A Photo a Week Challenge: Thanks, Dad

We hear a lot about the love mothers have for their children, but not much about fathers. In entertainment, fathers are usually portrayed as bumbling, abusive, or absent.

But I’ve had the honor of knowing many amazing fathers throughout my life, from my own father to my husband to nephews as they begin their own families.

In America, we are starting a month of thankfulness leading up to Thanksgiving, so this week’s challenge is dedicated to the wonderful men who work hard and love deeply. Who put their families first.

My father passed away three years ago, and I miss him everyday. So thanks, Dad. You are one of the main reasons I’m the person I am today. I love you, Papa.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO (OR THREE OR…) HONORING THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography. Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Evanescent

For this week’s challenge, I’m reusing a photo from my father’s funeral. Not only are the flowers fleeting, but it also reminds me to make the most of every day with those I love. Our time here is measured, and we know not the hour of our passing.

For more from this challenge, visit the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Evanescent.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Against the Odds

About four months into her pregnancy, our niece found out that her baby had Trisomy 13, a devastating chromosomal defect. They decided to continue the pregnancy with the hope that Baby T would be born alive and that they would have the opportunity to spend a little time with him before he was called home to his Heavenly Father. Baby T was born at home at 7-1/2 months and lived an amazing hour, surrounded by his loving parents and six big brothers.

For more from this challenge, visit the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Against the Odds.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Recording History

Photography is one of the mediums that allows us to capture history. The recent movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty depicted the end of an era of photojournalism with the end of Life Magazine in print. So many iconic images graced the covers and pages of that and many other chronicles throughout the years as photography has developed and enhanced out lives.

A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to take pictures of my mother and her remaining siblings. It was a fun shoot, and it allowed me the chance to capture some of my own family history. This photo makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy, because they all enjoyed getting together and have told me how much they love having the photos. Sad, because one of my uncles passed away last summer, so we missed the chance to include him in the shoot. It lets me know that we cannot stop the passing of time, but we can capture it in images that will hopefully live in the hearts of generations to come.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE YOUR FAVORITE SHOTS OF HISTORY THAT YOU’VE CAPTURED.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography. Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Comfort

Photography as an art allows us to preserve so many important memories in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. This last Thanksgiving, my father passed away after a long illness. At the graveside, I was able to capture this personal moment between my mother and her bishop (LDS pastor). The bishop had given my parents much comfort during Dad’s illness, and his words at the funeral and graveside showed that he not only knew but cared deeply about my parents. We all felt comforted by his kindness and love.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE PHOTOS THAT SHOW OR GIVE COMFORT.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Gone, But Not Forgotten

For Dad’s funeral, Mom didn’t want a large flower arrangement for the casket, so she asked each of us to pick a rose color to personally place on the casket at the graveside. We had two of each color (lavender, yellow with red tips, deep peach, dark red, and pink), for each child and their spouse. The grandsons added their white pallbearer carnations, and the granddaughters placed pick carnations. Mom’s was the sole white rose.

For more from this challenge, visit Weekly Photo Challenge: Gone, But Not Forgotten.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Enduring Love

Endure: remain in existence, last.

This has been a difficult week for my family. My father passed away on Sunday. He had suffered with illness for a long time, but he was able to stay at home and be cared for by my mother. For the last five months, nurses and aids from hospice came each morning to get Dad ready for the day, and at night, one of us children would go and help Mom get him ready for bed. Because we were fortunate enough to live close to my parents, my sisters and I were able to spend a lot of time with Mom and Dad. When he passed away, he was surrounded by his loving wife and family. This past summer, my parents celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. Watching my mother take care of my father showed me the type of bond that allows two people to endure the trials and hardships that come to every marriage. Because of their unshaken commitment and devotion to each other, Mom had the strength and ability to care for Dad until the end.

These photos were taken at my nephews wedding almost three years ago. I love the shot of Dad brushing off the seat before Mom sits down. I love the comfortable feeling they have together as they wait for the group pictures to be taken. This is something that comes with only long-term, for the long-haul commitment.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT REPRESENTS A LOVE THAT HAS ENDURED HARDSHIPS AND TRIALS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: In Memoriam

The Latin phrase in memoriam means in memory of, especially in a epitaph. As today is the anniversary of the horrific bombings of the World Trade Towers in New York City, I wanted to honor the memory someone from my life who served his country. My father-in-law served in the United States Army. One of his grandsons is currently serving in the United States Marines (he is the pallbearer in uniform). I feel we sometimes take for granted the sacrifices of the people who keep us safe and risk everything to do so. This week’s challenge is for those people, around the world, who have given their all to protect their country, whatever country it may be.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT DEPICTS REMEMBERING SOMEONE WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ and “Photo a Week” tags.
3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.