Sooo... I've been thinking a lot about photography during the last week. Mostly, because I discovered this incredible blog: Documenting Delight. Seriously. Go and look at just one photo, then see if you can resist looking at another. And another. It's stunning. Firstly, because the photographs Georgia takes of her beautiful children are so well executed. And secondly, because for years, she's been taking a photo of each of her children each day and uploading them, in what is now THREE 365 projects. I've become addicted to it, quite honestly. It's such a privilege to be able to watch her little lovelies growing up, day by day. What an amazing way to record and share their lives. And I'm so astonished by the quality of her photos.
It's got me thinking. Firstly, that I'd really like to make an effort to get better at photography, so that I not only record all the little and big moments of Little R's life, but record them WELL, with high quality images that are a pleasure to peruse. And secondly, that I'd like to have a go at the 365 project. I know, I know, I've already got a 365 project going, but that one doesn't have PHOTOS. And you can never have too many ways of recording memories... as long as you have time to keep up with them all. I'll give it a GO. I can at least try, even if I end up uploading a week's worth of images at one go sometimes. In the interests of this project being more than 365 versions of the back of your head, Little R, I'm going to be photographing all of you. If you get to 15 (wah!) and decide you're embarrassed/furious that there are photos of you online, I'm sorry. I'll take them down. But I did it to record all of you for prosperity and to share you with your family. For me, and for you. So I hope the future you understands. I'll just have to try to bring you up so you appreciate this kind of stuff :-P
To tackle my first aim, I sat one morning this week, with Little R asleep on my arm and did some researching. I found this excellent website, which is very illuminating. I learnt some new words. Words like aperture and... ok... well I knew the words shutter speed and exposure before, but I learnt to APPLY them in a new context. And I learnt that that ISO button is for. Camera in hand (and baby still snuggled in the crook of my arm) I began to experiment.
Et voila! Good focus at the front of my shot and professional looking blurriness behind! Hurrah! This was after about 30 failed shots, by the way. I didn't just fiddle with a few functions and get it right immediately! Perseverance and patience was required.
While I was still experimenting with my aperture vs shutter speed, Little R, who'd woken up, did a gorgeous grin and showed off all four of his teeth. That gap between his top teeth is so cute. It's HUGE! You could fit a whole extra tooth in there, Little R! We're assuming (and hoping, to be honest) that when he has a whole mouthful of teeth they'll get squeezed together.
Incidentally, he signed "ouch" and I managed to get it because of my super-fast shutter speed. Bwah ha ha!
The sunlight through the window was dazzling. I know this is technically a photography flaw, but it looks so COOOOOOL!
This shot is not as in focus as I'd like, but how cute is Little R? He got up really close so he could see the elephants on the David Attenborough we were letting him watch (he's been full of cold and miserable - television is still a special and occasional treat in our household... for him, anyway). He was pointing up at them and signing elephant. Sweet boy. He adores animals.
I've been playing around with my sepia and black and white settings too. Sometimes, although I love colour, it distracts from the moment you are trying to capture. Taking the colour out of this image enables me to focus on what's actually going on - a quietly beautiful moment between Mummy and Little R.
After swimming today, Little R was my perfect photography companion, sleeping peacefully in his carseat so I could try to get some of those focussed/unfocussed shots I love so much.
I just want to photography each delicious part of his body. His knuckle dimples. His long eyelashes. His crinkled lips. That wisp of hair on his forehead.
My granny square blanket looks quite gorgeous in sepia, I think.
My beautiful boy.
While he was still sleeping a whizzed up a batch of my current addiction - Mary Berry Fork Biscuits (careful how you say that!). They are sweet and delicious, with the short texture of real shortbread biscuit, but half the work (I'd guess, having never bothered to make it myself!).
Today I experimented a little. I split the batch three ways, and made one third pseudo-healthy, by adding dessicated coconut and some milled seeds and goji berries (which I've been enjoying sprinkled on my breakfast).
And another third I smothered in Dutch chocolate sprinkles. The last third I left normal (in case my two experiments were disappointing).
Of course, the temptation to do some more focussed/unfocussed photos was IRRESISTIBLE. Above: pre-baking. Below: post-baking.
These last two pictures I am rather stupidly proud of. Totally got that focussed thing SUSSED. Of course, since my subject was an entirely stationery bunch of daffs and the mid-afternoon lighting was good, it wasn't too hard to get it right. Replicating this kind of quality with a wakeful one-year-old, I suspect, will be more hit and miss. Miss, miss, miss, miss hit and miss, maybe.
*Puts on arty-voice* And here we have the wonderful juxtaposition of the vibrant, spring-like flowers and the grey rain outside.
Pretty, no?
So... watch this space for Little R's 365!