This year, one of Jack's multiple gifts from his doting (spoiling?) grandparents was a Fisher Price digital camera. (Effectively, it's the same camera you have in your three-year old cell phone but packaged in about three pounds of plastic and Styrofoam so he can send it sailing out the car window, retrieve it, and keep taking photos. At least that's what the packaging would lead you to believe.)
He's always been interested in our digital camera and always wants to see photos of himself and Sam after we take them. After sifting through the mounds of items that had been purchased for him (an exact duplicate of the mound of items that had been purchased for Ethan, his cousin 6 months the elder), he quickly realized what he'd been given: the opportunity to express his artistic flair. He quickly went to work, and thankfully, chronicled the Christmas holiday from start to finish with an eye for detail that would make Ansel Adams roll over in his grave, vomit and roll over again, before returning to the afterlife to play shuffleboard with Jesus.
I'll save you from the first few shots (feet, the floor, the back half of the dog, etc.), but he quickly learned how to use the device.
Ethan with his camera. There was a full roll of these so I'm sure they were giggling and having a grand ole' time taking photos of each other.
Streaking Christmas. This is a fine example of Jack exploring the metaphoric nature of otherwise static human imagery. In this photo we assume he's trying to convey the frailty of human life contrasted with the constant pursuit of happiness. Or he took a photo of the Christmas tree while shaking the camera. We're not sure which one it is, frankly.
His first attempt at realism. The juxtaposition of the stuffed squirrel alongside a rather ordinary sippy cup filled with freshly squeezed orange juice explores the depths of Jack's disdain with the excess of unchecked capitalism. Or our house is a mess because we just got home from 14+ hours of Christmas out of our house, dumped the contents of our car onto our dining room table and went to bed and Jack photographed it the next morning.
My aunt Jan fixing the turkey. We "oil fried" the turkey and it was pretty doggone good, I have to admit. I was skeptical, but it does cook a nice turkey, albeit a little greasy.
At this point of the day, we're getting a little goofy. This is someone's rear. Not much art in that.
More artistic expression. Here, he captures Ethan waiving, but at the same time, streaks the lights for effect. Well done, Master Ryan. 
Finally, his self portrait. 
