fatherhood

more . 

fatherhood

I am photographing a Dad who is feeding his son for the first time – the six month old has never eaten solid foods.  His wife has mixed the breast milk with the rice cereal and the Dad gets ready to start.  She comes in and asks, ‘can I just feed him his first spoonful?’  Obligingly he steps to the side and says, ‘sure.’ 

The father goes on to feed the boy, and they both really enjoy the experience.  Later I think back on the exchange – the mom wanted to be first.  I understand her desire – she’s fed him everything he’s ever eaten up until that point.  But I keep wondering, what does this do to the father?  Is it setting up a construct that will continue as the boy grows?  A small moment, to be sure, but a part of the evolution of this man as a father.

fatherhood

going into design of the final version of the book – a mad rush of shoots scheduled.

recent

fatherhood . nighttime

I was up three times with my son last night – covers all messed up, bathroom run, and a scary dream.  I was exhausted by the third time, and almost getting exasperated, until he said, “Sorry I keep waking you up, Daddy.”  How can you be annoyed after that?

fatherhood . morning

fatherhood and hot spring days

it was hot in the bay area last week

watermelon and popsicles on the way home
then these kids found the hose for dad

nightmare medicine

he comes in after a nightmare,
half asleep i lift up the cover and let him crawl in
he curls up with my arm draped over his shoulder,
i want to hold your arm, he mutters, and drifts off

 

i was looking through images today . below
a new fatherhood shoot coming tomorrow 

 

 

fatherhood in music

one of the guys I photographed for my fatherhood book as a song playing on stations nationwide – check out this track:
http://www.myspace.com/thetrackrunners

fatherhood – school pick up

a comment on fatherhood

My fatherhood book project is ongoing. I hope to shoot a number of Dads in the coming months, but I wanted to highlight a comment that came through on this blog. At the time this comment came in, I was shooting for a week in Maine and there is no question, this made my week.

When this collateral piece hit my desk (last Fall I think?), the images connected with me like few others have (and being in an agency, I see A TON of them!) It is the ONLY piece I have on my desk now; a reminder that someone else out there ‘gets it’– what its like to be to take care of and connect with and be inspired by our kids as a single dad, or as any other kind of dad. I have 3 little girls who I take everywhere and do everything with; I used to hate hearing, “Oh is it Mommy’s day off?” for all sorts of reasons. I hear that much less now thankfully; I like to think its because maybe I look as comfortable with my girls (to the outside) as I have always been with them on the inside. A long-winded way of saying THANKS for your series; I’ll be back for more (and if you ever need another ’subject’, I know this guy with 3 daughters….) Cheers.