I need to get back to some regular posting! Here is one from July 10th. Alexa and I walked around Greenlake while Avery was at zoo camp. She’s freaked out by the spaces between the slats of wood, so she only let me take a couple shots before she insisted that I pick her back up. 
Project 52: Playing with [Green] Light (2)
Today’s post is for Project 52, a weekly blog project that I am working on with several other talented photographers whom I’ve come to know and love over the past year. In this project, we concentrate on light and spend several weeks exploring an overarching theme. In this month’s theme we are exploring the color of light. The color of light can change, making it cooler or warmer, or even tinted toward green or magenta. Sunlight is generally white or neutral in color, but even sunlight may take on a color when it is reflected off another surface or when certain wavelengths are absorbed by the atmosphere or other things. And artificial light varies in color in many ways, of course. This week we are focusing on light that is tinted green. It is easy to recognize that light will tend to be “warmer” in certain scenarios or “cooler” in others, but light not only varies in terms of yellow to blue, but also in green to magenta. Portrait artists are careful to avoid having their subjects appear green, of course, so this week’s task is quite challenging. How do you find a way to play with the fact that light can, indeed, appear green, while still creating an image that pleases? I am excited to see how my friends rose to the task.
As for myself, I avoided the prospect of ugly skin by shooting a silhouette. A few weeks ago, when we were in New York City, we went to the Central Park Zoo with some friends. This shot was taken when we were watching the penguins. Alexa was in the arms of our friend Aaron (I noted in my Letters to Our Daughters post that there might be a little bit of a crush there) and watching the penguins dive in and out of the water. The light behind them was green, though I emphasized it a bit in post for fun. Her little pigtails just kill me!
Please continue along our creative blog circle to see what my lovely friend Kennedy Tinsley has posted. Please click HERE to see Kennedy’s play on green light.
Letters to Our Daughters (6)
As you probably recall, I have been participating in a blog circle with some wonderful photographers who are also mothers of girls. Each month, we write a letter to our daughters to preserve thoughts and memories of this time in our lives. I treasure being able to do this for my girls and I love the chance to see the messages that my friends leave for their own daughters. Once you have read my letter, please follow continue on and read the post that my incredibly talented friend, Aimee McNamee of Richmond, Virginia, has written to her daughters by clicking HERE.
Before I begin, I also want to send some special love out to another photographer who is in our circle, but not participating this month. Tragically, the lovely Bonnie Hussey lost her sister and her unborn nephew just yesterday in a car accident. My heart goes out to Bonnie and her family in this terrible time. I do not have a sister myself, but my two girls have given me an incredible appreciation for the love that can exist between them. Though I have no doubt that there will be difficult moments, my hope is that my two girls will be lifelong friends and support for one another – that they will always be there for the other. My heart simply breaks for Bonnie at this unfathomable loss.
Dear Avery and Alexa,
Once again, I have left writing this letter to the very last minute and I am rushing through again. I am still rather jet lagged from our recent trip to the east coast, and I managed to take so many hundreds of photos there that I’ve been overwhelmed making my way through them. I love taking photos to document all of our adventures, but I really must get more organized about editing them so they do more than just sit on our computer! (I didn’t even get to the part of our trip where we visit with your dad’s family in Ohio. I will have to do a follow-up post!).
I want to tell you that we had a really wonderful trip. Shortly after my last letter to you, the three of us boarded a flight (the first of seven on our journey) to New Jersey. Many people remarked that I was “brave” for traveling cross country alone with two children, but in this family we value adventure. You two are wonderful traveling companions (especially if we fly in the mornings – in the evenings, well, not so much). Moreover, I want you to know that we make efforts to see the people whom we love. This is something that matters, making an effort to keep in touch, to keep important relationships alive. True friendships, true love, will survive time and distance, but it is still important to make that effort to let people know that we love them. It is not always easy – caring for you two is wonderful, but it does not leave me an excess of time and energy – but we do our best. And I am so glad that we did, because it was so good to have that time. This trip was long enough that there are parts I will not get to in this letter and will have to wait for another day. Like I said, we do our best. 🙂
In the first part of our trip, we spent time in New Jersey with Grandma and Abaji, as well as with many dear friends. The weather was lovely and we were able to spend plenty of time by the pool. I was thrilled that you were able to do important things like run around naked outside, and wear cool hats that your Grandma got for you. Sometimes I look at you two and think that you are so much cooler than I could ever be.
We also went into New York City to visit with friends there. We spent a lot of time in Central Park, which is one of my favorite places in the world. We visited the zoo – something we used to do quite a bit when we used to live there. It was fantastic to see Alexa get to explore the places that Avery used to love so much. And feed sheep and goats too, of course. Not to mention that Alexa began her little love affair with Uncle Aaron (it might be the beard, I don’t know, but you two are awfully cute together).
After almost a week in New Jersey and New York City, we flew to Aruba. It was so relaxing to be beach bums for a few days. We spent time on the beach, visited the Butterfly Farm, went looking for lizards and turtles, and took early morning walks. And, of course, there were lots of snuggles that were needed, like with Auntie Maleeha, or “Eeeha” as Alexa says. It was heavenly.
Then we returned to New Jersey and were met by Dad, whom we’d been missing terribly! We also were able to spend time with Uncle Omar, to play in Red Bank, to eat chocolate with Grandma.
On July 4th, which is my birthday, our friends came to Grandma and Abaji’s house and we had a pool party. It was one of the most wonderful birthdays that I can remember. I loved seeing Avery catch up with her friends James and Rhett. The three of you have been friends since before you were even born, so seeing you together again just made me so happy. And I was so proud of you for learning to jump off the diving board. The first day after we arrived from Seattle, you walked to the end of the board, but you were afraid to jump. On the 4th, you first wanted someone in the water to catch you, but before long you were jumping in on your own. The three of you spent most of the day jumping off the diving board and it was so fun to watch.
I also saw that, through our trip, the two of you became such great friends. You entertained one another better than any toy or TV show ever could. I loved seeing your friendship deepen. I am not sure if there is anything in the world that makes your dad and I as happy as the love between the two of you. Though I know that you are too young to remember the details of this trip, I do hope that your friendship, your sense of adventure, and the importance of keeping up with the people you love are never forgotten. This world can be a really wonderful place, and I hope you remember to just jump right in.
love,
Mama
Project 52: Playing with [Violet/Indigo/Blue] Light (1)
Today’s post is for Project 52, a weekly blog project that I am working on with several other talented photographers whom I’ve come to know and love over the past year. In this project, we concentrate on light and spend several weeks exploring an overarching theme. In this month’s theme we are exploring the color of light. The color of light can change, making it cooler or warmer, or even tinted toward green or magenta. Sunlight is generally white or neutral in color, but even sunlight may take on a color when it is reflected off another surface or when certain wavelengths are absorbed by the atmosphere or other things. And artificial light varies in color in many ways, of course. This first week we will focus on cool light, light that is colored violet, indigo or blue.
In my first image, although my light source is the sun, I was shooting underwater in a pool in Aruba, so the warmer colors were absorbed and a cool image resulted. For me, I enjoy the new perspective of seeing her from under the water, as well as the treasured memory of seeing her turn into a fish on this vacation.
In this second photo, I was photographing the girls on the beach after sunset. At that point, the suns rays are below the horizon, but are reflected off the sky and take on it’s blue shade (I think anyway – I can’t promise that is the most complete scientific explanation). So even the beautiful white sand now appears blue. 
Please continue along our creative blog circle to see what my lovely friend Julie Mak has posted. Julie has the most gorgeous use of color in her photography, so I am thrilled to see what she will do this month. Please click HERE to see Julie’s play on night light.
Project 52: Playing with Directional Light (5)
Today’s post is for Project 52, a weekly blog project that I am working on with several other talented photographers whom I’ve come to know and love. In this project, we concentrate on light and spend several weeks exploring an overarching theme. This month we will be exploring directional light. All light comes from somewhere, of course, and therefore has direction, but generally directional light is distinguished from flat, even lighting that tends to eliminate shadows. Shadows in a photo help to give it a sense of three-dimensionality.
My shot from this week was taken in Aruba, where the girls and I were visiting, along with my parents. One of my treasured traditions in Aruba is taking an early morning walk with my dad. I am generally not a morning person, but I have become a bigger fan as time has gone by (and since sleep was sacrificed to children long ago anyway). I particularly love the quiet time we have to speak and catch up. Alexa joined us for a walk this past week, and I was able to capture her explorations, checking out a ship in the distance on a quiet stretch of beach. The sun was still somewhat low in the sky, though already quite strong, creating a distinct shadow, so the direction is pretty clear.
I am also including a couple of posed portraits from this week, which utilize a more subtle directional light. I am generally not a formal portrait kind of girl, but I find myself taking them when I am visiting with my family like I am now. These were taken when we were about to head in to dinner at Ruth’s Chris (my dad’s favorite), but the sun was low in the sky and to camera right, just before sunset, so I dragged them out for a 5 minute photo op. In the photo of the girls, it was a bit behind them and to the right (I would have loved to get them turned a bit more to the right for a bit more light on their faces, but getting them to pose at all was a big fat miracle). Also, how cute are these dresses that my dad got for them? Love!
Please continue along in our creative blog circle to see the creative work of my friend Kelly of K. Rox Photography. Kelly is a Brooklyn based photographer who is spending this month celebrating her birthday. Click HERE to see Kelly’s creative play on directional light, and don’t forget to wish her a happy birthday!
Playing with Film – Ektar
Over the last few months, I have been further exploring the world of film photography, and I must say that I am really beginning to love it. As you may recall, I am participating in a part of a blog circle of some lovely photographers also exploring film. Typically we try out a new type of film each month, and this month we had a choice between Ektar (color) and Acros (black and white). I am a bit tired of black and white film at the moment, so the Acros is going to have to wait. This Ektar was shot on my trip to Hawaii earlier this spring, with a few frames when we returned to Seattle. I find the color to be pretty saturated, with quite a lot of magenta, but I really love the nostalgic feel it creates. Here are some of my photos and I’d love to hear what you think!
Please continue around our blog circle and check out the work of Jennifer Vititoe by clicking HERE.
Project 52: Playing with Directional Light (4)
Today’s post is for Project 52, a weekly blog project that I am working on with several other talented photographers whom I’ve come to know and love. In this project, we concentrate on light and spend several weeks exploring an overarching theme. This month we will be exploring directional light. All light comes from somewhere, of course, and therefore has direction, but generally directional light is distinguished from flat, even lighting that tends to eliminate shadows. Subtle shadows in a photo help to give it a sense of three-dimensionality.
Grandma is going to be mad at me for posting this one, but I couldn’t help myself. We are visiting my parents in NJ this week. Earlier today I was hanging out with Alexa and I hunted for some nice light for a photo. When I found some in the dining room, I put her down on the floor so I could get some pictures of her. She was NOT happy with me for putting her down and immediately started crying for Mommy – even though I was two feet away, looking at her and talking to her, and she was out of my arms for less than 2 minutes. Oh the drama!
Please continue along in our creative blog circle to see the beautiful work of my friend Julie Kiernan. Julie is a wonderful family and senior portrait photographer based in Minnesota. Click HERE to see Julie’s creative play on directional light.
Project 52: Playing with Directional Light (3)
Today’s post is for Project 52, a weekly blog project that I am working on with several other talented photographers whom I’ve come to know and love. In this project, we concentrate on light and spend several weeks exploring an overarching theme. This month we will be exploring directional light. All light comes from somewhere, of course, and therefore has direction, but generally directional light is distinguished from flat, even lighting that tends to eliminate shadows. Subtle shadows in a photo help to give it a sense of three-dimensionality.
This image was taken yesterday and is posted in honor of Father’s Day. It’s a backlit shot and I confess that I fell into the unfortunate trap of backlighting, which is that it can eliminate those shadows that we hope directional lighting will create. However, I love the soft, hazy effect and the very slight rim lighting that surrounds them. It makes the image feel sentimental, which is pretty awesome for a Father’s Day shot, I think.
Please continue along in our creative blog circle to see today’s image by my talented friend Sarah Roemer Davis. Sarah is an incredibly talented photographer from New York City, who takes photos of the streets as well as her two gorgeous little boys. Click HERE to see Sarah’s latest directional light photo.
Last Day of School
I have to admit that I am feeling pretty emotional today. It is Avery’s last day of her first year of preschool. HERE is a link to the post I did on her first day, with pictures. And here are some images from this morning (check out Alexa’s diapered form in the window – ha! I couldn’t bring myself not to included it, knowing how much Alexa hates to be excluded from anything Avery gets to do!).
Although Avery fit into the same outfit, the clothes fit very differently, and that skirt will soon be moved over to Alexa’s half of the closet. But the craziest thing is that the biggest changes are the ones that you can’t see. Her ability to communicate, to express complicated ideas and to understand things has exploded in so many ways. Socially, she has developed so many skills, so many ways to work things out with her peers instead of needing to be directed. She is rarely the kid pulling a toy from another kid anymore (unless, of course, she is playing with her sister), but understands sharing and taking turns, and besides these days she would rather play WITH her friends and will engage in long and involved pretend play. She has learned so many things – she can sing a song that tells you all the continents, for example – but more than any individual facts that she has learned, she is so excited by the idea of learning. She asks all sorts of questions all the time and wants to understand how things work, wants to know how things are spelled and what letters are in words. Although seeing my baby grow up is a bit bittersweet for me , I could not be prouder of her.
Letters to Our Daughters (5)
I’ve begun participating in the Letters to Our Daughters project with some wonderful photographers whom I met through Clickin Moms. Each month, I will be posting photos and writing a letter to my girls. I love having this opportunity to speak directly to my daughters, to tell them things about our lives today so that they can read about them in the future.
Avery and Alexa,
This letter will be short, because it has been a crazy week – we are about to leave town and mama is terrible about preparing for trips and packing and such. But it is also important. This Sunday is Father’s Day and I would be remiss not to talk to you about the absolutely amazing father that you have. He is a simply wonderful father and whenever I see him with either of you two, I fall in love with him again. You two are completely smitten with him and I am quite certain that the feeling is mutual.
Lately these days, Dad is a a bit of a rockstar. He comes home in the evening, and when you hear his key in the lock you two go running for the door, arms in the air, cheering, “Daddy! Daddy!” Perhaps I should be jealous, but I actually cannot get enough of the affection you all have for one another. I love seeing the relationships that you have and I love knowing that you guys have your own special kind of fun for which he is absolutely required. Daddy is simply superior at many of the games you like to play – putting on shows as a dog or pretending to be a surprise animal hatching from an egg. At the end of the day, when I am tired and worn out, and I am trying to finish dinner or some other task, he is able to entertain you in ways that revitalize me and make me want to do nothing but join you all on the floor. And late at night or early in the morning, your daddy’s snuggles are the best.
We are so lucky to have such a fun family. Although we get to do so many exciting things together, the truth is that the best times are anytime that we have together. Our ordinary, everyday times. I look forward to celebrating Father’s Day together this weekend and showing your dad the love that he deserves, and I hope that, years from now when you read this, you know the kind of love that your dad has for you everyday. We are both so happy that this is our family.
love,
Mama
Please click HERE to read the letter that my dear friend Emily Jackson wrote to her daughter Claire. My family was lucky to visit with Jackson’s recently – it has been much too long since we’ve seen them – and it was so fun to see Alexa and Claire playing together. Here is a picture of Paul holding both these little ladies:
kamillachaudhery.com 