Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Splash - Frozen in Time - A Food Photography Challenge


A moment frozen in time.  Droplets suspended in mid air.  An eruption of milk unseen by the naked eye.  And all possible with the simple click of a shutter.

I can freeze time.

A little over 15 years ago a smiling nurse placed a squirming ten pound bundle into my waiting arms, and tears streamed down my plump cheeks as I held my first child.  We got to know each other as he gazed up at me, and I felt that he would be my little boy forever.

I wished I could freeze time.

Five years later he went off to kindergarten and cried the whole day because he missed mommy so much.  As school let out, he ran into my outstretched arms burying his face into my neck and told me how much he missed me.

I wished I could freeze time.

Three years later he needed my help as he studied for various vocabulary and math tests.  We'd sit on the couch together and after I tested him on his vocab he would lean his head on my shoulder and we'd chat about his day.

I wished I could freeze time.

A few years after that, he moved to the middle school campus and was just a little afraid on the first day.  A hug from mom sent him on his way, and I watched him stand tall as he stepped out of the car and walked into school, without me... never looking back.

I wished I could freeze time

Today he is still is my little boy, but that little boy is now 5 feet 11 inches, and chuckles as he gazes down on me while mentioning how short I seem to be.  He stays up at night longer than I do, and while he still asks me to test him on his vocab (Spanish now), I can no longer help him in math.  After I test him, he tosses a quick thanks my direction, but no more does he lean on mommy's shoulder and chat about his day.

I wish I could freeze time.

Two years from now he will head off to college.  I know I've done my job well, and that he will be prepared.  He will be confident, and he will make good choices.  My little boy will head out into the world and he will be successful.  And he won't need me to help with his vocab.

My heart wishes I could click that shutter and freeze time just like I did with the liquid in this martini glass, but my head tells me that its for the best that I can't.  Life was meant to be lived, and part of living is letting go.

I can't freeze time.


While this photography challenge pushed me to achieve an image I didn't think I could capture, it was extraordinarily fun.  The whole family got involved, even that little/tall boy.  We all took turns dropping "things" into various liquids as we clicked the shutter and gasped in awe as we froze time, or alternatively burst out laughing as we ended up missing the glass altogether.  Dropping something and timing the shutter to catch that drop at precisely the right moment is amazingly difficult and I have reams of footage of absolutely nothing.

Most tutorials suggest a stobe, or a sort of flash that syncs to your camera but is wireless, however, that equipment remains on my wish list.  Our images were shot with my Canon EOS 60D using my Canon EF-S 60mm Macro Lens
.  Lighting worked far better in the twilight hours of the day as I backlit my subject with a Lowel EGO Light and side lit the subject with Liv's halogen reading lamp (how's that for professional?!!).


While I had the most success with the liquid in the martini glass, I also had a full set up trying to catch drops of milk.  Making my attempt in the late afternoon I quickly gave up as the lighting was less than desirable and left the setup unattended on the table.  Hours later, I returned to the kitchen at twilight to find Liv and her friend Audrey giggling and snapping away while dropping drops of milk into a glass with a baby medicine dropper.  The scene brought warmth to my heart and these talented girls caught the following images.


 I wish I could freeze time...

For more stunning splash photography, work your way around our Food Photography & Styling Group's circle starting with Kay Pickens, a Food Photographer in Colombia, MO.


32 comments:

  1. You blew me away with the photo before I even clicked on the post! Then I read your post and it just melted my heart. I wish I could freeze time too and I don't mean with photography. I'm not as ok with realizing we need to live our lives and while I don't futile-ly (?) act on it I wish that I could freeze time with my daughter. (sigh) Thank you for sharing this.

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  2. Can I just ditto what Dionne said? What a fun photographic journey!

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  3. You just about had me crying with your narration alongside the photos. As Dudette grows, I'm fully beginning to understand what was meant when the words were penned, "Mary hid these things in her heart." I think she wanted to stop time.

    The photos; both yours and the girls; are fantastic, amazing, phenomenal. What a great family project.

    (At least it wasn't chocolate milk.)

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  4. Wow. I'm speechless...

    The pictures are amazing, but there's so much love in your words that I got all teary-eyed. Thank you, for sharing such an intimate feeling with all of us.

    Hugs

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  5. Wonderful shots Laurie. Your story was great to, a nice companion for your fabulous series of shots. :)

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  6. These shots are gorgeous! And what a great post. Yes, time does go by so quickly. I was just thinking today I can't believe my oldest is almost 4. I can't imagine what it'll be like when he's soon off to college. I'll be a mess.

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  7. Wow great post and the photo's are just pure perfection!

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  8. I can't even see your photos through the tears in my eyes from your post. Oh my. Going to have to collect myself and come back!

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  9. The photos were extraordinary and the post to go with it divine
    Perfect post.

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  10. First, let me close my mouth...OMG...what amazing pictures, I have to learn a lot. When I started my blog, never realize that pictures are so important...!!!

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  11. Oh Kim!!!!! Your beautiful and poignant post resonates with me so well. I'm not too far behind you in the "wishing to freeze time" camp with my son in middle school. You now I think your images are totally amazing - stunning really. Wowza.

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  12. Kim, your splash photos are most excellent. But they are wholly diminished by your words. Perhaps I'm all sentimental these days as I had to register Nathan for kindergarten yesterday.... and I happened to pull up some baby videos of his on Monday... and was just confronted with the fact that my baby is growing up. But your words, wanting to freeze the time.... oh, you hit my heart. I love this more than my words could hope to express.

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  13. Kim, your splash photos are most excellent. But they are wholly diminished by your words. Perhaps I'm all sentimental these days as I had to register Nathan for kindergarten yesterday.... and I happened to pull up some baby videos of his on Monday... and was just confronted with the fact that my baby is growing up. But your words, wanting to freeze the time.... oh, you hit my heart. I love this more than my words could hope to express.

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  14. Kim, cudos on the pics. You nailed them. And, what a great commentary to go along with them.

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  15. Absolutely gorgeous! Amazing pictures :)

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  16. This is such a sweet post about wanting to freeze time. And Kim, you're pictures are remarkable!!!

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  17. Beautiful pictures and great story! I really want to start getting better at photography...food photography is so challenging!

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  18. Awesome narrative. Love your big splashes but your milk splashes are my favorite.

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  19. At least the memories will be forever preserved inside you and here on this blog, too. Loved reading this--your memories tied so well with your photog challenge. Great photos, Kim! :)

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  20. the photos are stunning! this post? incredibly moving and beautiful!!

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  21. Amazing photos, my friend. Your post makes me teary eyed...as I reminisce about my kids. My little guy has a birthday next week and it seems yesterday I was excitedly waiting for his arrival. I wish I could freeze time too sometimes.xx

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  22. Beautiful, just beautiful!!
    Kim, I have this feeling that you just erupt with creativity when challenged. I also have a feeling that you don't take a challenge lightly. :)
    You are intense my friend.. You are growing everyday as a journalist and now a photographer. These photo's are spectacular and I am SO glad you are on our team!!
    And it is such a joy to "read" the emotions in this post! The words are beautiful!

    I have become so tired the past few years with four kids to run around, that my journalistic approach has been less intense. It has taken a back seat. I really need to snap out of it! :)

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  23. Charming post, awesome images.
    I gotta try that, sounds like fun.
    LL

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  24. What a delightful post, and these shots are just fantastic!

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  25. Looooove that martini glass! These are super fun!

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  26. Having two grown "little boys" I could really feel this post. Beautiful - thanks for sharing.

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  27. Such a great post that I just had to say something more. I am not ok with letting go. If I could freeze time I would, but something tells me it's best that I don't have that option. Wouldn't it be nice to freeze time in the same way that you so beautifully froze the liquids in the glasses? I admire your talent and strength, my dear friend. Thank you.

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  28. how fun are these photos!

    I will always be my daddy's little girl, no matter how old I get. I am sure it is the same for all parents and children ;)

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  29. I love seeing your post again Kim!!!! Oh damn, time is flying by too fast......Alex will be in 10th. Enjoy these moments.....and remember all the little boy stuff. :)

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  30. Gorgeous photos and even more touching words. As my youngest started his junior year in college last week, I couldn't help but think the same thing. You've done a great job with your children, Kim!!! xo

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