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Category: Picture the Holidays

  1. Wednesday, December 14, 2011

    Picture the Holidays: Reflecting on the Season

    Reflecting on the Season. One of the recent prompts for Picture the Holidays was to “shoot something in a reflective surface and see what you find. It could be you looking back at you, or it could be some other kind of seasonal magic.” Of course my first thought was the shiny ornaments on my tree. But that seemed too easy. I wasn’t entirely sure what reflective surface I was going to shoot or what seasonal magic I might find, but I kept an eye out all day.

    Then, that night, in a very rare quiet moment, I was standing in the dark kitchen contemplating what chocolate might be lurking there. And then I looked up. The tree was reflecting on the sliding glass door, which in turn was reflecting off of the kitchen table. I probably spent 45 minutes that night shooting this reflective scene in a zillion different ways with a zillion different settings.

    At the very end of the night, Nate stepped into the frame. I told him he was ruining my shot. (I know, real nice.) He told me he was making it better. And he was SO right. What better way to “reflect the season” than a photo with my sweet husband and newborn son standing by the Christmas tree? Not only did it give me a chance to study the literal reflection in the window, but I stopped for a moment to reflect on what really matters during the holiday season…my family.

    And, yes, Owen is wearing his Halloween skeleton costume. He takes “Happy Holidays” very literally.

    Posted by Jane Maynard at 11:26 pm   3 Comments
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  2. Friday, December 9, 2011

    Picture the Holidays

    December is my crazy month. I mean, I know it’s everyone’s crazy month. But with both my girls’ birthdays just one week before Christmas, well, things get crazier than crazy. Each year I try desperately to plan ahead, so I can actually enjoy the season. I usually mostly succeed. Like this year, I sent Thanksgiving cards instead of Christmas cards. And I did all our Christmas shopping online early. But, of course, the rush of the season still catches up.

    When I found out that my friend Tracey Clark from Shutter Sisters was doing this cool Picture the Holidays thing with Paper Coterie, I decided I needed to get on board. Each day Tracey and Paper Coterie email the participants a photography prompt, encouraging us to focus on what matters and taking a few moments each day to get “creatively centered.” Sure, it’s kinda sorta adding another to-do to my list, but it’s the kind of to-do that should be on the list, you know?

    I’m planning on sharing some of my images with you. I hope you don’t mind. And, if you would like to share your own images, please share links in the comments!

    Prompt: Express yourself. This prompt was about checking in with ourselves, taking a second to breathe, check in, be still. And then communicating those feelings through a self-portrait. For my moment of breathing, I laid on the couch and stared at the Christmas tree. And, for me today, this is my most representative self-portrait. Not because it’s what I am (relaxed and enjoying the tree), but because it is what I am aspiring to be (relaxed and enjoying the tree). If I can get to that moment of relaxed peace just a few moments each day, that will be a good thing.

    Prompt: Every little thing. Quite simply we were to find one small delight. And did I ever find it. This morning, after changing Owen’s diaper, I couldn’t help but think how much I love the look of giant diapers on tiny babies. Nothing beats it.

    Posted by Jane Maynard at 1:23 pm   3 Comments
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