My mom, like it or not, choose it or not, was, by default, I guess, the family photographer for the Hollingsworth tribe.
Seriously, without a doubt, if it wasn’t for the efforts of my mom, sadly, we likely, would not have any family photographs?
I don’t think, looking back, I ever saw anyone in my family, me included, ever taking a photo, of anything-just my saintly, kind-hearted, life-giving mom?
My mom was gorgeous, loved by all, and a happy human being.
Knowing what I know now, about the arts and photography, she didn’t particularly have any bent for art or creativity.
That’s not a criticism, just an observation.
There wasn’t much room in our home for anything but Sports. My Dad saw to that.
The gridiron took precedence over the lines of composition, or everything else.
The photos that she, my mom, took, sometimes out of joy, other times out of family obligation, were snapshots of life-most often without artistic or journalistic intent.
She was a fine documentarian, capturing family moments for posterity.
A few weeks ago, I was attending, in Austin, a post-Christmas gathering of family.
Someone in the family, asked me, curiously, what I wasn’t taking photos?
I told them that, I was “off the clock”. Sorta?
But that’s not the complete truth. Here’s the truth.
I’m not, unfortunately, that motivated and inspired to document life, like my mom was?
I’m not even close to being an event or, sadly, a “family” photographer.
It’s not my jam.
Many are good, even great at it, but I’m not.
What I’m good at, is the art and heart side of life.
If you look closely at my camera roll, you will see it looks more like a museum bin of art than a family shoebox or album of everyday moments and memories.
While most tend to document life with their phone cameras, I tend to interpret life.
More importantly, I’m more motivated, in photography, to show the ideal than the real in my pictures.
I’m drawn fully to life’s beautiful, lyrical, emotional side.
Putting the poetry in my pictures is my true raison deter and my true joie de vivre.
Damn, it’s incredible what the French language can teach us about photography.
Click
Jack
