Pencils, babychinos and toast: a documentary with my younger daughter...

It only seemed fair to document this.  A previous post shows some stolen (and preserved) moments with my eldest daughter while she enjoyed toast and jam at one of our favourite places to eat.  So when Poppi asked for a date morning with me, requesting breakfast out, I thought it was a great way to continue this series.

Poppi has always been content with me taking her picture.  And I've always told her that she should act like I'm not - "just be yourself sweetness."  And she has.  So much so that the photographer at my brother's wedding last autumn remarked on how he thought she didn't like the camera because she wouldn't look at him.  I had to correct him that she's fine with it - just not used to looking down the lens and more used to Mummy being the one at the other end.  He then knew to just ask for her attention if he wanted it.

But these are the moments I love.  I know many will argue that there needs to be connection - the eyes give that, but I like to observe - people watching is something I enjoy.  So naturally for me I lean towards shooting for the details of the moment, especially when it's my own kids and they are so used to it.  It's like a warm blanket.  It's comforting.  And the outcome is something we can treasure forever together and they can show to their children too.  "This is how Mummy sees me."  "Mummy wanted to remember these moments." "This is me being me."

And Poppi being her is so delicate.  She's a pocket rocket and will give everything and anything a go with full force and gumption when she's ready.  But she is equally reserved and quiet in her mannerisms and movements.  Particularly dextrous for her age and has always had a flair towards working things out slowly before diving in.  This is shown to me in the way she holds her cup at the edges - fingers outstretched, dainty, not clumsy.  And how she takes small bites from her carefully marmaladed (word?) toast, surveying where to take the next bite from....

So I give you:  Pencils, babychinos and  Marmalade toast:

A documentary with my younger daughter.

Please note:  I am having a breakfast date with my son soon - expect the last part of this series in due course!

Thanks for looking ~ Fleur x
www.fleurlouisephotography.co.uk

Poppi ~ when you were 6...

Our strong willed, fun loving, witty little rocket in your pocket is turning 7!

Wow - this year is going quickly.  This one has always been happy to be in front of the camera - and has fallen in love with being behind it too.  *note to self: get around to clearing her memory card that she has nagged me about for a while.

Happy Birthday sweet little one.   May all the wishes you have for yourself and we have for you come true!

Thank you for looking ~ Fleur x

www.fleurlouisephotography.co.uk

Toast & Jam: A documentary with my older daughter...

So I told myself at the beginning of this year, that after I finished my 365 I would concentrate on monthly shoots for myself.  Maybe within a certain theme, or styled, or trying something new....  But as the days and weeks have gone on I have gotten lost in life and my everyday work.  This diversion, has however sent me to a place where I feel I can play again.  Where I am happy.  And there's nothing wrong with spending time in your happy place is there?

I stumbled back to where I first found my love of photography.  Capturing the tiny moments - the pure everyday - dare I say mundane...?  Those moments you'd pass by or forget the next day.  Where details are documented and memories can be preserved.

So this is where I am at the moment - a mind full with aspirations of something artistically incredible (ha!); planned down to the most weeniest of details;  Having a 'photography plans/to do/must learn/must try' list as long as my arm.  But for now - while my littles are little and they are developing the most unique of characters I will strive to capture it all - in collections of photographical impressions.  Purposefully picking up my camera to not have a clue what I might document.  All I know is that it will be real, authentic, me/us/them.

Here you go....

Toast & Jam: A documentary with my daughter.

(captured in 10 minutes of pure yumminess!)

Thanks for looking ~ Fleur

www.fleurlouisephotography.co.uk

Before and After.... at the beach.

Before and After...

I thought I'd lost this shot. It was dusk and the kids were running along the rocks at the beach and I was concentrating on working on some silhouette shots with the fast moving pastel clouds... Miles stopped right in front of me (I assure you - him being still doesn't happen often!) and my shutter was still fairly quick - quicker than it needed for a stationary little lad with such little light.

He calmly stood, just for a few moments and breathed the salty evening air deeply into his lungs. His face was a picture (pardon the pun) and I hoped that I could salvage what I'd got in my camera.

I checked the files a few days later when I moved them over to my workspace and was a bit deflated. It was underexposed, dark and grainy and I thought that it would just stay as a cutting room floor file. But I persevered this afternoon and AM I PLEASED THAT I DID?! By no means technically perfect - not at all... The colours are enhanced, I've played about as my artistic license will allow ;) But it's my boy - being himself - loving life and taking in the moment. And I'll take that. And I'll print it now too. <3

Thanks for looking ~ Fleur x

www.fleurlouisephotography.co.uk

A day at the zoo..... Without the kids.

The kids were spending the day with Grandparents and me and the Hubs had a morning to ourselves.  So we decided on a date at the Zoo.   I was a cold day, so we endeavoured to stay within the indoor enclosures for warmth.  However - this isn't usually where I like to spend my time with my camera; the glass is hard to work with.  It's reflective, usually muckily splattered from the animals and most definitely scratched.  Hence usually why any animal images I've taken at the zoo have been of the animals outdoors.

But today the animals who are only watchable from behind the glass were animated, close by, interacting with me and a lot of fun.  I couldn't resist to snap them.  So I embraced the reflections (yes, that's me you can see - or my foot.....),  I threw caution to the low light wind and I didn't care about the marks all over the glass - mine at home aren't far from on par! ;)

So here we go a mini collection  - the penguins, the butterflies, a monkey and a turtle....

Thanks for looking ~ Fleur x

www.fleurlouisephotography.co.uk

Treetops and skies - The part of Winter that I love...

Why don't I do this more often?

I walked one dusky winter afternoon with my family around our local park.  The kids had their scooters and my hubs was in charge of our dogs.  I was coming to the end of my 365 photo project, so obviously had my camera with me - eager to capture as much of our walk as I could...  As we meandered (term used loosely when navigating scootering children and inquisitive dogs around a duck filled lake...) along the paths, I noticed how beautiful the sky was looking.

I had to begin with been occupied with documenting the movements of my children.  But as they scootered further and more swiftly and the dogs keenly 'walked my husband' briskly on, I stopped. 

The sun was coming down quickly and the trees sparse branches looked black against the burnt orange and dusky blue.  On one side of me and my camera the clouds were whipped up and to the other the sky was a pale grey.  I marvelled at how amazing and varied the atmosphere above looked depending on where I chose to place my camera's framing.

Throughout the summer months these trees would be filled with leaves and the view would be quite different.   Where the sun was glowing, creating silhouettes of the pitch-like branches, would not be visible - only now in the midmost of winter could the sky look like this.

So I stayed.  And I shot.  And I am in love with the result.  I really should do this more often.

Thanks for looking ~ Fleur x

www.fleurlouisephotography.co.uk