Wednesday, November 4, 2009

You Capture - Whatever You Want

Many times, both in my classroom teaching and in my home teaching, I have given my students/kids the assignment of writing "whatever about whatever you want." There are always those students who get giddy at the thought of filling a paper with words on their choice of topic. Then there are those who meet your eyes with a blank stare.

Because I'm such a professional when it comes to this pho-tography stuff, I am the latter kind of student. Last week's You Capture assignment was to photograph "anything you want."

Blank stare.

I racked my brain (which hurt). If I was to photograph anything I want, it would likely be the kids. But that would be too predictable. I thought about putting more of my town in photos. In fact, yesterday as I drove back from co-op, I passed "The Dam Store" and "The Dam Bar" (we live near, um, a dam), and I thought pictures of those signs would add some quirkiness to photos of the lake. But I did the lake last week. Plus going to the lake would be a lot of work.

I don't actively seek extra work.

I've heard tell that in some photography classes, they give you an assignment called "From the Bench" where you sit on a bench and take photos from that bench without getting up. I actually did go to the park yesterday, but I was too busy yapping it up with the other moms to take pictures. So of course I am, today, taking the lazy way out:

(Drumroll please) I now present to you "From My Chair."

This is my chair:

There is usually a cat on my chair. She thinks the chair is hers. She is sorely mistaken.


A bookcase tells a lot about a person. These are books I have used in my role as Teacher.

These are gardening books. Since I can't keep a plant alive to save my life, I'm not sure what they're doing there. Oh, OK, I do know, but that is a story for another day.

The kids like to play this:


While sitting here. These are African chairs. They are surprisingly comfortable. Of course, the grown-up size of these are even more comfortable, but these aren't bad. Really.

And, yes, there is still Halloween candy being sorted by little fingers in my family room. Did you see it behind the African chairs? Here is another pile. Wasn't Halloween a week ago? What kind of mom allows her kids to still have all this candy lying around anyway?

Although I prefer a clean coffee tabletop, it usually isn't. Somehow my coffee tabletop has turned into a catch-all, an arts & crafts table, and a Lego workshop. Always with the Legos. Honestly, the whole house is pretty much a Lego workshop. At least one would assume that to be true since they are EVERYWHERE. These particular pieces of Lego art happen to be from the kids' AWANA tonight. They had to create Bible scenes with Legos.

On the left we have the Garden of Eden. In the middle is Jesus in the manger. And on the right is the lame man being lowered through the roof for Jesus' healing.

Behind the couch which the coffee table serves is this wall:

The arched window looks in on the ktichen. We built this house, and that brick accent wall as well as the wrought iron railing you see on the top right both have stories too long to tell here. That sweet baby? That's the Princess. I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with her when we moved in here; those were her first professional pictures. (And her last since shortly after that we purchased our new-fangled camera, and I got this silly idea in my head that I am some sort of professional.)

And finally, one thing I love about my chair is that I have a wonderful place in the morning for my quiet time. Just me, a hot cup of tea, and the Word. (Well, and lots of interruptions from little people if I don't get up early enough. Like that has ever happened. The sleeping in late, that is.)

22 comments:

Darcie Johnson said...

My coffee table is also a catch all and tomorrow I am so clearing it off. Come to think of it, any surface that can hold stuff...does.

ballast photography said...

I love the creativity here...in the writing and in your modified "bench shots." It was nice to have a little peek into your world :)

CrossView said...

I have no idea what it is about this post that I love so much. But I do...

From a "blank stare" member, you did an awesome job!

Courtney said...

Okay, for "not professional" those pictures are good! Those are the neatest chairs.

tippytoe foxtrot said...

That's a great idea. Nice job!

Kathy Campbell said...

Wow, so many things to say!

I love the idea, I love the Bible story Legos, your books look so wonderful! The study Bible looks really interesting too. Wonderful shots!

Anonymous said...

Two things. One, the biblical Lego art? Fantastic. Two, if I had piles of candy in my house, the wrappers would be empty and it would be piles of trash around the house. And third? Wait I didn't say three, but those African chairs are incredible! Great pictures. (And I totally sympathize with the blank stare and not wanting to do anything that takes extra effort!)

Mendie said...

what awesome chairs!

Stylist A said...

Wow... those African Chairs are amazing! So beautiful... And your kitty is cute (makes me dearly miss my kitty) Great Captures!

<3 Alysha

Saj said...

This was a cool idea! What fun shots you found. My shots would include a lot of clutter. Hmmmm. Maybe I should be cleaning instead of enjoying others' You Captures... Nah!

Erin said...

I loved this look into your daily surroundings!

Anonymous said...

I love this idea! Funny that you said you don't like a cluttered coffee table, I'm the same way. However, mine looks like yours a lot of the time, filled with Legos!

Heather said...

great captures!

Amy @ Cheeky Cocoa Beans said...

I love your shots! The LEGO art is very creative. My 7 y.o. frequently builds "robots" (using long pieces from a set that had nothing to do with robots as the limbs) and cars with his, and would be perfectly content to play with those all day long. Great job!

Alana Jo said...

Love the Lego!

Prairie Lady said...

What fun captures. I'm going to have to show my son those african chairs and see if he could come up with something. Love how they could come apart and be flat.

Stillmary said...

Nice photos. I especially love the cat who probably loves that chair because it's yours. lol

Geezees Custom Canvas Art said...

These photos are really great!

Mamí♥Picture said...

Great Pictures!
I am loving your African chairs!
Ƹ̵̡Óœ̵̨̄Æ·

Anonymous said...

For your next assignment...you can't use color...you must take a series of pictures in just black and white. It is really challenging to find contrast and shading of grey....

Kathleen said...

Anonymous ~ Did that already:

http://treasuredchapters.blogspot.com/2009/07/you-capture-black-white.html

Bernie said...

Such a cute cat. Thanks for sharing the link on my blog.

Warmly,

Bernie