52/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: Thank you for your patience and support in letting me take your portrait each week this year. It's been such a gift. Through the ups and downs, during the lulls and the chaos. Each week I've managed to come back to centre through taking your portrait. In our marriage, in your blue eyes, in your arms, I find peace and true happiness.

Us: At the end of the day, in love and in this together.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all 52 portraits of 2013 by clicking on the 52 Portrait Series button in the sidebar.

In case you're wondering why I chose to participate in this project taking photos of my husband in the first place, you can read about it here. More reflections at week 42, here. 

It's been so rewarding to look back through all 52 weeks. I'm really proud to have stuck with it. I'll be taking part in 2014 with another spin on the weekly portraits, I'm looking forward to a new challenge.

Belinda x

51/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: In his natural habitat. The one portrait I've been meaning to shoot all year and left till the last minute.

Us: All time favourite bedtime stories. Like that time Jo was flipped upside-down in Topsy Turvy Land and had to go with Moonface and Silky to The Land of Spells to be turned the right way round again. Do you remember that one?!!

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

50/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: Embracing the Christmas traditions of his in-laws, with gusto. This is The Chicken Dance, now with added maracas.

Us: Fresh juice and coffee's before heading to the beach. Exhale.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

49/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: Choosing a real tree at the farm is fast becoming one of our favourite Christmas traditions.

We: are right in the thick of festive season chaos at the moment. Work deadlines are intense and the list of things to do in preparation for Christmas is overwhelming. Thankful for quiet nights by candle and Christmas tree lights.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

48/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: I'm suddenly feeling like I'll miss taking his portrait each week next year. Reflecting on how special it is to have this keepsake of our 2013. How lucky I am to have him. I feel extra pressure to make these last ones count. 

Us: A shared adventure in a vacant inner city lot in the late afternoon. It hosted some really incredible street art. We felt like we weren't meant to be there but loved taking it all in. I imagine a few hours later it would have been quite a different scene. 

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

47/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: We received news early in the week that my aunt had passed away suddenly. At this risk of sounding cheesy ~ actually I'm unapologetic about that ~ the only place I wanted to be every day was in his arms. Each day I got home from work craving the comfort of his embrace above all else.

We: A glimmer of hope in meeting with a new specialist this week. Time will tell whether we make any progress here. But even the tiniest glimmer of hope, is hope none-the-less. 

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

46/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: Still dreaming about learning to surf. He finally took his new (to him) surfboard down for her maiden voyage but unfortunately conditions were so grim the idea was quickly replaced by staying dry with a cold beer.

We: Music, great company, food and wine. We spent much of the weekend gathered in this kitchen, laughing, singing, dancing and telling stories. So good.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

Behind the scenes

My sister captured the moment I took Richard's portrait last week.

I think my mum took a picture of her, taking a picture of me, taking a picture of Rich showing off his picture of the sunset.

I kind of love this grainy phone image of our silhouettes standing before that sinking sun, dusted in mist before the lightening and thunder began. 

Because it proves I'm here. With him, them, you.

Always behind the lens, but here none-the-less.

Belinda x

45/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: I watch the way he naturally and genuinely interacts with my family and friends. He makes me so proud to be his wife.

We: Another weekend out of town. This time our annual family Christmas weekend in Forster, on the north coast of New South Wales. My entire paternal extended family has been making this trip every year for sixteen years. We spend a weekend together in cabins lined up along the lake. It's very special to us, and it's wonderful to watch this little gang start making their own special memories here too.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

44/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: He spent the week in and out of airports for work. I missed him.

We: There are fewer things more restorative than falling into step with familiar rhythms, being outdoors and having time for simple pleasures. Grateful for a family weekend away in Queensland to celebrate my Dad's 60th.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

43/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: Never one to stick with the same haircut for too long. He's now itching to shave his hair short for summer. But, I'm really loving this classic 50's hairstyle on him.

Us: Hand printing spiders for Halloween.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

Portraits

Less than ten weeks to go till the new year. 

Forty two weeks have gone by since I started the 52 portrait project. Documenting life this year with my great love. It has been such a rewarding thing to do and has served it's original intent beautifully. 

It's pushed me to practice and refine my photography. I've taken a camera with me everywhere, I know that the only way to improve is to practice and this project has given me the structure I needed to do that. Plus, I've found that I'm really drawn to portraits of people. Both viewing them and taking them. Images that have a persons unique fingerprint stamped all over them or perhaps leave you wondering about the subject, images that conjure up emotions without really needing any words. I love taking photos and I love taking pictures of people the most.

But more importantly, this years portrait project has reminded me stop regularly and appreciate Richard. Really see him. Man, it can be so easy to lose sight of each other. Even the weeks where we just got *the effing portrait done* and there were a few. Or the weeks that life chucked us a few curve balls, there were a few of those too. Taking his portrait made me stop and properly look at him, gain perspective - whether it was through the lens or during the editing process. Without fail I was grateful for him. With every single portrait, every single week.

All this reflection, of course has me thinking about next year.  I'd like to continue with the portrait project but handsome as he is, I think one year of Richard portraits is enough!

Without the obvious choice of documenting my own children each week, I've been milling over the approach I might take. A portrait of someone new each week, self portraits (yeah, nah. ruled that one out pretty quickly) perhaps playing with a particular theme - lighting, perspective, unportraits....?

Are you thinking about participating next year? Will you be continuing on from this year or just starting out? 

Do you have any suggestions on alternative ways to approach the 52 portrait project? I'd love to hear them!

You can view all of my portraits this year by clicking here or the pretty button in my sidebar.

Belinda x

* Portraits above of loved ones in England. Including one of me slouching about in the afternoon sunshine.

42/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: He arrived home from work and encouraged me to ride with him to the sea.

We: A stark contrast at sunset the following evening. An early and ominous start to bushfire season. 

Holding our breath as the weather conditions due on Sunday and Monday threaten to intensify an already terrifying situation in the Blue Mountains. Our thoughts are with those with their homes and families under threat, and the heroic firefighters who tirelessly work to protect. Stay safe.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

41/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: He'll tell you he's been listening to the Arctic Monkeys and Queens Of The Stone Age lately. Which is true. But he has a major cheesy streak. Give him DJ control and you can expect an eighties power ballad or two.

We: Sharing music and discovering new (to us) artists and bands has been a cornerstone of our relationship from the very beginning. Friday nights in playing music, telling stories, air guitar and lounge room dance offs. Those Friday nights are the best kind.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

40/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: Thankfully discovered the threadbare holes in the seat of his boardies before posing like the guy painted in the mural. Not before leaving the house though, which would have been a more ideal scenario...

We: Afternoons at the pool and iceblocks by the sea. Summer's on her way!

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

39/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: Music and gadgets. Two of his very favourite things. Combine them and he'll happily tinker with his head nodding for hours.

We: The time has come for us to be slower and more thoughtful. We're planning a health cleanse routine for the month of October. Regular exercise, more whole foods and time spent outdoors. A chance to renew before the silly season arrives.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

38/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: This week a close friend, someone I have known for over twenty years, said she couldn't remember us without each other. I love that.

We: A week of celebrations. First, to remember the perfect day we were wed in Fiji, three years ago. Yesterday, a fantastic afternoon spent with friends and family to celebrate Richards birthday. Ending the week feeling exhausted and blessed.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

37/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: Home.

We: Are at our best, together. No matter what life throws our way.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

36/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

A different approach since I haven't been in the same country as Richard all week. I've missed him beyond words. So, a portrait for every day we've been apart, taken during our recent UK holiday together.

Richard: The best song in the world. This is just a tribute. *

1. Twenty minutes out of town, rural english countryside.
2. Slightly dusty from the night before.
3. Willow tree wig.
4. Equinophobic.
5. A late night bite in Soho after seeing a West End show.
6. Not a fan of the London Underground.
7. Saying goodbye.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x

* Reference - Tenacious D.

35/52

"A portrait of my husband and our marriage, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Richard: You can take the boy out of Manchester. But Manchester never leaves the boy.

We: are so grateful for quality time spent with loved ones in the UK over these last two weeks. The people you see in this shot are genuine, generous, funny and a bit bonkers; in the best possible way.

Participating in the 52 Portraits series led by Jodi at Che & Fidel. You can view all of my weekly portraits by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Belinda x