It is the final week before the school summer holidays start. It is going to be a strange week for my son as has the last few weeks to be honest. He is leaving his primary school, a school that he has been at for 6 years. As a parent I have watched him on his emotional rollercoster, as he realises that life will change for him soon and friends are not always friendly. He has grown so much this past year, not just physically but in confidence too. He now answers back, he takes part in swimming galas and concerts and cycles 40 mile cyclones with his dad. This is the child that I couldn't get off my lap at any playgroup I took him too .. he wouldn't participate in anything, he was so painfully shy outside the family. Naturally as a mother I am happy that he has grown and yet as I sit here and I type I feel a sense of sadness and gladness. I remember taking a picture of him looking out of the window deep in thought. You can see the picture here .. I am afraid that the original is on a drive somewhere not accessible to me today. Anyway, this was my first ventures into photography, happily snapping away with my digital camera. The portrait, and I remember it so well was taken just before he started school. I remember asking what was wrong and he told me how scared he was about starting school. I remember cheerfully reassuring him as my heart was aching for him.
And now he is leaving. He came downstairs a week or so ago and asked if I would take a wet plate collodion portrait of him so he could give it to his teacher as a thank you present. So here it is .. the first one. Not hugely different in it's feel to the 'Thinker' portrait and yet so different in the physical approach .. yet you can see the same child, the same photographer. I love to compare the two. We have both grown and shared the journey as child, mother, photographer and I hope it continues.
what a lovely photo and what a sweet gesture for him to want to give it to his teacher :)
ReplyDeleteThis picture is really beautiful, and your words echo with my thoughts watching my sons growing up and raising new steps
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Suzi, I have to admit I was really touched when he asked for one. I always say it is a collaboration between us and this reaffirmed it for me. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comment :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sara for commenting, it's really nice to hear that you can relate to this story, it's nice to know the words and images are universal as well as personal, so thank you :)
ReplyDeleteThe years pass by so quickly...both portraits are stunning Deborah; and how thoughtful of him to want to give such a wonderful gift to his teacher. My eldest has only a few months to go before his school life is complete, and to me it was only yesterday that he was nervously led into the classroom for the very first time. thank you for sharing, such beautiful portraits. :)
ReplyDeleteA great gift - well done both of you :)
ReplyDeleteYou're the coolest mum going!
ReplyDeleteHi Adriana, thank you so much for your lovely comment .. I know what you mean about time passing, it is just too fast. We are having plenty of tears today .. it's probably the first time he has known change in his life. I am sure he will be fine though. Glad you like the portrait, I hope his teacher will :)
ReplyDeleteCheers Carl, glad you like it .. lying down on a blanket seems to be a good way of keeping still with such long exposures. :)
ReplyDeletehaha! Jonathan, I shall show him that quote in a few years time to see if he will agree with you ;)
ReplyDeleteGot B&W mag today, pics look great .. haven't read it yet but will tonight .. congratulations again.
I can identify with how you both must feel even though this is a way off for me and my girls. The milestones and waymarkers in our children's lives are to be acknowledged and celebrated while being tough at the same time. Tough because of the shifts away from us as parents but towards independence for them.
ReplyDeleteIt is incredible how much one takes to heart one's children's pains and heartaches - best friends no longer being best friends etc etc and playground politics. It makes me wonder if my mother felt like this, although I don't remember sharing too much with her.
What a fantastic thing he asked for. I am sure you are proud and rghtly so.
Thanks so much Lucy for your lovely, thoughtful comment. It has been a weird couple of weeks to be honest. I am a reflective person by my very nature, which isn't always good but I have felt it hard thinking of him leaving his primary school, especially as it made him so sad. It was also our 17th wedding anniversary so again, you see how quickly everything is going by. But on the plus side, the children are at a great age, we are having lots of fun together and it is wonderful to see them explore things for themselves and find themselves too. Anyway, really looking forward to seeing you in August :)
ReplyDelete