Joycelyn and Nana

Joycelyn and Nana from Charlie Shoemaker on Vimeo.

Last week I had the honor to sit down Joycelyn and ask her some questions about her amazingly beautiful daughter Nana, as well as make some photos of them. I had this idea of parents being able to give a message to their children now so that when they grow up they can show it to their children. So I asked Joycelyn if she would be interested and this is what she had to say.

Rodeo! Gaithersburg, MD

Battle of the Beast Rodeo from Charlie Shoemaker on Vimeo.

Shot the rodeo Saturday night at the Montgomery County Fair. Almost died but had a blast!

Oh, and if anyone knows what the country song that comes in at the 28 second mark is, I am trying to track it down. Thanks!

Day 01. Gaithersburg, MD

South Bethany Beach, DE

This picture is from the archives, a bit old but not that old.

Recently I've been thinking a lot about how I can separate myself from a situation I am in by using my camera to hide behind. I've realized that this act can be a healthy way to make pictures in hard situation but it can also be really unhealthy (to me). I have found in many conversations that making pictures and removing myself from the reality of the moment/conversations doesn't hit me until way later...way later. I don't know what my conclusion is to this or if there really is one but rather it's just something I have been thinking about. This week I've tried not to pick up my camera as much in those moments where I don't want to remove myself but be fully present. I'll see how it worked out when I go back into my RAW files a few months down the line. Should I have picked up my camera and made that picture in that hard conversations or should I have been 100% there? Only time will tell...

Love you, mean it! Philadelphia, PA