Photographer Mom Playfully Transforms Daughter’s Shadows into Dream-Like Scenes

The power of imagination can transform a simple idea into a magnificent sight. Self-taught photographer Kelly Tan showcases these magical, inspired moments in her ongoing series I Have a Dream, which features her young daughter casting extraordinary shadows that have morphed into larger-than-life creatures and scenes.

On an unassuming gray wall, Tan’s brilliant translations of reality take place: a set of building blocks becomes a giant giraffe; an open book is a soaring bird; and standing over a broom is like riding a majestic unicorn. Each is a whimsical expression of childhood innocence and fun.

All of the I Have a Dream images, in addition to Tan’s other fantastical photography, is completely shot and edited on her iPhone and iPad. She snaps pictures of her daughter posing and integrates them with stock photos, using apps like ArtStudio, Snapseed, and PSExpress to edit the disparate images into fairy tale compositions.

Kelly Tan: Instagram | Facebook | Society6
via [Adventures of Yoo]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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