Open Door

Follow your bliss, and the universe will open doors
where there were only walls.     ~Joseph Campbell

For more inspirational photos this week, please visit Wordless Wednesday, Image-in-ing, and Through my Lens.

Boston Sunset

Every ending is a beginning. We just don't know it at the time.
~ Mitch Albom

For more inspirational photos this week, please visit Wordless Wednesday, Image-in-ing, and Through my Lens.

Sailing the Charles River

Who is the happier man:
He who has braved the storm of life and lived? ... or
He who has stayed securely on the shore and merely existed?
~ Hunter S. Thompson

For more inspirational photos this week, please visit: Wordless Wednesday, Image-in-ing, and Through My Lens

Labor Day

Stop a minute, right where you are... Tell that imperious voice in your head to be still.
~ Barbara Kingsolver

For more inspirational photos this week, please visit: Wordless Wednesday, Image-in-ing, and Through My Lens

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American Snapshots: An Anonymous Art

This is the final weekend of the Nelson-Atkins Museum exhibition: American Snapshot: An Anonymous Art from the Peter J. Cohen Gift.

From the museum's website:

Amateur snapshots are the “folk art” of photography. Snapshots represent a world we instinctively know, while reminding us of the special—and often peculiar—nature of camera vision. 

These simple images embody a spirit of affection, curiosity and play. They reflect the familiar rhythms of everyday life—the events and motifs lovingly recorded generation after generation. They also represent a rich tradition of pictorial invention—a result, variously, of intention, mistake and chance. Tilted horizons, awkward intrusions and oddly cropped or off-center subjects are common in snapshots, as are the effects of blur, faulty focus and double exposure. 

Now, at the end of photography’s analog era, artists and collectors are studying these works with new respect as a key aspect of modern visual culture.

Backyard Bottles

Art thrives on a difference of opinion.
My treasure is your junk sort of thing.  Life would be dull if we all agreed.
Robert Genn

For more inspirational photos this week, please visit: Wordless Wednesday or Image-in-ing

Backyard Statue

We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy,
even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.
~ E. B. White

For more inspirational photos this week, please visit: Wordless Wednesday, Image-in-ing, and Through My Lens

Week in Review: August 14, 2016

For many here in the Midwest, the first day of school is quickly approaching. Normally I would be caught up in excited anticipation, but this year, I fully embrace retirement.

On a somewhat related note... Did I hear McDonald's will start offering Pumpkin Spice lattes at the end of the month?! As much as I long for cooler temperatures, I'm not quite ready for fall. How about you?

Backyard Planter

The steps of good men are directed by the Lord.  He delights in each step they take.
(Psalm 37:23 - TLB)

For more inspirational photos this week, please visit: Wordless Wednesday, Image-in-ing, and Through My Lens

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TSS: September 6, 2015

While Labor Day weekend typically signals the end of summer, my family thinks of it as the beginning of fall. My annual proclamation is always, Christmas will be here before you know it.

When the kids were younger they would just roll their eyes and humor me. But as they have grown and started families of their own, they now realize how quickly these next four months pass.

On that happy note... here is my weekly summary.

Reading:
I am still keeping to my original schedule for the Harry Potter read-along.

I finished The Sorcerer's Stone last weekend and immediately started The Chamber of Secrets. I am now about 30% through the second book and enjoying them immensely!

Yesterday Belle posted on Facebook that she plans to participate in the RIP X reading challenge. I have such fond memories of this event when I was a more avid book blogger, and I thought it might be nice to participate again... someday.

Then I realized Harry Potter would qualify as mystery or dark fantasy, right? With that rationalization I am thrilled to participate after a several year hiatus. I registered for Peril the Second level, which means I plan to complete two books between now and October 31st.

Ideally, I would love to add a few more mysteries to the list... but I don't want to set myself up for failure. So for now I will plan to read the Chamber of Secrets and the Prisoner of Azkaban. If I manage to sneak a cozy mystery, I'll let you know.

Writing:
It appears my lack of confidence is worse than I realized.

Last week I posted my doubts as to which direction I should take my writing. Unbeknownst to me, I apparently suffer from "but" disease... constantly discounting my efforts by using this self-deprecating term. And my writing coach called me out.

So this week I am trying to focus on "and" ... recognizing weaknesses AND strengths in my writing interests.

I love to journal and continue to do that on a daily basis. I am excited to start teaching my Journaling towards Wholeness course in October.

And I love teaching the Storytelling Workshop. I look forward to inspiring these young writers and encouraging them to follow their dreams.

I feel comfortable writing non-fiction and plan to use my research of Impressionist Art to create interactive iBooks. This will be a fun project that might lead to future multi-media ideas.

And while I lack the confidence to write middle grade fiction, I do enjoy the academic pursuit. I will continue to flesh out the characters and the conflict.

I am still on the writing journey and still learning how to focus on the process rather than the finished product.

Finding Delight:
While I deemed DELIGHT as my word of the year, I often go for weeks without giving it a second thought. I've already decided it will by my 2016 word of the year as well.

But this week I made a conscientious effort to add more delight to my life.

I discovered that delight and fear are closely connected. If I give in to fear, I lack delight. And if I desire delight, I must overcome fear.

I wanted to visit a sunflower field and play with my camera. A simple concept for most, but for me... fraught with fear.

First I must drive to the field. Drive on a toll road (hate the toll booths) to an unfamiliar location (along a gravel road in the middle of nowhere) that is not easily accessed by Google Maps. But I filled the tank with gas, made sure my cell phone was charged, and headed out.

Next, I had to overcome "impostor syndrome" I know I am not a professional photographer, but I fear others looking at me with camera in hand and thinking who does she think she is? I imagine their critical comments as I try to find the right angle and the appropriate f-stop.

But on Friday afternoon, I threw caution to the wind and ventured out.

Yes, it was in the middle of the day when the light is most harsh (not ideal photo conditions), but I reasoned the crowds would be few (I was correct) and sunflowers thrive on bright sunshine.

I got lost only once, and discovered it was not the end of the world. I actually used my Google maps app and got back on track in no time.

As I rounded the bend toward the field, the view was absolutely spectacular: deep golden yellows and vibrant greens as far as the eye could see.

The sky was a bit hazy, but the blue was evident. There was even an occasional wisp of white clouds that added dimension to the landscape.

 I probably spent about 45 minutes wandering the field, marveling at God's artistry while at the same time trying to capture the emotion and beauty in still photographs. It was a success in every conceivable way.

I hope that you too are enjoying these final days of summer because... Christmas will be here before you know it.

Snapshot Saturday: Seize the Day - Savor the Moment

I want to improve my photography; I want to feel comfortable with the camera and capture mood as well as subject.  And I know to achieve that goal, I must practice - A LOT.

Practicing a skill requires conscious intention to move away from the comfort zone, which quite frankly is .... comfortable.  While trapped in the zone, I don't have to worry what others think of me ("who does she think she is, walking around that camera?"); I don't have to compare my efforts with others (which never measures up); and I don't have to confront my imperfections.

Two weeks ago, however, I decided to take a few steps outside that zone.  It was a sunny, warm day - perfect for a walk around the neighborhood to capture Spring's rebirth.  The redbud trees were stunning against the vivid blue sky, and colorful tulips gently waved from their flower beds.

This picture was one of my favorites.  The couple are meticulous about lawn care, and I always enjoy seeing their latest decorative scheme.   These lilac bushes were beautiful, and the homeowner didn't mind me taking a few photos; he even offered me a cutting or two to take home.

This morning I walked by the same house.  In just two weeks the purple blooms had faded, and the only visible color was a deep, dark green.  Pretty, yes... but not stunning.

I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and Seized the Day.  I captured some nice photographs of my neighborhood at the peak of spring's vivid colors.  If I had waited just a few short days, I would have missed it - for the landscape changed and will not provide that kind of beauty for another twelve months.

To Seize brings to mind images of snatching or  grabbing - a quick decisive moment.  Yes, it is important to notice the extraordinary in the midst of humdrum routine.  And we must also be willing  to grab that fleeting opportunity before it disappears.

But I also think we need to Savor as well - to slow down and fully appreciate the moment.  For me, at least, I am too often looking for the next opportunity to grab, rather than basking in the present.  Yes, I snapped the photo, but did I really take the time to admire the beauty of the lilacs?  Did I touch the delicate blooms, did I inhale the aroma, did I view them from all perspectives or just the one that was most convenient?

Seize and Savor.

Don't rush through life failing to notice the beauty in the ordinary - and don't procrastinate when opportunity presents itself.  Live in the present.

These are all valuable lessons I learned when I stepped outside my comfort zone and went on a neighborhood walk with my camera.

**  To view other Saturday Snapshots, please visit  West Metro Mommy Reads, the host of this weekly meme.

Inspire Me Monday: London (Part 2)

Last week was my first foray into the Inspire me Monday meme, hosted by Create-with-Joy.  I decided to capitalize on my excitement for the upcoming European trip by showcasing a few photos from past journeys "across the pond"

Today I will focus on the iconic images of London.

I suppose the first image that flashes across my mind when I think of London is the red double-decker bus, and then my immediate second image is the red phone booths.  They are indeed everywhere, although they never become commonplace to me and always bring a smile to my face.

While we rode the tube more often than any other form of transportation, we did delight in taking a brief sight-seeing tour around town on an "open" upper deck (brief because the air temperature hovered around forty degrees which made the wind chill absolutely frigid).

Buckingham Palace was not the regal castle that I had hoped to see (that was found in Windsor... about an hour's distance outside of town).  The changing of the guard was certainly filled with pomp and circumstance, but I enjoyed the serendipitous occasion to see the marching band practicing for the Queen's upcoming birthday celebration.  We could literally reach out and touch the plumed hats, if we so desired.

Tower Bridge, however, is regal - in my humble opinion.  It is more stately in person than I ever imagined from viewing a photograph.  We did take a tour of the Tower of London and learned all about the gory details of past inhabitants.  For history buffs, the rooms filled with old-fashioned weaponry and suits of armor are a must see, but I much preferred sitting outside on a park bench, staring at the bridge, imagining the stories of all those who have traversed to the other side.

Of course, what Brit Lit teacher wouldn't consider the Globe Theater to be iconic - but quite frankly, even if you aren't a bibliophile, it is well worth a visit.  Sam Wanamaker wasted no expense or time on recreating the Globe exactly as it was in Shakespeare's time.  The tour guides are not only knowledgeable, but humorous and personable.  We even had the opportunity to attend A Midsummer Night's Dream from the groundlings' point of view - which was delightful (but also a bit tiresome on the feet).

Finally, the London Eye is a modern-day icon that should be at the top of everyone's "must do" list.  We went in the evening and witnessed the most spectacular view of the city.  The wheel travels at a very slow rate, so we barely noticed the climb until we reached the top - and then we were completely mesmerized by the aerial view.  The twinkling lights below reminded me of the play Peter Pan as he whisked Wendy, John, and Michael to Neverland... and the stately architecture of Big Ben and Parliament nearly took my breath away.

I am excited to return to London ... and while I will never tire of seeing these images of historical significance, I hope to concentrate my photographic endeavors on the culture of the city - the modern day stories waiting to be told.

Wordless Wednesday: Peace

Today's Photo Prompt:  Peace
This is my interpretation

Photograph vs Snapshot

In keeping with my pre-designated blog schedule.... today is Photography Friday.  I initially began this post as an insight into my photography workflow, but as I began to write it seemed to evolve into something completely different.  In an effort to learn to listen to my inner voice rather than preconceived notions, I decided to delay the workflow post for another time.

About two years ago I began to realize that my life was out of balance -- and had been for quite some time.  I enjoyed teaching and had spent nearly every waking moment devoted to that profession.  Teaching gave me a sense of purpose and it fulfilled the need to remain mentally challenged.  But living a life of all work and no play can create a rut that if left unchecked, can quickly become a prison. So I made the resolution that I would learn to balance responsibility with creativity - schedule with spontaneity - pragmatism with frivolity.

Photography has been a great hobby to help me achieve this balance in life.  It has awakened the right side of my brain and is helping me to see the ordinary world around me in an extraordinary way.  It has allowed me to feel artistically creative when I have no talent for drawing or painting.  It has enabled me to learn more about myself through visual images rather than just written words.

But photography also feeds the left side of my brain as well.  I have had to learn about the relationship between ISO - shutter speed - aperture.  I have had to learn about the Kelvin scale of light - and not all light is created equal.  I have had to learn that the way I see the world is not the way the camera sees the world - and it is essential to learn its language in order to properly communicate.

One thing I have learned this week, using Katrina's Capture 365 prompts, is that I need to give more thought to my pictures BEFORE I click the shutter.  For me, I think this is the difference between a photograph and a snapshot.  A photograph is purposeful - it goes beyond the image to tell a story or convey an emotion.  A snapshot is spontaneous with the purpose of documenting a moment in time.

I have taken snapshots my entire adult life.  I felt it was my responsibility as a mom to pull out the point-and-shoot for each birthday, holiday, or family trip in order to fulfill my duty as family historian.  I remember one trip to Disney World where the children instinctively posed the same way for each character portrait.  It made for a quick and easy picture - but the emotional thrill of the vacation was missing.

In preparing for my trip to Paris, however, I realized that I wanted to photograph something more than the iconic images:  postcards serve that purpose. I was traveling alone and I wanted to capture my emotional reaction to these familiar sights in order to share them with family when I returned home.  It sounded easy enough ... but as is most things in life, it was far more difficult than it first appeared.

I used to be naive enough to think that photography was not an art - it did not require talent.  All that was needed was decent eyesight to focus, and an index finger to press the shutter.  How grateful I am that I kept that ignorant comment to myself.

True photography, I feel, is about finding just the right angle - point of view - to tell the story.  True photography is giving thought to focus - what is tack sharp and what is blurred for effect.  True photography is as much about what is included in the picture as what is excluded.  True photography is about how the light is conveyed in the image - and how the shadows are acknowledged.

I do not pretend that this is all there is to know about true photography.  This is only what I have learned in the last few months of study and practice.  And while I had no idea that this one little hobby  would turn into a life long quest, I am delighted to have found such a worthy past time.

A Fitting End...

As some of you know, I attempted the 365 Project this year - with dismal results.  I did fairly well through mid-June, but then I essentially gave up due to life's circumstances.  A few years ago I would have viewed this as a failure, but this year I just view it as a temporary set-back.

I plan to try the 365 project again this year and I am looking forward to the challenge - and the discipline.  In anticipation of this new endeavor, I decided to take a final photo of 2012 - and it is quite a fitting summation of the year.

Last Christmas my son gave me this beautiful snow globe depicting the 75th anniversary of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  This gift had many special meanings.  First.... he chose the gift when he went to New York City to propose to his girlfriend of five years.  Second.... he knows how much his mother loves the parade (it is on my bucket list) and he took the time to find a most thoughtful gift,  And third.... Brynn loved the gift from the first time she heard the tinkling music.  It helped me form a bond with my granddaughter that I will forever cherish.

2012 began as a year filled with hope, but it quickly became a year of unsettling disappointment.  The wedding proposal did not manifest itself into a December wedding as planned - and the emotional turmoil this caused for everyone was nearly unbearable.  At the time the relationship was disintegrating,  mid-June, Brynn accidentally dropped the globe and it shattered.  Fortunately no one was cut in the incident .. but the magical globe lost its enchantment.

But six months later I look at this broken ornament and still see beauty.  I see a vision of a parade that I will one day visit - and I see magic in the romantic event that brought it into my life.  I also see wonder in the face of a toddler and I cherish the memories that are contained within its broken shell.  The couple is still together - and there is hope that they will one day become husband and wife.  What was once a broken and useless object has now become a symbol of hope rising from the depths of disaster.

Here's to a joyful and peaceful and hopeful New Year.

A Spiritual Journey through Photography

Well, it has been quite a while since I have written - but I have been very busy behind the scenes.  I have still not read much fiction, but I continue to read books on photography and writing, and know that someday I will return to my reading passion.  Geoff and I are trying to finalize plans for out 30th anniversary celebration, but we are having a difficult time deciding how to celebrate:  New York City - a cruise - a lake house retreat?  That is obviously fodder for another post at a later time.

I have had an idea for several weeks now to write a blog post on the spiritual journey I have traveled through my photography hobby.  It has now become quite lengthy and will probably be a multi-part essay.  But today I feel the need to document my weekend epiphany that came as a result of doing homework for the online class I am taking, Sense of Place.

In the first week of the class we were asked to begin an Inspiration File of travel photos.  There was no limitation except that we needed to collect 20-30 pictures that "inspired" us.  Since I have saved over 300 pictures in the favorites folder on my Flickr account - I decided to start there.  I quickly culled through the photographs and selected 18 pictures that I thought pertained to my "sense of place" and I saved them in a separate folder on my desktop.

When I viewed all 18 pictures at once I quickly found a common theme:  serenity.  Every single photograph left me with a sense of peace and tranquility.  This did not surprise me.

But as I looked closer I realized another theme emerged:  simplicity - a desire to return to a bygone era where life was lived at a slower pace and success was not measured by the number of tasks ticked off the to-do list.  I am drawn to pictures of flower boxes in windowsills - and moleskin notebooks on cafe tables with a half empty cup of espresso on the side.  Technology is a not a part of these eighteen photos, but open air markets with fresh produce is plentiful.  The pastoral setting with sheep grazing in the lush green grass is perfection to me.

And then it hit me.  An epiphany for me - but probably a "duh" moment for others.  If this is what I yearn for:  simplicity, tranquility, a desire to release 21st century technology for a lifestyle more genteel --- then why do I only indulge myself one or two weeks a year?  Why do I feel the need to live a daily hectic life that produces stress and strain when I can make minor adjustments and live that lifestyle year 'round?

While I may not have the opportunity to visit daily open air markets, I am driving distance to several Farmers' markets here in the heart of America.  If I long to sit a sip an espresso while writing long hand in a moleskin book then why I don't give up the computer and head to a local Starbucks and secure a corner table for the afternoon?  If I do not wish to define success by a to-do list, then it is time to give myself a break and say I will teach those classes which hold a passion for me (Brit Lit and English Comp) and release those that bog me down.

Vacation is a not only a physical destination beyond the everyday - it is a mental mindset.  And while I do not envision taking an extended break from life - I do believe it is possible to infuse my life with elements of simplicity that until just recently I thought were only available for one week out of the year.

TSS - 1.22.12

It has been a good week.  Although that is in large part due to the shortened work week due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  I could definitely get used to teaching just two days a week!

Teaching:
I have tried to keep relatively silent about school this year; first semester was difficult.  But I just had to share the excitement in my yearbook class.  I don't remember if I reported here or not, but somehow I consented to co-teach the year book class with the art teacher - neither one of us having any experience in yearbook whatsoever and with a staff of only three underclassmen who were equally inexperienced.  It made for a stressful first few months of school.  Fortunately I was able to negotiate a delay in the delivery of yearbooks until August, which meant that we had no deadlines first semester,  This was indeed a blessing.

However the great news is.....we now are a staff of twelve students!!  Many of these students are juniors and seniors - and two of them have actually worked on yearbook in the past.  What a joy it is to arrive in class and see students working on assignments without having to be prodded or coaxed.  I feel confident that we will meet our deadlines this year - and that the end product will be a quality one.

Photography:

photographs taken week of
January 15-21, 2012

I completed the Finding Your Eye online course this week and while I would love to register for the next session immediately, I am using great restraint.  I have already registered for the Slice of Life project - which will begin on February 6th, and I think that is probably all I can handle this semester.  I believe this new course will help me to truly find the beauty in everyday life - and I am very hopeful that I will continue to develop my eye for photography.  Perhaps I will be able to take the subsequent Finding Your Eye course this summer.

I have managed to take a photo every day this month except for one.  While it would be easy for me to declare an early failure in the 365 project - I refuse to allow my perfectionism to rob me of fun in this journey.  So I continue to keep on keeping on....

My photographs are absolutely nothing to write home about, but they do represent what I have experienced each day.  And perhaps that is what the project is supposed to do for me this year:  serve as a visual journal.  And perhaps next year I can focus more on creative composition.

Writing:

Nicki was the topic of my
travel writing essay this week

I am so far enjoying the travel writing class with Dave Fox.  Last week we had to speed journal four different entries - and I chose to share two with the class.  It is rather intimidating to put my writing out there for total strangers to critique, but I knew in order to get my money's worth for the course, I would need to be willing to take a risk.  I was pleasantly surprised that others enjoyed the writing, and I received some positive comments from the teacher as well.  It definitely encouraged me to continue.

This week we had to write a travel essay that focused on just one particular incident.  The goal was to write an essay that was between 500 and 800 words.  I learned that my daily blog posts during that trip truly helped me to recall details that have dimmed over time.  I also learned that I need to work on prioritizing details - as my "finished" essay was about 910 words.  I am anxious to hear feedback, but ready for some constructive criticism to help me move forward in my writing endeavors.

Reading:

Well, once again this has taken a backseat in my weekly activities.  I am no further in the Harry Potter series (about page 50 of the first book), but I have skimmed some photography books, most notably Photo Idea Index by Jim Krause, and Exploring the Light by Rick Sammons.  I also picked up a copy of How to Write a Sentence; and How to Read One by Stanley Fish.  I can't remember where I saw this recommendation, but so far it is an enjoyable read - both as a writer and as a teacher of writing.

In Brit Lit we are beginning the study of Pride and Prejudice and while I have read this book at least five times, I am looking forward to re-reading this classic with the class.  It has been a while since I have allowed myself to relax in Jane Austen's description of Regency England, and I look forward to reacquainting myself with long lost literary friends.

I hope that this week finds you well and warm.  Our cold snap was apparently temporary, as we are now to have a series of fifty degree days.  Hardly seems like winter this year, but I am not complaining.

A Photo Assignment - third time's a charm?

I have spent a large part of this long weekend practicing photography.  Yes, I finally got my head out of the books, took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather (Sunday = 55 degrees; Monday = 67 degrees!), and went for a photo shoot.

The assignment was to really spend time on one subject and photograph that subject from a varieties of different angles, perspective, etc.  The first time I read the lesson, I interpreted "subject" in a broad sense. I decided that I would go to the local arboretum and photograph nature.  While there was little floral vegetation, there were some variety of plant life and tranquil spots by the water.  I took 242 pictures, of which I am willing to share three.  Not great odds, but I did learn quite a bit about light and how the angle of the sun in relation to the subject can dramatically alter the mood of the picture.  I learned to use my exposure compensation to help overcome my ineptitude of proper manual settings.

This is actually one of the first photos I took.  I liked the way the sun provided the warm glow to these cat's tails.  I had hoped to have the rocks a bit less in focus, so that the cat's tails would truly stand out, but my camera lens did not stop down far enough.  

I experimented for quite some time with this subject, and in a couple of pictures I focused on just one of the stalks, but I thought this group of three made for a more cohesive shot.

This picture allowed me to play with depth of field a bit more.  As I study it, however, I wish there was more of a contrast between the subject and the background.  Oh well, I am definitely still learning.

After spending quite some time trying to take a picture of the rope bridge (to no avail) I looked behind me and noticed these benches next to the water.  I thought it might be fun to take a picture of this spot in the middle of winter - and then return in six months and see how the tree has filled out and the grass has greened up.

While I don't think this is a spectacular photo (and I am sure many of you with far better composition techniques could give me a few pointers), I do like the idea that it could inspire a story.  Who might walk into this setting and sit down by the water?  A romantic couple?  A lonely teen?  A young mother with her newborn?

After this shoot I came home and read some of the message boards for the class.  Apparently same subject meant, literally, the same subject.  If I wanted to photograph flowers, then the same flower from a variety of perspectives, angles, etc.  Of course, this makes more sense:  if I am truly going to develop my eye for the beauty around me, I need to slow down and really see the beauty up close, far away, underneath, overhead, etc.  

Occasionally Jude has to show
Feeny who's boss.

Ok -- so round two.  We were encouraged to find a subject that evokes an emotional response from us - something that we find inspirational.  Well, for me, that would be my dogs.  So I went out to the backyard for about thirty minutes and took another 211 pictures (isn't it wonderful that we don't have to pay for the developing of film in this day and age?!).  I tried to focus my attention on the newest member of the canine family, but it was impossible not to include the other three in this photo shoot.  There was lots of sniffing......running....rough-housing.

In hindsight, this was not a great subject choice.  Yes, they inspire me and bring me great joy. Yes, they are my most photographed subject by a margin of about 3:1 --- but to try for a variety of angles and perspectives is impossible.  If I tried to sit on the ground, they were on top of me.  If I tried to crouch in their face, they would attempt to lick the lens.  It was definitely a humorous shoot, but not terribly productive for this assignment.

I did however find a couple of photos that are worth sharing....and again, I did learn a valuable lesson even if it wasn't the focus of this particular assignment.  I learned that when photographing nature, I like to use Aperture Priority, as I prefer the control over depth of field.  But when shooting dogs, particularly six month old puppies, Shutter Priority is the way to go.  I set the shutter speed at 1/250 and the ISO to 200 (it was partially shaded), and I let the camera adjust the aperture accordingly.

So, I am wondering if perhaps I should try this assignment one more time.  I am thinking of perhaps trying to photograph my nook - filled with shelves of books (my next favorite pastime to my dogs).  Or perhaps I could photograph my car (now that would provide all kinds of angles for different perspectives) - or maybe my morning cup of coffee?  I don't know....apparently developing my creative eye is going to take a bit longer than most.

Why Photography?

Any of you who have visited my blog over the past year or so knows my new-found interest in photography.  I have read many books on the subject (even posted a few reviews), shared my trials with a dirty sensor, and posted my goals of improving my photography in 2012.  I've been a woman of many words but little action.  But not anymore.

The last couple of weeks in December I decided to take some positive steps forward in making this dream a reality.  I committed to the 365 Project - something I had contemplated for nearly 18 months but was too fearful to join.  Of course, it helps that I have a close friend who is also committed to the project, and we try to encourage each other to take the required photo each day.

But I also registered for a couple of online classes, one of which is the Find Your Eye course by Kat Eye Studio.  If you follow the link you can find a full description of the course, but the reason why I registered is because I want to learn how to "express my heart and soul" through photography.

This post is a response to our first assignment:

 Why do I take photos? What draws me to photography? What are my motivations? What keeps me excited and interested?
Consider all of the reasons and motivations you have for taking photos, both internal and external. 

I have always been interested in photography - but only as a memory capturing device.  I would take pictures on special occasions, like birthdays and Christmas, and on family vacations.  I believe this style of photography is referred to as snapshots - and while it continues to serve a purpose in my life - I have come to realize that I want to capture more in my pictures.

Since turning 50 two years ago, I have found myself struggling to know the "real" me.  No longer entrenched in parenthood, I have now entered the realm of grandparenthood.  Phasing out the career as teacher, I am now contemplating the life of retirement.  I have graduated from being an eldest child, to being a matriarch of the family.

Somewhere along the way I have lost my sense of me.  I have always referred to myself by the role I have played - not by the person inside.  And now that those roles have changed - and in some cases, disappeared altogether, I feel out of touch.  I have focused solely on raising a family and writing lesson plans - and I have forgotten how to be creative and have fun.  All work and no play has made Molly a very dull person.

Photography seemed like an easy solution.  I already owned a camera (point and shoot most of the time, but my son recently gave me a dslr) and I didn't think I needed any special talent to click a shutter.  I naively thought that "anyone can be a photographer"  But isn't it funny how the more you learn about a subject the more you realize you do not know?  And while it is true that anyone can click the shutter - it is also true that only through practice can one hope to master the skill.

The above picture is a photo of my granddaughter Brynn that I took this holiday season.  Yes, she is in focus, yes you can tell that she is adorable (no prejudice here - ha!) - but it is truly just a snapshot.  Now compare that picture to this one here that my son took at the same time.  He not only captured her face - he captured her personality.  This is the true Brynn - my photo is just a two dimensional image.  I want to learn to capture the essence.  Not just the essence of people - but the essence of life.  I want to learn how to S-L-O-W down and really observe life around me.  I want to find the beauty in my everyday surroundings and I truly believe that in doing that - I will learn to find joy in life, no matter the circumstances.  In addition, I hope to discover a means of self expression that will enable others to see the real me - the me on the inside and not just the role I fulfill in their lives.

Of course, I also have a heart for travel and I want to develop photographic skills that will not only help me to capture the iconic pictures of my beloved Europe - but I want to learn to capture the emotion and the atmosphere as well.  And in the deep recesses of my imagination, where I sometimes allow myself to dream, I would like to marry my love of photography with my love of writing.  I would like to not only visit these foreign countries, but also to write about these travels - if not for publication, then for a legacy to leave for my children to read.  If a picture is worth a 1,000 words - then I want to accompany that photo with another 1,000 words to fully document the event so that others might know and feel exactly what I experienced.

That is what I hope to gain from photography.

Photography Books

As I indicated last week, I have been reading, although my reading these days tends to focus on the non-fiction, academic books of writing and photography.  I spent the better part of this past weekend reading, skimming, and taking notes on a variety of photography books that I have obtained from the library and I thought I might share my findings with you.

Most of these books are not "how to" use a camera.  While I am by no means an expert on the operation of my DSLR (I still tend to keep the setting on automatic for fear of missing of the shot), my interests in reading about photography is in learning how to truly accept the camera as a way of viewing the world around me - and trying to capture my perspective of that world.  While this is not a difficult concept for some, this is an entire paradigm shift for me.

See, I have always enjoyed taking pictures - but in my black-and-white world, the camera was a memory keeping device.  Plain and simple.  I would take out the camera when we would celebrate birthdays, holidays, and vacations.  Otherwise, it remained in the closet.

But I am learning that the camera is far more versatile than that - and the camera can allow anyone the opportunity to make a statement (with or without using words to clarify that statement) and can give even the most handicapped artists (which is what I consider myself) the means to express themselves in a creative manner.

I have had a vision of combining my love of photography, my passion for writing, and my need for travel. This trip to Paris is my first step into making that vision a reality.  And these books are helping me to hone that craft.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am currently enrolled in an online class that encourages the exploration of self through photography and writing.  I am thoroughly loving the format and the online friends that I have met these past six weeks.  I have learned that Flickr is not only a great site to store photos, but it is also a fantastic way to journal.  Anyway, to help keep the momentum of this class going, I have also discovered a couple of books that focus on this same theme:

Exploring the Self through Photography by Claire Craig.  This book seems to be geared toward a group class setting, something that I am not quite ready to pursue.  And I must confess that I have only skimmed it.  BUT.. the first paragraph of the preface made me stop in my tracks and open my eyes to new possibilities:

My grandfather was a photographer.  Most weekends he would be busy at weddings or christenings, preserving memorable moments in the family history.  However, his image-making was not restricted to special occasions.  Along with weddings and christenings he would photograph the familiar: objects, places, people; the first television he owned, the contents of the fridge; cards, trains, buses; the time it snowed so we hard we needed to dig ourselves out of the house.  These scenes created a record of everyday life and were made extraordinary by virtue of their ordinariness.

He took pictures of the contents of his refrigerator?!  This blew my mind - and made sense to me all at the same time.  I hope to learn to slow down my life enough to realize that there is vitality in the ordinary.

A Creative Guide to Exploring Your Life by Graham Gordon Ramsay and Holly Barlow Sweet.  I absolutely loved this book and have decided that I need to add it to my personal library.  It is very reminiscent of Inner Excavation which I have discussed on this blog before, but it has a little more depth to it, I believe.  Graham is a professional photographer and Holly is a licensed psychologist.  Together they have created a series of prompts and exercises to help one discover the true north in life:  what makes us tick; what gives us meaning; what do we hold near and dear to our hearts.

While I don't feel that I have the time now to devote to these exercises, I know that this is something that I want to  find the time to pursue in the future.

Serial Photography by Harald Mante.  This is one of those books that truly opened my mind to the idea that there is indeed beauty all around me - I just need to become more observant.

I have always been pragmatic and organized.  In the days of film cameras, it was not pragmatic for me to take pictures of ordinary life because, quite frankly, it was not a priority financial expense.  But with the advent of digital photography, the expense of developing is a non-issue.  I can take hundreds of photos and only choose to print a few select ones.  I think my brain understands the digital phenomenon, but my subconscious is still focused on the per picture cost.

So once I accept the fact that taking pictures is really a very affordable hobby, the question then becomes, what is worthy of a picture?  As I have already outlined, I am learning that anything that I come in contact with during the course of the day is fodder for photo exploration.  What I really like about this book, however, is that it has shown me a way to take the seemingly random pictures and put them into some cohesive whole.  Couple the organization aspect with the very clever mosaic app and now I see how even I can begin to be creative with photography.

Some of the chapters initially are a bit perplexing to me.  For example Chapter 3 is titled, Tables and Chairs.  This does not really attract my attention as a photographic subject.  However....when I stop to think of the fact that I hope to spend lots of time in a variety of Parisian cafes - sitting at an outside table --- all of sudden this now gives me purpose.  I will be in contact with tables and chairs all week - and what a unique way to document this aspect of my trip.  The subtitle of the chapter is Familiar Workday Objects - which should certainly open an entire world of potential still lifes in the weeks and years to come.

I have found that I am drawn to color above any other aspect of art (such as texture, line, shape, etc) but it has never occurred to me to take a picture of something because I like the color.  However, Serial Photography has almost given me permission to photographic whatever I find pleasing to the eye - whether it makes sense or serves a purpose - for the simple reason that I like it and it brings me joy.  So I think I will also be in search of the color Purple in Paris - as that is the color of the year for me.

For the second time this year I have skimmed the book Expressive Photography edited by Tracy Clark.  For about six months now I have followed the blog Shutter Sisters.  Each day they have an interesting photo and then a thought provoking post that coordinates with it.  They ask others to comment, sharing their pictures on the thought of the day.  I enjoy looking at all the different interpretations of the prompt, and the different photography styles.  This book was born from that blog.  The book includes quite a bit more technical information than the others and for that reason I feel that it is not exactly for me at this moment.  Never fear, however, I anticipate obtaining it again for the third time this winter when I have a bit more experience under my belt, and perhaps a bit more free time indoors to devote to its study.

God is at Eye Level by Jan Phillips is another thought provoking book for me.  There are numerous quotes scattered throughout the book that I have found worthy of writing down myself, and the author's compassion for the human spirit and the world at large is compelling.  What I learned from the first quick skim of this book (it definitely requires a re-read later on) is that we can seek to find metaphor in nature which speaks to us and our own personal lives.

I believe I did that for the first time this spring when I went walking during Mom's illness and discovered the withering leaf hanging on to the tree (Mom)  with with new Spring growth budding around it (the arrival of my granddaughter, Brynn).  And while this metaphor may not be easily discerned by others who might come across the photo, it has a deep connection with me.

In fact the common theme that I have noticed from reading all of these books is that the photographer must be willing to slow down, live in the present and be mindful of the moment.  The photographer must be willing to have his camera at all times and be willing to take pictures of any subject matter.  The photographer must be willing to change perspective and see the object from various points of view, or he may just miss the meaningful shot.  And above all, the photographer must actually take pictures.  As with anything in life, if it is worth doing, it is worth practicing.  And the more you know - the more you realize you don't know.  And that is ok.  Because the goal is not to take the perfect photograph - the goal is to enjoy the journey.