View allAll Photos Tagged the100dayproject
I had some extra time to process my photo this morning and decided to overwork it. Happy Sliders Sunday!
"You need to make art that no one in the world can create but you." - Chase Jarvis
These words have helped inspire me many times when I question myself especially when I start comparing my images to what other people are doing. I'm growing, learning and sharing and am finding my own style and voice.
How are you forging your own path and finding your creative voice? Have you heard of CreativeLive or Chase Jarvis? If you haven't, you should do yourself a favor and check them both out.
This morning found me playing in a puddle on the sidewalk in front of my neighbor's house. I had to respect and honor the nature of this snail that wasn't interested in climbing but wanted to stay firmly on the ground. I have found the more I respect each individual I encounter the better the results, true with photography and life.
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
"Things can fall apart, or threaten to, for many reasons, and then there's got to be a leap of faith. Ultimately, when you're at the edge, you have to go forward or backward; if you go forward, you have to jump together." -- Yo-Yo Ma
"Nothing is too small. Nothing is too, quote-unquote, ordinary or insignificant. Those are the things that make up the measure of our days, and they're the things that sustain us. And they're the things that certainly can become worthy of poetry."
--Rita Dove
"When you love someone all your saved up wishes start coming out." -- Elizabeth Bowen
Though this is not fully realized in what I was trying to attempt I am ok with that and ready to try another day. Happy Valentines Day, may you feel loved and share that love with the world. We need kindness and caring more than ever.
I'm antsy about completing the month and am anxious to move forward into the next. I have decided to complete the 100 day project within my 365 project and it begins on April 3. Here is the link if you want more info about it www.the100dayproject.org/ . It is time for me to work on things that I have been putting off for months if not years. I will be Spring cleaning my life and making room for what matters and purging what doesn't fit any more. Next week is Spring break so I will be playing again too and enjoying time with my daughter.
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead." -- Louisa May Alcott
“What day is it?” asked Pooh.
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh.”
― A.A. Milne
It was a cool and cloudy day so I had to work with an artificial light source. This purple tulip has been in my freezer for about a month and finally, it was the day to be photographed. I really love the way the leaves ended up in this panel. Each one of these panels is an individual work of art and I just hope to shoot them in a way that highlights the beauty.
My neighbors have donated a bunch of different flowers for my project. I try to take the smallest amount possible, so I don't disturb their yard and take all of the beauty for myself. I ache to improve upon what I have been shooting, so I keep experimenting and working towards this goal. Sharing helps keep me feeling accountable for the work.
This a a small twig of springtime blossoms from a tree at my daughter's school. I asked the ladies in the office if I could clip off a bit for my project. The ladies were hesitant about allowing me to use a small bit of the tree but agreed as long as I didn't take too much. I feel grateful for the opportunity to highlight the beauty of the flowers I am gathering from my area.
“Choose a leader who will invest in building bridges, not walls. Books, not weapons. Morality, not corruption. Intellectualism and wisdom, not ignorance.”
― Suzy Kassem
These blossoms are from one of my neighbors trees. This project is so good for me because I have had to reach out and ask people to share something with me. It is a wonderful opener to help me break out of my shell that the isolation of the past few years has built up. Talking to people face to face and connecting with them if only for a few minutes is a reminder that there is more that connects us than divides us. In every interaction I've had thus far for this project, I found that there is a lot of grief and loss that people have been experiencing. Be kind, be kind, be kind - if everyone lived by this the world would be a much better place.
Watching the protests all around the world has given me hope that some of our eyes are being opened and hearts changed. The strength and energy of the youth in our communities can and will make a difference. I don't think that it will happen all at once but shining a light identifying the problems is a start. We didn't get here overnight and it won't change quickly however I do feel hopeful and will try to help raise my voice.
I was brave yesterday and decided to stop at a home in my neighborhood, introduce myself and then ask if I could take some of the daffodil flowers from the front yard. It was such a lovely encounter, the gentleman was so gracious and told me to help myself. He also invited me to stop by later in the next few weeks as more of his flowers will be blooming so I can get more for my photo project. Thank you Jim for your generous offer and welcoming attitude and your flowers. I hope I did them the justice they deserve.
Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. -- Louisa May Alcott
"I do have that mindset - that most good art comes from some turmoil, from someone trying to come to some equilibrium, or come up and get a breath." -- Ben Folds
Do you find your creative self in times of inner peace or inner turmoil?
“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.” ― James Clear
"I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter's tough, but spring's coming. I believe that there's a growing season. And I think that you realize that in life, you grow.
You get better." -- Steve Southerland
These are more flowers rescued from the bridal bouquet my daughter gave me. The light was peeking through the blinds and gave me enough backlight to shoot inside. I love the petals and the crossed stems though I would have preferred more negative space my freezer can't handle larger panels right now.
“You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun.”
― Shaun Hick
This image has light leaks and sun flare, a mess of technical issues but that is what makes it beautiful and interesting. Sometimes in life you will find that your favorite things come when you least expect them. We have been having a heat wave and I haven't seen any snails lately but when I walked out to water the flowers this guy was out to greet me. One more ticked off for my 100 day project. Be open to letting life surprise you today.
I have kept these flowers around for quite a few years as they were a gift from my oldest daughter. They ended up floating so the ice underneath was too thick to see the flowers through the other side. Since the flowers were dyed, they ended up bleeding color into the water. I am going to try to use part of my dried flower and leaf stash this week so I can keep cleaning out my stash and opening up my house. Clearing out the clutter feels like a nice fresh start.
I decided to experiment with adding texture to the processing today. It is fun to play and change things up. How do you stay focused and interested?
I really wanted to give this daffodil some room to breathe in the image so I shot this with my 50mm lens. This flower is from my yard and I was hesitant to cut it down but am planning on using it for a couple of compositions so it will be treasured and celebrated. It is ridiculously bright and the yellow is intense but I don't think it takes away from the subject. I might shoot this on black and white too to see what works best.
I think it's important to follow your heart but not without checking with your head. Our hearts can be wild and foolish and we need some of that in our lives but we need to balance it with logic too. What do you follow, head or heart?
I am trying to find joy but am haunted by the images of the people in Ukraine who were killed and left discarded on the streets. How are we to make sense of such cruelness and not sink into despair?
I had the prompt of yellow for the Macro Monday group so I experimented with the yellow gel on my flash and a couple of yellow props. I decided to use one image for my 365 and the other for the Macrro Monday group.
“take a deep breath
Pick yourself up,
dust yourself off
Start all over again
And again and again and again.
May be easier said than done, but it can be done. Slowly but surely — and sometimes, not so surely, but with radical hope.
Step by precious step.Hour by hour.Day by day.”
― KERN JEROME FIELDS DOROTHY
I've decided to continue working on my 100-day project and see it out. Every flower deserves to be captured and treasured but there isn't time nor resources for that to happen so I'll do my best with what I have. The joy I find in photographing and highlighting these flowers helps me stay grounded and appreciate the little things. Thanks for taking this journey with me.
“How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it. How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it. How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live 'em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give 'em.”
― Shel Silverstein
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."
-- W. H. Murray
The Macro Mondays theme is vegetables. Here is my best effort with a few cloves of purple garlic. I was surprised when I broke open the bulb because this was going to be white week but now I'll pivot to purple.
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” ― Confucious
“You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful.”
― Amy Bloom
“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”
― Anne Frank
"You must first spend some time getting your model to relax. Then you'll get a natural expression." - Norman Rockwell
This is so true for the snails. You can't just plop them where you want, they are dictating the whole shoot. If they feel off, they just stay hidden in their shells. This series has taught me so much patience.
How are you feeling now days? Patient or stressed out?
Today's macro Mondays theme is cloth. I found it challenging to find an interesting composition so this was the best of the bunch. It feels like a nod to Beetlejuice which works since Halloween is right around the corner.
HMM!
“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.”
― Michelle Obama, Becoming
“It’s not so much the journey that’s important; as is the way that we treat those we encounter and those around us, along the way”
― Jeremy Aldana
I was delighted to find that a couple of the pumpkins in the garden turned orange before Halloween. Little things can bring some joy in life. It feels heavy now with worry for friends and family members who have been dealing with health issues. We need to continue to look for the good no matter how bleak things can seem.
I harvested a lot of cherry tomatoes yesterday as we are nearing the end of the growing season. It has been hard to focus on photography with the news of hardship going on everywhere in the world. Appreciate what you have today for nothing is guaranteed.
My photo project helps me stay sane right now because I believe the messages might help someone. If even just one person is helped, then I have had a positive impact and made a difference no matter how small. There is so much fear, anger and confusion and I try to step away from that noise for a short time to create something every day. I feel like it is one of the things I can do to stay safe and for a needed mental health break. How are you staying strong?