Moments Captured #5 - Time Stops Still

 "Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still." (Dorothea Lange)

I thought it was time for another more casual entry in my series, "Moments Captured". A perfect exercise to while away a gray morning, still recovering from my recent surgery. Sit down here in my "Hobbit-home" of an office and putz around looking at old photographs and then seeing what I can write about them.  Good for the soul.

This entry's theme is "Time Stops Still". I was reflecting on the fact as I dug through my photos that so often our photographs are staged or posed. So many "Selfies". So many great "landscapes". So many "historical moments enshrined". But every now and then a photographer can be a quiet witness to a special moment - when the subject is unaware - and time is seemingly stopped with the click of his camera. In a blink of an eye - and usually not intentionally - Life, in all of its vitality and rawness is captured. A seemingly still shot can be overflowing with emotion or movement, or simply take your breath away. These kinds of shots are rare Pearls indeed. A classic example for me is Robert Doiseneau's "The Kiss", taken on the streets of Paris in 1950. 

"The Kiss" (Robert Doiseneau, 1950)

In a split second, Doiseneau captures both the intimacy and passion of two young lovers, and also just how rare those emotions seem to be in that second. Stoic strangers hustle blank-eyed all around them, unaware and seemingly untouched. Time is stilled, yet I can still feel its vibrations in this shot. 

Now, I'm by no means a Doiseneau. But here are 6 photos I've taken over the years that strike me in the same way. I enjoy sharing them with you. 

Six Favorite Photos - "Time Stops Still"

Ok. I didn't take this photo. But it's a favorite of mine. It was taken by our friend Mindi Morgan on our wedding day 16 years ago. I've always called it "Waiting". Deborah, my beautiful bride and my sister Julie (her Maid of Honor) wait excitedly at the top of the stairs for the beginning of the processional music. My brother Dave is my Best Man - standing attentive and alert. Deborah's son, Dan, waits anxiously to escort his Mom to me, resplendent in his tux and Chuck Taylors. The shot captures beautifully all the emotions of that most wonderful day: Excitement, Anticipation, Honor, Family, and Love. A classic for me. 

The next two photos were ones I took on the same beautiful April evening in 2014. Deborah and I had gone to Carmel CA for the 1st time to celebrate my birthday. We met her parents there and enjoyed the visit. One night after dinner, she and I decided to drive over to Carmel State Beach and watch the sunset. 

I've always treasured these two shots. 

I just love this photo of Deborah! I've never titled it (perhaps "California Dreaming"?). It always makes me happy because it captures so much of her and that special moment: her beauty, her love of the ocean, the gentle sound of the waves and the soft cushion of the sand. And I am touched by how completely entranced she is in the spectacle of that moment. All that I love about her, and about the wonders of the beach and Carmel are there. And then, there was a shot of what she was looking at...

"The Magic of Carmel". A few moments after I sat down next to Deborah on the blanket, I snapped this shot of some other people who were just as mesmerized by the fiery setting sun as we were. It always reminds me of the truth that the best way to truly participate with Life requires, more times than not, one thing that I struggle to do: To just stop and be there. Quit hustling through my miniscule world of "busy-ness" and agree to be part of the larger and grander Universe. 

Children are often great subjects for a candid capture, like this one of my grandson Elijah taken in October 2020. "The Hopeful Angler". Deborah and I were with him on one of our morning walks in All Sports Park along the Rogue River in town. Elijah is not much of a "walker" (like his "elderly" companions). He's more of a runner, jumper, thrower, digger, and impromptu fisherman at heart! And, like most kids, he has a vivid imagination. A simple stick is as good as any rod from Orvis or Sage. And a pebble thrown is just as capable of luring a scaly trophy as the fuzziest caddis nymph. I wish I had his patience and his faith!

This shot always makes me chuckle. It was a real "Smile, You're on Candid Camera" moment! I call it "The Icebreaker". I don't remember where Deborah and I were; shopping someplace. And, as was often the case, we had taken with us our little dog Izzy. The "First Rule of Izzy World" was always the same: IF YOU GO, I GO. Fortunately, since she was only 5 lbs, it was pretty easy to include her in most all of what we did. Just stuff her in a pocket or purse. On this occasion, I don't know what sparked Deborah (other than her innate love of a little tease!) to try to introduce Izzy to a "new friend". As you could see, Izzy was not totally impressed. Kept her cool though, and ultimately snubbed the eager "beau" with a dismissive turn of her head! Funny!

And here's the last picture. Again, I broke my own "rules" for this blog. It's a selfie. I took it on another visit of ours to Carmel CA again - this time in 2017. Once again, we had set off to the beach - this time the Carmel city beach at the end of Ocean Avenue - to watch another sunset. We were again blessed with a splendid masterpiece. As it slowly began to fade, I tried to take a quick selfie of us and the moment. And I captured Deborah in all of her loveable, "one of a kind" friskiness! "The Quiet Man" meets "Carmen Miranda"! You can now see, frozen in time, exactly why I fell head over heels in love with her. And still am to this day...

"You just have to live and life will give you pictures." (Henri Cartier Besson)

Here's to life continuing to give me more opportunities like these: to live and to love and to smile.