experience | document
In the current issue of Little One Baby there is a story, written by me, about the importance of recording childhood. Whilst researching I spoke to a bunch of creatives who, in their own unique way, document the milestones and the tantrums, the birthdays and the weekdays.
I worked on and off for a few months on the article – emailing, interviewing, reading, writing, editing. I spent a few days before deadline threading it all together and while the story flowed I really struggled with the ending. How was I going to wrap it all up? It took an afternoon of making tea and hanging washing to find the right conclusion.
It’s rare for me to imbue a story with my personal beliefs but I couldn’t let this one pass without sharing my opinion. You see, it’s a beautiful thing to document childhood; to take a photo a day or one a week, to write innocent phrases in a notebook and create a journal of the years. But perhaps even more precious is falling into the experience, leaving the camera and the phone and the pen behind, and really being here, now. Making memories, not documenting them.
The very essence of blogging is documentation – recording thoughts and experiences to prompt conversation. After five years in this space I understand how essential the balance is. It’s so easy to look through the lens, observe the moment, capture it and mentally repeat: “…one for the blog.” It’s even easier to get swept up in the net momentum where daily posts and lengthy comments compete with real life. Blogging is a wonderful medium for communication, conversation and inspiration. For the writer and the reader it can also be challenging, exhausting and make-believe.
I often step away from this space for a little while, simply because I need a break. I do the same with my camera and my phone – as the day outside beckons, I leave without them. As a writer I know I can always rely on observation and retrospect; often I see things clearer when I recall.
I have no plans to leave….I just wanted to share my experience; the lessons learned. There is someone who is saying goodbye though. Leigh has been such an inspiration in the past few years as she has navigated her readers through witty, passionate posts about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, babywearing and cosleeping. I wholeheartedly understand and respect her decision. Blessings Leigh….x
I totally understand what you are saying, and it is hard to find the balance indeed. But it is so important… Very well written, as always. Thank you!
So very true Jodi! In a bid to capture all the little slices of magic my babies seem to be part of each day I finding I'm not there….really present. Our mind is the best memory keeper. It connects the sight, sound, smell of an instance and it alone can illicit the goosebumps of recollection. Documenting is a brilliant way to give our memory a nudge but those fuzzy feelings will only flow if we were really "there" in the first place. Hope your week is a wonderful one full of hide and seek, berry smoothies and laughter x x
I often think about this dichotomy. Thankfully I have my husband who balances out my tendency to document by reminding me to 'just put down the camera and enjoy the moment'.
x Laura
so true, I find myself grabbing my camera when my children are doing something new and need to sometimes just stop and watch myself.
By the way where did you get Poet's hat, is is gorgeous
Hi Emily…..I sadly lost Poet's hat a few months ago and searched high and low for a cute (and sensible) alternative. I found this little blue one which folds up at the front. It's a beautiful cotton and it's on sale here – http://www.anaisandi.com/anaisandi-etc.html x
ps. they actually designed it as a boys hat??!! x
Lovely thoughts. After reading Leigh's words yesterday I also have been thinking about blogging. I so much love sharing my thoughts however I think balance (like everything) is so important. Being in the moment is what matters most to our children – if we can only share a description of a memory and no photo, I don't think they will mind at all.
Glad you are not going anywhere xx
I agree completely…I enjoy recalling the moments for my blog, I find they make me smile to remember later. I thought long and hard about whether to include photos of my son on my blog, and decided against it – part of the reason is that I am not a photographer and thus it is not natural for me to have the camera out, but mostly it is because I love experiencing all I can with him – it is something I feel would be lessened if I had the camera out thinking 'oooh, this'll be great on the blog!'.
It is funny though, I absolutely adore seeing all the beautiful photos posted here and elsewhere on my favourite blogs – I am so thankful you and the other writers I follow do document with pictures…I enjoy each and every one!
Much love
Audrey
Great post Jodi. And Leighs words on blogging are so honest and true.
I know already that blogging will not be a part of my life once we have another child. There simply won't be enough time to be retrospective to the internet community. I will only have time to connect with myself, my babes, my love, my immediate friends and family. And this will definitely be enough.
Blessings to you too 🙂
x
I definitely choose moments to photograph and others to be in the moment for. I have been documenting my life for so long though, that having the camera and being the one to photograph *is* part of my experience of that moment as well. I've always been the one with the camera at all events since high school, so it's part of my social persona and then, through extension, one view on how I see myself too.
When I leave my camera at home all day and we go out to do something fun – those days are usually full of incredible light and stunning backgrounds and I kick myself for not capturing it all day. Catch-22!
As I was sitting down tonight watching my youngest perform on stage I was thinking how much I enjoyed seeing her but how much I missed of her dancing as I was trying to capture it. I think it's important to remember that our mind captures the most beautiful memories and that just sometimes the camera needs to stay away. Thank you for a thoughtful post Jodi, it's something I think I need to be more mindful of, being in the moment for what it is not for the blog. xx
sorry ….fixated on first shot
that hat
THOSE LIPS
oh my……
I've been thinking on this wince I posted and I also think it helps to have a bit of knowledge in photography. I know when and how to shoot my children while they play so that they have no idea or very little that I am actually taking the shot. I don't need to shoot multiple images, I may take only two or three at most at any moment, so the whole process is brief.
And to Catherine above – I always set up my video for any performance in my hands, and then leave it there to look over the camera and watch the thing with my own eyes. If I fail to capture it all on video perfectly that's ok, but not seeing it from stage to retina is not ok for me. Practise a little at home and then just trust that you'll get most of it when you're out. x
Such wise words Jodi. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I find it important to put the camera down at times and simply 'be in the moment' with my girls x
I agree, very wise. Though I don't feel at this time I could ever truly leave, I often take breaks and step away just to "experience" the memories first hand. Plus, it's so nice not carrying that extra weight of a DSLR sometimes 😉 A great reminder this morning. x
I agree so much with this sentiment! I do have to say though — my blogging experience and my relationship with my camera has completely changed how I see the world. I feel like I missed a lot before I started taking pictures. I certainly see the world in a different way now, and I see details that I never would have noticed before I began blogging and photographing.
yes! taking photos helps you really 'see' what you have, it definitely makes you feel grateful x
So beautifully put, Melissa!
Ronnie xo
I recently tackled this very topic in my own blog. Thanks for making me feel I'm justified and supported in the struggle. I am just beginning my blogging experience and I don't see an end in sight yet. But I am already very aware of the fine line, and I try to remember to savor moments in real time as much as I document them.
Last night Jarvis did his first lap of the house (before he has walked from section to section having a break on walls and furniture) all the while sticking his tongue out blowing raspberries. It was so funny our little zombie walker, both Justin and I said we should record it, but then neither of us made a move as it was just too funny to stop watching. We both could not leave the moment to record it.
http://iliska-dreams.blogspot.com.au/
that will be a memory that stays with you always, i am sure.
A very interesting post Jodi. It's interesting that for me, I have the opposite problem. I am often caught in the moment and don't think to take enough photos – perhaps this will change once we have children. One problem with my approach is because I have few photos, I don't have something to refer back to to see the 'happy' things about my life, and negatives are much easier to remember and dwell on. I wonder whether documenting happy things assists you to see that overall things are more good than bad and whether it assists with being grateful?
It's quite an interesting topic this one.
I wholeheartedly believe that documenting life prompts an enormous amount of gratitude. You see things differently, you notice the beauty in your kitchen windowsill or the raspberry vine that is growing through the fence. I suppose it's the photographer's eye – you become more aware, more open to beauty. Try it…x
I've struggled with blogging for that exact reason. It's very tempting to just document instead of enjoying the moment. It's the realization of the fine line between living life and living for a blog. I hope that makes sense : )
I cooked something the other night and as I did, I thought, it's so nice to just cook without having to pick up my camera, adjust this plate, wish there was more light, wipe up this spill.
I think as long as there's a balance, it's alright.. and I also like that taking photographs makes me go a little slower, to stop and look at my surroundings. and to be thankful for all the beauty I didn't notice before.
hmm, that's an interesting one jodi- i guess it's about balance, and being comfortable with your own way of doing things. you can't have documentation with the 'doing' and in the end, that is pretty important.
i love your photos- what beautiful children you have!
I couldn't agree more. Sometimes you spend so much time trying to take a picture of the moment, then uploading it to Instagram, then checking any comments that you almost miss the moment all together. It's definitely about balance. Some days I seem to take hundreds of photos and be on social media all the time, and it feels right, other days it doesn't and so I leave it all behind. Guilt free. x
Such an insightful post, as always Jodi. You know how much I love my photography and memory keeping, but earlier this year, I decided to start taking less pictures, and instead – to only capture those moments or frames that really tell a story. This has meant less stressing about having to capture every single thing (hence being able to be more present) and also less files to organise on the computer!
Ronnie xo
This has really made me stop and think about my approach to blogging. I find I'm the opposite – I wasn't capturing enough of those special moments, and therefore wasn't feeling very grateful about my life, and didn't have the motivation to write. Lately I've started to pick up my camera again and I like the perspective it's given me – life is wonderful and should be cherished and preserved. The challenge as I go forward will be maintaining that precious balance… Lovely thought-provoking post, Jodi. x
These are some beautiful words. I have just discovered your space and am deeply moved by all you are doing. There is a fine line in the balance or creativity and life, letting them thread together and weave in an out of each other at the same time. I measure most things by the pace of my heart, if I am racing toward something or calm in its quiet space of not being becoming a product. There are always the boy's eyes looking back at me letting me know when to lay the camera down, when to come out of the studio, when to take a breath and leave the internet behind for a few days….thank you for this. XO
i have never been a big documenter until this past year. i have two teenage daughters and when they were small there were no digital cameras, it would've been expensive back then to process as many photos as i take now with a digital. i started blogging to document my littlest ones life as a toddler as time does make memories dim or fade or you just forget so many of the little things (you never forget the big ones). i am ever so grateful for the blogging world and digital cameras but it is all about balance and some times it is nice to leave the camera at home and just enjoy the moment and be really present.
It's such a fine balance. You've {as always} expressed this so carefully and beautifully, Jodi xx
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