Esther Evans Film & Photography

30/11/2022

Simply Miranda
10” sting ’Old recipe book’

30/11/2022

10” sting ’Stirring’. Part of a set of visual bookends for Miranda’s YouTube channel ‘Simply Miranda’.

I’ll share a few more stings over the next few days. Always a favourite of mine to create from my days as a motion graphics designer at Sky TV.

30/11/2022

10” sting ’Cutlery drawer’

30/11/2022

09/11/2022

Hi there,

It’s been a while. Who knew that an extended break from social media was just what the doctor ordered? Thank you to all those who checked in on me from time to time and those that have walked beside me.

To update you, I took a break from IG for a few reasons. Firstly, to spend time with my mum before she died, who was bravely battling pancreatic cancer. Time I knew I’d never get again and absolutely worth it.

Secondly, we’ve been going through the very long process of getting our son H diagnosed with ADHD and High Functioning Autism. More and more he has needed me to advocate for him with school and lately fighting for an EHCP. I’ve also been realising the wonderful role of Parent-to-Parent SEN Support for lots of fellow school families who are at various stages of the journey we’ve been on.

Filmmaking has been ticking along in the background, beside some teaching at Art College, both creatively keeping me sane.

So, going forward, I’m planning on showing up here in a quiet way. My IG will be more of a space to share my filmmakers journal, visual thoughts and portfolio.

I hope you will join me along the way as I share projects and ideas I’ve been working on this year and new creative endeavours to come.

Esther x

28/01/2021

MOTHERHOOD • I’ve wanted to try some self portraits with my children for a while now. I was encouraged by ’s self portraits of motherhood project to have images to be able to give my children in the future, actually with me in them as well.

Time had run away with me and the light was fading fast but we just gave it a go. I’m so pleased we did.

I asked S how she feels when she looks at this image of us? ‘Safe. Safe and warm with your arms around me. Makes me feel in another world’. Wow, so precious.

Get in the frame with your children, they will thank you for it.

26/01/2021

At dinner, we often put the radio on for some background music and (I’ll show my age here) I usually choose Absolute 80’s radio for something a little nostalgic. I figure H&S will soon be into their own choice of the latest bands and singers so I’ve got to indoctrinate them while I can ;0)

One particular dinner time, classic power ballads were a feature and Bonnie Tyler was belting out ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’.
S turns to me and says “Mummy, this is what Elsa sings in Frozen 1 isn’t it!”
Smiling, “Yes darling, I think you’re right”.

24/01/2021

I read somewhere that there’s an unsaid rule that photographers should never post pictures of cats. So, here’s a freelensed picture of Margot my kitten.

It’s been a crazy busy week juggling home school and far too many trips to the vets. Poor old Margot is only 6 months and for her age, tiny. Yesterday, after months of cat flu, antibiotics and not being able to breath properly, she had a massive polyp, the size of a monkey nut, removed from the back of her throat and nose! No wonder she’s been unwell.

We’re not out of the woods, but I’m so relieved she’s already initiating play fighting with Rosie her sister kitten, climbing the curtains, back to chewing cardboard and the washing up sponge. Back to her cheeky naughty self.

20/01/2021

STRONG BRAVE REBEL GIRLS. That’s our mantra.

S was given a fantastic book for her birthday called ‘Bedtime Stories for Rebel Girls’. It’s a collection of 100 women and girls throughout history that have courageously changed the world in small and big ways. We read a few pages each night and S loves it. I love that she loves it! I love that she doesn’t question that she has the capacity and opportunity to do and be whatever she wants.

I love this picture of her, moody and a whole lot of attitude for a 7-year-old. She’s fierce, gives as good as she gets from her brother and loves to climb trees, but she’s not afraid to be a girly girl with handle bar streamers on her bike.

Having watched the US inauguration earlier today, the first Female Black Asian Vice President sworn in, this seems even more appropriate. I’m raising an assertive woman who teaches me daily to keep believing I can do anything.

What’s your mantra? What are your kids teaching you?

17/01/2021

Week one of homeschool down. I know for so many this has been a very tough week.

I was extremely anxious about this week because last year homeschool was a complete sh*t show and SO hard on SO many levels! I’ll share the darker side of why another time, but for now this week has actually gone well. No tears or battles and that’s a win in my book.

Last week I decided that the best thing I can do for my sanity and my children is put my business to-do list down for a while . Choose to juggle less, be more present, attentive and available. I’m a teaching assistant for now and I’ve chosen to be ok with that.

📷 I took this image when I felt inspired one day at ‘playtime’. What is it about kids not wanting to go outside, then once they’re out they don’t want to come back in?! S always says ‘If we go out, you’re on duty Mummy’. So with a hot tea in hand I stand, watch and cheer them on racing up and down the lane on their bikes and shooting hoops.

I’m choosing to see that this lockdown is giving me more of their childhood than it is taking away.

15/01/2021

BRAVE

I know it’s mid-January but I thought I’d share my favourite image from 2020. It still seems to say it all for how I’m feeling right now, perhaps how most of us are feeling right now. The stepping into the unknown once again. This lockdown and ‘opportunity’ to homeschool has rather thrown me after feeling I’d got a tentative handle on what I thought 2021 might look like.

One of my words for this year is BRAVE. Who knows what lies behind the black curtains? There are continued challenges and adventure to be had. I’m choosing to be optimistic and excited about whatever awaits for my business and family and bravely keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Have you chosen a word to focus you and give you momentum this year?

13/01/2021

LITTLE • My youngest S turned seven a few days ago. She’s getting so tall but I was adamant I was still allowed to call her my ‘little’ girl while she was six. Her face is changing, some teeth are wobbly and she most definitely wants to make her own fashion choices.

Her brother H seems to have been big for a few years now so I always took comfort in the fact S was still little, still really needed her mummy, could still fit snuggly within my arms when she sat on my knee.

So now she’s officially my medium girl, beautifully growing up, very much becoming her own person. I have to and want to let her blossom and become. Motherhood is so bittersweet.