Photographing My Sons

It's been quite some time since I took group pictures of my sons. It is always very testing to get them to smile naturally, happily and look to the camera, all at the same time. They cannot stop moving, shaking, laughing, disturbing and pushing each other. So many times I snap so many pictures of them and not even one can be used. So often I ran out of patience and the whole photography process becomes tensed and uneasy and I usually have to call it off since no one could produce a genuinely relaxed smile anymore. There are also times when I cannot decide if I should be angry or amused by their non-stop mischievous actions.

Ludwig (right, in picture) will always say, "I hate Enzian." and Enzian will always say, "I hate Ludwig." when they are standing too close to each other. Yet when one is missing or being punished, the other one will ask the whereabouts of his twin. And every time I catch them looking out for the other, I will always say, "Enzian (or Ludwig), you actually love Ludwig (or Enzian) right?" Then they will be embarrassed but still denied fiercely they hate each other. Oh, how I love their love-hate relation!

Whenever I ask for a smile, I will get all sorts of monkey faces. A straight face showing only teeth. A serious face with sealed lips fake smile. A face with his chin pointing at the camera. A blurred out face because of non-stop actions. The worst is, they give me a smile so plastic and pretentious, I would really rather they give me back a straight face with teeth.

After such a long time, the only experience they have collected from being in front of the camera is they know they have to cooperate in order to be "let off" quickly to return to their activities prior to my calls to take pictures. The boys are not natural posers for the camera. Luckily for them, they belong to a mother who tries very hard to capture their childhood happiness digitally. How grateful will they be when they look back at these photographs in the future?

The only time I can take numerous snapshots of any angles I desire is when the TV is on and when I don't want them to look at the camera. I love this one particularly. His look is focussed. His eyelashes I want to have! His cheeks are so pinch-able and rosy. His lips are so red. His light brown hair is naturally curled and resting so flatteringly on his head. Oh, he is so perfect! Now do you know why I want a girl so much?