Jenn Di Spirito Photography Blog | Vancouver Maternity, Newborn and Family Photographer

02.10.12

linked 52: quiet | vancouver family photographer

A self-portrait and a black & white photograph? It must be a leap year.

I like to have my linked 52 photograph done and ready to go well ahead of our Friday posting date but this week I made it in just under the wire. I thought it would be a no-brainer. Sure I can photograph 'quiet'. Except this week I realized I really don't have a lot of quiet in my life.

I wake up early, really early, to get some things done on the computer before the rest of the house wakes up. So I was sort of thinking that was my quiet time. Except from the moment I step into the shower my mind is racing as I mentally go over the list of things I need to get done before we start our day. And 20 minutes later when I sit down at the computer, that time is anything but quiet.

The times when the kids are awake? Definitely not quiet.

So then I was thinking I'd photograph quiet time - the time after lunch when Gracie is napping and Angelo is reading in his room. But I'm rushing through my to-do list during that time, and I'm never done by the time I spring Angelo from his room and Gracie wakes up. So no, not quiet.

And then I finally realized the moment when I'm actually quiet. It's the 20 minutes before we go to sleep when my monkey mind finally shifts down a gear. I head upstairs while Jim watches highlights of whatever games were on that day and I crawl into bed and finally give myself permission to relax and be quiet.

So since this week turned out to be a lot more reflective than I thought it would be, perhaps a black & white self portrait is entirely appropriate.

Please check out the links to these amazing women to see what 'quiet' looks like at their house.

Michelle, Heather, Tracey, Stacey, Andrea, Jessica, Kristin, Amanda, Amanda,
Sara, Janet, Carla, Lena, Rose, Naomi, Tracy, Rhonda, Heidi

If you would like to join us, let me know. Next week's theme is 'body parts'.

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Comments

( February 10, 2012 ) Naomi said:

Love that it's a bit of self reflection. Quiet gives you time to do that doesn't it? I miss my quiet time after kids go to bed. Currently I'm so exhausted that I go to bed after they do, ha! :)

( February 10, 2012 ) sara said:

love this jenn.
because i can entirely relate.
my brain, my house- never ever quiet ;)
i tend to stay up way later than i should, just so that i can enjoy the time by myself.

( February 10, 2012 ) Marvett Smith said:

Beautiful self-portrait. I love the perspective!

( February 10, 2012 ) tracey said:

LOVE this photo. It's perfect. It must be a leap year! My bed is my favorite place to unwind after a long day. Except my pj's are not photo worthy (grungy t-shirt) so a self portrait there would not be a good. Ha!
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( February 10, 2012 ) michelle s. said:

Ooooh, I love your B&W selfie! So artistic! :P Isn't it funny how when we start looking for quiet in our lives we realize how little is really there? Deep thoughts. ;)

( February 10, 2012 ) Andrea said:

I love this photo of you in your quiet place. I had to laugh after I saw your comment on my post and then read your post. I totally relate to everything you said. I need that time to turn off my racing mind. We are definitely a lot alike. ;)

( February 10, 2012 ) Liza said:

Hi Jenn, I just joined this week. Please feel free to stop by and take a look at how I like to spend some quiet time.

You're right. It's hard to find a true quiet time throughout the day. This was a great capture of your quiet time.

( February 10, 2012 ) Heather M. said:

love.
love seeing you.
love reading your words.
it's perfect.

( February 10, 2012 ) Heidi said:

Great self portrait! I feel exactly the same way. It was hard to think of time during my day that I do actually experience quiet. It's true - even when the space is quiet, my mind is racing. True quiet time is a hot commodity.

( February 10, 2012 ) Cate said:

I love this. I think you might need to take more selfies. :)

( February 10, 2012 ) janet said:

It's very hard to turn off your brain when you have children at home. I find it's easier to turn off now that they are on their own. If I have a lot on my mind, I soak in my claw foot until I'm prunie.
Great idea for Quiet.

( February 10, 2012 ) Shelley said:

Seeing you read your book and having quiet time reminds me to try to do this more often. It also reminds me to make it happen especially because I have over 200 more pages to read in my book club book in the next two weeks. This is overwhelming b/c I usually only read 10 pages or so per sitting.

( February 10, 2012 ) Kristin Conk said:

Oh man can I relate. there is not much quiet time in my head...9 million miles an hour is what my brain does. I wish that converted into energy!! Love the black and white!

( February 10, 2012 ) Kristin Conk said:

Oh man can I relate. there is not much quiet time in my head...9 million miles an hour is what my brain does. I wish that converted into energy!! Love the black and white!

( February 10, 2012 ) Kristin Conk said:

I can certainly relate, there is not much quiet time that goes on inside this head of mine!! I'm always thinking at 9 million miles an hour...if only that converted into real energy!!

( February 10, 2012 ) Amanda said:

Love this take on quiet---so true! Too bad those 20 minutes can't be the longest 20 minutes of your life!

( February 10, 2012 ) Carla K said:

I feel you on this. Lots going on and not a lot of quiet. Thought about doing a self portrait myself for this one but chickened out. Maybe next time. Looks nice and relaxing.

( February 10, 2012 ) stacey said:

I adore this, Jenn.

( February 12, 2012 ) Rose said:

This is a nice quiet moment. Like you, I have so many things going on and so much in my head that I rarely stop for the quiet moments. I need to.