive.
@lilminimonka Thank you Brianna!
@bruni Thank you Bruni!
@bkbinthecity Thank you Brian! You will definitely enjoy it. I have toyed around with the idea of a devotional using my photography and the Ready for the Road pieces I've been sending you.
@luvmynynix Thank you Laurie!
@cimes1 Thank you Carole!
For those of you who might be interested:
God is at Eye Level (Photography as a Healing Art)
Jan Phillips
c. 2000 Quest Books/Theosophical Publishing House
ISBN 978-0-8356-0785-8
I ordered it on Amazon.
@lilminimonka Thank you Brianna!
@wordsmith Thank you Teresa!
@vesna0210 Thank you Vesna!
@paulavdmerwe Thank you Paula!
What you see here was very typical of my parents- lots of love and lots of laughter. When my mother died at the age of 52 a large part of Dad died too. He still had a lot to live for but it was never as joy-filled after she was gone.