imperfections

Have you ever taken a photo, thought it was horrible, and moved on?

It happens to me all the time with film. Imperfections. The focus is off, the film is bad, exposure is all wrong, there is a light leak - whatever the reason may be, and I toss it aside, vowing to learn from my "mistake".

And then, while rummaging through my film drawer, I come across a photo again.  But this time, it speaks to me in a way it never did before.  Sure, the technical aspects are all wrong, but the feeling, the emotion at the time the image was captured, is all right. 

I took these photos almost two years ago, I was pregnant with my 3rd daughter.  I didn't take "official" maternity photos.  I remember taking these myself, with film, and not being satisfied with them for one reason or another, and tossing them aside.  I believe my favorite photo from this pregnancy was actually this one taken with my iPhone!

But now, looking back - I see them in an entirely different light.  

The beautiful curve of my body that brought life into this world, untouched and real. I am immediately taken back to that moment.

And oh my, how sweet and raw those first newborn days are.  These images forever capture that emotion for me.

So I didn't share these for one reason or another when they were taken.  But here they are now - untouched and not perfect.

This is why I shoot film.  Because even in their "imperfections", there is beauty.