My friend Eva was headed to Salt Lake City, Utah for the holidays and asked me if I was available to photograph a family on Christmas day. I come from a big family and I love it. Whether we’re having conversations about day-to-day events or watching television, I enjoy being around them. So, when asked if I could photograph a family of twenty with four generations, I was excited. No hesitation, no regret.

It was a wonderful Christmas. From the great-grandparents to the great-grandchild, I felt the love, the joy and the meaning of family.

Inspired.

I had an instructor ask his students how long they were inspired after hearing a great lecture. Then, I claimed i was inspired all week. Looking back, I realized I was inspired for a day. I sit in and listen to a great photographer talk about his experiences, methods and recommendations. I’d take pages of notes thinking how I would do what he/she says. But then the next day comes, and already my overactive mind has moved on to a new concept, topic or idea.

Now, I realize it’s not about holding on to an inspiration. It’s about building on to it and remembering.

As a photographer, I have archives of photographs. I’ll forget about an image, a scene or a moment. Today, I want to remember a beautiful moment.

The image below was taken at my friend’s apartment. I glanced outside and saw the sun disappearing behind the horizon. The sky was changing to a darker shade of blue. Cars were speeding by on the highway. The apartment was sparse, but that’s not a complaint.
The scene was set.
I was ‘looking’.
All that was left was for me to capture it.