Cardboard Craftiness

I really like crafting things.  Wait, strike that, I love it.  I come by it naturally.  My mother hoarded supplies in case of creative inspiration.  I have a whole room filled with fabric, some paper goods, glue sticks, plus a variety of books and photography items.

When inspiration hits it may take awhile before I get around to making the item in mind.  Make no mistake, I will get around to it and it will be awesome.  Except, when sometimes it isn't.

I really love including things that reflect who the child is and what they are into when creating portraits.  My son has enjoyed tractors since the day he was born.  He loves other things, like pushing buttons on my camera to...  But he really is into tractors right now.

I thought that it would be cool to build him his own tractor.

I began breaking down and hoarding cardboard boxes about six months or so ago.  They fold flat and are easy to stash.  Lately, we always have large diaper boxes on hand too. 

I probably waited a little too long to start the project (about six weeks before his birthday), it wasn't done quite in time for his two year portraits. 

I worked over the course of a month, beginning in the living room on the floor and then moving to a space upstairs. 

 

I  had measured my son and worked to create a tractor that would 'fit' him... but I neglected to measure our door frames.  I got very nervous when I had difficulty moving the project to another room.  The good thing about cardboard is that it flexes. 

My son loved it immediately.  He soon figured out that it was something for him.

 

 

I lost track of how many sticks I put through my glue gun.  I'd say at the very least a dozen.    I used brown paper to line the interior of the cab so that the diaper box graphics could be covered.

I had a lot of fun putting this together.  I've been told that I should make a pattern and sell it.  I don't know about that.  That's the fun about a piece of art, usually you don't find two that are the exact same.  And, I would have no idea how to go about creating instructions for something like this.  I do think that I may be able to make a second one more efficiently. Or, it'd be more elaborate and no time would be saved.  :D

I was asked if I planned to paint the piece.  I imagined it being just cardboard.  I thought that would clearly convey that this was a play thing that may have been imagined by a child in possession of cardboard.  I like the simplicity of an unpainted tractor.

I think that it photographed really well too.

  

   

Thanks for visiting my blog.  I can be commissioned to create an imaginative piece for your session as well! We are post portrait session and the tractor is still being played with.  We bring it out in the yard when the weather is nice.  It will live in my son's room until he is done playing with it.



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Max Turns Three!!!

I've been photographing Max since his birth.  I can't believe that he will soon be three!!  Today began with sunshine.  I'd hoped that we would get to use that weather to our advantage.  Unfortunately, it didn't hold.

 

I set up a studio in our old garage.  The space isn't pretty as a whole.  Selectively, it was an awesome space to use.  Plus, it was warm.  Added bonus.

 

That's the magic of being mobile.  I can set my lights up anywhere and create a studio on the go.

Max currently enjoys music of all sorts.  He particularly enjoys rhythm instruments.  I love being able to document who a child is at every stage of their life.  Maracas are one of his current favorite toys.  You can't keep a kid still when he has a beat in his soul.

 

We decided to take a break and go check out my husband's shop.  I brought a flash along.  Max is like most kids, they love to go, go, go and he's into wheels. I love impromtu shots!

 

Max is a high energy guy.  I imagine that he slept pretty well on the way home after his session.  I hope that he had as much fun as I did.

 

If you would like updates on my photographic work, I invite you to 'Like' Sieversma Photography on facebook too.

July 4th

I love the Fourth of July!!  Each year I look forward to the displays and trying to capture the spirit of the holiday.

This year we viewed Vermillion's show from a friend's yard.

 

My brother and his fiance are getting married next year.  They requested a few portraits with fireworks.  We all enjoy setting them off in our yard each year.  And I love an opportunity to do something a little bit different.

 

Fireworks takes some planning and patience.  And, if you can swing it, an extra set of hands.  I was glad that our neighbor was over.  She offered to help me by lighting the fountains.  I was able to stay with the camera, ready to shoot as soon as the pieces were lit.

 

 

 

We still have a stash of fireworks that we didn't shoot off.  I hope to do a few more poses this summer.  I have some ideas burning to get out.  I hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th!

Tanya and Rob

I am lucky to be able to document the celebration of marriage for some wonderful couples and families. I am trying to be better about sharing these events.

Rob and Tanya bubbled over with love and affection for each other.  While doing the groom portraits, Rob asked if Tanya had told me how they met.  I hadn't heard the story yet, but Rob couldn't contain himself as he shared his memories.  They were young sweethearts, going steady in middle school, sharing each other's first kiss by a pop machine out of view from their friends.

They parted ways, Tanya moved away and they lost touch.  Each made their own way in life, though Rob says he often wondered how Tanya was doing.  Eventually each found themselves living in the Sioux Falls area.  Thanks to Facebook, they were able to reconnect and were at a point in life where they could meet again.  It had been years since they last saw each other, but their fondness for one another remained.

Affection is apparent when you watch them together.

                      

 

 

                      

 

 

Rob and Tanya's family were all a joy to spend an evening with.  Their children were very excited for the party and the Washington Pavilion was a gorgeous backdrop for the event.

 

 

                    

 

 

Thank you Rob and Tanya for inviting me to photograph your wedding.  May you and your family have many happy years together! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portrait Session

Gerrett and Sarah asked me to take photos for their Christmas cards this year. It was a chilly day, but they were excellent subjects and we had fun.

Additional photos can be found here.