A Sense Of Place
I took this photo of Simon and Anna (and Lily in her bed) on Tuesday night.
It was about 7pm and Anna had just taken a bath. We put her PJ's on and she kept saying "no night night" so I decided she could stay up a bit longer - long enough to at least go downstairs and say goodnight to Simon.
When we reached the bottom of the stairs she ventured into the living room. I headed towards the kitchen to clean up a few more dishes from dinner.
A few minutes later I looked into the living room and saw that she had pulled her little bench over to the basket of books and was happily perusing her collection. At first I thought it was all part of a "no night-night" stall tactic. It probably was a little of that - but she was quiet and content and just going through her books and that's definitely a really good way to get me to let you stay up longer around here. She was enjoying it and I was feeling flexible.
It wasn't long before Simon joined in and starting looking through the books too.
At that point I raced upstairs to grab my camera, saying a little prayer that they would both be in the same place when I came back down. As you can see, that little prayer must have worked.
As I looked at the photo tonight I was reminded again how I like to take photos that include the surroundings (vs. just a close-up of a face). There's something about the environment and a sense of place that adds so much to the photo - the fireplace cover, a portion of the ottoman, the books all over the floor, the tv, the reflections of the rest of the room in the glass doors, etc. All pieces of our everyday life.
In the future I know I'll love seeing all the different pieces of this photo just like I love seeing photos from when I was a kid that included rooms from our house (and carpet, and furniture, and dishes, etc).
Next time you grab your camera consider including more of your everyday surroundings along with the people you love.
That's a great photo! Moments like this are my favorite... and I always hold my breath so everyone stays put too!
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Such a cute photo! These moments are so lovely to catch on camera!
(Btw. The post is uncategorized, and not showing when entering from your blog)
Fixed that - thank you!
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I couldn't agree with you more Ali!! I do love the close up shots but when you include the surroundings, you do include your life at that moment in time. My son is in his second year of college and I'm working on his school album...yes, I'm only at nursery school. I took many pictures like that back then and today going through his pictures we reminisce of how things used to be. The home we used to live in, Grandparents houses etc..he'll say.."mom, remember.. this or that"...we laugh ( I sometimes cry...lol) but we sure have fun sifting through the memories. Thanks Ali!
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When my kids were around this age, they would all pile on Sarah's bed after bathtime and Sarah would read aloud to the younger two from our vast collection of Dr. Seuss, Eric Carl, Berenstain Bears, and Arthur books. I have a few precious photos of those moments that show the three of them, but also how Sarah's room looked (two makeovers ago). Those photos are on my table right now to be scrapped. And those girls are now 20, 17, and 17!
Your photo is priceless and the idea that "no night night" would lead to the two of them reading side-by-side is definitely a story to capture and savor!
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So precious! Thanks for the reminder about taking in the surroundings at times when taking pics.
Have J.O.Y.-ful weekend!
Suz
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Sweet sweet picture!
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what a great picture! i'm glad you were able to capture it.
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Mmmm...sweet, sweet picture. I'm turning 50 tomorrow, and the more I live, the more I realize how it's all about balance. Balance means sometimes close up faces are right, but sometimes the environment in which those faces live is the right! Enjoy your day, thank you for your amazing blog.
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Your "documentary" style of photography inspires me - I've learned to embrace the everyday (because of you) and know my photos with "place" will mean a lot to my children in years to come.
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I know what you mean... I love seeing all the little details in photos... especially from my childhood. It's fun so see the furniture, the fabric on the sofas, the various wallpapers and bits of this and that. My parents even saved an off-kilter photo that I took (when I was about three) of my grandparents' coffee table - it's silly but I love that photo :)
Would you mind sharing info on your 'big brown sofa'?? I'm wondering if it's a sectional, where it's from and how you like it. We are shopping around - thinking PotteryBarn or Crate and Barrel - but I'm kinda overwhelmed with options at this point - trying to narrow things down.
thanks so much!
fabulous - thanks!
It's from Crate & Barrel and we love it.
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What a beautiful picture and a great reminder. You have taught me to take a wider angle and to capture the creative "mess" in the living room, rather than always zooming in on the kids faces. I am grateful!
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That is so true! I love looking at how much my parents house has changed since I was a kid! When I flip through my old photo album I get caught up looking at the shaggy green carpet and the old brown and tan plaid sofa. What a weird combo! Thank goodness I was too young to care or be embarassed by it!
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ali Edwards, Nora Rodriguez. Nora Rodriguez said: RT @aliedwards: Capturing A Sense Of Place http://bit.ly/epZ66k [...]
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What a great photo - and yes, it does capture a sense of your house so well. I love photos that include surroundings, too.
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Such a sweet photo.
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Awesome photo! I love catching moments like this.
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And...if I'm not mistaken Ms. Lily girl listening in on the stories! : ) Love the Pic...
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My favorite photo of my now 43 year old son....he is sitting on a large Tonka truck reading a book(photo is b/w). And yes, I love the old cabinet radio/record player and the tile floor. The photo was made in our beach house and I had helped lay the tile. Yea !! for old photos. Any time a child has a book in its hands, it is a great time.
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"Next time you grab your camera consider including more of your everyday surroundings along with the people you love."
Thank you for that, Ali. Awesome post!
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Love this Ali!
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Love Love this...and I "so" get the reading thing. Even my 20 yr. old that HATED school gets his truck books, he will set endlessly reading through them and that just tickles me pink. He does not get HES READING, something he always said while in highschool he hated to do!! Ohhhhhhhhhhhh love this!!!!
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Your kids will appreciate it when they look back on these pictures as an adult as well. I love seeing the old furniture and decorating in pictures of my childhood home. The little things in the pictures bring back a wealth of memories aside from the original intent of the photograph.
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I love that you also got the dog in the picture!
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Love the photo! I feel so strongly that while the 'big' moments are wonderful to capture, we usually remember them so much more easily. The real moments of everyday life are so essential and so important. The tenderness of the moment you have captured Ali is so eloquent and truly priceless....isn't that what life is all about. It's the stuff that fills my heart to bursting in my own life.
PS. We were huge book/reading lovers with our son when he was young which he LOVED and given your son Simon's self report on his reading so recently isn't this just such a great moment.
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Such a great suggestion Ali, I tend to zoom in all the time... I am afraid the 'clutter' will be seen if I don't! LOL! But you're exactly right, with small kids, there is clutter... At my house any way. One day my home will look like adults live here, but for now, we share the space with a 8 and 5 year old. You put that into perspective for me.
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