A huge turning point in my photography was a class by the fabulous Audrey Woulard which was almost exactly a year ago. While organising some family photos for a project, I just stumbled on the first project from that class which was of my kids coming back from grocery shopping. While Audrey is a master at finding great light, we were also working on focus, location, and composition. I can still remember thinking “Backup, get lower but don’t bend over, don’t overexpose, and try to find variety.” It’s alot to remember when you are shooting fast moving small ones. The other extremely important thing about this “shoot” is that it was the very first time someone told me to trust my eye and I believed it! When you are learning to take photos, you absorb all sorts of information, styles, tips etc. Most of us try it all on and see what we like. And since while you are trying to find your eye and your style you are still making tons of mistakes technically because you are LEARNING – it is very hard to trust you have an eye at all. I had photographed my kids on this derelict yet charming corner numerous times. I loved this corner. I loved the relic of the building, I loved the colors, the edginess, the contrast of young life against age. And I loved the light. But most children’s photographers photograph kids in parks, gardens and fields. And I love those photos too. But my heart and eye liked this. And because I was still working so hard on technical skills it was very hard to see if this location was rubbish or golden.
But along comes this little practice shoot with the technical advice to do it better than any other day and a fabulous instructor whose words “That location is GOLDEN!! Can you go back there? Do it again!” jumped off the page at me and straight into my heart. And I haven’t looked back. I agree that we all need to find our own voice and that listening to others’ opinions sometimes works against the creative force. But seriously – we all want to feel validated. And when you find an instructor who you know wants to help you find your style, eye and voice and they validate your choices – it can launch your photography into a whole new world. And that is what this little shoot did for me. It is by no means perfect and I am still learning so much but I do tend to trust my eye. And I am forever grateful for that.
It wasn’t but a few days later I took the photo below, in the same location, on another walk to the grocery store. My son just happened to sit down and I happened to have my camera. If I hadn’t felt confident to trust my eye I might not have snapped this photo. Which went on to win first place in a recent competition. And I only say that because we all get stuck in ruts and feel like we are producing rubbish at whatever we are doing. This little shoot reminded me how important it is to keep going, and learning and seeking out people you know can bolster you up and not pull you down.
And best of all is how these photos make me smile. A year later, I totally remember that rather mundane afternoon. The treasure box my daughter carried around in plastic bag. The urgent need to park on the bench which is literally only a few meters from our house. The joy in just playing around in the neighbourhood with nowhere to go.
I am so thankful for my photography journey, the people that have played a roll in it and photos like these that capture our days. Thanks for reading!
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Week 8 was the week of the family self portrait. I had been wanting to get a family portrait with my in-laws for probably two years. My father-in-law is often in Korea and when he is here, it is still hard to get all six of us together in good weather for a portrait. Lately I have grown rather cognisant of the passing of time and how you just never know what tomorrow will bring. I was determined on this trip to get that portrait before he headed back to Seoul. And we did. And I love it. Now just to get it on the wall! You can read about how to take your own portrait in my blog post on the subject. But besides that, we visited the Chinese New Year Lantern Markets in Darling Harbour, discovered Hello Kitty Kinder Surprise eggs and went on with everyday life. March will be here before we know it!
46/365 Lantern Festival
ISO 2500 f/2.5 1/160
47/365 Family Portrait
ISO 640 f/3.2 1/2500
48/365 Storytime
ISO 2500 f/2 1/200
49/365 Pow Pow Class
Samsung Galaxy 5
50/365 Hello Kitty
ISO 4000 f/2.2 1/60
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Week 7 was filled with Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year Markets and a Star Wars Party. Darth made several appearances as my son’s latest obsession. As Valentine’s Day is a family celebration in America, we have our own little party each year filled with handmade decorations, pink cakes and a few presents. We ended the weekend with a fabulous Star Wars birthday party full of make-your-own-light-sabers, light saber training and a Death Star pinata. And at the end of the week had dinner at the fun and festive Chinese New Year markets down by the water in Pyrmont. Food stalls were abundant and the kids loved the lanterns and the DJ playing dance tunes on the wharf. There is always something fun to do in Sydney with kids which is why I love it so much. In between was normal life but it is amazing how fast the weeks go by!
38/365 Sleeping
800 ISO f/2.5 1/125
39/365 Bath
ISO 2500 f/2.2 1/160
40/365 Making Valentines
ISO 800 f/4 1/200
41/365 Leah and Darth
ISO 1600 f/2.8 1/200
42/365
ISO 160 f/1.8 1/4000
43/365 Darth and Hagi
Samsung Galaxy 5
44/365 Buzz at the Lunar Markets
ISO 500 f/2 1/2000
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I might have started a tradition with my virtual birthday wish to my husband last week. Today is my son’s third birthday and it only seemed fitting to do the same for him. Most of the time I feel like my kids should be the age that they are – like I have lived every moment of the three years with my son by my side. People, myself included, often say “Where did the time go?” But if I really think about it, I know where it went. It went to bathing, feeding, rocking, walking, playing, smiling, laughing, crying, worrying, and loving. It was spent watching tv at 3am with a sleepless newborn, building sandcastles in the sandpit on a Wednesday afternoon, being the first one in line at the aquarium on a rainy day, and waiting for a fever to come down in the middle of the night. Physically and emotionally children demand that you be present – and I am so grateful for my camera that lets me capture our everyday in a way that keeps me grounded in the moment. A friend once said to me that nothing teaches you more about the passing of time than a child. And I think that is so true. While I feel as though I have lived so that every day of the last three years can be accounted for – time still passes. My baby has grown older, developed new skills and gained more independence. There is nothing I can do but acknowledge the passage of time and hope that I spent it well.
So I wish my darling boy a happy third birthday. My heart is full of the past three years of daily “doings.” I am incredibly proud of the sensitive, strong, brave and kind person he is becoming. I can’t wait to see what another year brings. And with that, here are some of my favourite images from the last year.
April 2014 | Just 2
April 2014 | Easter
May 2014 | Hiding
May 2014 | Old Soul
May 2014 | Fish Markets at Sunset
June 2014 | Contemplation
June 2014 | Playing Sleeping Beauty
June 2014 | Sleep
July 2014 | Buzz
August 2014 | Reflection
August 2014 | Manly
September 2014 | Scootering
October 2014 | Hard Day at the Office
October 2014 | Kung Fu Panda is So Funny
October 2014 | Halloween
November 2014 | Cool
January 2015 | SuperBuzz at the Chinese Gardens
January 2015 | Darth
February 2015 | Lunar Markets
April 2015 | C.A.
April 2015 | Bondi
April 2015 | Birthday Boy
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Today is my husband’s birthday. This is the 11th birthday I have had the honour of marking by his side. Life is much different than it was eleven years ago where we were political consultants in Washington D.C. I never would have thought I would be raising two children in Sydney, Australia a decade later – married to now Dr. Lee and with an exciting new career as a child photographer. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. As a sort of visual birthday wish I thought I would post some of my favourite photos from the past few years. Going through my catalog, I realised just how few I had of him. I could only find a few that are just of him by himself. There were more of him with the kids, but certainly not anywhere representative of the time he spends with them. When you have kids, you tend to photograph just them. Dads and mums often get left out which is why family photos are so important! I’ll definitely add pictures of Ilro to this year’s photography goals. When they grow up, I know my kids are going to want to see photos of him doing what he loved when they were little. In any case, here are a few of my favourite in no particular order. Happy Birthday Ilro/Ahpa! We love you and wish you many more happy, healthy years.
Boxing Day 2014 | New Toy
March 2014 | Last Photo of the Day
April 2014 | Almost Bedtime
September 2014 | Quiet Time in the Midst of Frozen Chaos
September 2014 | Ingrid’s Birthday
March 2014 | Naptime
June 2014 | Darth Vader at Luna Park
September 2014 | Taking One for the Team on the Tea Cups
April 2014 | Easter
July 2014 | Winter Festival
June 2014 | Winter in Sydney
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