Photography Challenge – 3KCBWDAY2

This is part of the third annual Knitting and Crochet Blogging Week

This was a lot harder than I had expected. I love taking pictures. I do it all day long. I take pictures of everything. All. The. Time.
But to tell a story with my pictures is harder. I don’t take pictures to tell a story, I take pictures to capture the moment. And with yarn I take pictures to showcase the depth and saturation of color, texture or just beauty.
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Sock Yarn Stash enhancement

Then there are the works in progress pictures.

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These are always fun for me because they remind me of how far I am on a project or how much I still need to do. I think they also show people how much work goes into creating anything handmade.

Granny Squares

Then of course there are the finished items. I think FO pictures can be broken down into to categories. The FO not being used kind of picture.  A knitted piece just lying around.
Another baby hat

And the action shot. This type of shot is near and dear to my heart. Because at the end of the day when I knit a cardigan or crochet a bag or even make a plain old washcloth, I want them to be used. I want my daughter to jump up and down in her cardigan and I want the friend of a baby to be swaddled with love in that blanket.

This shawl was never made for her but she claimed it from the start.  She says it is too small for me and it is more of a shawlette or a scarf on me.  She wears it at home like a little old granny completely unaware how inappropriate on her.

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And the rainbow mittens that make the cold go away from her hands, while still giving her fingers the freedom to do what little people do best.

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I have to confess that when I first read the today’s topic, I wanted to take a stunning picture.  Something with amazing lighting and  the perfect accompanying story.  So I cast on and knit a little cardigan for my wooden fashion dummy.  The dummy felt really naked, so I made her a skirt.  Her bald head annoyed me so I crocheted a hat.  All the time I thought how will all this tell a story, so I thought of using capital cities as backgrounds and make it look like the dummy was visiting the world and going to all the places I dream about going.  And then I realized that I didn’t need it.  The pictures I already have tell their own wonderful stories, even if no one understands them, I know their story, I know how I bought the yarn, had an idea and executed it.  Looking at the dummy in her full outfit, I realize she tells a story that was not intended to be told.  The story of a girl, who had dreams, who became a woman and got a totally different life and used what she had on hand to make beautiful things.  Even if no one gets the story, I understand it because I have lived it.  There will always be stunning photographs of amazing white sandy beaches and canyons and Tokyo at night or Paris.  But only I can take pictures of a messy living room because we spent the whole day building blanket castles and having pretend tea parties with imaginary friends.  Not every story is meant to be written or read by other people.  Some stories are just to be lived through and enjoyed for the moment they are being created.

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22 responses to “Photography Challenge – 3KCBWDAY2”

  1. Really enjoyed your post! and your right the pictures tale a beautiful story even if i do not, know the facts behind them.

    • jessyz says:

      Thank you, sometimes it doesn’t matter if you can tell a story or not as long as you know it

  2. erin says:

    While you were working in exotic places taking stunning pictures, one phase of your life was in play. Now, building blanket castles and whispering dreams and licking the batter off the mixers is your life’s glam shot, whether the camera captures it our not. Trust me, my girls are now young women, and what I wouldn’t give to go back to those days where we only looked at each other and our humble surroundings, inner reflections. The magnetic pull of the world out there hadn’t taken hold yet. Now, we are all so busy and our paths more rarely intersect, so I pine for the days of toddlers and Rice Krispy Treat creations and slow naps to the tune of a Disney movie playing in the other room.

    • jessyz says:

      You are absolutely right erin, at first I struggled but now I am enjoying the slow silly pace and trying to make the most of it.

  3. really interesting post – and lovely photos 🙂

  4. Angela says:

    Your dummy’s sweater and hat set looks terrific, and I love the accompanying photos. I totally wasn’t expecting to see the dummy at the end so it was a nice surprise. Great post!

    • jessyz says:

      The dummy was supposed to be the only photo, I knit it specifically for the post but then realized I had better stories to tell 🙂

  5. Ness says:

    I struggled with this one too, but I really like you photos! Especially the last two.

  6. kathy b says:

    Little girl wanting the shawl warms my heart! ! she already had great taste

  7. Ronnie says:

    I did find this day to be an unexpected challenge since I do take so many pictures, I think you did a marvelous job!

  8. You write so beautifully and your photos are a credit to this.
    Love the rainbow gloves – they look so cozy.

  9. Laura says:

    Oh My how I love the doll and her outfit! What a great addition to anyone’s fiber-y goodness she would be! Hope you have the perfect spot for her!

  10. Kepanie says:

    I think your last two really fit the challenge :O).

  11. I really loved this post. Thank you so much for writing it and sharing it!