Shutter Sisters

Announcing: The One Word Project

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You’ve inspired us! Thanks to an impromptu 30-day photo challenge idea exchange discovered in the Shutter Sisters flickr group and a little “one word” creative inspiration from Ali Edwards, we’re mashing up the best of both ideas to bring you the Shutter Sisters One Word Project starting in February. Each month, we’ll choose one word to guide creative inspiration for your shots. Then you do your best shooting, and we’ll feature one of your images daily here in the site, and select one award-winning image at the end of each month to win a super cool prize from one of our fabulous sponsors.

February’s One Word Project is Brought to You by Lensbaby

The word of the month? You choose.

The cool prize? a Lensbaby Composer – the ultimate selective focus SLR camera lens!

Here’s how it works:

1. Pick a word that best represents you or your focus. Your word should inspire images throughout the month of February. If a word doesn’t come immediately to mind, scan Ali’s extensive list of words to inspire you.

2. Once you’ve selected your word, share it here in the comments or blog about it in your space and leave a permalink to your post here so we can go check it out. The project begins on Sunday, February 1, but you can join the project any time after this date.

3. On February 1, begin shooting images that visually represent your word. You can shoot, tag and share your best photographs in the Shutter Sisters flickr group every day or whenever you feel moved to do so.

4. TITLE each of your One Word Project images to include your word (e.g., Hope, Love, Courage, Peace). TAG each of your images as follows: “oneword (month)” (e.g., “oneword february”, “oneword march”, “oneword april”, etc.). Tagging is important as it’s the only way we can find and enter your images in our contest.

5. Beginning February 1, check the new One Word Project page daily within this site to see if your image is featured. The first award-winning photo of the month will be chosen by the Shutter Sisters team and announced on March 1, along with the new One Word Project for March.

We’ve created a discussion thread in the Shutter Sisters flickr group to manage questions and answers. If you have any questions, check for the answer or post your question here.

* * *

As for my word… it’s Motion. I started a series of “motion experiments” – video captures with the Nikon D90 SLR this weekend, and intend to push this concept through the month of February. I’m intrigued by the idea of capturing motion in the form of still images.

What’s your word?

Comments

  1. This is exciting! My word for February is "Fresh" for a fresh start. Having been without a camera for the past year, I am starting fresh, still getting back into the swing of things. Fresh has so many meanings and I hope to capture a good many of them in February. Thanks for this challenge!

  2. My word for February is mindful. My life often gets so busy and chaotic I easily overlook the joy and beauty around me.

  8. When I read this, my word came to mind immediately. That word is Being. Now for the hard part, actually having my images judged and compared to others. That makes me trepidations.

  13. This is a great idea. I’ll have to think about my word. I love your idea of motion – I was experimenting with slow shutter speeds the other day, though I’m not very good at it yet!

  14. "Rediscover" – the idea is to rediscover beauty in my everyday life through things that I have become desensitized to due to repeated exposure.

  15. my word for this life season, not necessarily winter, is "fly". I’m not prepared for myself to have a new word each month but I’d love to be inspired but other people’s thoughts and try to take shots that represent that. Sounds fun!

  16. My Word is SING. I’m going to be away for a lot of February, traveling with my choir, so there is one source of inspiration, but I wonder what else will end up on my camera. Since I will be away, I don’t think I’ll be able to post a lot of my pictures for this one, but next month, definitely.

    These are the pictures already taken of the wonderful people with whom I am travelling:
    http://flickr.com/photos/29536663@N04/collections/72157612934587142/

  18. Oooohh, what a great idea! This will really help me to document my life right now in new ways!

    My word is Nesting. I’m due with my third in five weeks and the month of February will consist of preparing for our new little one in a variety of ways. Can’t wait to share!

  19. i just found your website through J* blog and i think it’s a great idea what you have here. i’m just starting my photography business and i’m so excited with all the creative and talented women that are now making so much noise in the photography world.
    good luck on all your endeavors!

  22. Ali inspired me at the beginning of the year, and I chose the word ‘brighten’ so I will start February with that word. I hope I can do something with it!!

  23. Shutter Sisters has inspired me so much already this year. Such a beautiful, positive place to visit. Thank you for starting this project and inspiring me further. My word for February is peace. I would like more peace in my life. I will strive for this in pictures and deeds this month.

  24. My word for 2009 is SEARCH. So for February I’ll concentrate on that word, and for March, maybe I’ll add a little something new to my list. 😉

    What a WONDERFUL challenge. Completely inspiring! Thanks SOOO much!

  25. My word for 2009 is TRY. So I am going to TRY my hardest to take a shot a day in Feb. 2008 and share them all with the sisters!

  26. I am so glad I found Shutter Sisters. So many ways to get the creative juices flowing. My word for February – Renew. I’m excited!

  28. I’m IN. My word for February is "open" and I will blog about it and do a permalink here to explain why I’m using that word in my life for the month of February. Excited …

  29. My word for February is "remnant" which is a project I am working on that will hopefully turn into a book. The oneword project will help me motivate myself in February to take the photos necessary to make that happen!

  31. Wow, what a project. And so many good words! This is big, on top of my Project 365. I guess it will give me ideas for shooting. But I have got to try for that prize, you know. 😉 I think my February word will be "found," since my close-to-home status means that I really have to search for my photos, especially through the winter grays.

  32. I started with Ali at the beginning of the year. CONQUER! hopefully i can finally start to figure out this photography craft and learn to take photos I want on my wall!!

  35. This is my first project with the Sisters and I’m excited! My word is "Joy". We all need to look for the joy in every day life.

  36. I think my word is going to have to be "Balance" I am aspiring to find some physically and mentally, in my day work and my creative work so there it is — BALANCE!

    Thanks for this inspiration.

  37. ooooh! Sounds fun! My word was easy for me to come up with.

    Bleak (meaning: Cold/Raw)

    I live in NH and "Bleak" is the only way to describe February! Fortunately, "Bleak" can also be beautiful, so hopefully that is what my photo’s will represent.

    Kristin

  38. YES!!

    yes to this challenge, yes to shutter sisters, yes to flickr groups and YES is my word for February! 🙂 Soooo…excited!

  40. I am choosing SIMPLE. I make everything soooo complicated that this might be a learning experience for me.

  41. I had finally decided to start my own 365 adventure Feb 1st, but wanted a focus and couldn’t imagine a single idea I could carry throughout a whole year, so the timing of this project is perfect. I’ll incorporate the two….my word for the month will also be my daily shot…the inspiration I needed and I’m so excited! Thank you Shutter Sisters for once again making me giddy with ideas! Can’t wait to grab my camera and get started! My word for February: LOVE

  42. I realize this isn’t the correct place to post this but there is no information for who or how to contact when there are problems with this site so …

    I have registered, and registered, and registered again and can never ever "log in". I’ve had 2 other people email me to ask if I’ve had this problem and so I’m not alone. Any way this could be rectified? It would be nice if our names were linked without having to add our url in every post. Not sure otherwise why there is a need to log in? Sorry I haven’t been able to figure it out on my own. Thank you for fixing this wee glitch.

    Diane

  43. My word is RESCUE. I’m spending most of the month of February in Thailand on a photojournalism trip. I’m going with a friend to a place called "House of Grace," a girl’s home and ministry that protects and cares for tribal girls that are at risk of being sold into prostitution in Bangkok. Our purpose in going is to document, in photo book form, the transforming work of Christ in the lives of these girls, and in this part of the world.

    My images will focus on rescued beauty in the lives of these girls.

  46. My word is… WOMAN.

    I have recieved so much love for women on this site who have ventured over to my blog to show support, from women I have met this year in my community who have become my dearest and sweetest friends… February is the month of love and it just seems fitting to continue to spread the love of being WOMAN.

    Yea!!!! Now I am really giddy about this project!

    http://www.stephwiese.squarespance.com

  49. I chewed on this all morning and have found my word: OPEN. Sadly, my camera will be in for service for the first half of Feb, but I’ll dig in hard as soon as I get it back!

  50. I thought when I came up with Project 365 I was being original, but apparently lots of people are doing it. I’m going to step up my game by adding your one word project. My word is going to be "emotion" and I’m going to integrate it with my Project 365.

    http://ericaslens.blogspot.com/

  53. In honor of Valentine’s Day I’ll choose LOVE as my word for this month. It will be fun to celebrate 28 people and things I love. Thanks for starting this challenge it is exactly what I needed!

  54. In honor of Valentine’s Day I’ll choose LOVE as my word for this month. It will be fun to celebrate 28 people and things I love. Thanks for starting this challenge it is exactly what I needed!

  56. My word is…Shine! I can hopefully capture this in many ways…sunshine, lens flare & light are the ones that come to mind. Thanks for the challenge!

  58. I think this is my third post today but I wanted to say that I just got done reading all of the comments and people’s words and I all I have to say is "Wow". Wish I could have two words…Thanks for doing this!

  60. My word: BE.
    I find myself always looking at the calendar, making lists, thinking of what is to come next. I want to spend more time in the present, aware of the life and beauty and love around me.
    So…just BE.
    Love the project.

  63. This is such a wonderful thing you’re starting. I’m super excited to take part. My word for February will be Growth. There are a few things in my life right now that will cause positive growth for me if I do not shy away from them.

  72. I’d love to join this. I knew immediately I wanted my word to be "LOVE". Can’t wait to get started.

  76. This is exciting! I haven’t felt very motivated to shoot lately and have been lurking in the Shutter Sisters pool for a while. I look forward to contributing this month and immediately knew my word.

    Integrity
    1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
    2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness
    3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness

  80. I don’t know if you’re tracking these here or not, but I HAVE to change my one word for February. I had chosen "found," but the more I think about it, the more I want to look for another word, "promise." I just wanted to update.

  82. Last November, we lost our home to devastating fire. Now, at the beginning of the new year, we ae beginning to rebuild. My word for February is FAITH. In so many ways, faith is the only thing that sustained me through these last three months. I have seen so much evidence of faith and love from others–family, community, church. It is hard not to have faith when there are so many blessings around me.

  83. I think my first word will be "soft."

    I think this is really going to expand my views of what good photo material is. I’m looking forward to it!

  84. Yay! My first photo challenge! Glad to have a safe place to give it my best… 🙂 My intention for 2009 is SIMPLIFY, therefore my word for February will reflect that. Simplicity. There. I’ve said it. Now let’s just hope my trusty little P&S can get over the flu (or whatever it is that’s been bugging it lately!) Thanks for the inspiration, Shutter Sisters… xox

  86. ACTION is my word. I didn’t scan the list for very long ey? I’ve chosen it for two reasons which will hopefully become apparent as I do this project.

  87. Okay it took me a while, but I have finally come up with DEPTH as my word. There is so much that I would like to take a deeper look at, so much within my camera that I would like to delve into to capture things in as many ways as possible. Since I’m doing my 365 project, this will be a great way to expand myself! Thanks for the new challenge.

  88. Wow… choosing just one word was extremely difficult. I decided on SEARCH after some heavy contemplation. I’ll be SEARCHing in February and I guess we’ll see what I find in that SEARCH.

  90. My One Word for February will be PINK

    I’m not normally a pink kind of a person, but January’s been so monochromatic, it will be noce to focus on such a cheery, romantic upbeat colour. Can’t wait!

  91. I love this idea and am so excited about joining in! I’ve thought a lot about my word(s) and am choosing "accept" as the theme for my year. Very applicable to my life circumstances 🙂

  92. This looks like fun, I’ll give it a whirl! Especially since I got a new Nikon D60 for Christmas…and I’m digitally impaired, this will give me practice.

  95. I like the idea of this project. I’m so scattered right now a good word prompt will remind me to look beyond the immediate goings on around me!

  96. My word for Feb. is "Fleeting". My little ones are growing so fast it makes me realize every moment counts.

  97. Wow…so excited for this challenge. My word for the month will be "GRACE."
    As Christ Jesus has shown me His grace minute after minute…I will open my eyes and attempt to capture "grace" through the lense. I am challenged and excited!

  98. This is the motivation I need to get myself taking more pictures this year! My word for February is going to be ENERGY, since in these cold, bleak days I often feel a lack of it. This will help me to seek it out in my daily life.

  100. My word fot this whole year, should be TRUTHFUL. Not only for one month.
    I am in the path of being truthful since a while now. It’s hard, it’s a difficult path. But I feel it’s the only one I can follow right now. And I felt like this for the last years.
    So, let’s play…

  105. I am going to try to live with -Intention- . I am going to do what I set out to do and not fritter away time on things I don’t. I have no idea how I am going to come up with pictures for that… but that’s the challenge of the whole thing right?

  107. What a lovely and motivating idea. My word is ::STILL:: a word I would like to influence my daily life and through the lens. I am so looking forward to how this will be realised over the month. Thank you.

  108. I’m going to try and participate in this challenge, as per the nudging of angela at This Woman’s Beautiful Life 🙂

    I think my word for February will be "growth".

    Thanks for the chance! I’m nervous, but excited! I hope I can stick to this, and I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with 🙂

  113. I think my word is going to be "Friend". I’m going to try to take an interesting photo of 30 friends. (Hope I have that many).

  114. I’ve been mulling this over for days… and tonight I chose the word Sustenance: That which supports life; food; victuals; provisions; means of living; nourishment

  115. Wow, what a great idea. I shoot in film, so I’ll have to be organised for developing and scanning to take place.

    My word for Feb was easy to choose – it is THRIFT and I imagine that my other months will be along similar lines.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

  122. I have been pondering this since I first saw it posted. So many words, not sure what to choose. And so I decided to go with heal as I will head to Bangladesh this month on a mission with Alliance for Smiles. I hope to be a part of a lot of healing on that trip…. now just to find a creative way to see healing in my everyday life too. Thanks for the challenge.

  124. Okay, my word for February will be Pause. I find that as I get busy, I see things and think, that would make a great photo, but don’t take it, because, well, because, I am "busy". In February, I will Pause and take the shot:)

  127. I think this will be a lot of fun! I just joined Flickr so I could participate. My word for February is Transformation. I’m on a mission to eat healthier and exercise to transform my body into something beautiful and something that I feel comfortable in (Psst… I’m trying to lose the baby weight from my second baby who was born 3 months ago).

  129. I decided to change my word from friends to faces. I am reluctant to "feature" faces because I never seem to get the light right. But this is about improving, so here i go…

  131. I’ve lurked around this site before but have been pretty shy about participating. I’m going to take part in this and make myself get over my shyness!

    My word for the month will be peace. I see I’m not the only one who chose it so I will not only look forward to everyone’s projects, I will also look forward to seeing how other people interpret peace.

  133. This month, I’m working on "renew." It’s a stressful time for a teacher–this is the month schedules are formed for next year and cuts are announced. Focusing on renewing instead of the stress will definitely help me get through it 🙂

  134. My word will be love since it is February…I know it’s cliche…but anyone that knows me knows that I love themes 🙂

  138. hello shuttersisters,

    i was torn.

    i was going to choose Pride – but it would end up being photos of my family – something i am very comfortable taking already so… no challenge there.

    then i was going to choose Calm – i need to be calm, my doctor recommends it! – but I have 3 small kids so who am i kidding?

    so i have chosen Light.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/3244963585/

    have a peaceful evening my dears.

    nicky x

  141. My word is dreams. I’m trying to create images that evoke a dreamy, surreal feeling. Almost giving the feeling of a distant memory.

  144. I love this idea. My word for February is radiance. The light is getting more lush as we head towards autumn here, and our days are promising to be more full. And you should see the sky around here lately! Radiant.

    Thank you for this creative opportunity.

  147. I’m so excited about this challenge – I’ve been looking for something like this to spark some creativity and add some more meaning to my photography 🙂
    The word I’ve chosen is "home"

  148. I LOVE this creative Challenge. My word is SLEEP. I need to give my body more sleep. I have been working too much and have had lousy sleep quality for quite a while. I need to focus on my health. In order to focus my life towards the way I want, I know I have to start by sleeping. Then the new path will be shown to me. I know. I will post as often as I can, not every day I think. My project is about the effect more sleep will have on myself and my loved ones. Will I see and experience different things and get more energy. One thing is for sure; no-one can sleep for me.. That job is mine:-).

  149. I picked nurture for my word of the year and for this month. I hope to push myself to take more photos and get better at it in the process.

  158. Many, many days later, I have finally been inspired, and have my word for February — connect. Hoping that I can find some shots where that is apparent. (And I also have some planned photos of some obvious connections.)

  166. I’m coming in a little late to the group, but have chosen the word QUIET. I have spent over 30 years working/living in noisy environments, so when I go out shooting, I pick back roads where sound is at a minimum. My son is always amazed that I can drive from KY to IL and back and never turn on the radio!