I woke up this morning with the urge to grab my camera and shoot me in bed — not really wanting to get up for work.  Then it hit me — the week of hyper documenting + photographing is over.  Over.  Then I make my way to the living room and spot Samuel on the recliner.  He gives me a grin and goes about eating his breakfast + pointing to a bike in a book + repeating “biiiiiiiiii” (bike).  I felt myself reaching for the camera but then stopped myself to enjoy this moment.

I could not help but feel a bit naked today.  My 5-lb camera has been attached to my side for the last 7 days but today, it sits on our kitchen island, taking a breather.  It got a good workout last week.

Total number of photos this weekend: 306 (Saturday) + 307 (Sunday).  I have way too many photos to go through. Why so many photos? First, I used a remote for self-timer photos, so it’s pretty easy to shoot multiples. I occasionally erase the images that I don’t like right away, but I often wait to do it on the computer. I can’t always tell if an image is out of focus or not on the camera screen. Second, I had the camera on continuous shooting mode for most of the weekend to shoot images of a fast moving toddler.  Third, I can not seem to get the focus right with the flash, so I often shoot multiple images with the flash. I prefer not to use the flash, but evening shots with a toddler becomes frustrating without it. I really need to buckle down this summer and learn how to use the flash.

I shoot with a Canon 7D.  For all of the images this week, I used a 24-70 mm lens and a Canon Speedlite 580EX II external flash (mainly for indoor, evening photos).  I have a tripod, but I did not use it at all this week.  I find it cumbersome for a project such as this.  My self-portraits were mostly taken with a remote with the camera sitting on the floor, books, boxes, counters, benches, etc.

Here’s a look at Sunday, 4/29.Hello Sunday.

Early morning snack with ba ngoai.  She loves him so.

Looking for ba ngoai.

Riding around the house + eating cheerios.

Breakfast at Denny’s.

Pink + teal = new favorites.

Buying local — Stockton Farmer’s Market.

Reading.

Reading.

She loves to cook.

Recording my mother’s recipe for me.

Mid-morning snack.

Walking.

Lunch (com ga) at ba ngoai’s.

He sleeps with his eyes slightly open — like me.

Excited to be going home.  He loves visiting his ba ngoai but he loves his home more.

Visiting grandma #2.  Hello grandma.  It’s me Samuel.

Riding in the back with him.

Home sweet home.

He’s an awesome helper.

He likes to sit in my lap to read.

His favorite reading corner.  Since the light is good, I decided to shoot the stuff in his room.

His closet.

Playing.

His collection of hand-knit goodness.  Such a lucky little person.

Family bike ride.  (I shot this while riding — I do not recommend it.)

I still make + freeze his food.  It is the best way for me to get him to eat veggies.

Falling asleep at dinner.  Exhausted but trying really hard to keep his lids open.

Enjoying another favorite book before bedtime.