Monday, June 24, 2013

{Preview} Elihu Island











I sensed they began tangled.  A jungle of bitty hands and feet, translucent, growing side by side in their early sea.  It was so easy to imagine as I watched them romp about in their twin-four-year-old-skin.  Curling around each other like I might twirl my own hair.  Effortlessly, quiet.  And their laughter - high, clear, white - drew lines across the sky.  It scattered birds and pushed through the rustling hay like water - spilling everywhere.  I watched them stop, then close their eyes to know just where the other was.  I could almost see the thin invisible line between them.  Gossamer, beating.  Connecting the blur of their bare feet.  And rustling hair.  Connecting their endless stream.  One of faint cotton over bones light as sparrow's made for flying.  They were a tangle of fingers I couldn't shake the sight of - fragile yet strong - skimming clover and moss and milkweed.  They were a winding trail of honeysuckle torn from the vine.

We walked the island for two hours, edge to edge of steel gray sea.  They never looked for us once.  They had each other, and the secure eye of their mom.  Always watching, but never too close.  She let them breathe.  And unfold.  I saw Sarah's heart bright and true in that last light, as she let them just be.  I felt her taking in their smallness.  Drinking in their girlhood.  Bottling the feeling of loving them just as they are.  In that very moment.  In that very spot, where she wed eight years ago.  On Elihu.  




15 comments:

  1. So beautiful! The first image is breathtaking! I love the distortion on some of these. I'd love to know what lenses you shot this with, if you don't mind sharing :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Gaby -- for reading and your comments! I don't mind sharing at all - this entire shoot was taken with a 35mm/1.4.

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  2. Beautiful images and poetic words.

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  3. These are amazing. Amazing. There isn't a single one that I don't like.

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  4. so perfect and pure. i swear, roxanne, you are my soul mate. xoxo

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  5. Roxanne, you captured their bond beautifully! These images so perfectly reflect the pure spontaneity and innocence that is a four year old <3

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  6. These are stunning - so full of childhood freedoms - exactly the way childhood pictures should be...

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  7. i'll never understand what i did to deserve these incredible images & your beautiful words. beyond grateful . . .

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  8. These are so beautiful. I had on my mind to view these more slowly when I could and I am so happy I came back. Incredibly gorgeous images.

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  9. sigh. your attention to detail and the pure, raw that you see is so inspiring... love, love your work. love.

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  10. I love your child art. Absolute inspiration... Real and in the moment. <3

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  11. your sessions are so different than anything else i've seen. so distinctly your own. there are few photographers whose client work is as deeply personal, moody, artful, thoughtful as their personal work is. You're amazing.
    These are gorgeous. Each and every one.

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  12. This is one of the cutest photo shoots I've ever seen! Looks like the girls had so much fun!

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  13. I just love your work Jane. So beautiful! :)

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