Saturday, March 30, 2013

Shutterbabies


As our children mature around us there are times when I take a step back and feel confused. It's like I realize they've gotten to a place that's a bit more grown up and I know that they have reached the next stage but I didn't really feel it go by. Well, we're there, again.


This past week has been Spring Break in these parts. You might imagine that we would escape to warmer climes. So did we. But in reality we stayed really close to home and had a great time. One of our adventures was entering a photocontest that the kids noticed in a flyer that came home from school.


It honored Ansel Adams' 111th birthday. 

When I explained to the boys what good 'ol Ansel was famous for and the images that really set him apart from other nature photographers they actually understood. And that is how I found myself hiking one of my favorite running trails with both boys and a camera. 


They were both excited to use my camera. But they approached the project completely differently. Mason had remembered the trail from a hike we took about one year ago. He was determined to get to the view he was remembering and he would have none of the "views exploration" which Cooper and I were doing. 

Meanwhile, as I said, Cooper was stopping every 30 steps saying, "Oh this is a great view Mom." Until finally I had to crush his artistic heart and say, "NO, no it is not." This is how we stopped and started up the hill to find our artistic voice. 

Someone took this one of me, not sure which one. Not my best side. But hey, can't take yourself too seriously at my age. 

And here are their entries:



MASON, age 6


COOPER, age 8

6 comments:

Adamo said...

Awesome. I love Ansel Adams. When I was at BYU, they got a great exhibit for a couple months at the MOA. It was free so I went a few times. It makes me love the Rocky Mountain West.

Connie said...

Good job to Mason and Cooper. And great job to mom for investing the time in this project with her boys! Way to go Julia!!!

Glenda said...

These are some incredible photos...that artistic eye must be inherited....I remember hiking there with you last year.

Claudia said...

Love them! What a fun thing to do with your boys!

emma nelson said...

We so admire the time you take to make sure your boys learn the good things of this world.! They are darling!

laurel said...

They are such cute boys and great photographers. They get that from you.