Elongated Seasonsal Change

It's spring again. It came early in New York, and then I went to Colorado during a blizzard, which gave way to another frigid beginning-of-spring. I got to see the end of summer in Ohio, and the beginning of fall in London and Paris. (I am fortunate that I get to change perspective whenever I feel like it.) There was hardly any winter for me this year, with the extra long autumn that began early in London, and late back in New York, and a winter that sped into an early New York spring - a spring that seemed to last forever once out west, in the mountains, experiencing its birth all over again.

Seasons of change like fall into winter or winter into spring, seem the most dramatic, and it's been interesting to have these two changes stretched and skewed and elongated this past year. As if you could take a picture of a digital clock, just as it changed from 11:59 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. - literally changing minutes, hours, a.m. to p.m., and even the calendar date - frozen for pondering for way longer than the split second during which it actually occurred. These stretched out seasonal changes made me feel like I had jumped into a moment in time and spread my arms and spun around and found lots of unexpected space in which to run and frolic.

Shifting perspectives made the impossible seem possible - that we are not just on this relentless fall forward into the future, but that there is space, even within moments of great change, for experience and pondering. Changing time zones and continents and climates with the simple hop aboard an airplane made it obvious that the way I am thinking of the world in any one moment relies heavily upon where I am and what I am experiencing. Landing in a snowstorm in Colorado, after driving with the windows down to the airport in New York, was enough to make me see, that a single moment contains a lot more than we usually think. It contains a blizzard, and a sunny-breezy day; it contains light and dark, depending on where on earth you find yourself; it contains peace and it contains tumult.

Maps are great because you can see all the places you are not, and begin to conceive of "elsewhere." Quantum physics says, it is impossible to measure both the location and the velocity of an object at the same time. It is 1 p.m. in New York, and 11 a.m. in Denver. Doesn't all of this boggle your mind?

Beginner's Photo Workshop for Moms (Call Series)

Did you make it to last Thursday’s Photo Introduction Call for Moms: Developing a Creative Practice? We covered 3 recommendations for developing a practice, honoring your creative instincts and integrating photography into your family routine.

The recommendations are

1. Get into the spirit of "flow." - Be in the moment!
2. Be prepared. - Always have your camera ready so you can honor your creative instincts.
3. Observe & Learn. - You can hone your photography skills by looking more closely at images around you.

If you missed the call, please check it out at your leisure – each of these key recommendations is covered in more detail with inspiration and ideas for grounding yourself in new habits to enhance your ability to photograph your family. Registration is required to access the link to the complimentary recording:

Photo Introduction for Moms - Developing a Creative Practice

Were these recommendations useful to you?

I want to invite you to integrate these ideas and help them stick as new habits by sharing your experiments with me on my facebook page - please visit the SARAH SLOBODA | photography facebook wall, and share your thoughts and ideas, as well as post photos you'd like to celebrate or get feedback on. I love seeing people's photos, so I hope you will take this opportunity to share!

Beginner's Photo Workshop for Moms

Some of you may be chomping at the bit for more right now! For those of you who feel inspired to take this a step further, I am offering a beginning photo tele-course for moms that will take place over the course of 3 weeks. Each call will last one hour. The line is easily muted, and each call will be recorded, so you will have access to all of the information, even if your little one requires your attention during the live call.

This course will go further into the theories we discussed in the intro call, and it will also get into the technical aspects of photography, like camera settings and simple ideas for better lighting. We’ll also cover special ways to interact with kids to earn their trust while behind the camera, and ultimately end up with better photos. It’s perfect for someone who is totally new to photography, and those who want to create an integrated creative outlet in their everyday lives.

We'll cover

• Writing with Light: The basics of lighting, as the foundation of photography
  
• Inspiration: Utilizing your environment
• Technicalities: Getting to know your camera
• Interaction: Training your child's response to the camera
• Creating the shot: Camera angles and composition
• Further learning: How to find answers to your specific questions
• And much more!
  

We will meet on a special dedicated call-in line each Wednesday at 12.30 p.m. EST from April 21, 2010 to May 5, 2010 – so, three dates – April 21, April 28, and May 5, 2010.

The cost is $199.00, and you can register by following this link. Space is limited, so don’t delay!

Please don't hesitate to email me directly at rsvp [at] sarahsloboda.com with any questions about the course. Looking forward to seeing you and your successes on facebook, and I hope to have you in the course starting on April 21.