Sunday, December 30, 2012
52 weeks later and I have 104 portraits; photos that tell the story of Che and Poet's year. It's quite overwhelming to scroll through the weeks and see such growth and expansion. I think my favourites are the unportraits; the ever-gorgeous top-knot, the hesitant boy on the edge of the pool, the twiddling of toes (a family trait).
While some weeks I had a number of photos to choose from there were times when I spent late-Saturday afternoon taking photos (in preparation for my Sunday deadline). I often smiled at the unity of the portraits when they came together, especially the gaze, the blue, the bubbles, the polka dots, the light and the connection. This project was perfect for improving my photography skills, for understanding when to stand back and observe and when to engage. I learnt a lot about the light in my house too - its softness and its colour and how it changed with each season.
Mostly, I learnt about the importance of memory keeping. Because honestly, this year felt like 22 weeks, not 52. It was abundant but quick, a brimming blur of routine, school, work, play, love, life and sleep. And I'm so grateful I stopped to capture the little people amongst it all. I dog-eared a page in Happier At Home a few weeks ago and it seems apt to share it with you. Gretchen Rubin says:
One night, as some friends and I walked out of our book club meeting, I said, "Lately I've been feeling very wistful. Childhood is speeding by so fast. It's such a cliche, but it's true."
"I know exactly what you mean," one friend answered. "Whenever I get annoyed by the mess stuck to our refrigerator door, or about having to keep a stroller in the hallway of my apartment, I remind myself that these are the good old days."
"Yes," I said. "Now is the time to appreciate it."
As I walked in the door of my building, I thought, yet again, of how much I wanted to make my home a haven of comfort, warmth, and tenderness. We were in the rush hour of our life now, and everything was moving so quickly, and every day seemed so crowded - more reason to remember to slow down, stay patient, take photographs, and play Hide and Seek.
When I look at the photos I took throughout 2012 I see real life in still life, our busy weeks encapsulated in one moment. Memories that made up our year.
...........................................................................................
I'll be posting my first portraits for 2013 on Sunday, January 6th. If you are joining in, here's a button (created by the ever-so-talented Rebekka Seale) to place on your sidebar. You can link it to all your "52" posts or you can link to Che & Fidel - I'll leave it up to you. The first button is 250px wide, the second 170px wide.
Just one question: would you like me to include a link icon at the bottom of each 52 post, so you can leave a link to your blog?
110 COMMENTS
Labels: 52 , the 52 project
I think I will be in :)
ReplyDeleteDid I mention how lovely that button is? I'll be there... A link would be nice because I think it would add to the sense of community. x
ReplyDeleteI absolutely Love, and was super inspired by, your 52 project! so much so that i started one of my own, though i chose to do a years time rather than a year because i looked at all the huge changes that will happen in that time span and really thought that for me it would be best not to wait... in this time span my baby will turn one we will move twice (maybe out of the country or maybe across the country into our first house) and my big boy will start school, my head is spinning, i'm so glad you had this idea, its been a nice constant.
ReplyDeleteIt would be lovely if you could include a link button, so we can follow along with everyone else :)
ReplyDeleteI'll be late posting my first few weeks due to travel and no access to a proper computer, but I am really looking forward to joining in with this! I have loved your 52 portraits, especially the 'unportraits', as you do aptly call them.
Hi Jodi, I think the link is a good idea for the same reason as Vanessa mentioned- It would add to the sense of community. For me, blogging IS sharing. One thing I will differ on in my 52 captures in 52 weeks will be this: I do not have any children. My images will be of something different and I have until January 6th to share it with you :)
ReplyDeleteBella xx
I will be joining in Jodi. It is a great idea and I have loved seeing your photos throughout the year. One of my goals for this year is to organize proper printed albums each year and I think that this is a perfect way for me to begin. I'll have another little person to photograph in June too! Bianca x
ReplyDeleteHi Jodi, I will definitely be snagging a button and joining in on 2013. What a lovely way to capture the little moments in life :) I agree with Vanessa and Bella, a link would be such a great way to build community amongst us mama's :) Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Jodi, I would love to see more exploration of a community feel to the 52 project, much like the 365. I'll be embarking upon both and I believe that despite the commitment and work, it will bring so much more to my photography and life, much like having a child itself has. A link would be a wonderful and positive addition to the project.
ReplyDeleteHi Jodi
ReplyDeleteIt's been lovely seeing your posts each week, I'm going to try and join in too,
Emma x
Look at how they've grown! I can't even believe it - this has been such a remarkable journey for your whole family. Linking is wonderful, any chance I have to expand and welcome the community I've found to be so encouraging is always appreciated! :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get started. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Jodi. xx
I'm really looking forward to joining in your project in 2013 Jodi. The photos you've shared each week have only inspired me further to want to improve my own photography skills, and with the feeling that time is whizzing by too quickly, I'm eager to capture those little childhood moments for my two girls too. Love the pretty button and the link sounds like a good idea. Will you be turning your portraits from this year into an album of some sort?
ReplyDeleteyes, definitely an album. i'm looking at the different printing companies at the moment...thinking of going with blurb.com x
DeleteHi Jodi - I can recommend blurb.com - a friend has used them and I have ordered my book. A tip is to register, every month or so they send out 20% offers via their mailing list. I made my book then waited for the offer before I hit the checkout.
DeleteCarol
(and I will be playing along this year, I am getting my post ready now for tomorrow's deadline).
Beautifully said Jodi. I love the words "slow down, stay patient, take photographs, and play Hide and Seek". I think they might be my new years resolutions. It's so easy in this busy role of motherhood to loose sight of the fact that these are in fact the best years of our lives. I love Project 52. It's an achievable yet immensely satisfying project that I will definitely be taking on again in 2013. Thank you yet again for the inspiration, and for those gorgeous buttons. :)
ReplyDeleteYes do a link, i would love to see everyone that joins. (me included!!)
ReplyDeleteA link list of participants would be fun! Okay--gearing up to join in. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for this.. hurrah! Ever since you started 52 last year... I thought I want a whole year...not a bit of one. So yes I am in. It's going be quite different as I am sure my boys at the ages they are, won't change that much over the year, not like a baby does. But it's the slowing down and appreciating bit that I am looking forward to. 2013 is the year of magic.. I can feel it! xx
ReplyDeleteI am in and very keen on a link list. happy new year jodi! xx ashley
ReplyDeletenow, having a pregnancy moment- how do i copy the button for my sidebar? xx
Deletejust right click on the button, save image and then upload to your blog as a picture (it's up to you if you add a link) x
DeleteThanks lovely. Xx
DeleteI loved your 52 posts. Unfortunately I don't have any babies or even fur babies yet. Would it be weird to take portraits of my fiancé? I think it might! Even if I don't join in, I'll be following the rest of you. I think a link would be great to foster bloggy community.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it would be weird at all, in fact I think there are a few people planning on making a portrait series of their husband/partner x
DeleteI'm taking photographs of my husband! It shouldn't be weird. At least i hope it won't. I've decided one portrait of him and one of our surroundings, whatever they might have been, for that week will be my contribution. This project is such a lovely idea. It's wonderful accountability. I take hundreds of photos a week and kften they sit in embarrassingly unorganized folders on my computer, somewhat neglected and not properly appreciated. This project gives me somewhat of an accountability and doesn't allow me to just let our memories sit unattended in file folders.
DeleteMy best,
Jo Farmer
PS I feel a lengthy link list might detract from the serenity of your space. I'm sure you could find a nice way to organixe it all, though , and keep it from being too busy. It would be very kind of you to link us all up.
Delete-Jo F.
oh, I'm inspired by that Jo! I love this series but since I dont have the ability to take photos of my own children I didn't think I could take part. Thanks for broadening my view on this, I'd like to also take photos of my partner and surroundings once a week. What a great idea!
DeleteI'm in, and I'd love a link list! Your photography and writing inspire me, Jodi. Happy (almost) New Year!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you're doing this. I'm looking forward to joining in. When I think back to this time last year it doesn't feel like 52 weeks at all - would love to have started then and captured the year in such a beautiful way.
ReplyDeleteIt has been such an honour to see your babies grow this year. I am ever inpsired by your photography and beautiful words. I have adored taking regular pictures of my babies and have really noticed how it has improved my skill behind a camera. Thank-you lovely one for your inspiration! :) x x
ReplyDeleteI'm in - and looking forward to getting started!
ReplyDeleteI think a link list would be great.
Ooh definitely thinking about it. I don't take nearly enough photos of my son and he is growing so quickly! Love the idea of turning it into a book afterwards too. x
ReplyDeleteI'm in :) as long as I can figure out how to post the button on my blog! And a link list would be fab. X
ReplyDeleteall you need to do it right click on the button you would like, save image and then upload to your blog x
DeleteThanks Jodi! X
Deletecount me in!
ReplyDeleteI love the community aspect of this. This is going to be a fun year.
ReplyDeleteHi Jodi
ReplyDeleteLike so many of the other readers I have been truly inspired by your photographs and words over the past year. I would love to join in but am slightly worried as I don't have a blog. Does that matter? Can I just create a series of photos of my 3 children and have a link for anyone who'd like to see them? Help please!
Happy New Year from a very wet and soggy UK
of course not! take photos, document days, create an album...not need to have a blog! x
DeleteHi Jodi,
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly new to your blog, but have been admiring your 52 portraits each week, for a couple of months now. I love the idea of a weekly challenge (I've been considering the 365 challenge for far too long, and know that - for me - a daily challenge would feel like high maintenance after a while). I'm very tempted to join in here, and if so, a link at the bottom would be great. Thanks!
Yes we will be taking part, I'm so excited.
ReplyDeleteI'm in ^_^ Thank you for inspiring me to take more pictures! Your beautiful blog always warms my heart!
ReplyDeletei have enjoyed this series so much. not just the photography but how much Che and Poet have grown through the process. i would love to link up! thank you and happy 2013 :)
ReplyDeleteClaudia
You have inspired me too, I will sign up!
ReplyDeleteJodi! Thank you for this post. I am so excited to join in your portrait adventure and I loved hearing your heart behind your project in this post. A very happy New Year wish from Portland, Oregon!
ReplyDeleteI fear that it would be a very long list of links to scroll through and may change the lovely aesthetics of your site.
ReplyDeletethat's my only concern. I think I'll add the linky for the first week and see how many people link up...x
DeleteJodi, I have followed your blog all this year and I love all the photo's of your two beautiful cherubs.....thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletexx Sandi (from Melbourne)
This is fantastic, Jodi! So happy and excited to be a part of it. I think I'll link the button to my images but I'll also include a link to your site underneath. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLeaving a link is a great idea! But I'm doing a 365 so can I still join in on my Sunday portraits?? Please???
ReplyDeleteof course! there's no rules! x
DeleteWhat a fabulous project! I am really excited to get involved. Laura x
ReplyDeletei am so looking forward to joining you on the next 52 journey! and delighted to have the beautiful club button to add to my blog. thank you jodi. thank you rebekka.
ReplyDeletehappy new year to you and here's to enjoying the beauty of 2013. xx
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ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to joining in with this project, thanks Jodi. Elaina xo
ReplyDeleteI will be joining this wonderfull project!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Jodi to let us make part of it!
I'm just in the midst of starting a new blog so that I can have an uncluttered space to join in this project! Thank you so much for the photos you share and the inspiring words you thread - your post on the 52 project and Gretchen Rubin's quote made me cry just now! I will link to your site and just use labels for my own - I think if you post the button on the side that is sufficient. Happy New Year (from Canada)! Melinda
ReplyDeleteLike the 55 above me, I'm in and excited! Thanks Jodi! What a fantastic project!
ReplyDeleteJodi, Hooray! Not only am I excited to join the project and use the lovely button, but I also figured out how to make it work! I'm sure you can remember the early days of blogging, when you had to figure out how to do everything the first time. I have only been at this a few months and, believe me, I am super proud I have uploaded the button, linked it and (hopefully) got all my 52 posts to list on it. Now that I have all of this worked out, I am even more excited. Now I can focus on the photos, right?!
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to mention that I am adding a third photo a week (I have two little ones as well) - a nature photo. This is to encourage me to keep nature and the outdoors a consistent part of my daily life.
Thank you so much for the inspiration, and your beautiful blog.
Leah
Jodi, I have loved being apart of this project for the second half of the year. Your photos are inspiring! I am looking forward to starting on Sunday along with you, and seeing how much Cooper grows. But seeing the difference in poet from your week one till now has me excited for Indiana, the changes over a whole year are so amazing at this age. Thank you xx
ReplyDeleteOh I am so looking forward to starting this project Jodi. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd a happy new year to you and your gorgeous family!
xo
ooooo I CAN NOT wait! Would you consider making a linky grid for participants so we can all view each other's portaits Jodi?
ReplyDelete:) Tracey
I hope I can keep it up, to have a copy printed at the end will be amazing for me and my children, I am in in in xx
ReplyDeleteButton added. I'm in. X
ReplyDeleteI'm joing Belinda (comment 62) and adding it to our daily blog xxx brilliant... thanks!
ReplyDeleteI will absolutely join this project! What a great idea! I love the plan to print them all at the end of the year to have a keepsake.
ReplyDeleteJust the best idea ever.
This is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI want to commit...
(thinking about it)
I will be participating this year! I am completely in love with the idea of having a book full of weekly portraits.
ReplyDeleteI just love this idea, I'm so happy to be able to join you all. Can't wait to begin.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
Kate @
Just Pirouette and Carry On...
I'm joining in as weel, even though it is a bit late and the fact that I don't really know how to use the button. Still working on it though, so it might be up later.
ReplyDeletelove this project!
Your photos are beautiful and inspiring. I am so excited to join in myself this year.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to take part in this! I am new to this whole blogging world, only a few days in. Thank you so much for the idea.
ReplyDeleteMaggie @ www.TheseLivingYears.blogspot.com
Hi Jodi. I have discovered your blog tonight by Blue Bird Vintage and i love your 52 project. I am in France and i want to take part. It is too lateif i am posting my photos tomorrow ?
ReplyDeleteAnother late-comer. Would love to join, especially excited that you are an Aussie blogger!
ReplyDeleteBettina @ www.littleoldsouls.com
Oh my! And you are a yoga teacher as well. New favourite. Found you via Inked in Colour. The link at the bottom would be excellent. I'd love to check out the others.
ReplyDeletehey hey. let's do this thing! i am in! grabbing a button now! thanx for the inspiration!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.durangomom.com
Ok - I really want to do it too! I have no idea where to start, other than I've been talking about a blog for a year! I WANT TO DO IT! And you've just given me the inspiration to start. Now, all I need to do is.... start a blog..... eeeek!
ReplyDeleteMe too!!!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog yesterday from Pink Ronnie. What a fab idea, i going to give this a go for 2013. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm so joining in on this one. What a gorgeous idea. Childhood is soooo precious. My son is now 13 and I can't believe it! The time has flown by way too quickly. Time to savour every single moment. Thanks heaps for putting up such a lvoely link, Jodi. x
ReplyDeleteI will join in for 2013- thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteI've just found you (via Pinterest) today, and I love the idea of joining in. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteHoping this will be the motivation I need to actually take the photos.
ReplyDeleteOh I just saw this, what fun....
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I take a ton of pictures of my daughter anyway, but love the idea of putting the pictures in a book to document her 2nd year with completely random photos!
ReplyDeleteI just started a blog so I could do this! Now if I could just figure out how the heck to arrange photos within blogger! Yours look so nice with some smaller and side by side etc... do you really have to go into the html code and mess around in there? That is so intimidating and foreign to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have photos side-by-side, also known as a diptych, I actually do it in photoshop and then upload the image onto blogger. I've just had a look at your blog (gorgeous children you have) and I can see that your image size is too wide for your post section. If you like you can email me with your username and password and I can fix it all up for you and give you clear directions as to how to upload photos to the correct size. Of course, this may not suit you at all and if that's the case, no worries. My email - jodiclairewilson @ yahoo dot com dot au x
DeleteHi Jodi
ReplyDeleteI just started today, I'm pregnant but I really want to join this project!
This is a wonderfull idea. I love it. And your blog is so beautiful and so interesting.
I watched movies you've been mentionned in a post (Before sunset & Before sunrise), it was good. Thanks, all the best!
Blessings for your pregnancy Lili, I'm so glad you're joining in! x
DeleteYay - we will be in
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful way to document adventure and growth.
love your pictures and stories so far
looking forward to looking back...
I LOVE THIS!!!! I completed the 365 project last year and am actually in the process of making my album now :)
ReplyDeleteI am going to do this as well!
What a lovely idea, I'm just starting it now, better late than never!
ReplyDeletePosting photos are really awesome. I like this photos very much. I really appreciate your post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your beautiful post.
fostering
Just read about this on Disney Baby, but better late than never yeah?
ReplyDeleteJust found you via Emma Bradshaw. Inspired! Completely. I've already been doing a 52 week project with my little one, but maybe now's the time to start posting them to the blog? Is it too late to join?
ReplyDeleteit's never too late to join! It's lovely to have you involved x
DeleteOh, thank you! Just linking up to 13/52 now.
DeleteHi Jodi. I am inspired by your project from Sash (Inked in Colour). I thought this would be a fun project to do with my little girl. I have been meaning to document her properly and do hopefully have enough photos to make a year book.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's not too late to join. :)
I blog over on www.mylifeinmono.com by the way. :)
Not too late at all. It will be lovely to have you involved x
DeleteHi Jodi, I have been a quiet follower of your blog for a while now and i followed this project of yours last year too. I find your pictures and words truly inspirational. I have noticed others linking up quite a few weeks late so I hope that it would be ok for me to do so too? With two little boys its hard to keep track of time so this seems like the perfect way to at least preserve some :)
ReplyDeleteOf course you can...the more the merrier I say! x
DeleteThanks so much, looking forward to next week 😊
DeleteI'm leaning towards starting this project (late) but am trying to think of a different way to go about it. I'm uncomfortable about massively sharing pictures of my boys online and I share a blog with other women, so I would have to make a blog for it and link to it. Any suggestions on what else I could do for the 52 project?
ReplyDeletehttp://chaoswithacurve.blogspot.com/2013/05/hook-ups-and-52-project.html
They are so adorable!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I'll begin in two weeks, then my baby will celebrate his first birthday :-)
ReplyDeleteI only just found this... Would love to join in... better late than never... YAY for precious memories!
ReplyDeletewww.liveitdoit.com.au
I wanted to do this so badly since my son was born this year, but I think it will be much more exciting now that he will turn one in feb 2014 and I'll have a walking/talking little boy to intentionally photograph weekly. My question to you is, will you be continuing this project next year? I definitely want to participate.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll do it, only not about my children. My only son living at home yet is 24, I don't think he'd let me take his picture each week. So...I'm going to use your idea for other things.
ReplyDeleteDear Jodi, I just linked your 52-project-button into my "not yet ready homepage". Anyway, I want to join this projekt! I followed yours and that of Lilly from "Projekt Little Smith". You can find me here: http://www.martinaegenter.com/
ReplyDeleteHi Jodi!
ReplyDeletewww.littletwiddle.blogspot.ca
Thanks!