Sometimes, when I look through the lens of my camera, I find myself catching my breath. Startled, as reality is transformed into something more. How could the mundane object in from of me suddenly become this swirl of light and color and motion? That moment of awe and joy is such a gift and it keeps me pulling out my camera.
So on this blazingly hot June day, I made blue jello for the kids. The rich blue color was making my toes tingle — it was so lovely and rich. To carry them without making a mess, I put them on a green tray that I had just gotten from Target. Suddenly the combination of the blue and the green was demanding that I take its photo. I happily obliged.
Finally, I have to echo Kat Sloma’s advice. There is nothing like seeing your work in print. It becomes tangible, real and astonishing in a way that viewing it on a screen will never match. I finally put together a photo book of my favorite 40 pictures from my 365 project — the DHL man didn’t seem phased by the hot rollers I had in my hair as I signed for the package this morning. : )
As I sat down on the stairs, with the kids peeking over my shoulders and all around me, I found myself turning the pages of the book wondering “Did I really take that picture? Wow!” What a terrific boost.