You may have noticed that there haven’t been as many I Heart Faces submissions lately, but they have changed their contest format to be once a month going forward instead of once a week. March’s theme is “beautiful black and white.”
My father-in-law is quite the handyman and restored a little dirt bike that Mitch and his siblings used to ride WAY back in the day. Now there is a whole new generation of kids to enjoy it, but don’t think for a moment that the boys were actually interested in sharing it! As the day drew to a close and we were about to head over to the campfire for dinner and s’mores, it was decided that Stephanie and I had to ride it, too. There was much apprehension, resistance and screaming on both of our parts and, for Stephanie’s sake, I won’t share the picture of her physically being picked up and set on the bike by her husband while I cruelly laugh in the foreground.
Anyway, back to the theme. Black and white just so perfectly removes the chaotic color and narrows they eye down to the important stuff. There have been so many BEAUTIFUL portraits of BEAUTIFUL women and children submitted for the contest and I went through them in awe. It’s so tempting to want to replicate other artists and their magic subject/expression/lighting/whatever. But, while there can be much to learn from it just as painters have replicated great works to learn from them, I also need to be true to my own style.
I want to capture beauty in my own way.
The thrill of living in the moment.
The newness of being outside your comfort zone.
The rush of adrenaline mixed with excitement.
The rev of the engine when you give it some gas.
The tender connection between husband and wife.
The beauty of everyday life so often missed.
Here are some links to some of my favorite entries from other other photographers, in no particular order:
1. 92 Years and 5 Months
2. I Heart Faces Black and White
3. Laughter is Always the Best Medicine
4. What a Ride
This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge
at www.iheartfaces.com
