Nine Mile Falls, WA
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: Making Meaningful #Memories

Those of us who are photographers understand how important capturing that perfect memorable moment is when trying to create lasting memories with our lenses. Some of those skills include:

  • Being in the right place at the right time
  • Having a lens ready
  • Recognizing a seemingly mundane moment and capturing it anyway
  • Organizing image composition and photo-editing

In the 21st century, it is very easy to handle the first two points using mobile phones or technology. Taking random photos at random times of random things is another skill I find easy. Because we blog, I imagine that we get in the habit of taking pictures of everything…just in case.

The featured image shows the power of the water roaring over the Nine Mile Falls Dam for which my small rural town is named.

Another way to capture a moment is to indulge in some photo editing, especially if you want to frame or print an image and give it to someone, or perhaps sell it. Basic and recommended photo-editing involves cropping, adjusting exposure and color which assists with the composition of the image.

Most of you have seen my images edited with the Painnt App filter. Below is a good example of how you can take a good image and turn it into something great and perhaps memorable. The gallery cuts off the right image too much, but you get the idea.

mule deer unedited
Edited Mule Deer image

This filter on the right added the look of snow falling and the texture of canvas while warming the colors. It was also cropped to a square size.

With all the above components in mind, the final deer image becomes a piece of art or at the very least, becomes etched in my memory of a place I visited in early 2022, which happened to be our day trip to Grand Coulee Dam in Central Washington.

Memories of Mom, A Woman of History

This theme idea came up because most of you know I lost two moms within a year of each other, my mom in March 2020 and my mother-in-law in February 2021. I whiled away a few hours looking at images of both moms and remembering so many times we spent together. I decided to play around with the Painnt filter for this photo of my mom from 2000.

Diane McCune Webster

She would have hated it, but the filter gives the image a rustic, sepia-tone that speaks of her history. March is Women in History month, so this seemed like the best way to remember the impact my mother had on my life.

Although Mom passed away just three months shy of her 80th birthday, she created a legacy of leisure for her family and grandchildren. We spent nearly every Sunday, at her urging, exploring the San Diego beaches, attending dog shows (where her gorgeous collies were being shown), going to the San Diego Zoo (she had a yearly membership and free family pass), taking long drives to the mountains, and spending weeks during summers camping in National Parks. Also, on summer evenings we stopped at Der Wienerschnitzel for hot dogs on the way to sunset walks on the beach at the Coronado or Pacific Beaches. Once my younger brothers grew up and moved out, she often hiked with new friends in the Sierra Club.

“In 1998 she became a volunteer with San Diego’s Project Wildlife and spent 10 years rescuing orphaned and injured ducks, nursing them back to health, and releasing them back into local lakes and reservoirs.”

Obituary, March, 2020, East County Californian

When my daughters were born, she traveled 500 miles north to Sacramento 5-6 times a year to be with us and see her only grandchildren. A gifted musician and artist, she taught them how to read music and always had complicated art projects at the ready for them.

I recently posted on Instagram and Facebook some memories of my mom. You will see my mom wore her shorts short and her hair big!

“Well-behaved women rarely make history.”

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
https://www.instagram.com/p/CapXPZPlAto/

Her legacy continues today as the monies we received from the sale of her home in 2021 have helped my brothers and me to make memories in our new homes.

Happy almost home
March 2021, move-in month

“Every day, create your history, every path you take you’re leaving a legacy.”

Michael Jackson

Mom would approve.

A Few More Memories

How does one choose favorite memories? You don’t really. These images commemorate important milestones and joys of my life in somewhat chronological order.

San Diego Harbor Sunset
San Diego Harbor, my original hometown
University students blow bubbles to prove that spontaneity in leisure is rewarding.
University teaching
Ready-to-Sail
Terri sails La Ventana, Mexico
Daughters walking me down the aisle
My daughters walk me down the aisle
Hans and Terri Wedding 2013
We love cake!
Visiting Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory
Hilo’s Macadamia Nut Factory
using the knee scooter
Still active after recovering from foot surgery
Happy on our half acre
New beginnings… our Washington property in May 2020
Two Bloggers
Terri and Marsha
celebrating a birthday
Celebrating turning 60
Hugging my house goodbye
Saying goodbye to my Sacramento home in 2020
Getting the Keys to the house
Saying hello to the new home in March 2021
Aurora Borealis from my porch
Aurora Borealis from my porch
Proud Dad and Bride
Proud Dad and Bride
Bald Eagle
Capturing Eagles

Photo Challenges this Week

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Sunday Stills weekly challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.

  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.

This Week’s Links

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are this week’s links from bloggers who shared memorable photos. I add these all week as your new links are published.

This week for Sunday Stills, show us your memorable moments! Tell us how YOU make memories.

I’ve stolen this quote from Marsha’s WQW as this sums up today’s post:

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

Dr. Seuss
have a good week
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97 comments

  2. Photo editing makes a picture better in so many ways and allows the photographer to put his or her own interpretation of the subject. Adding the snowfall to the deer made the image magical and somehow more real, even though that was only in your mind. Nice work!

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  6. Terry you touched my heart with your mom memories and her gift of spending time out and about. Thank you for taking us through your beautiful milestones. I haven’t yet decided on my making memories photos but I know I’ll enjoy the process of revisiting numerous events through time as I scroll leisurely thru my life!

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  14. One of my very favorite things about photography is the way it preserves memories so your post is a terrific reminder of that Terri. I just did a collage of images spanning 30 years for my niece’s 30th birthday last month and I had so much fun going thru the archives looking through the family photos as we all grew up. With the current availability of cellphones there’s just no excuse any more NOT to save our memories. A terrific post and an interesting challenge – well done!

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  15. I really enjoyed all of your beautiful memories, Terri! The tribute to your mom is so lovely, as are all the pictures of you and your family. I hope to sort through my own memories and come back with a post later!

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  17. It’s so nice having photographs to remember our loved ones. I like how you created this painting from a picture Terri. Very nice. Pairing photos with our memories means our loved ones are just a click or a thought away.

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  19. Hi _ I feel like I know you so much more from tis post – it was so well done and your mom is a beauty and my Aunt (similar age as her I think) also had the big hair. It was “in” and it might just come back some day – hahah
    – and the warm memories you shared with us made my heart smile – I know that drive from southern Cal to northern Cal (did it once in 2002) and could imagine your mom eager to see the grandchildren.
    – —
    I am going to try and join in this week – was already thinking about sharing some soccer coaching memories from ten years ago –

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    • Thank you so much, Yvette! Mom was a dedicated grandma and a wonderful auntie to my cousins’ children when they lived in San Diego. When they all moved to Oregon and Washington, it all but broke her heart. By then Mom was in a nursing home but could remember everyone and keep up with what we were all doing. I will look forward to anything you can share this week!

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      • It is such a good theme – and for some reason though, I had a bad feeling when I saw the Michael Jackson quote. Not sure if you ever saw the documentaries about the grown children who were seriously hurt for life by some of his predator actions – but those documentaries really stuck with me – and not to ever take away from his musical talent and wonderful voice and success – but to read a quote about legacy – from MJ? yuck – and then also with all of his mental health issues- he just seems like the last person that should be quoted about leaving a lasting legacy – but great post and really good theme
        🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • such a good point – and I almost didn’t mention it – but hey, we happened to be live chatting – which is so fun when it happens in blog world –
        and by the way – I went with a different idea for the Sunday stills theme this week – post is coming soon – (memory lane with music)

        Liked by 1 person

  21. This was a lovely mix of tips for photographers, a look at your mum’s life, memory making photos and your lovely photos that have meaning in your life Terri! Thanks for being so generous with your thoughts and blogging – I agree as a blogger I always take random photos of random things at random moments – you never know when they might be useful! I love the photos of the lights from your porch – so amazing!
    I wrote an ‘honest’ post on this topic and feel pleased to be able to do so in the company of friends like you! https://debs-world.com/2022/03/06/how-do-you-make-memories-sundaystills/

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  25. Terri, just yesterday, a rare Florida Bobcat strolled along the back of my MIL’s property and disappeared into the woods beyond. The entirety of the sighting was less than a minute and I had neither phone nor camera handy, so I just enjoyed the moment. I couldn’t agree more that your #’s one and two go hand in hand.

    I have created an annual Shutterfly book each year since 2008 when I started shooting digital photography. I try to create an honest representation of our lives with each book, so that our history is preserved in some small way. Even the unflattering photos hold precious memories. The early books incorporate a small sampling of prior years photos (scanned) and some snippets of family history. It is worth the time and effort.

    Your Mom sounds like an amazing woman and you were obviously influenced by her love of the outdoors. Beautiful tribute. My favorite photo here is of your daughters walking you down the isle on your wedding day – pure joy!

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    • How fun to see the bobcat, wow, Suzanne! Sometimes a great scene is best remembered with our own eye and brain! Your Shutterfly projects sound very worthwhile. I’m always getting prompted by google to print or collect photos. I may have to try that, great suggestion. Thank you for you kind comments about my mom. I don’t think I praised her enough in life (we were at odds about a lot of things), but I’m at peace with everything over the years and know that she continues to bless me from Heaven. I was so happy when the girls wanted to walk me down the aisle for our wedding. They really love their stepdad!

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  32. A lovely theme and a particularly lovely tribute to your mother. My parents left similar legacies – both of my nephews are now home owners thanks to money they were left by their grandparents 🙂

    I have a particular set of memories for you. I’ve been meaning to write about our football (soccer to you!) trips for some time, so thanks for giving me the perfect excuse to finally get around to it! https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/memories-of-following-the-toon-in-europe/

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  37. Terri,
    Great memories make for great reading and I loved this post and all of the comments from your readers. Your relationship with your mom was special–thanks for sharing! In 2000, Helen and I moved into our dream home on the Tennessee River and lived there for 13 years. Eventually, we realized that we needed to downsize in order to travel, but the memories of that home live on. I have attached a picture of the view from our deck. Have a great week! Joe

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  41. Where would we be without all the memories we all have, Terri? I love your mum’s big hair. It reminded me of my mum’s hair when she used to comb it up and apply lots of hairspray. Sometimes she’d come back from the hairdressers with up in a beehive. I was amazed that that beehive would still be in place even after a night’s sleep.

    I’ve still not ventured into photo editing. Even though I have the tools available, it’s something that seems to run right past me. I think the only photo editing I’ve done is cropping photos into squares.

    Here’s a memory I’m sharing with you, taken ten years ago when he first came home with us.

    I can’t believe he is now classed as a senior.

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    • Thanks, Hugh, mom was definitely a product of her 60s generation with her hairstyles. She was so healthy and active into her 40s when her health began to decline due to lupus. She managed and stubbornly pushed on for 20 more years before she had to live with assistance. I enjoy photo editing, seems Apple/Mac have some good editing programs if you ever decide to dig in. ow can Toby be 10 years old? Aero is 11 and will be 12 in July 😦 The vet classified him as a senior dog when he was 7! Thank you again and have a great week!

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  42. This is such a beautiful post, Terri. Your mother was gorgeous! She looks so young in her short shorts. It’s hard to imagine she’s not a teen in that picture. I love that she rescued ducks. I remember an oil spill around that time happening. Avila Beach was shut down for months, maybe over a year and the entire beach had to be scrubbed. We used to take our fourth graders to Avila Beach every year because many of them had never seen a beach and we lived so close. Great post, wonderful memories. My post will air in a bit.

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    • Thank you, Marsha! She had a youthful look her entire life. So did her mother. She always loved being involved in the local community. In an earlier post, I included a pic of the memorial brick we had made for the City of Lemon Grove. We have visited it a couple of times. I have her ashes still.

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      • It is still so recent for you. Is it comforting to have her ashes. My mom wanted to donate her body to science but I didn’t think that would have to be signed off before she died. Neither of us did a good job of preparing for her death. I was always too busy trying to keep her going. She lived to be 80 with just 5% of her heart functioning. She was on dialysis for eight years as well.

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