It did not even cross my mind the first time I picked up my new Nikon D3000 what gifts it might bring to me, and not to just me, but to others as well.
At first the gift of sharing seemed good enough. Share the digital image, record the moment, and bundle those up in albums to display across Google and Facebook.
And that has been fantastic! Maybe they weren’t always the best images or the most technical, but I was learning and sharing and photographing (I still am!).
So I gifted what I could, as much as I could. Gifts I love to give.
But as the years have gone by and my camera has upgraded to the next model and my lenses have upgraded to sharper glass. Well, it got to be something more…
More from the heart. More concrete. More right now.
Maybe it was my first canvas that sparked a new world of photography within. I wrapped it myself at a canvas wrapping class hosted by the Chics Who Click at Arlington Camera.
I made a terrible error while wrapping, but I saved it by re-ordering the way the picture shows. It is only noticeable on the side. I gave the canvas to my mother to put on her wall at the apartment in her Assisted Living Community.
She LOVES it.
This is the only photo I have of it from my iPhone.
See, my mom really enjoys gardening more than anyone. She had a tremendous garden filled with a variety of flowers when she lived in her house. Her thumb is fantastically green. She has a small patio container garden where she is now. I think the image helped bring a little more of her gardening love indoors. Plus, she gets to brag to all her friends that the canvas was done by her daughter.
I was disappointed I had messed it up. She beamed with pride.
And so, I stopped being so critical and I accepted the gift for what it is. It’s a choice. A choice to give and a choice to receive. My photography is not a gift of talent, but a gift to gift others with.
So, that is exactly what I did.
And when the critic in my head cringes over a hand cut-off, or a color not quite right. When it shakes its ugly mug at the print that didn’t come out exactly as it had envisioned. Or when a big frown emerges over a portion of the photo being slightly blown out.
I tell that critic to get out of here. I don’t need their comments.
The only validation I need is right here in these faces. No matter what I think about these photographs, they think something totally different.
And that…
…makes my heart soar.
I think I will continue to gift my photography.
In every way that I can. As much as I can.
What can you gift of yourself? I promise it will be received and it will be amazing.
Living, Loving, Laughing.... 
“but I was learning and sharing and photographing (I still am!)”
Same here, Angelia! Photography seems to be something that the more you do it, the more you learn.
And can I just tell you…both the canvas prints and the blanket/quilt you made in with your photographs are AWESOME! I especially love the one of the guitar.
“My photography is not a gift of talent, but a gift to gift others with.”
And you can see just from the expressions of their face that they so enjoy your gift!
Honestly, your photography is FAB-U-LOUS!
X
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Thanks Ron! I am glad my family is proud of me. It makes me very happy. 🙂
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Angelia, Your photos are fantastic! You are great at what you do and what you do is great!!! Love it and love you!
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2014 17:16:21 +0000 To: suelrussell@hotmail.com
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Love you too, Momma Sue!
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Nice post 🙂
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Thank you! It feels good to be nice. 🙂
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Amazing creations!
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Thank-you! I am fond of the canvases. 🙂
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I thought the throws (?) were wonderful. I would love that gift.
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And the root of all those gifts is love…your heart shines through your photos!
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See? Poetry in your photography. Beautiful, Angelia. And I love the creativity in your gifts – all the different ways to present your work. Lovely!
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This is awesome and sweet and everything nice 🙂 Love what you are doing!!! You yourself are a gift to those people 🙂
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You, my friend, have the gift that keeps on giving. Critique your wonderful work, if you must, but don’t criticize. You’re amazing!
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It is clear that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” when you look at the faces of those who received your precious gift. We are always our worst critic but you clearly have a talent Angelia. This was a very heartwarming post.
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Great ideas!
My mom is in assisted living as well.
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The smiles in their faces mirrors the joy, excitement and love in their hearts as they receive a priceless gift. Thanks for the inspiration. These are beautiful, “And so, I stopped being so critical and I accepted the gift for what it is. It’s a choice. A choice to give and a choice to receive. My photography is not a gift of talent, but a gift to gift others with.” Unforgettable gifts that will be celebrated throughout the years. God bless and all the best.
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Lovely! I actually thought of you the other day while looking through unsatisfactory photo’s of my granddaughter to frame. I thought, I need Angelia!
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That is so cool, the people touched by such photography…well done!
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I love this post, and I know what you mean about giving. I have printed some of my photos on canvas, and if a friend says they like, I invariably take it off the wall, and give it to them. The joy they get is priceless. And they don’t see the flaws. Isn’t a smile its own reward? Thank you for gifting your photos and words to us. 🙂
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Oh, yes yes yes! We are going to a wedding this weekend, and bringing the bride & groom a large poster we had made of photos my husband took of them. Photography gifts are dynamic, and yours truly are!
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