Friday, February 3, 2012

Anticipation



Tomorrow is my birthday (I know….seems like a shameless way to get a few happy birthday wishes!). As much as I enjoy spending the day with my family, eating some cake and opening gifts, anticipating the fact that I will be another year older does not hold quite the same delight it once did. My children, on the other hand, have been waiting with baited breath for the day to arrive. Their excitement has been palpable. My four-year-old daughter has asked me every day for the past two weeks if it is my birthday yet. Last week, my son and daughter began digging around in their rooms, searching for precious treasures to give me, lovingly wrapping them in boxes, bags, even blankets.  They have been asking repeatedly what big plans we have for the long awaited day, hardly able to contain their anticipation and excitement.  

While my children and I have different interpretations of my birthday and the level of celebration it deserves, I can certainly relate to their feelings of anticipation. Since uncovering my passion for photography over this past year, anticipation has come to define my existence.  I wake up each morning, wondering what images are out there waiting to be captured. What will I discover today? Will I find a beautiful scene…will I take a moment to notice a small detail I never saw before…will I capture a special emotion…will I discover a new way to see and use light…will I tell a new story? Whatever it is, I wait with hopeful expectation until that moment I know I’ve found it.

I have also been anticipating the start of this blog. Collaborating with nine beautiful and talented women is certainly an honor and a high point of my photographic journey! And now, after only five days, it is clear that the excitement and anticipation are absolutely deserved!

How about you?  What are you anticipating today… next week… next month?  Is there a big event or are you simply looking forward to the beauty that each day offers?  Whatever it is, share it with us so we can anticipate with you!



16 comments:

Dotti said...

Steph - this is just beautiful!! You've perfectly characterized passion for photography -or anything else - does to transform your life. I am right now at Disney World and bemoaning the fact that I can't take all the pictures I see! So many pictures, so little time. ... Sigh ...

CarolAlbers said...

I couldn't agree more with what Dotti just said. This is a beautiful thought, beautifully expressed and photographed. I really love this one.Happy birthday and i hope your day lives up to your anticipation and that you find something just wonderful !

Linda said...

Happy birthday, Steph! Before reading this I was actually thinking that my first thoughts of the day are who, what, when and where will I take some pictures today! Then I started planning them! I do anticipate grabbing my camera and taking pictures. I love it, I live for it!
Great post!

terriporter said...

Wonderful post! So very true that we photographers anticipate that joy we feel when we are out shooting. It's what keeps us shooting in all types of weather and circumstances. I think the first thing I think of when I know I'm going somewhere new is "what photos will I be able to capture there?" Right now I'm especially anticipating meeting up with a couple of my favorite photographers and having a day to shoot together and share our love of photography (we've never met!) Have a VERY happy birthday!

Unknown said...

Steph,

First of all I want to say what a gorgeous photograph, and your writing is beautiful. It is funny how we change the way we look at our birthday over time, while the little ones are always embracing the day. I think photography has reopened that child-like view of the world for me. Instead of just waking up and seeing what the weather is outside, I am anticipating how I can use the day to memorize some moments with my camera.

Wishing you a beautiful Birthday.

Karen

Deanna said...

What a lovely, lovely post, Stephanie. Your insights, your love of photography always shows thru in your images. Birthdays...I want to forget about them, but then again if we didn't have birthdays....!! I too am feeling pretty special to be included in this beautiful and talented group of women. And Happy Birthday, tomorrow!!!

MiMi said...

Happy early birthday, Big Sister! Yay for your first post! I am so excited for you, that you are able to share your stunning photography and well articulated musings. I have added this to my endless blogs to read, but will of course be my favorite. I love you!

Claudia said...

Well, you daring YOUNG thing! Hold tight to the enjoyment of your birthdays. Like Deanna I just ask everyone to not mention it LOL! Love how your kids celebrate with you.

Blondie's Journal said...

Happy Birthday! Today is my birthday, too! We are February Girls!

Your little ones are darlings! Even now that mine are young adults, they love to heap the love on me on my birthday, knowing and probably mimicking what I do with them on their birthdays!

I am really loving your blog! All of the ladies have expressed my same feeling about photography. What a wonderful way to look at the world around us! I hope you find that perfect picture today...my gift to you!

XO,
Jane

Joddo said...

I am anticipating a fun morning with my friend tomorrow as we make 80 freezer meals (40 for each of us) to carry us thru the next 2 months. It is a lot of work but so worth it. I am also anticipating Picture B&W at BPC and seeing everyone's talent. I'm sure this one will really stretch me as I seldom use B&W.

Thanks, Steph for this post. I am enjoying this blog because it is causing me to focus on my life and thoughts for just a few moments everyday before moving on to everyone else and their needs. Have a great birthday!

C'est moi Claudette said...

Well Happy Birthday. I LOVE birthdays, always have. I'll be 56 in March and damn right I'm celebrating ; )
Kids do make it special. I will always remember my daughter Brittany getting her brothers all excited. She was always the leader, the boys just followed her instructions... so sweet, so precious.
I hope your day is filled with love, presents and cake... lot's and lot's of cake.
I'm looking forward to a vacation in Aug. to Rome, Venice, France with my hubby. Hopefully meeting my BFF in Rome for 4 nights. Excited for sure.
Happy Birhtday again.
Love Claudie from Canada (Claudia's friend)
xoxoxo

AFishGirl said...

Oh, happy birthday, sweet Steph! What a lovely post. Such good vibes going on here. I love what you say about seeing each day as one of potential, of what shots will come into the day. I hope you have yummy treats and sticky kid hugs and singing. I celebrate you! What am I looking forward to? It's a no-brainer, right? April 1st, opening day of fishing. Meanwhile, looking forward to learning about this camera and working on my yoga quilt. oxoxo Pam

Cathy H. said...

Lovely post, Steph!! Happy birthday to you!! I remember my little ones being so excited that a birthday was coming up! I have to tell you this little story real quick! I was with my 4 yr old twin grandsons on their mommy's birthday. Only, she was out of town. They were a little bummed about that! They wanted to have a cake. I explained that Mom wouldn't be here to eat it! One of them looked at me rather strangely and said, "you must have cake on a birthday"!! We had cake!! I'm looking forward to a few days with my sewing machine. During this past year as I've focused on my new passion called photography, I have sadly neglected it!! I"m ready to put needle to fabric and create!!

Leigh said...

Happy birthday Stephanie!! My kids start counting down the days to their next birthdays just a few days after their birthday! The closer I get to 40 the more I start to dread my birthday. Although this year I might be in Dallas meeting you & Terri (maybe Susan and Angie too)on my birthday so I'm definitely looking forward to that!!!
Having started a 365+1 project, I anticipate finding my next shot each day. It's really something I look forward too and find myself really focusing on noticing things throughout the day.

susan said...

happy belated birthday steph!!! lovely post and beautifully written! as far as what i'm looking forward to...well, many things this year! 1st...health. 2nd...my 1st grandchild and family reunions and reconnections. 3rd...the launch of my new business. as always...happiness, health and well...a little wealth...helps pay the bills. :)

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday Steph~ and congrats on your contribution to this beautiful blog! Anticipation... I am just about ready to push the "print" button on my Project Life 2011 book with Shutterfly. Shutterfly and I have a love/hate relationship, so I am happy, nervous, anxious and relieved in my anticipation. I hope you enjoyed your birthday and are now off anticipating more great adventures.
kaphelps

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