Nathan is not normally a super serious kid. In fact, he's got a great sense of humor and a really fun and silly personality. His Mom and I usually pick the toothy smiles, silly faces and big expressions from his photo sessions but this time was different...

All of my very favorite shots were these serious, soulful expressions. Generally speaking I am 50-50 on the big toothy smile vs. the sweet and serious face. I love them equally.

Maybe it's fitting, Nathan is growing up after all. One of my boys is the same age as Nathan and he is getting a little bit more serious as well. He's not a little boy anymore but becoming a big boy. My heart breaks a little as I type that because it is hard to see those days fade away but I am loving watching his "big boy" self emerge too. His Christmas list had more puzzles, books, video games and science experiments and not a single hot wheel, Star Wars figure or big plastic fire engine.

Thankfully, for my tender heart, the changes are gradual. Sayer is actually asleep in my bed snuggled up beside me as I type this. His room is still scary on most nights and he still holds my hand (even in public). I get lots of hugs and kisses too. As I look at these images of Nathan, I keep thinking that if we keep a space open for our boys to be soulful and gentle they will continue to be so. I never want my guys to lose that soft side. I get that I might not always get to hold hands whenever I like and my hugs and kisses may have their time and place and that's okay. My hope for them (and me of course) is that they always feel comfortable leaning in, grabbing a hand or cuddling up when they need it.

Even tonight while decorating our Christmas tree, Steven stopped me and whispered, "Look at Sayer...he just looks so big". It's true. Sayer, Finn and even Nathan are all growing up and before I know it, they'll be driving cars, texting, needing privacy and wearing deodorant. So, these days, I'm doing my best to pay attention, be in the moment and enjoy my boys while they are still boys. They will be big boys and (gasp) men soon enough.

 

The camera that's with you may, in some ways, be the best one. It may not be the most advanced or have the most features but, when push comes to shove, it's the one that gets the shot. My iPhone gets some of the best shots. They are the wonderful, ordinary moments of daily life. They happen quickly and often when my big camera is out of reach. What I enjoy most about my iPhone is that I don't labor over images like I might with my regular camera. You just accept that they'll be a little imperfect, quick, grainy...You grab and go and move on to the next.

So, my advice to you is this...Learn your mobile camera. Enjoy the roughness and download the crazy apps for it. Get creative and snap away. Grab the moments while you can.

Play with apps like Toy Camera, Best Camera, Hipstamatic, Diptic, Sepia Camera, Incredibooth and TiltShiftGen.

(Above images taken using the Hipstamtic app)

Here are a few other favorites from the last few months. I hope that you will share yours with us!

The white palace that we called home this past summer in San Francisco

"I'd like to rest
my weary head tonight
on a bed
of California stars"

adventures

unexpected vistas

important messages

interesting juxtapositions

and the simple things, like tonight's sunset.

Have any apps that you love? Please leave links to your images and suggestions for apps, sites, Flickr groups, etc. in the comments section below. I'd love it if you would contribute your mobile images to our Monday Lesson Flickr pool!

Thanks for reading and sharing!

The turkey has been eaten, the kids have played hard, we've caught up on everyone's stories and the wine bottles are empty. I'm sitting in the boy's bedroom watching Finnian, Sayer and their cousin Loudon all nestled in bed together talking, reading and playing. I'm pretty sure they will never fall asleep but I'm trying to be optimistic.

Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays. It has even surpassed Christmas for me. I love it because it is simple. For us, it is just about eating a great meal and being surrounded by family. I always leave our gatherings feeling so grateful. I love what I do for a living and I completely enjoy the challenge of my work but, at the end of the day, the very best thing in my life is my family. Steven and the kids are the lights of my life. My extended family is amazing too and I feel so thankful for all of them.

I am also thankful to you. Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for inviting me to photograph your children's milestone moments. It is never lost on me that you trust me with such important memories. Your children's spirits are the other thing that keep me energized from day to day. The completely honest expression and pure emotion that they share with me day to day is gift.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends!

I have talked a lot in my recent posts about experimentation, practice and inspiration. Without a doubt, the technical part of photography is vital. If your technique is lacking, it can compromise your vision. A great image can be made mediocre if the technique is way off. That being said, technique alone is sterile and not very interesting. As you practice and experiment, you have to give both aspects of your craft their fair share of attention.

The very good news is that, as you practice your creative skills, your technical skills are getting practice as well. Every time you fiddle with your controls (or try a new mode, f-stop, shutter speed, etc.) you become more connected to your gear and you get one step further ahead in your technical journey as well. So, the more you shoot, the better you will become. That is for certain.

This week I want to challenge you with an assignment. I want you to walk somewhere with your camera. Here in Houston we have a cold snap coming in and a holiday weekend coming up so you have no excuses not to get out and do some shooting. I want you to walk slowly and try and see past the surface of the things in front of you. How can you see them in a new way? Can you use a new angle or incorporate shallow depth of field in a way that changes the way things look?

How can you capture the color differently than you may have before? Can you find texture? As you walk, try and find ordinary objects and see them differently with your camera. Allow your camera to do what it does best - help you focus in and see the things around you in an entirely different way.

Anywhere you go will work. You can walk through your neighborhood. You could even spend an hour in your backyard. Go walk through downtown Houston. Walk up and down 19th street in the Heights. Go to the Arboretum or the zoo. Give your camera a break from it's regular duties of kids, family and holiday parties. Give yourself a break from that too!


Shrink your scope and look closely at the things around you. Grab only a piece of them and abstract them. Look up, down and sideways. Be slow and mindful and explore different angles, play with your controls and (no pun intended) focus.


(All of these shots were taken in downtown Houston)

Please share your work with us! Include links to your blogs, Flickr streams, etc. in the comments section below or add them to our Monday Lesson Flickr group. Don't be shy!

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving week and weekend. I am thankful for all of you that read my blog, contribute, email me and so on. Thanks for making it fun!