Friday, July 04, 2008

Through our son's eyes


Zach's sky
London, ON, June 2008 [Click to enlarge]
Quick note: This photo continues this week's Thematic Photographic theme, sky. If you haven't already done so, click here and post your sky-related link. If you've already posted one, feel free to post some more. Enjoy!
As our kids have grown into the fabulous little people that they are, they've begun to pursue their own artistic directions. Zach's learning guitar and has become adept with a camera in his own right. Dahlia draws and paints like my wife - beautifully and thoughtfully - and has gravitated toward the keyboard. Noah is following in his big sister's artistic footsteps and slowly filling our house with colorful examples of his unique view of the world.

So I wasn't surprised a couple of weeks back when Zach asked if he could shoot some pictures with my camera. We were waiting for our table at a restaurant after a series of thunderstorms had rolled through the late afternoon sky. I placed the Nikon in his hands and showed him how to cradle and balance it, which controls he needed to learn and which ones could wait for another day. He took to its heft pretty quickly, and before long was shooting like he'd been using it all his life.

The clouds fascinated him, especially as they moved off toward the horizon. They were moving quickly, so he didn't have a lot of time to compose. But when we reviewed his handiwork on the camera's screen, we knew this was the one that would tell the story of the moment when he moved his photography to the next level.

Your turn: When did you discover what jazzes you? How did it happen?

One more thing: Wherever you are, I hope you're having a safe and joyous 4th of July. It always touches me how deeply felt this holiday is. May we always have blessings of all shapes and sizes to share.

9 comments:

Canadian Mark said...

There are many things that "jazz" me. Playing the bagpipes is probably what does it for me most. I didn't start for my own interest in the instrument, but instead I began lessons to swoon my grade 8 sweetheart who was fascinated by them.

Anonymous said...

That sure is an awesome shot. He surely knows what he's doing.
Hi and hello. I'm Lifran, your friend at facebook.

Anonymous said...

I've really been enjoying these photos, Carmi. The sky is always a canvas upon which God paints ever new images.

Cheers.

Carli N. Wendell said...

I think I was born watching movies and acting like a ham, but I don't think it occurred to me at the time that not every kid performs "The Sound of Music" for their parents' friends when they're 4 years old. In retrospect, though, I think I've known my whole life that my greatest pleasure comes from the spotlight an entertaining others.

Anonymous said...

Looks like one might take after you!

Writing was what jazzed me as a kid. I think it started when I was eight and someone gave me a diary with a lock on the front of it and a tiny key.

Thanks for stopping by, Carmi!

Slim said...

I regularly find new things that jazz me. Artistic endeavor in all forms has always been my passion. All media; from clay to paint to charcoal to pastel to photograpy, and the list goes on. Making ecologically and ethically sound choices jazz me and finding like-minded people...which doesn't happen as often as I'd like.

craziequeen said...

Look at how clever young Zach Levy is.... :-)

Just like his pop he has a fantastic eye for the intriguing and the beautiful.

LIke Zach, nature jazzes me - I think it's magical...

cq

jel said...

AESome Cloud pic,

I love to watch the clouds,

hope ya had a fun and safe 4th!

and thanks for stopping by and the comment

photowannabe said...

Hello Carmi, thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment. Zach definitely has an artful eye. Great cloud capture.
As a young person, what jazzed me was music. Any kind, all kinds but I especially liked the Big Band sound and Broadway Musicals. Actually the same thing still jazzes me. Patriotic things continue to give me goose bumps and a lump in the throat.
Probably the thing that jazzes me the most is babies. My own, many years ago when they were born and when my precious grandkids were born. They are the best things in the world.