Be who you are.
Two things to report this afternoon:
1. There is a tiplet coming soon to do with practical applications of chalk pastels. I wanted to have it done this afternoon - BUT it wasn't cooperating with me. Actually, that's a lie. Chalk pastels are quite cordial. I just needed more experimenting. I did end up getting a few useful tidbits from my work today (coming in LoveLife.)
2. Love what it is. This is a lesson I RE-learned this afternoon after the baby Cait photoshoot (photos in Sweet Cait album at right). Last night, I was frustrated because I had an image in my mind of what I wanted the photos to look like and I couldn't achieve it. I couldn't achieve the light or the mood or the smiles. I had set a level of expectation for myself and I was nervous creating something for others. I came away feeling like okay, so you're not much of a photographer - who cares - chill out, dude - you've got lots of other things to do. SO WHEN I WENT BACK THIS MORNING - I had a different better carefree attitude which (surprise, surprise!) garnered some better shots. AND REMINDED ME THAT it totally IS WHAT IT IS and it turns out exactly as it's supposed to. Meaning - my shots of Cait turned out exactly how they were supposed to - they are Cait as interpreted by ME, Kal Barteski Kostenchuk. Not Cait interpreted by Tara Whitney or Maile Wilson or Annie Leibowitz (or the rest of you CRAZY ASS talented photographers).
Here's a little Cait. She was happiest when she had fistfuls of her parents hair. Go Cait! (And thanks.)
I was powerfully reminded this morning to just let it go - be who you are and LOVE WHAT THAT IS.
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Thanks for the reminder.
Funny. I was having the same sort of thoughts today. I read a quote in The Artist's Way book:
"We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other people's models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open."
Shakti Gawain
Posted by: Kasie | July 20, 2007 at 05:21 PM
Kal, these photos are beautiful, unique, and REAL! I love them and I think any parent would be thrilled to have you photograph their little one. ;) (...but I'll be honest and tell you I will have to remind myself of that when I start shooting other families' portraits soon, lol)
Posted by: Laura Reaux | July 20, 2007 at 07:45 PM
could that babys eye get any bluer, nice picture.
Posted by: lee | July 20, 2007 at 09:27 PM
love the pictures of cait, kal!
Posted by: s.patel | July 21, 2007 at 06:27 AM
My name is in the same sentence as Annie Leibowitz...separated only by a comma. That makes my year. I LOVED your photos of baby Cait. They were precious. And the story behind them, even more so. I can totally relate to this post. So much so that I posted a whole entry about it on my blog here. http://dailyrelish.squarespace.com/journal/2007/7/21/sunlions.html
Thank you for reminding us all once again that IT'S ALL GOOD. Hope you're enjoying a fabu Weekend In Winnipeg! (...that sounds like a movie title).
Posted by: maile | July 21, 2007 at 05:10 PM
Kal - You should always remember to be kind to yourself! Thanks for the great shots of Cait. They’re wonderful and we’re SO excited to have them. I’m fascinated by the way you’ve framed different shots and also the range of different moods/reactions that Cait has in the series. I also love the little embellishments you’ve added to the pics on your blog – they make the images seem so whimsical to me.
BTY - I ate the saskatoons today….YUMMIE. Thanks!
Posted by: Sandra | July 21, 2007 at 10:00 PM
those are absolutely beautiful pictures kal
Posted by: bonnie | July 23, 2007 at 03:21 PM