Precious moments with the grandkids
This writer is an avid photographer and storyteller, and his grandchildren are among his favourite subjects.
I HAVE always loved taking photos. It has been my passion since I was young. In the last 15 years, with the phenomenal advances in technology, taking sharp and crisp pictures has become a breeze and source of great pleasure for me!
Is it not surprising that I’ve become the self-appointed and unofficial photographer-cum-video maker at many events – from family gatherings to club activities and holiday trips? Each gathering, each individual, is a story. I am the storyteller.
A special subject very close to my heart is capturing the many precious moments of my grandchildren Hannah, 12, and Nathan, eight.
I have numerous pictures and videos carefully organised in chronological order for easy retrieval.
Each milestone is a story: snapshots of their wrinkly bodies as sleepy newborns, the first tooth peeking out of their gums, and so on.
I have pictures of them crawling to a corner, being read to while perched on a potty, videos of a gleeful game of peek-a-boo under the dinner table.
And who can forget their first day at kindergarten, carefully decked in their blue-and-white uniforms, pensive yet excited?
I remember patiently waiting for them to finish school, taking their little hands in mine and walking home.
In the course of taking photos, I learnt patience. There was a trying period when Hannah became averse to the camera! She dodged the camera, refused to smile and tried to hide from it.
And her little brother followed suit! No amount of coaxing worked.
This ardent pursuer had no choice. The story still had to be told.
So, the pictures showed glum faces instead of cheeky smiles, faces partly hidden behind mummy’s skirt or, worse still, their backs turned towards the camera! I was frustrated but I persevered. I learnt to be more relaxed, enjoying the moment, even when not behind the camera.
That awkward period has eased off. My pictures now capture a relaxed Hannah with a smile lighting up her pretty face. But little Nathan is still not in the mood for pics yet.
Then I took up professional video-producing. I purchased a software video programme online and, from there, I expanded my repertoire to include videos of events.
I’m proud to say that my obsession with taking pics and live videos – so my wife Rina Kaur laments – has rubbed off a wee bit on Hannah.
She now happily whips out her mum’s smart phone and snaps pics of her brother sleeping with his mouth wide open, or mummy indulging in her second tub of ice cream, or papa tapping away on his laptop.
She goes beyond that by adding doodles on a picture of my balding head to give me more hair. She sent the shot to the family chat group for all to enjoy my new look!
What is my point? Never decline an opportunity to take care of your grandchildren because of the hard work and sacrifices involved.
They are always a bundle of joy! They grow up so quickly. Hannah is about to become a graceful young lady while Nathan has left the rambunctious toddler years behind.
Never let the precious moments slip by without “freezing” them in pictures or videos.
Grandparents and their grandchildren have an undeniably special bond. Grandkids are beautiful blessings that are not to be taken for granted. Hannah and Nathan are a source of pride for me and my wife. They have a special place in our hearts. When I was a young father, I once asked my mum about my childhood years.
She had a few black-and-white pictures to show (we were then too poor to own a camera) and her memories were hazy.
Those were the days when we still kept Kodak films in the fridge and printing photos was a hit and miss. Now we are so much better off. We can easily retrieve those pics and videos and let them speak for themselves.
This is a gift I regularly give to my daughter: the CDS have become pen drives and the pictures are now supplemented by videos.
So go ahead, press on to snap those pics and take some videos, even when your subjects cannot keep still or are camera-shy. It’s worth the effort. Amidst the blurred and fuzzy shots, you will find some gems.
My heart is lifted as I think of the many blessings that I have enjoyed especially my two grandchildren and their parents – my daughter Cheryl Kaur and her hubby Chris Chan.
Yes, life has been good to me and I thank God for it. At 71, I couldn’t ask for a better and happier life. I’m truly blessed!