Permission Granted

by Kelly

It always happens at least once….

This past Friday, the day got away from me and I forgot to take a photo for my 365 project.  Luckily for me I had taken the above photo with my iPhone.  But still.  I was a little bummed. 

It’s this time of year though. And it’s totally OK…summer is just like that.  So much stuff going on.  Good stuff!  Yet sometimes it’s hard to make time for all it AND work on my photography. 

During the months of June and July especially, I find that it is a little more challenging to manage the delicate balance between cultivating and nurturing a good life, which is the creative fuel for my photography.  And cultivating and nurturing my photography which for me is, in part, a celebration of my good life.

It can be a real conundrum.

But the good news is that there is no 365 police ready to banish me from photography because I missed a day.  And so what if sometimes I just phone it in a little?  And take an easy shot?

Who really cares?

At the end of the day, I am still taking pictures.  I am still practicing my craft.  So what if not every shot knocks my socks off?  I mean real life isn’t like that anyway.

Please, don’t get me wrong….I love photography.   I love learning and growing and practicing and experimenting.  And I want to continue to do just that.  But I also want to sit with my family on the back porch and visit about family history.  I want to enjoy alfresco dinners with my friends.

It’s OK to put the camera down. 

I find that in my own art, the less pressure I put on myself, the better my art is.  And the more fun I have.  Because photography is supposed to fun. 

I sometimes have to remind myself of that fact.

So with that in mind, I am here today to grant you permission to take off your “Photographer’s” hat.  I give you permission to take the easy shot. Or snapshots! Or shoot with your phone camera.  And if you’d rather watch a sunset without worrying about exposure, fine!  Don’t shoot at all if you don’t want to. Take a mental picture instead. 

It's funny...it happens more often that you would think.  I actually had most of this blog post written Sunday before Dotti's post from yesterday was published...totally on the same page though. Keeping things simple. 

(Reason #1,467 why I love being part of this wonderful group of women).  

So if you're on the same page with Dotti and me, I am giving you permission to cut yourself some slack  Let's make wonderful memories first, then beautiful photos second.

Until next time, Kelly

Guess what day it is!

by Linda

Well it's not April fools day that was Tuesday, it's not hump DAY!, that was yesterday and it's not Friday, that's tomorrow. It's Thursday (in my book it's known as Friday eve but I digress...)

It's Thursday. It's the 3rd day of April in the year 2014. It is the 14th week of the year. Today is the 93rd day of the year.

93/365

So what? Why am I all numerical today?

Well, if you are doing a 365 project and if you started on January 1, 2014, all these numbers make sense. And if you started on January 1, 2014 then next Thursday, April 10, is a mini-milestone for you. Day 100.
(if you need a little help keeping up with all these numbers, go here)


yep


Even if you didn't start on January 1, you will still be 100 days through this year. Pat yourself on the back! High five! Way to go! You're awesome!


Wait, what?


You started a 365 but, you know, you missed a day then another day then, well, maybe a 365 isn't for you.


Maybe you wanted to start a 365 on January 1 but, well, you know, life gets busy and you never got started, maybe next year.


You started a 365 but it's just so hard to come up with things to take pictures of, you know, it's hard to find inspiration, motivation and mostly time!


I hear ya.

It's ok.


You can start today. You can restart today. It doesn't have to be a perfect 365 and it doesn't have to start on January 1.


Inspiration and motivation can be tough. Take a look around flickr and the FOL 365 group for a little help, see what others are taking pictures of.


If you want a little more help, FOL has a monthly focus, April's Focus is "Earth Day", you can use that for inspiration, or if you need a little more, Prompt Addicts (also on flickr) has a weekly prompt to get you shooting, or if you need a little more, try "Capture your 365" blog.


But, you don't have to rely on prompts if you don't want to.


Why not challenge yourself to try something new with your camera, a new setting, manual mode, f11, pan with your camera, use a different camera, use your phone camera. Put a different lens on your camera and keep it there for a week or more then switch it out for another, rent a lens you've been dreaming of and take it for a spin!


Try some new or different processing on your pictures, B&W, HDR, a vintage/matte look, make your picture look like a painting or drawing, try a texture, put some words on your picture.

Try some different subjects like selfies, street scenes, nature, flowers, fences, benches, sunrises/sunsets, still-life, landscapes, architecture, old buildings, old barns, windows, doors. Try taking some macro shots.

Really endless possibilities. Even if you think it's already been photographed, that may be true but it has never been photographed by you!

If you group your 365 pictures together by month into a mosaic and take a look at it, you will be so pleased! It may just give you a little more motivation to continue! I find it so much fun to take a look at what I have seen and where I have been. I also enjoy taking that 365th picture and looking back at the entire year!

It doesn't matter what camera you use, just be sure to have one with you in case something catches your eye!

Where do you get your inspiration? Share it with us! We'd love to hear it! We're in this together!

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365: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the intrepid photographer. The year long mission: to explore strange new places, to seek out new light and new perspectives, to boldly see what no man has seen before!
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Live long and click on.
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It's A Wrap....and A Fresh Start

by Leigh

January 4, 2013 Day 1-be grateful

Three hundred sixty five days.  365.  Three60Five.  3Sixty5.  ONE YEAR.  No matter how you write it out that's a pretty large span of time.  And somehow I managed to shoot one photo each of those days.  I've got to tell you....I'm pretty surprised…shocked actually, but darn proud of myself!

  

Day 75-be observant

A bit of history on me....I'm not the best at long term projects.  In fact, my husband used to always tell me that I needed to work on my follow through just like in my tennis game.  If you were to look in my craft room you would see half knitted hats, partially crocheted scarves, all the supplies needed to decoupage coasters, sculpey clay waiting to be turned into beautiful beads, rolls of fabric waiting to be made into the latest upcycle craze....you name it and it's in my craft room.  

All of it either not started or sitting unfinished because that's how I roll.  Or how I used to roll.

Day 111-be me

A few years ago I found myself needing a hobby, something to occupy all that extra time in my life (um...what?)  Then I found photography.  I could go on a therapeutic photowalk just me and my camera then come home and download my photos, edit and post.  I could do it all in one day unlike that half crocheted scarf. So I thought to myself I think I will try a 365.  And try is about as far as it got.  I tried in 2011 and I tried again in 2012.  And I failed. Seems like being a working mom of 2 does not allow for much down time to shoot, edit and post my DSLR photos.

Day 270-be dreaming
  

....but then came along my iphone.  It was always with me, right there in my pocket just in case there was an emergency call from my kids' school or a new client wanting to schedule a meeting.  It is always with me within reach so I decided to give the 365 one more try.  And this time I made it even more specific.  I incorporated it with my one little word for 2013 which was "be".  I chose "be" because it made me focus on the present...on being present.  And so it "be"gan.  It was a moment out of everyday that I stopped to set an intention and to really see something in a new way.  It wasn't always easy.  There were nights at 10:00 when I realized, oh crap I haven't done my photo for the day! But in the long run it was an amazing project that helped me to be more mindful.  It humbles me to see people starting their own daily project because they say I inspired them.  I mean come on…how crazy is that.  I inspired someone to take their camera and to see something and be something for a moment everyday.  Crazy!

Day 313-be repeated

Day 365-be complete!  

365 days of "be"ing is now over and the new year has started. After that last photo there was a sense of relief not having that obligation to post a photo everyday. But now 3 days after my project ended I have to admit...I kind of miss it. I miss having a daily moment and sharing it with everyone. So I'm thinking about new photographic series and I have a couple in mind.  I've joined in with 100x. It's 100 photos through the course of the year with a single focus. I've chosen macros for my project and I am also going to try to shoot all the photos with my Nikon. I've missed her and we need some one on one time. I've also started a new Instagram project called the soundtrack of my life (#loveleeokc_sountrackofmylife) A photo accompanied by the current song from my music library.  Each month I will create a new playlist for myself based upon that month's songs.  Something fun and a little different.  Will I do another 365?  I haven't decided yet, but I just might.  These daily projects don't have to start the first day of the new year so give it some thought and when you decide to do it think about how rewarding it will be at the end of the year when you have 365 moments to look back on.  I can look at day 209 and remember that day when leaving a client's neighborhood I saw a beautifully still pond, blue sky with puffy clouds and a gorgeous reflection in the water.  Each photo takes me back to that moment of being.

#loveleeokc_365 on Instagram to view my 365

How about you?  Are you starting a 365 project this year?  Did you know we have a 365 Flickr group?    Who knows..I might even jump in again myself! Do you have a photographic series?  Tell us about it!

Start Anew

by Judy

Ahhh January.  So crisp and fresh, and ripe for so many new beginnings.  Like many of you, I have some exciting goals and projects for the new year. Some are brand new ideas and things I've never tried, and I can't wait to get started. But one of my goals for the new year is something that I've tried in the past, and failed miserably at.  A 365 project. Taking one photo every day for one year.  I made it through half of my failed 365 - but even before that half-way point - it seemed that my photos were just "blah." My heart wasn't in it.

During the last few months of 2013 my time spent on my first love - photography - had dwindled.   I had been contemplating beginning a new 365 project just to ensure that I'd have my camera in my hand every day - that I'd have to make time for at least one photo a day.  But still, I kept remembering my failed attempt and wondering if I would do the same this time around.  

Then along came an invitation from my FOL sister, Linda. She's organized our very own FOL 365 flickr page, called Focus on a Photo a Day - 365.   My excitement grew.  I mean, how can it go bad if I'm surrounded by many of my FOL sister's and many of you, working on the same project for 2014?! 

Then, I think of  Dotti.  She has successfully taken one photo each day for a little over half a year now.  I've enjoyed seeing her work as she posts it on her personal blog, Camper.  She's admitted that it's a struggle some days.  But she perseveres.  And boy, does she have some beautiful shots to show for it!

Next, I remember that Leigh and Carol A. have done phoneography 365 projects.   Leigh's "BE" series, (@loveleeokc) and Carol's "kitchen table" series (@carolanne22) have both been so fun to see this past year.  

Finally, came Kelly's post earlier this week, where she showcased some of her beautiful photos from her 365 project for 2013. She too had questioned whether she could be successful at such a daunting project. She too wondered what in the world she would photograph every. single. day.   Her words encouraged me. She said, "the more I took pictures, the more I found to take pictures of." 

So here I am.  I look at all of those things above as a sign.  A sure sign that yes, yes I do need to start anew.  

As I write this on January 1st I have high hopes.  My first shot of my 365 project is posted above. Nothing magnificent, but the soft morning light caught my eye, so I captured it.  Then I looked at it again.  Maybe I'm the baby bird, and all of my FOL sisters, and all of you,  who have successfully completed this same project, are the Mama and Daddy birds. With all of your support I know I can do this! 

Have you been thinking about embarking on a 365 project?  If so, I do hope you join me, and many of my other FOL sisters who may be starting, or continuing, this project as well.  Between all of us, and all of you, we will have lots of support and encouragement.  So please check out our new flickr group. Watch the beauty grow and grow as the photos are posted each day.  I for one, can't wait!

Happy New Year everyone! And good luck on all of your goals for the new year. 

My Year in Photos

by Kelly

Well so before I even begin this blog post I am going to state for the record that I am in complete denial that today is the last day of the year.

However it does seem fitting that today is my regularly scheduled blog post since I am also wrapping up my very first photography 365 project.

A year in photos.  Taking one photo everyday.  It sounds daunting I know.  In all truthfulness, I was a little nervous when I embarked on this journey 364 days ago.  My biggest fear?  What in the world would I take a picture of everyday?  How would I find anything interesting to photograph in my ordinary life on a daily basis?

Turns out...the more I took pictures, the more I found to take pictures of.

Sometimes I found inspiration in adventures such as my trip to Dallas last spring where I got meet Terri and Leigh in person.

And then sometimes inspiration was right in my own backyard.

One of my goals in taking on this project was to become a better photographer. Because like any endeavor, consistency and practice are the best ways to improve your skill.  And so naturally becoming more proficient at nailing exposure and focus was important to me.  But even more than that, I wanted to learn how to better capture my ordinary life.  The way I saw it in my mind's eye.  My heart's eye.

It's interesting, though, what happens when you start training your eye to see the joy and wonder of your everyday life.  Because pretty soon, you'll start seeing it everywhere.

Even when the stresses and frustrations of real life start to bring me down, there is nothing like a photo walk to lift my spirits.

In the course of this past year, my passion for photography is still in its ability to capture and preserve joyful moments.  But what I have also discovered is a sincere and profound gratitude for the joy that seeing life from behind the lens can bring.

For the past few weeks I've been pondering what's next for me in my journey with photography. And the funny thing is that I started to get a little bummed out at the idea of not taking a photo a day.  But then I thought to myself, who says I have to stop.  For me taking a photo everyday has become something of a habit...like exercising or brushing my teeth.  It's sort of the way the I see the world now. The way I see my life.

So now I would love to know...what are your photography plans for the new year?  If you happen to be embarking on a photography 365 project, I would like to invite you to share your images with us in our new Focusing on Life 365 Flickr group.  I will be there and I would love to connect with you.  Because the one thing I know for sure is that the friendships I have made have been one of the greatest blessings in my journey with photography.

So I guess, as they say, that's a wrap!  Today I am bidding farewell to 2013 and the year I became the photographer that I had always hoped I could be.  Happy New Year dear friends!  Wishing you every joy and blessing in the coming year!

Love, Kelly

A Photo a Day

by Linda

Tis the season! The season for caring and sharing and visiting and spoiling and partying and playing and loving and laughing and indulging! There's nothing like it. And it all goes by in a flash!

Somewhere, once all the merriment starts to wind down a little, we start to think about the coming new year and all that promises. New beginnings! Fresh starts! I'm gonna do this and this and that in the new year!

One thing I want to do in 2014 is another 365 project. I did my first one in 2012 and it went surprisingly well. I was able to take a picture every day but 2. Actually every day but 1 since 2012 was a leap year and I had 364 pictures, but who's that technical! (don't be like me!)

At the end of 2012 I mistakenly thought I was done. I thought I would never do THAT again!  Yes, some days were hard. Some days I discovered that inspiration was lacking more than time was running out! How many pictures of my yard and house do I really need anyway? I felt I was in a rut and was taking pictures of the same thing over and over. Then I had the light bulb moment when a voice said "so what!" That, in itself, is the essence of what I was doing! The things that were so familiar to me didn't look exactly the same from day to day. The things that were so familiar to me could be photographed in different ways, from different angles, in different light, in full color or B&W, with a different lens, with different settings on the camera, with a different camera, the list goes on and on. This was when I realized just how much I was learning by taking a photo a day. Everyday.

When you look at a calendar and see 12 months stretching before you, or you think about the fact that a year is three hundred sixty five days it is easy to become discouraged. But if you think that it's just one photo a day, it becomes manageable. Just one photo a day.  If you know that the daily practice of challenging yourself to photograph what you see in new and different ways will teach you new things and that it will teach you to see in new ways, it becomes something you look forward to.

Because I participated in a 365 project, my DSLR is always in reach! It usually accompanies me when I leave my humble abode but when it doesn't my trusty camera that rings and can be used to send text messages is in my pocket!

I invite you to join me in FOL's Photo a day-365 flickr group! 

Let's exercise our creative energy! Let's stretch our photographic muscles! Let's do this together!

We can help each other along the way when the going gets a little rough! (and it will! but we can get through it!) 

I promise that when you get to the end, you will look back at your year and be so glad you did it!

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While you're on flickr signing up for the Photo a Day group, be sure to leave some joy in the FOL flickr group or the FOL Phoneography flickr group!

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