Dream On.
I saw a butterfly catcher at the toystore.
Whilst I don’t really like the notion of catching butterlies, I just couldn’t resist the idea of Ivy running through fields, hair blowing in the wind, playfully chasing skies full of butterlies..and of course me discreetly photographing this dreamy scene from a distance. This was my incredibly realistic vision whilst I paid and travelled home with pink catcher.
Fast forward a day to the much anticipated butterly catching shoot…
Ivy alternating between filling the net with stones until it was so heavy it couldn’t be lifted and racing everywhere except on the grass. Mummy huffing along behind, shouting instructions to try and catch the moths (not a flutterby in sight) whilst Ivy looked away with bemused indifference.
Neither the butterflies nor the toddler were going to give me my photo opportunity that day. Well not the vision in my head anyway.
Still, I had a lot of fun proofing these…I’m trying out some different processing at the moment..needs some work but I’m liking the different tones.
I’m seeing a marketing opportunity. If they renamed them “toddler catchers”, imagine the sales?
And these are a couple I did a little more outside the square.. What do you think?
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So beautiful, innocent, breathtaking…I heart them!
they are all so beautiful – I especially love that second to last one, it makes me just want to crawl right into the frame and pick a flower with her.
wonderful
The last one looks like a painting! Love them all!
Oh i am in love with the last image. She looks so heavenly and beautiful. For not having your vision come true, they sure are gorgeous photos.
they are all so amazing.
those are incredibly gorgeous pictures. I wish it was summer so I could have some nice weather to take pictures outside.
I’d love to catch me a pretty girl like that.
I think the colours and tones in those pictures are lovely, not that my experience counts one bit. But just looking at them makes me feel nice, so whatever you’re doing it’s working well.
Love Dxxxxxx
beautiful beautiful Ivy…
beautiful beautiful photos…
beautiful beautiful batik ruffle skirt…..
And if I were you I’d be keeping the flutterby catcher handy in case any relatives of the gigantor spider appear!
xxx
A friend recommended your blog to me last year as I was looking for inspirational Australian photographers. In you, I definitely found one. You have a beautiful style that I aspire to – but it is a long way off for me I’m afraid. Your latest experiments are gorgeous (as is the subject).
I’m one of those pedantic people (read anal) who can’t flick through a magazine and start in the middle – gotta be beginning to end. So, I read your blog from the start and have followed your joy and pain since.
Your life has touched me in so many ways and I’ve never felt able to comment before – but today, Australia Day, seeing the banner photo taken one year ago and thinking of all that has happened in between, stirred me to send a strangers love, respect and pride for the honesty and grace you have shown through every parent’s worst nightmare.
You certainly are a very special family that have left a lasting imprint on my mind and heart.
they may not have been what you imagined but they are still gorgeous. Such fun. And i love the processing
Like EVERY photo you take ….just beautiful!! And I loved your post for your darling boys’ birthday – he is also beautiful!
Really really really love the last two. Ivy looks like a porcelain doll. Honey, they are amazing.
When I started looking at the pics,
I wanted to yell out to Ivy, “Look out for the snakes!!”….xxx
Gorgeous dreamy photos Sheye. I love the third picture, just stunning. Such a beautiful idea.
Oh she is just dreamy, isn’t she?
Sheye ..the pictures are beautiful like always. The second one ( where Ivy is looking up to the sky) the clouds made angel to me standing over Ivy. I see the shape of a head and then one wing and the spot on Ivy is like the hand holding her. That is a beautiful shot.
I miss her so much!! Give her a cuddle for me…
xxx
Sheye, when I read the words “butterfly catcher” in your post – the images in my head were identical to what you actually captured on film. I can also imagine the scene at the time, in all probability slightly chaotic, however you somehow caught serenity and beauty in the image. This is what makes you such a wonderful photographer.
beauty full.
jbxo
Beautiful!! I love your photography!
:o)
Sheye- you’re amazing… that’s all there is to it. I love what you’re doing with these… I’m so inspired by your work… I think I’ll go play around in photoshop for the rest of the weekend. :) ~ They’re beautiful!
beautiful, dreamy images…
you so inspire me.
Dana
Ivy looks like she had lots of fun!! That last picture is just gorgeous, the colours look like they are from a 1940s movie. Really lovely pictures x
LOVE each and every one of them!! Seriously, so gorgeous.
Your post processing is just amazing. I love that each picture is processed so perfectly for that picture.
She’s such a beautiful little girl.
Sheye, thank you so much for leaving a comment on my blog. That seriously made my day! I just want to thank you for sharing your story, and so beautifully, with the world. You are so inspirational to so many mothers out there…you have truly changed my relationship with my daughter. All of your children are gorgeous and they are so lucky to have such a talented mother to capture every bit of it on camera. I love these photos of Ivy with the butterfly catcher!
Rachel Bjorkman
Santa brought my son (4) a butterfly net for Christmas. Unlike you, I never really imagined that he would float through the fields, at one with nature. (He’s more of a Ninja Turtle type!) The butterfly net is yet to see one butterfly, but has been filled many times with sticks, stones, sisters, fish from Grandad’s fish pond (sigh!) … Perhaps my frustration could have been tempered if I’d thought to run around after him with a camera in hand to capture such behaviour! Note to self … when things go pear-shaped, turn it into a photo opportunity!
Of course, the butterfly catcher is broken and binned by now. It is January after all.
PS. I love your blog, your photography is almost magical. I’m inspired by your profession, but also your life’s journey.
Can she come and live with me in my house full of boys? Please? :-)
Gorgeous pictures….like they always are. I know you have a lot of “anonymous readers” and I am one of them. Your willingness to share your life, your story, your feelings….it really has made the world a better place. I don’t think you will ever begin to comprehend the impact you’ve had on mothers around the world. The number of hugs, the increased patience, the moments more cherished….absolutely amazing. I know my kids will have been more loved because of the things I’ve learned from you. For that I’ll always be grateful.
I have no doubt you were given your artistic abilities so that your story wouldn’t just be shared through your gift for words….I can SEE it. And that helps me feel it. It’s just amazing. I wish you all the best.
Love it! I especially love the one where she is picking the flower weed.
I found your blog a year ago, just after you lost your darling Ava. I was pregnant with my fourth child and cried the whole night. Your Ava looked just like my Eleanore, same age and everything. My heart broke for you.
I want you to know that the very next day I taught them how to get out of a locked car, and if they couldn’t to honk the horn. We practiced, even. I showed them the beautiful photos of Ava and Eleanore kept asking if that was her.
Last night I clicked on your site after I accidentally found it again. My Anna walked past and said, “Who’s that?” Ellie peeked around the corner and said, “oh, that’s Ava.”
I just want you to know that people still think of her and remember her. She was obviously a special little girl who had a short, but happy life. She was SO lucky to have you as her mother.
I’m happy to have found you again. Your work is amazing. Thanks!
aah the best laid plans of mommies! ;) however still breathtakingly beautiful photos and the lighting exceptional.
Great talent Sheye, so enjoy looking at the beauty of your art.
~j~
I stumbled upon your site from a friends blog, and you write so beautifully about Ava. I have a little Ava of my own, she is 6 months old and she is as sweet as can be. I can’t even imagine your loss, my heart breaks for you. No time will ever fill the void she has left. But as I sat here reading in my bed tonight, I felt impressed to write to you, and maybe it’s not my place, because I don’t know you, but I came across one of your posts the other day and you made a comment about yourself wondering where Ava is? “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; all shall be raised from the dead.” “The Lamb of God hath brought to pass the resurrection, so that all shall rise from the dead.” She is in the spirit world and you will be able to reunite with your little Ava again someday.
Kelli
http://www.lds.org/
I love the “outside the square” ones! those are my favorite!
I needed one of those toddler catchers on the weekend, we stayed at our caravan and lachlan spent the whole weekend nicking off. Reminds me of why we only go but once a year – oh! and the shower block thing would be the other reason…..
I would buy a toddler catcher! lol! that image just cracks me up- I will not look at chasing butterflies/moths again the same.. lol!
and the one of Ivy pulling the clover is super!! love the angle.. now, that is a mama on a mission! way to go!
Amazingly beautiful photos. I have visited your site a few times, read your story, shed a few tears and thought of you. I just want to send you a thought from the other side of the world where the world is white and full of snow…
Your pictures might not have turned out like you had hoped, but they are beautiful.
Children are amazing. Thank you for sharing your talent through your blog. I wish that I could remember how I came across it, but you inspire me each day to love the babies that I have. Thank you.
Oh, what is the song that plays? I absolutely love it.
these are AMAZING as always sheye…..and she is breath-taking…..i wish you lived here so i could hire you to capture my girls on print the way you captured Ivy here, just beautifuL!
tara
Sheye,
I was given your blog address from a friend. (Rachel Bjorkman) I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter, Kloey, and a 7 week old son, Kash. Sometimes I find it so hard to stay a patient and happy mom, but you truly inspired me to remember how precious our children are and to cherish every moment we are blessed to have them with us. You have darling children!! And they have a very loving and talented mother as well! Your photography is so beautiful….it makes me want to become a “professional!” I hope you don’t mind, but I have added “Ava’s Story” as one of my favorite blogs. May you and your family be blessed in this new year.
Much Regards,
Jenn Wettstein
Sheye,
I was given your blog address from a friend. (Rachel Bjorkman) I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter, Kloey, and a 7 week old son, Kash. Sometimes I find it so hard to stay a patient and happy mom, but you truly inspired me to remember how precious our children are and to cherish every moment we are blessed to have them with us. You have darling children!! And they have a very loving and talented mother as well! Your photography is so beautiful….it makes me want to become a “professional!” I hope you don’t mind, but I have added “Ava’s Story” as one of my favorite blogs. May you and your family be blessed in this new year.
Much Regards,
Jenn Wettstein
thank you sheye. it seems like you give your kids a fairytale life. the photos you put on your blog are always so bright and happy. i love it. i bet your kids love living life with you as their mother. thank you for sharing such happy photos.
thank you also for what you wrote the other day on my blog. i am glad you told me about the lesson you had learned early after ava’s passing. it is amazing to me the things that seem so unimportant now. you seem to spend such wonderful and quality time with your children. they will look back and realize how blessed they were to have you.
thank you again.
leslie *
Oh I love the last two!! What did you do? They look so fantastic and different than any post procoessing I’ve seen you do.
Ivy would look gorgeous wearing a brown paper bag. She is simply scrumptious!! Love love love these!!
K
Sheye, these photos are just beautiful, love the post processing!!!! yes I too would like to know what you did… if you’re willing to share your secrets! They may not have been the vision that you had, but that’s the beauty of photography, you just never know what you’re going to capture! in these I see the beautiful innocence of childhood, carefree & full of fun, Sheye you have truly captured that innocence perfectly!! I especially love the last two.. sweetie you are AMAZING, I love coming here!!! xxxx
Dear Sheye. I can’t imagine how hard this upcoming week must be for you. Sending all my love to you, Crayton, Luca, Mason, Ivy and everyone else. Thinking of your family and your beautiful Ava constantly.
‘Inspiring’ is the first word that came to mind when I saw the pictures of Ivy and the butterfly catcher. I almost bought one each for my little boys recently…visions of cuteness were not quite how I imagined my boys to be…more like Star Wars meets Ninja Turtles and a bit of ‘Crikey!!!’ thrown in for good measure!
You have such an amazing talent… feel that I somehow relate to you in the photos that you take. (I’m sure I will be phoning you to book a photo session for my two little guys before long…how ’bout them butterfly nets?)
I have to say that I stumbled on to your blog via the Carousel’s Cupcakes website. I was so moved by your story of Ava (whose name I have always adored) and just couldn’t leave my computer to go to bed (sometime around 3am the other night). I got a chill when I realised that the cupcake that my 4yr old son chose from the display cabinet at Carousel’s when they had only just opened was the ‘Ava’ cupcake….maybe he has a thing for pink :). He insisted on that one despite the various other colourful and mouthwatering options. I didn’t understand the dedication and didn’t think to ask until it all came together the other night.
What a beautiful soul is little Ava. My heart goes out to you and your loved ones. I felt I was pulled into your worst nightmare as I read and cried for your little girl and of course for you, her mum. Of course your story has now changed the way I look at my two little boys…2 and 4. I understand how delicate and precious those little lives are and there is no doubt in my mind that others are truly touched and inspired by your heartfelt words and your very difficult and challenging life’s journey.
Never stop what you are doing…you have a true gift and I love what you do.
All my most sincere wishes. Thank you Sheye.
rI cannot even believe to imagine or even understand the pain and sufferring that you and your family have been through Sheye. Your photo’s are simply breath takingly beautiful and inspirational. I hope that your photography gives you some kind of peace in your life. Your words about Ava brought me to tears…such a special little angle.. I had a near accident with my (adventurous and non-fearing) two year old whilst on holiday… he simply got up out of his chair and calmly skipped out of the resturaunt that we were eating in and crossed a road to get to the beach!! it happended in slow motion i was frozen with fear! Luckily my husband was not and chased him, no cars were coming and he was gracefully ok…this time, i saw his little life flash before my eyes… i still have flashbacks now and cry about what could have potentially happened. I constantly fear about his safety. After discovering your site (done by accidently looking through the BritishExPats site and via “glitterbabe”) i will never ever take my children for granted again…. i shall cherish there every moment…It makes me even more determined to emigrate to Australia in order to give them a better life….