My intention today was to share the importance of stopping and looking in your photography.
☐ Of looking towards the light first and foremost.
☐ Of looking towards the ground seeing how that light dances in the grass and on the pavement.
☐ Of fiddling with the ISO, and Aperture before you even think about pushing that shutter button.
☐ Of looking at your child’s face and into his or her innocent inquisitive eyes.
☐ Of soaking it all in and taking the picture in your mind before capturing it with your lens.
The checks above are ones I always do before taking my photos and are the ones that have allowed me to gain more consistency and control over my photos with time and practice.
Stopping and looking this weekend led to to spending hours with my eyes on the night sky waiting for the arrival of the east coast Aurora. I may not have gotten a glimpse into the gorgeous colors of the Northern Lights, but I did manage to capture a shooting star streaking across the night sky.
That star invited me to make a wish.
And I didn’t know what that wish was until the tragic events that unfolded in Boston earlier this week.
In the face of tragedy my typical reaction is to become paralyzed. Glued to a TV or computer screen watching the events unfold. Afraid of what might come next and overcome by the desire to hide, to hibernate, to turn away. I get stuck in this negative cycle of sadness, quiet, fear. I am embarrassed to say it, but I’m the perfect example of what the fear mongers want.
A reactor.
My wish is simple, and it’s a wish for me and for you and for all of us.
Don’t react.
Stop and look.
Find the courage to embrace THIS moment. The one you are living. Not the one blaring fear across the TV screen.
☐ Where your child is showering you with kisses and telling you they love you.
☐ Where you make a date for cupcakes after work and school and totally ruin your dinner.
☐ Where you say yes to stopping at the park and playing in the bright sun and warm breeze instead of going straight to that list of to-dos of chores awaiting you at home.
☐ Where your cat sidles up besides you purring to calm your anxious thoughts.
And when these moments speak to you, pick up that camera and use that initial checklist above to stop and look one more time. Truly soak up all the goodness that is in your life today (even in the face of fear, loss, or sadness) so you can capture and remember it as you see it in your mind.
With love.
With gratitude.
With light.
P.S. My free One Ingredient Fix self paced lesson is all about stopping and looking for these moments of gratitude and play in your life. Have you seen it yet or considered joining me and a community of moms for the full 6 week Momtographie Online class that starts May 5th? Let’s make your wish come true…you know that one one where you’ll finally learn to love your photos and love your life too. xo.