Stay tuned for some experimental underwater photo shoots (we bought him a housing for his birthday).  Who knows.  If the thing comes in time we may get some maternity shots of me aka hippo ballet!

Update!  Here are some that I’ve done!

Celebrate Mother’s Day With Art

I’ve always felt a little ambivalent towards Mother’s Day.  It, like so many holidays, feels like so much like a Hallmark national day, and the flower industry’s excuse to jack up their prices.   I don’t want to sound so pessimistic but I always feel a little forced into these things at holiday time.  But there it is.  Mother’s Day.

Interestingly enough, our country’s decision to official mark such a day on the calendar stems back to a political activist, Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation” in 1870 as a pacifist reaction to the carnage of the American Civil War and Franco Prussian War.  It was a call for women to not stand idly by as their sons and husbands raised their swords up against another mother’s son.  She saw women as being capable and responsible to advocate for the peaceful resolution of conflict between nations.  Who better to understand the true losers of war than the mothers?

Her story touches me, and really gives a renewed purpose behind this beautiful Sunday in May.  Take a minute while you’re eating brunch with Mum and ask yourself what you’re willing to do for peace.

Father and Son, I know, but love the charcoal effect

Chris‘ portrait above of Britte and her son Alistair really says all of these things to me and more.  The vulnerability of such a tiny and naked little one held close in strong and capable arms.  Her face says it all- protective, watchful, a little wonderment.  To imagine those little hands ever taking up a gun against another woman’s baby is just too much to bear.  Portraits like these remind me that everyone is somebody’s baby.

We want to celebrate this.  We’ll be doing Mother and Child Portrait Studies in Black and White this month at a special session discount of 50%.   We’ll also be transforming these portraits into beautiful oil paintings on canvas.  They’ll make an amazing gift.

If you want to surprise the Mom in your life, we’ll also be offering a 10% discount on transforming YOUR photo to a painting.  Have an old snapshot of you and your mom that you want turned into a piece of art?  Give us a call for a quote. 801.328.4064 or email chris at blackburnportrait.com

…and Happy Mother’s Day!

Check out more of Chris’ Salt Lake Family Photography

Truth be told … when I do shoot I tend to shoot in my camera body in black and white, since I shoot in RAW getting them back to color is no problem.  So why do I shoot in B&W in my camera?  To see shapes, form, and negative space.  Its less distracting then seeing it in color.

I’m also focusing on a few rules of thumb this year as well:

1. The Golden Mean.
2. The Art of Imperfection
3. The Art of Destruction
4. The Art of Simplicity

So why all this craziness?  I want to get back to the root of why I love photography so much, why I wanted to pick up the camera so bad, why I spent hundreds and thousands of dollars on dark room supplies, chemicals, and now digital photography supplies.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love color and will still process in color … I’m only focusing on B&W.  The right tool for the right job and all that.

I love light, I love shape, I love form.  Here’s to 2010!