María Pons is a mama, a self taught photographer, and a teacher. She picked up her first big girl camera in 2010 and has not been able to put it down since. Her work is inspired by personal feelings with the world around her, fascinated by trying to evoke her own view of everyday living. She enjoys early morning coffees, long road trips with her husband and three children, and being alone with her camera.
My heart skips a beat when I see a yellow school bus parked under a tree bursting with red and orange Fall leaves. I stop to stare at crayons and gummy bears and, when it rains, I long with all my heart for a rainbow to appear. I want blue and purple scarves, I want watercolors and dirty brushes, I want color. I crave color. Every day of the year, that’s all I want to shoot. Color.
I look at my fellow photographers who prefer black and white and, while I do admire the elegance, the joy of contrasting light and dark, the nostalgia for styles of the past, I can’t help but ask myself: “Don’t they see it? Don’t they feel it?”… It’s out there, it’s around us, it’s what we see when we open our eyes in the morning – it’s alive! Alive for us to take in and enjoy, alive for us to shoot and keep, a color memory of how we see our world and how we choose to remember it.
And so I choose to frame my world in color. Because I’m alive, because I’m out there and I feel it. I feel the vibrancy, the boldness and the sparkle that being alive means. Color photography teaches me that the world around me is bustling with energy and so is every single day I live in it. Whether it’s a yellow sunrise, a green spring morning with a million colored flowers in your back yard, a blue sky in the middle of a summer day, or a gray, rainy afternoon, you never see the same colors, just like no day is ever the same. Whatever colors I see that day, that’s how I know what it might hold for me. Of course, sometimes I don’t know how my day might end, but that’s a whole new spectrum…
You can see more of Maite’s work at:
society6.com
maitepons.smug.com
flickr
As a bit of a black-and-white and muted colors person, I can really appreciate what Maite is pointing out here. Looks like I’ve been missing something! Gorgeous photos and beautiful words. Thank you for joining us here today.
I love how your words are as vibrant as your images – thank you for sharing!
i love it Maria. you and your colors always make me smile. xx
I would love to meet you some day Maria, because I imagine your personality is just as colorful as your images. I’ve been a long admirer of your work. So happy to see you here today!
The brighter the better, right Maria 🙂
I loved seeing you here this morning, and I always love your color!
I love that your bold use of color is informed by the subject and never overblown or over processed. And that shape and composition play a leading role in how that color inspires the viewer. Beautiful work.
Great learning a bit more about you! Fantastic imagery!
Gorgeous photos! Loved reading about your perspective on life and photography! xo
These are beautiful photos! I love your words and passion for color!
Maria, I have always admired the beauty you find everywhere. What a honor to be a guest muse, but I’m not at all surprised. You are amazing.
Beautiful work. Now a follower on Society6.
Way to go, Maite!!! I love her art!
You’re all very kind… Thank you so much for all your lovely words!
I love seeing your amazing work here, Maria!! You have an eye like no other…and you’re a very sweet person too!
Love your photos and your words Maria. You inspire so many of us. Congrats! xo
I love that your enthusiasm for life comes through in your images. Thank you so much for musing with us, Maria.
Thanks for sharing your work and passion for capturing color with us, your work is absolutely lovely!
You know I’m a huge fan of your work Maria and I love seeing these colorful images up there! Thanks for musing with us today! xo
Grande Maite!!!
Oh yes! Feeling totally alive. Beauty I all shades.
I can’t believe I missed this. Gorgeous, Maite! I’m totally with you on color. I am sucked in by color and while I try to do black & white, I almost always miss the color too much.
love the energy of your work, maria!
Thanks again, everyone, and especially a big hug to Mortal Muses for the honor of joining you here…