Selfishly Taken.

Be a little crazy.

Wear your hair a little different.

Take pictures.

Act like a kid again.

Smile till it hurts.

Pretend not to give a care.

Don't try to grow up too fast.

Make a yucky face once in a while.

Try not to be ashamed.

Let the aging come gracefully.

Sometimes it's nice to look pretty.

Do your hair.

Let it down.

Dress up.

And have fun.

"There are only two styles of portrait painting, the serious and the smirk."

-Charles Dickens.

Contact Sheets.

The many different shapes and sizes.

The angles and clarity.

As they all work together to become one.

The many faces of my mother.

Normally happy and willing to listen.

I love her.

The stark contrast of light.

The views and directions.

How it can change your perspective.

Adding beauty and depth.

In the middle or to the side?

Perfectly the same, or uniquely different?

Expressions, feelings.

How the camera changes everything.

It's not about looking great.

It's about creating that one good picture.

Taken twice and matched up perfectly. 

Pictures overexposed.

Aperture open too wide.

Disappointment.

Symmetrically Perfect.

Take a walk.

Clear you mind.

Breathe. 

Forget about everything for a bit.

Identical? No.

Almost? Yes.

That's what counts. 

Not everything should have to be the same.

That's what makes them amazing.

Aesthetically Pleasing.

People watch you, they judge you, they hurt you.

But the worst part is when you start to believe them.

Take some time off, go far away,

Away from their judgement.

It's hard to leave what you have lived your life with.

Don't ever forget. 

Because you never know when you'll need those memories.

Say goodbye, and smile at the future.

Quite contrary.

Worrying just keeps you from enjoying the good things.

It gets you no where and just kills you

bit by bit.

Shine Through.

Sometimes a hug is all it takes.

A person can be falling apart on the inside,

and a hug is all it takes to make their walls come crumbling

down.

Always on alert, ready to attack.

She's laying next to me, sleeping soundly.

I love her with all my heart.

No one can see the details.

That's the best part.

It's up to the viewers eye to fill in the missing pieces.

Maybe it's true that your eyes really are the window to your soul.

They are able to look past al your imperfections. 

And to the person you really are to them.

Dearest Mother.

The way she purses her lips.

The sheer concentration.

Getting ready for a new day.

Time for rest after a long day.

Pondering the outcome of what might become of the next day.

The slight smile that pulls at the corners of her mouth.

 

An appearance worthy of the public.

Ready to work, see others, and live another day.

The lipstick, the mascara, the eyeliner, the eye shadow are all

beautiful.

Her blue-green eyes.

The way they laugh, smile, cry, darken.

They are the eyes of a mother, ready to help, and pick one up.

They've seen the world and are ready to pass it along

to the next generation.

Glass and Farfalle.

 Reflections are tricky things.

They are exactly the same image, but flipped.

An allusion created by a trick of light and a clear surface.

Watch as the glass streams through and lights up the granite.