For today’s Mobile Monday feature I have an exciting addition to our call for 4 images in 24 hours. I’ve challenged another guest, Barbara Paulsen, to shoot 4 images with a mobile device within 24 hours and to share her story here.
Barbara began her career as a Life Coach to two exclusive clients with the birth of her daughter 14 years ago and her son 11 years ago. She’s a highly-organized, decluttering maven who’s also an admirer of fine beer (her husband is a brewer!!!!). She’s a reader and a listener, a walker and a runner, on top of being a quote-collecting, cat-owning iPhoneographer in suburbia.
What cameras do you shoot with? Do you have a favorite?
I have a point and shoot camera, but it is only used on family vacations, holidays, etc and I use these pictures for scrapbooking. My camera of choice for every day is my iPhone 4 and more specifically my iPhone with the Hipstamatic app. Do you remember when facebook first came out? One of my friends started posting these amazing pictures and she told me she took them with her phone and the Hipstamatic app. I was smitten. Several years have passed now and I own every lens, film and accessory one can purchase through Hipstamatic. Some people find the app frustrating, because you have no control over the outcome, but that is what I love about it. The surprise. If you play around with the lens/film combos enough you start to find favorites and you can predict, to some extent, the affect it will have on your photo, but not always. Light plays a huge roll in how the photo will ultimately come out.
What do you love most about photography?
I’ve been thinking about this. It’s hard to pin down, but I think what I love the most is that photography is less about the picture and more about capturing a feeling for me. Feelings can be fleeting, or intense, or like a roller coaster. Feelings are hard for me to express in words. A photo can feel sad, happy, dreamy, wistful, angry, etc., don’t you think? A lot of times my photos reflect the mood I’m in at that current time and place (whether my subject is feeling this or not themselves). So, in essence, photography has become my voice.
What and Who inspires you?
My first inspiration was Darrah Parker and her Slice of Life class. I was reading a blog, several years ago, and the author made this list of 30 or more things you should do for yourself in the coming year and one of them was an online photography class. Me a photographer? Well, I didn’t think so then, but I signed up for the class, and Darrah made me see that there was beauty in laundry and dirty dishes and, well, life! Life isn’t always pretty, but she encouraged me to look around, right where I was, and find the magic in the everyday. In that class, I heard whisperings of other online classes or people: Tracey Clark’s classes on Big Picture Classes, Vivienne McMaster’s self-portrait classes, Susannah Conway’s Photo Meditations Class, and Stephanie Robert’s book The Art of iPhoneography. I’ve taken them all and learned so much from each class, book or teacher. And, I’ve met incredible people. People interested in photography like I am, helpful people, encouraging people, kind people. Really, the kindest ever. They led me to Shutter Sisters and Mortal Muses (here I am and I’m so thrilled!). I spend most of my time on IG these days (@mthoodmama) following all kinds of lovely people who offer me a peek into their lives, friendship, and spark my imagination with their images. I also like the challenges these groups often offer that provide me with inspiration when I’m feeling uninspired: @hipstaroll, @hipstaconnect, @sundaybluesedit, @decim8nday, @meandyou52, @mortalmuses, @shuttersisters, and the new @tccameramen.
What was your happiest/worst photographic moment and why?
The worst? This message on my phone while camping in Yellowstone last summer: “Storage Almost Full”. This is the downside of Hipstamatic. Not only does it save all your photos to your photoroll (which you want), but it keeps a copy in the app and thus takes up memory space. I’ve found I’ve had to delete the app several times and reinstall to make room on my phone (always scary!). Backup, backup, backup. The happiest? So many. When the light is just right and you know you’ve captured magic, finding beauty in the everyday moments, or having a friend ask you to take her picture (now that is an amazing feeling!).
Final thoughts.
I don’t know about you, maybe you already have a thriving career in the photography business, but I’m just a regular person raising kids and taking care of my family. I’m not sure where photography will take me, but this I know for sure: Joy courses through me when I raise my phone, frame my subject and snap. If you feel this way, too, don’t stop learning, exploring, asking questions and taking pictures.
You can follow along with Barbara’s mobile adventures on her facebook and flickr pages where she’s also known as Mt. Hood Mama. She contributes a monthly article/photo about motherhood at Makings of Motherhood, and collaborates with her friend Jeanne Farber by providing her with photos on her blog suburbotypes. Barbara recently had three iPhone photos accepted into a local gallery showing called I AM/YOU ARE. Congrats Barbara! Exciting news!
If you would like to be considered for a “4 in 24” feature, please email us at mortalmuses9@gmail.com or contact us here.
Until next time!
So glad to see you here Barbara, and to learn more about you – you’re a continuous inspiration to me on IG!
Thank you, Jenny! It’s an honor and thrill to talk about photography and the Hipsta app here!
Yay Barbara! So nice to see you here and learn more about your path. You know, you are the hipstaqueen to me!
Thanks, Elke! I appreciate all your kind words on IG and love seeing glimpses into your life. xo
I recognize Barbara’s style of photography immediately and follow her on FB and IG. Her photos are refreshing and so full of life!
Thank you for your kind words, Lynne! xo
I have long been a fan of Barbara’s iPhone work—-so great to see you here today!! You are a master at getting the best out of Hipstamatic. Thanks so much for sharing with us here today 🙂
Thank you, Christy! xo
So happy to get to know you more Barbara! I always look forward to seeing your beautiful images in my Instagram feed!
Thank you, Leigh, and Happy Birthday! xo
Barbara, I loved this feature of you and your lovely images…you are my hipstamatic idol and thanks to you I actually try to use it once in a while…congrats and you should teach us more on using hisptamatic
Yay, Gabriela! I’m so glad I inspire you to try out Hipstamatic! That makes me happy. I love the idea of a Hipsta class! xo
I agree Gabriela! She needs to create a Hipstaclass!!!!
So happy to see you here Barbara! I love following you on Instagram. Your photos and accompanying quotes always make my day. You deserve the recognition!
Thank you for your kind words, Cheryl! xo
So glad to have you here on MM, Barbara!!
Thanks, Meghan! It’s good to be here 🙂 xo
YOU inspire ME. I’m so glad we found each other through Slice of Life and that we share a connection to this day. xoxo
Me too, Darrah! I love seeing your little one growing up through IG. Brings back so many good (and hard) memories of that time with my own little girl (not so little anymore!). I really, truly, loved your class and through your kindness and thoughtful lessons you made me think in a different way that has impacted me ever since. xo
Darrah, your Slice of Life class was HUGE for me too! I’m so glad Barbara mentioned it…I didn’t know she’d taken it too! xo
You and Barbara may have even been in the same group! I love that we’ve all stayed in touch after all this time and am so touched that my class had an impact on both of you. xoxo
Yay! This was such a great article and just so you know…I never use my hipstamatic app without thinking what would Barbara do. You are an iphone inspiration.
Oh and that shot with the bird flying into frame {gah}!
I know! Can you believe my luck with that bird? And I didn’t even know it had flown through my pic until it “developed” 🙂 Thank you, dear Heather, for the love. xo
Barbara, I’ve loved getting to learn more about you and your process! I’ve long admired your work with Hipstamatic and love seeing the combinations up there…i’m going to have to try them! Thank you so much for being on the site today and sharing your 4 in 24! xo
Thank you for having me, Holly! Your photo journey has inspired me as well with your #fromwhereistand and #ctyw — I have shot more pics of my feet and beer than I ever thought possible and they are some of my favorites because they mark a place in time that is hard to forget. xo
I LOVE Barbara, her images and this post! I can totally relate to the “storage almost full” message! I also love how our minis have connected thru Instagram. One of these days we’ll get down to visit you gals…maybe a meet up in Manzanita? Bet we could do some serious photo and shopping damage!
Cyndy- Cass & I would absolutely love that! We will be armed with cameras and cute purses 🙂 And, I hope you know that in the BPCs I coveted all your photos. Your eye is unique and I love the way you capture the world around. xo
oh dear barbara, so happy to find you featured here! you know i adore you and your images. xo
The feeling is mutual, Michelle. Didn’t I say I’ve met the nicest people on this photography journey? You are one of them. Looking forward to all our adventures together. xo
Yay! Such a great interview! Your photos are amazing and inspiring, Barbara! So glad we’ve gotten to meet up a few times. 🙂 xoxo
Thank you, dear Andrea! It is so nice to have a fellow photographer here in my town to do photo walks with. More soon! Maybe an IG meet-up in the Couve?
I love that part about the joy when you pick up your camera and snap. That is exactly it. Gets me through on the hard days, and is just icing on the cake on the good ones! So fun to be introduced to you : )
I am right there with you, Elizabeth! I’m glad you found me 🙂 xo
What a treat to read more about your wonderful images; I always smile when I see them on IG! I particularly loved your words on how photography captures a feeling. Yes! Yes! Yes!
Thank you, Kirstin! 🙂
What a great read! Love your work and how you see the world around you!
Thank you so much, Vanessa! xo
I thought we had so much in common until I read that you are highly-organized. I guess it’s just not meant to be. 😛 I think it was you, back a couple years ago now, that learned that you could open that window wide on Hipsta. Christy taught both of us the trick. Am I right? You are indeed an inspiration. xo
Ha!! I am only organized so I can be lazy Yes, you are right! That little trick Christy taught us was huge and changed my pictures forever. And, Thanks, my friend for your kind words! I hope we meet IRL someday. I will know you because you will be wearing your Forever 21 T-Shirt! xo
Ha!! I am only organized so I can be lazy 🙂 Yes, you are right! That little trick Christy taught us was huge and changed my pictures forever. And, Thanks, my friend for your kind words! I hope we meet IRL someday. I will know you because you will be wearing your Forever 21 T-Shirt! xo
oops–this posted twice for Becky! sorry!
it’s great to learn more about you, Barbara. your images are always very special. I’ve not learned how to take Hipstamatic pics that I like yet but your words and images and the info on lenses and films are very inspirational. I’m going to play more with Hipstamatic for sure.
Thank you, Marina! I’m so glad I’ve inspired you to play around with Hipstamatic some more. I hope you learn to love it like I do. xo
Barbara, I enjoyed getting to know more about your process here. I love the secret rush and mystery of Hipsta surprise!! Like opening a gift ! And I relate to your photos being your voice, as I find I am writing less, and allowing the photo to tell my story. I love your words ” less about the picture, more about capturing a feeling” …Well said my friend!
Hope to meet and greet you someday by the Sea!
Deb- You do such a great job telling stories with your photos! They are filled with raw, beautiful emotion. I, too, hope we meet in real life someday by the sea! What pictures we could take! xo, B.