self portrait 2

A.J. and Escher

studio

dump truck

tree and sky

brother

abstract photography

buzz & woody

mama

self portrait

po-tojournalism

Our "big" Christmas present to Jonas this year was a Fisher-Price digital camera. His interest in photography (albeit in his 3-year-old tack) and accompanying interest in my camera prompted this idea. He brings it everywhere, just like Mama.

I draw such joy from uploading his images to my computer after he goes to bed. Quite unexpectedly I've found a remarkable and selfish gift within this gift, in seeing the world through my son's eyes. His first batch of photos, which is represented above, includes three or four shots of his buddy Adrian, a dozen or so of toy cars, and at least 20 of his baby brother. Granted, this representation of my son's priorities in life should not come as a surprise, and it doesn't, but I really can't fathom a condition where too much insight into the mind of a child, especially one's own, could be possible.

Another gift within the gift, is a spoonful of humility. I've always been rather impressed with myself in regards to the collection of images I've captured, many by accident, throughout my amateur photographic career. And I do believe some people have a better eye for pictures than others (my AJ, for example, is a hopeless hopeless photographer). There's also plenty of room for skill in advancing these capabilities. That said, having reviewed several hundred of Jonas' pix over the last several days, I've been very impressed at some of the beautiful images he has created with his little camera. The one below, for example, which he took at a party, of a little girl who's name I have forgotten, has a very evocative horror movie/impressionist painting/alternative album cover effect.


Am I blinded by maternal pride, or is (quality) amateur photography so easy even a 3-year-old can do it? A third option would be that my child is an artistic prodigy. Whichever way, I've created a photoblog for Jonas to document his artistic expression and progression, concurrent with JonasArt which houses his drawings, collage and 3-D work. Am I creating a monster? Probably, but only of the best kind.

xo
Annabel