Capturing Moments with Justine Christianson

I feel compelled to document photographically moments with my two boys, to help remember
in future days when their little hands sought mine. As a new mother, you are told to treasure the
time with your baby because it goes by so fast, and I can attest that, based on my few years of
mothering, time passes quickly. I not only want to document this time for me, but also for them,
so they have a record of their childhood.

It can be a challenge to capture children; mine are whirling dervishes, full of energy and light. I
like to photograph them candidly, when they are engrossed in play so we can be reminded of the
sound effects accompanying their involved games, recall their vivid imaginations in which good
guys defeat the bad ones and stuffed animals talk and have elaborate social lives. I am trying to
document not just the events but the places in between, those quiet (and not-so-quiet) moments
when they are just being kids.

So I sit and click away, often having to stop to smooth over quarrels or re-attach some Lego
piece. I often let them do their thing rather than directing or trying to get a picture of them
together, looking at me, and smiling. By doing so, I feel I can capture a truer representation of
our lives and reveal their personalities more fully, which is ultimately what I am striving to do
when I pick up my camera.

~*~

You can see more of Justine’e wonderful moments here

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