Out of the Box

I wasn’t so sure about this week’s Evoking You prompt, “Out of the Box’.  So my interpretation is quite literal. Behind the legendary Grapevine breakfast cafe, The Waffle Way sat this colorful box. When I saw the bright yellow   and the juicy lemons touted on the side of the box, I grabbed the only camera I had at the moment. My trusty iphone. And here you have it. Out of the Box. Don’t know about you, but my mouth is still watering.

This week the theme is Perspective. Look Down.

Perspective. Look Down.

Here it is, week 5 already. And of all things, with shadow as the theme we had a few overcast afternoons here in North Texas. Pair that with busy schedules and we had one day to make this work. So my trusty sidekick and I went out to play around outdoors and we came up with this. We both wish we had a pretty bike, but we we have what we have, right? So here it is: SHADOW.

Shadow

Hands

The theme for this week’s Evoking You challenge was simply ‘hands’. Taking photos of  hands is one of my things. Kind of a signature if you will. I have always felt that hands can tell a story about someone that no other body part can tell. If I close my eyes, my mind can see my mother’s wrinkled hands holding her crochet hook or rolling her cookie dough to just the right size. Or my sister reaching out to one of her children to give them a little hug or to smooth a curl. Even though I haven’t seen those hands in many years, I will never forget the way they looked or how they felt. So I always try and incorporate hands into a family session. Hands joined together. Or hands doing what they love to do. The lovely hands in this photo belong to my daughter, Maggie. She’s taken to playing the ukelele of late. Love her sweet hands and her pretty music. Love her. This makes me smile.

Well, so much for good intentions. The idea I had for this week’s entry for the theme “Imagine” is still floating around in my imagination. Perhaps I’ll still be able to get it done, with a little more effort and and motivation from a semi-willing muse. Once an idea is planted in my brain it’s hard to let it go. But I didn’t want to miss this week’s challenge so I dug into my photo library and found the photo that spoke the word ‘imagine’ to me.

Last summer I accompanied a group of high schoolers on a mission trip to New Orleans to build houses as a part of Katrina Relief. That city is no where near back to where it was before the hurricane. When we were touring the 9th Ward, I saw this sign. It hit me. In my mind I could hear the children laughing and playing and see them running and skipping. I could see life before Katrina. Here is my photo. Imagine.

Imagine

Here is my Week 2 Entry for the Evoking You 52 Week Challenge. This week the subject is Belly Laugh. I was tempted to use this: after all, this is about as much of a belly laugh as I’ll get from a teenager in front of a camera.

Teenage Belly Laugh

However, it didn’t exactly meet the criteria. So, I entered this adorable little sweeetie from my fall sessions. She was oozing belly laughs, I tell ya. I didn’t have to look far to find a plethora of photos that made me smile all over again.

Belly Laugh

Look in the Mirror

So it begins. I have decided to join a group of talented photographers in a 52 week challenge. Each week will be a different theme. The first one was ‘MIRROR’. With a willing subject on hand, we visited the local fields and played with this antique mirror that I had in my stash of fun. I know I’m only supposed to post one, but here are a few more. We were having a great time and the light was lovely. Oh, and when I didn’t know if it was going to happen with Maggie, I took a few for practice on my other ‘willing’ subject. (anything for a treat, I tell ya!)

What Mirror?

Here is where the blog hop is hosted:  http://amymcmasterphotography.com/blog/?p=1401

I am honored to have captured your spirit and love in 2011. It has been a wonderful year and I am blessed to be a part of creating your legacy.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Thank you Raleys for allowing me to be a part of this significant accomplishment!!!! You guys are awesome!!!

Today I’m catching my breath. Posting some photos from the recent holiday season. I have had a wonderful fall getting together with families, seniors and children! I LOVE my job! This session is with a family that really inspired me to take my photography to the next level. Jen asked me to take photos of John when he was just a little baby. I had so much fun with this! They were so thrilled with the images. Then I began to get this feeling. I loved what I was able to give to them. I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to take photos of them as their family has grown. Every year we get together for the family session. John is a little shy, but we’ve been through it so many times together that he’s finally accepted that I’m just the crazy lady with the camera, or as he calls me, ‘Miss Tonio’! His little sister is completely adorable!

Thanks, Graybiels…for allowing me to document your lives and your sweet family once again!