Documenting life

"The significance of the portrait you take today may not reveal itself for years and the portraits we really care about get better with time." ~ Thomas Boyd

I picked up the latest issue of Digital Photo Magazine at the airport while waiting for our flight to Phoenix. It just happened to be their Portraits and Weddings issue. Perfect timing for our trip to see Mom.  The above quote says it all.

I tend to hesitate when wanting to take photos of people. I prefer candid photos over posed and I am drawn to photos of people doing their thing but I feel as if I'm intruding when I pull out my camera and start shooting. I must work through this because when I look back at the photos I've taken over my many years, whether they are good or bad, I'm glad I took them and have those memories to look back on.

It became even more clear to me why I am drawn to this photography thing while looking through Mom's photo albums, as I do almost every time I visit her. She is an amazing documentarian. She has been all over the world and has amassed an extensive, fascinating photo collection to prove it. She captures her family, friends, the people, the scenery and the essence of it all. She keeps telling me I should be a photojournalist.  I don't think I have the stamina or the courage to take that on but as I keep practicing this craft I may (hope) compile a portfolio to be considered a documentary photographer.

I know this photo will mean more than we can ever imagine to my family as the years pass.

Group selfie as my sister and I were leaving at the end of our visit.