A Place of Passion

I've received  a lot of feedback regarding this humble little blog of mine.  If I'm being honest here (and I endeavor always to be), it's kind of surreal.

I mean, who knew I'd throw this blog out there into cyberspace and people would actually read it? And on purpose? Hmph. It's enough to make me sit and wonder about a lot of things, but specifically about why I blog and who I do it for.

I read a book not too long ago and there was a quote that just stuck with me.  I have read about 20 books since then, but I just can't get it out of my head.  If you're a lady between the ages of 18 and infinity, there's a good chance you've read this book too, but did you notice when your eyes encountered the phrase:

"Raising the ordinary to extraordinary"

I couldn't put it better than E.L. James did in that sentence.  I've considered it over and over again, and it just seems to define what photography has become to me.  

I started blogging as a way to share my photos and the story behind them.  Now that I have an official website, I keep blogging because it's a way to tune the world in to everyday moments that should be preserved and kept forever.

It's become my passion to focus on the details.  Things that others might miss in passing or an element that was dismissed because it didn't seem important. Those are the things I love to photograph.

I don't know how else to explain it except to share that quote from Anastasia Steele.  To be quite honest, I didn't anticipate ever getting far enough that it mattered why I was doing it.  The bottom line is I do it because I like to share more than just images.

I like to share stories.

I like to preserve moments.

Blogging lets me share the stories of the moments I preserve.

It's a no-brainer, really, and I hope my posts continue to be entertaining, thoughtful and informative for years to come.

I'll leave you with a shot that seemed to materialize out of thin air during a recent Hands of Love shoot.  A tenderness and reverence that would've gone bye in the blink of an eye - except *snap* I was there.

Hands of Love Project Update

If you're new to my blog or my facebook page, I've been working on a special, personal project.  I hope to have it completed by December 1 of this year, so I'd better get cracking!

My goal is a series of 10-15 exceptional images all matching the theme "Hands of Love".

I've got ideas for 8 images, one of which is already done and ready to go to print.  Another will be done this weekend, and hopefully the rest will follow shortly thereafter.

What is something you love dearly and wish you could preserve forever? Is it a person? A place? An article of jewelry? An activity?

Leave a comment on this post or, if it's personal, send me an email at ladydphotography@mail.com.  Who knows, maybe we can make it happen.

Once I have them all completed, I'll share them as a collection.  Until then, you'll just have to wonder what they'll be like.

Inspiration

Fair warning: this is a wordy post. If you're a bit pressed for time, you might want to come back later. It's also a little disjointed, but hey, it happens.


As much as I love me some technology (if you know me personally, you know I do), I also hate it. The art of conversation seems to be falling by the wayside. Instead of talking, we text or email because it's faster and can be done privately while still in the presence of others. I get it - I really do - but the need to be constantly in contact with the entire world has taken over some of the most intimate parts of our day. Friendships used to be forged by hours of conversation and quality time, not 4,782 text messages. Love blossomed as a result of courtship and manners. There were rules and society (generally) stuck to them.

I spent a few hours with my Grandmother on Sunday. She's 89. No texting or emailing happening there. Shopping with Grannie and my Sister reminded me how important it is to solidify the personal bonds. Time is really all we have and when it's gone, it's gone forever. You'll never get a single minute back that you spent on the phone with someone else while in the physical presence of others.

In her 89 years, Grannie has seen some serious change and major shifts in the world. The Great Depression, the invention of the guitar, the rise & fall of the Berlin Wall, vinyl records, Woodstock, radios, televisions, the attack on Pearl Harbor, creation of the interstate system & roadways, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Sputnik, the Apollo Missions, the Mars Rover, touch-tone phones, sending her son to Vietnam, cars, airplanes, washing machines, microwaves, the internet, mobile phones, Harvey Milk, JFK, the Golden Gate Bridge, record players, Ranch Dressing, Y2K, Civil Rights Movement, Feminism, the technology boom, and countless other innovations and historical events have happened since she was born. It's very sobering to take a look at the timeline of your life or those around you, and I'd encourage you to take a moment and think about your parents or grandparents and their lives.

At any rate, all of this thinking has led to inspiration. What do you carry with you throughout the years? What says the most about a person? Their financial status? Their education or lack thereof? Their character & morals? And how do you capture it in a photograph?

I'm going to be working on a photography project for a little while. I might even call on some of you to help me out. When all is said and done, I'll be sharing it.

This is a first real "project" for me, and there's something so liberating about doing it for yourself rather than a graded assignment. Maybe it's because there is no wrong answer...


Follow my journey on Instagram: ladydphotography_ca or
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LadyD.Photography.CA

For now, I'll leave you with a photo of me and my Grannie having a glass of wine. Cheers!