Thoughts - Grayslake Family Photographer and Writer

As I realized the link between my thoughts, emotions and physical well being (Last post).  I started wondering where thoughts come from.  For a long time scientists hypothesized that thoughts arise in your brain like a computer.

But now cognitive scientists believe that the thought process is more like an ecosystem.  Thought occurs not just in the brain, instead it is a tangled communication among the brain, body and environment.  Our thoughts are directly linked to physical experience according to some studies.  Fundamentally we perceive the world in terms of our ability to act on our environment.

My favorite example of this is the study in which baseball players with high batting averages perceived the ball as bigger than poorer hitters.  Or the study in which volunteers were asked to estimate the steepness of a hill just by looking at it from the bottom.  The answers correlated directly with how physically suited they were to climbing the hill.

It's easy to get lost in our thoughts without awareness as to where they come from.  My personal freedom lies in the awareness of those thoughts.

The thinking patterns are usually the same.  

Same anxious, worried thoughts every time change comes back around.  

It's time to call them out for what they are.

I see you!

Finding Peace Today- Grayslake Family Photographer and Writer

These last couple of weeks have been a climax of change ending with today the last day of school. As all these changes started coming the last few weeks I really started noticing my thoughts and emotions.

My little guy lost his first tooth.  "There will be no more first lost tooth in this house...." Right after that thought came in I realized that it didn't serve me any good to stay there, I let it go.

"My oldest will no longer be in elementary school the new school is bigger and different."  Another thought that I had to just let go of.

Similar thoughts have looked around the corner for a couple weeks to see if I wasn't paying close attention.  I was paying close attention and I wouldn't allow them to turn the corner.  I didn't let these thoughts consume me and run away with me for hours on end as I had in the past.

I can see the direct link between my thoughts, emotions and my physical well being.  These emotions are exhausting, very heavy to carry when I surrender to them.

Instead I asked myself what do I really have to be sad about?  I couldn't find an answer to that question.  What can I find joy in?  The list was never ending.  This morning I woke up feeling so much lighter, joy filled and at peace.  

Happy last day of school!

angelclarkphotography@gmail.com

Wedding Fun - Grayslake Family Photographer and Writer

This weekend we attending a beautiful wedding in the Virginia Beach area.  It was a great weekend! Once a year we get away as a couple and attending such a joy filled event was the perfect reason to get away.

There were many beautiful heart felt speeches throughout the weekend.  I listened closely as the priest stated that wearing a wedding ring wasn't a reminder of your commitment to your spouse it's actually a reminder of your spouses commitment to you.  I found that to be an interesting statement.  I thought it was a reminder of my commitment but this explanation gave it a little bit of a different significance.  "Someone gave themselves to you... someone is waiting for you at home..." the priest passionate conveyed.

So naturally I did some research about wedding rings and the significance....  there was no surprise that wedding rings have been around a LONG time, since ancient Egypt about 4800 years ago.

The symbol of the circle with no beginning or end spans many ancient cultures.  But I was surprised to find that the hole in the center of the ring also had ancient significance.  It's isn't just space to put your finger through. That space is a gateway, or door; leading to things and events both known and unknown.  Putting your finger through the gateway means that you are ready to meet the unknown with the person who gave you the ring, your spouse.

Wedding rings have lots of meaning and significance.  I don't think there is just one explanation for such a beautiful symbol of love.  Personally, I've found that the meaning evolves throughout the years of marriage too.  And still there is so much ahead to discover side by side.    

Spring Session - Grayslake Photographer

The rain teased us all weekend long.  Thank you to the C family for being flexible and great to work with.  We captured some beautiful images.  Here is a sneak peek:

 

A very beautiful family, thanks again to the C's!

For your individualized family session at my most affordable price of the year contact me at: angelclarkphotography@gmail.com

No Photos - Grayslake Photographer and Writer

R had a dance recital over the weekend.  This was the first time she participated in dance, we normally allow one after school activity and R selected dance this school year.  She practiced once a week for 8 months.  The dance recital was the culmination of the year and highly anticipated.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there was to be no flash photography nor videography at the event.  This was the rule at her communion as well.  Although, at first I was disappointed at the thought that I wouldn't be able to capture every single moment.  I didn't have to worry about settings, my thoughts being elsewhere in camera land as opposed to present at the event.  Her dance lasted just a few minutes and I was there for every second of it.    Some times it's just better to put the camera down and be there.

"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.  Make the Now the primary focus of your life." Eckhart Tolle

How To Live Happily Ever After - Grayslake Photographer

My youngest, J asked me; "Mama do you want to live happily ever after?"
I thought about it for a minute and answered; "I already am."
J responds; "No, mama I'm going to tell you what you need to do to live happily ever after."
Me; "Okay, what do I need to do."
J while demonstrating with his hands, "You have to go like this."  Tapping each finger with his thumb.  "And say: 'I am wonderful'."
I did it with him.  Touching my thumb and index finger together "I". Touching my thumb and middle finger together "AM".  Touching my thumb and ring finger together "Wonder".  Touching my thumb and pinky finger together "ful".
"You should do that every day and you will live happily ever after," J assured me.

I've seen him touching his fingers together before but didn't know why until this exchange.  He was in a kids Yoga class this winter at the Yoga Effect. His wonderful instructor Nancy Nedland  taught him this mantra.  It has stuck with him, now it is etched into his heart.

Knowing how wonderful he truly is, looking inward, he will live happily ever after.  

Thank you Nancy, for this life lesson you have taught J.  I can't even describe the value that this holds for me as his mother and the value this lesson has for him as he carries it with him throughout the years.

I am wonderful. 

And so are you!

Capturing The Sky - Family Photographer

I've been learning photography for almost 5 years now.  Last year I noticed that I came up with way too many blank white skies in my finished images.  This year I'm actively going to attempt to capture the natural detail of they sky in my finished images.  There are actions (plug ins) you can purchase of puffy, perfect beautiful clouds.  You add these in during the editing process.  I've considered purchasing these but haven't yet.  This time, I captured the image with different exposures.  Under and over exposing to capture the detailed sky.  It's rather difficult to capture a detailed sky when you are correctly exposing your subject.  Often the sky is over exposed and whites out.  To capture a detailed sky you have to under expose (darken, almost black out) your subject and measure the light according to they sky which is often very bright.  Then you merge the over exposed and under exposed images in Photoshop. That's what I did to get the image that I wanted below.

I'm going to challenge myself to capture a detailed sky with every outdoor session this year.  This is going to come with difficulty at first.  There are a lot of things to consider and my nephew below was very patient with me (okay... kinda patient with me).  I'm sure I'll make mistakes and it will take practice to do this quickly during a session.  This challenge will allow me to continue to learn and grow as a photographer.

Say cheese you beautiful sky... here I come :)
       

Image on the left is over exposed sky to get the details of the grass (I wanted a silhouette effect on my subject so he is under exposed).  Image on the right is way under exposed grass and trees, correctly exposing to the sky.  Image in the middle is the merged image (same as the one above).

Enjoy more communion pics of my handsome nephew.

Spring is right around the corner if you would like your own personalized outdoor family session, including an attempt at capturing the beautiful sky above you contact me at: angelclarkphotography@gmail.com