Do you break away from ...

[FrankS]

On the topic of family photos, we've talked about the children, but it is the photos of the grandfathers and mothers that will be most treasured when they are no longer with us. Older folks make great photo subjects IMO.

 

[raid]

Frank: What a coincidence! Just today I was thinking about my favorite subjects for creative photos and I was wishing for some very old man or woman as a character subject for photography. Sometimes, a face can tell stories. The older the person, the more a face is telling usually. Yes, grandmothers and grandfathers are great for such memory keepers. I wish I had more photos of my Dad to show my children.

Raid

 

[PlantedTao]

I agree Frank.
I had the chance to photograph my family this summer with my new Xpan...I was able to get the whole family in the frame during some casual moments. My grandmothers are in the photos and this is very special to me, especially now that one is in the hospital and the prognosis is not good.
I only wish I would have started photographing earlier in my life and documented my family...the few pictures I have now will be some of my most treasured photographs.

 

[icemendicant]

I agree wholeheartedly, Frank, Raid and PlantedTao - I have always felt that documenting family life is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children (and your future self). I have felt this more stongly than ever since I became a father myself, and have always made sure I have pictures of all the generations of our family together whenever possible. At family get-togethers we have always tried to get pictures of my my grandmother with all of her great-grandchildren so that in times to come the children will be able to look back and remember her.

A note about posting family pictures online - I thought about this a lot a few years ago as I keep a family website. My father works abroad in Africa for most of the year, my sister lives in Brisbane, we are in the UK and have close friends in New York, Lisbon and other far flung places. The website has always been a very practical way to share family news and photographs.

The thought that there are monsters out there who wish harm to children is a sobering one indeed, but IMHO if we let that stop us from sharing and enjoying pictures with family and friends, then the monsters have won.

From a practical point of view, I would never post a picture on my website that I would not happily show to an interested stranger on a bus - or to put it another way, any monster viewing my site would see nothing more of my children than if they were observed walking along the street. To my mind, paranoia beyond this point serves no protective purpose and only limits our own activities, not those of the monsters.

Anyway, just my 2p worth, but I have always been comfortable with this decision.

Cheers, Dan

 

[OldNick]

As a great-grandfather, I no longer have the young ones around, but I did my share of Leica snapping while three sons grew up. I agree with Frank about the need to picture the older folks, as well. I spent several years working on family history, and scanned, PhotoShopped, and saved as many old family photos as possible, even two of my grandparents made in the 1890s. Currently, the great-grandson makes a favorite subject. I include one of him below.

 

[FrankS]

One is very fortunate to be able to see one's great-grandchildren!

 

[raid]

Wouldn't I be happy to see my two girls married one day and have children.
There are things that we cannot control, my friends.

Raid

 

[Duke El]

I have been limiting my photography most of the times to taking photos with my children beside me. Today, I did the "unthinkable" and I spent about 3-4 hours on my own taking photos. It was a wonderful experience. While such little ventures may be normal and expected for many of you here, it was a special occasion in my case.

Dean called me a "Photo Father" today, and this is who I am. I wonder how many people here also are pretty much bound to family life and family oriented photography or maybe limited to taking photos with the family close by.

I took photos (all in B&W) of one of the well known fish markets in Pensacola from outside where several fishing boats were docked. Then I took photos in the historical district of Pensacola and then I drove to the beach and I took some graphically oriented photos of sand and water. Lastly, I found some run down buildings with interesting architecture.




I just had to say my piece ...


Raid

Congrats.

You are developing your own vision while also retaining the key role of visually recording your family's evolution.

It should be an interesting journey - and a rewarding one.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I hate to photograph with anybody else alongside. "Oh that's pretty" they always say. I don't do pretty, I'm looking for shabby, gritty, grotty.