Project 52 | Special Memories | St Marys Child Photographer

December 29, 2015 • Leave a Comment

I've officially completed my first Project 52! This project has helped me grow and learn new things as well as keep me pulling out my camera to document my own life. I will be doing another for 2016 but without themes so hopefully I will actually take an image every week and not get stuck on themes. Instead, I'm thinking of doing a general focus like "finding the beauty/joy in every day". This was a hard month for us, as we had to say goodbye to one of our doggies who had cancer. I'm so grateful for this project and photography to help me capture the special relationship she had with my son and help us through the grieving process.

Week 42 | Dreams

Sometimes a moment happens and it's exactly what you need. This was that moment. Just a few days before we had to say goodbye to our sweet Zoe, my son fell asleep on the floor and shortly thereafter, Zoe went and laid down beside him. It was such a sweet moment that brought tears to my eyes knowing it would probably be the last time this happened.

boy sleeping next to his dog Week 42 | DreamsCopyright Kimberly Tank Art & Photography

Week 47 | Negative Space

I originally had a couple other ideas for this theme and had settled on taking my camera outside and getting an overhead shot of my son laying in the grass. But first he had to play. My little monkey loves the new cargo climbing net we added to his swings for Christmas. He climbed all the way to the top and it worked perfectly to use the sky as negative space, so this is what I ended up with...

Week 49 | Silhouette

We took our Zoe to the beach on her last day with us because she's always loved the beach and we wanted to make her day special. I also wanted to take a few more photos of her and my son together and knew this would be the perfect place to do so. They had so much fun together. It was the perfect last day.

boy and his dog running at the beach Week 49 | SilhouetteCopyright Kimberly Tank Art & Photography

"When dogs go to Heaven, they don't need wings because God knows that dogs love running best." ~Cynthia Rylant, Dog Heaven

Week 51 | Friendship

I had this image in my head that I wanted to capture for this theme of my son and Zoe. I actually took a completely different image with him and two of his close friends in case I didn't get this shot. I only had one chance to get it because we took it right before leaving the beach that morning and my son was not wanting to cooperate long. This was the only shot I got like this and I'm so happy I got it.

boy and his dog at the beach Week 51 | FriendshipCopyright Kimberly Tank Art & Photography

Later that day, I found this poem that went perfectly with this image:

So this is where we part, My Friend,
And you'll run on, around the bend.
Gone from sight, but not from mind,
new pleasures there you'll find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,
Life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,
But they will be they, and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,
Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you journey to your final rest,
Take with you this... I loved you best.
~ Jim Willis

Week 52 | Magic Moments

And my final image for this project... this was the "magic" moment right before I was tackled by my almost 4 year old and the "magic" moment that I had completed this project! He was running with his new pal Scout the Deer, which he received for Christmas. If you haven't heard of Cuddle and Kind dolls yet, go check them out!

boy running with cuddle and kind doll