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Day in the Life: Leaving the Mid Mod Nest

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I have often day dreamed about visiting friends who live in far away places. Jet setting to visit a new local and enjoy the company of my good friends. My “Those I Love” personal project was born from these dreams.
I have been lucky enough to reconnect with several friends lately, one of which I didn’t photograph! We met after the sun went down, that is my excuse… and really, I get shy about asking for a photo. I am keenly aware that people aren’t super happy to be in front of the camera… especially when the idea is sprung on them. So I leave my camera in its bag, and kick myself later that I didn’t get even one photo of my friend (who lives in Mexico City).
But a few months ago I reached out to our good friends in the Bay Area who had mentioned wanting photographs in their Eichler home. A day in the life. Their son is about to leave the nest so we made it happen.
While there I felt like I was photographing my own family. Being a bit intrusive, but no one seemed to mind. It helps that I’ve been photographing them since we met 8 years ago. Being able to focus on their family and their dynamic the entire weekend was such a blessing and so much fun. I really feel like I created an important body of work… if only for them.  Here is a link to their whole session, if you care to see.

www.stacieannsmith.com #DayInALife #documentaryPhotography #eichler #MidCenturyModern #BayAreaHome

One of the main features of an Eichler home are the mahogany paneled walls throughout, along with floor to ceiling windows allowing for amazing light.

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Expression and gesture.

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Eichler homes more often than not boast an atrium that can be seen from every common space in the house. So many windows. The cats love the atrium.

www.stacieannsmith.com #DayInALife #documentaryPhotography #eichler #MidCenturyModern #BayAreaHome

The orange exterior door leads to the atrium. If you haven’t walked through an Eichler, you need to. They are pretty amazing. Just stay away from any with stucco… a stucco exterior is not original would probably not hold the original details inside.

www.stacieannsmith.com #DayInALife #documentaryPhotography #eichler #MidCenturyModern #BayAreaHome

I joined in on family dinner. William suggested I get it from above. He’s a pretty great photographer and I can’t wait to see what he does in the next few years.

Wish You Were Here: Still Raining

It has been raining for what seems like forever.  We have had a few hours reprieve between downpours the last couple of days and I am hoping for no rain tonight.  Zach and I are heading to Red Rocks for the Decemberist, Spoon and Courtney Barnett show.  We don’t want to be wet.

www.stacieannsmith.com #DayInALife #RainDays #documentaryPhotography
Spend a lot of time indoors with two boys and indoor soccer becomes a tradition.
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Electronic devices under the fort.

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This boy had several weeks of sick days. He keeps getting wheat somehow. Not good.

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With the bowl and the kitten. She is so helpful.

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Thank goodness for the kitten. When brother is down for a few days and the rain is pounding down, sometimes all he’s got is the kitty.

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Rainwater at its finest

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When he’s sick with wheat intake, it is 3 days until he begins to feel well enough to eat and move.

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In the morning

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Saturday morning strut

Wish You Were Here: Mornings

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www.stacieannsmith.com boy with his cat at home in denver

waking up gradually

www.stacieannsmith.com boy with his cat at home in denver

kitty snuggle

www.stacieannsmith.com waking up in denver

come on boy- up!

Sometimes it is difficult to wake up. Sometimes mornings are horrible. Lately my littlest has been so funny and cute in the mornings that I had to start photographing his antics. These were taken while he snuggled on my lap. Of course Cleo the cat joined in. She can’t resist.
On Sunday I taught the 5 year olds at church and we talked about keeping the Sabbath day holy. This isn’t a difficult thing for our family; we know that on Sundays we don’t shop, go to the movies, friends’ parties, soccer games, etc. But when it comes to do in the best thing in the day, I feel like we could use some help. Watching a movie at home might not be the best use of our time.
While prepping to teach this class to the littles, I read a suggestion that scrapbooking on Sundays could be a nice family activity. I am not a scrapbook person, but I can bind a book and have plently of art supplies that are in need of use.
These morning photographs will be printed and my guy will be encouraged to put them in his book. We’ll see how it goes. I will also need to photograph the other two kids so they have something to scrapbook too. That’ll be tough. They are getting older and less willing to be in front of my lens.
This Sunday we will start by binding our albums. Wish me luck!

My Reflective Lens: Monthly Self Portrait Project

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#selfportrait #myreflectivelens www.staciannsmith.com stacie ann smith photography #denverArt #denverfamilyphotographer #denverphotographer

“Open” as seen on My Reflective Lens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each month I try to produce at least one self portrait. Along the way, I am sharing these images with a group of very talented photographers around the country and world who also create self portraits. Some for the first time. We have a facebook group and are also sharing on our website called My Reflective Lens.
I sometimes feel like self portraiture just seems natural, since I am home by myself with my thoughts and can create without the help of anyone. Other times I feel like self portraits are narcissistic and stupid. I have to push past the latter thought, since I really feel like this work has helped me create more purposefully. It may seem weird to photograph oneself… but I really do, in my heart, think it is a natural way to create and communicate through art.
Photograph yourself beyond the selfie, get past the duck face. If only so your family and friends can see you; the creator of so much beauty with a lens. Get in the shot.

Wish You Were Here: Stacie’s weekly photographs in Colorado

#EasterSunday #NaturalLight www.stacieannsmith.com #pastel #PlayingInTreesEvery week I try to photograph something going on to illustrate what the week was all about.  Each week these images are grouped along side up to 20 other photographer’s weekly happenings on the Wish You Were Here website.  It is fascinating to see the connections between images and happenings between photographers in different continents, hemispheres and even just different life experiences.  All the women who participate in this project are connected.  We are all communicating  to ourselves, to each other, to our future.  Each image photographing a memory to also communicate to our children or those who will follow us.

This image of my boy and his friend is last week’s submission.  Tomorrow another week will have passed and I will submit my next image.  This morning I photographed a bit of the wake-up routine… as much of it as I could before I had to make lunches.  Summer time will allow for more photographing.  Here’s to capturing the every day.