Shutter Sisters

weekending by Polly Scott

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I persuaded my husband and stepson to go shopping with me by promising good food and a toy store. My sights were set on the parade of cute gift shops and restaurants further north. But I had forgotten the magic of Lark Toys.

Entering the store is a bit like stepping into a Willy Wonka village.  A vintage toy museum runs along a long hallway leading into a candy shop with a large rotating carousel.  Llamas wander around the grounds waiting to be petted.  A large room of wooden toys runs into a room full of costume hats and wigs with noise makers, hula hoops and pogo sticks nearby.  The book collection is large and diverse enough to be an independent bookstore.  I stared at a room stocked floor to ceiling with family games. I thought about how long it had been since we’d played a simple board game.

My husband and stepson try on hats and make faces in the mirror. They head along to the noise makers and kazoo sounds fill up our quiet space.  As we leave, my stepson hops into the Whirlybird. We can barely tear ourselves away. I feel refreshed and I’m reminded once again of the value of play.

How do you play?

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Polly Scott shoots images like these with a Canon Rebel T3 and spends her weekends going on fun family outings like this one to the local toy shop.

You can find her on her website destinationdriftless.blogspot.com and on Flickr as DriftlessDestination.

Todays prompt: cards

Tomorrow’s prompt: evergreen

transformation of a city

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I am thoroughly in love with my city.

It’s streets.

It’s alleyways.

The rhythm of the coffee shops and bus stops.

How it endlessly transforms itself…

This holiday season, the weather has been dreary and I’ve found myself seeking out pops of red on every street corner. I’ve been yearning for the holiday spirit and I notice I seem to find it when I least expect it. Running errands on a rainy afternoon, to-do list in hand, my mind lost in thought… And from the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of red… a Santa hat hurrying along the sidewalk.

This city energizes me…breathes life into me…reminds me that we are constantly transforming. Sometimes we just have to slow down and look…

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Today’s post and image by guest shutter sister, Laura Yurs.

What pops of red do you see?  Share one with us here today.

Don’t forget, sign up to our brand new mailing list for 2013! 

 

Finding Appreciation

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I recently had a garage sale to get rid of some of the stuff I’ve accumulated over the years so that I don’t have to carry it all with me when I move next month. I’m moving because I can no longer afford my rent. 

When I first realized I would have to move, I was despondent. Why didn’t I get as many opportunities as my friends, I wondered? Why did I continue to struggle while others had it so easy?

But as I looked around the garage sale, I realized that almost everything I had was given to me (either by friends, family or the side-of-the-road gods). I had been given furniture, TVs, books, dishes, clothing, everything I really needed.

I was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude. I realized that there have been so many times that I’ve been the recipient of good fortune and generosity.

My focus shifted from depression and indignation to thankfulness and appreciation. Now, I am grateful that I have another home to go to and that it has turned out to be even better than the last.

Are there things in your life that need a second look? Can you find appreciation where and when you might need it most?

Image and words courtesy of Gennifer Carragher. You can find her on her blog or on Facebook, where she created a community for other Gratituders in The Year of Gratitude.


weekending by Libertad Leal

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“A couple of weekends ago my little family and I woke up at 4:30 AM to drive an hour to Galveston, TX to see (and photograph) the sun rise over the ocean. It was something I had wanted to do for a very long time and it did not disappoint. It was peaceful, beautiful, magical, exciting and by the time we left I felt awoken and alive.” -Libertad

Libertad Leal shoots images like this with her Nikon D80 with a 50mm 1.8 lens and spends her weekends juggling quality family time, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, family/social commitments, errands, and chasing after a very active toddler. But she always tries to carve out some time for photography.

You can find her on her website Libertad Leal. 

How do you make time for photography?

Today’s prompt: music

Sunday’s prompt: red

letting go

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Each fall, I watch as the weather cools off and the ground becomes littered with yellows, browns, oranges and reds. The trees shed their leaves and turn their attention inward, gathering the energy released by the decomposing leaves and transforming it into the new beginnings of spring.

Just as the trees must release their old leaves to make room for new ones, we must let go of things in our lives that no longer serve us, especially our fears, in order to make room for new possibilities. It can be a difficult process, though. Even when I know my fears are not serving me, I wrap myself in them like a cozy, old sweater because I have grown comfortable with them.

When I don’t know where to start, I pick one fear and name it. By starting with just one fear and giving it a name, I make it into something more manageable – something I can release, taking the bits of knowledge about myself that I find within it and transforming them into something new. Just as trees lose one leaf at a time, we can choose one fear at a time and let go of it. 

What are you letting go of this fall? How are you making space for the new leaves that will appear in your life next spring?

Gennifer Carragher was raised on the beach, grew up in the woods and now spends her days capturing the magic of these places with her camera and sharing her photo adventures on her blog. If you love fall as much as she does, consider joining her in Embracing Fall, her newest e-course.

weekending by Susan Licht

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they come by bus, by car,
by foot, by bike
by stroller, and by wheelchair
the young and the old
to shop, to eat
to smell the flowers,
the rich aroma of roasted coffees
and freshly baked breads
 
to take advantage of all that freshly harvested goodness
or just to stop and chat with neighbors and friends
a little slice of life
a celebration of community
-Susan Licht

(Soonie2)

Susan Licht shoots images like this with her Nikon D3000 and spends her weekends outdoors as much as possible, be it exploring the streets of Boston, walking the beaches of Cape Cod or hiking the many conservation trails in and around her hometown.

You can find her on her website Licht Years. 

Are there any farmers markets or pumpkin patches in your weekend plans?

Today’s prompt: mug

Sunday’s prompt: apples

saturday at the market

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Two weekends ago, I rode the train to New York City with a of film, a few cameras (two Holgas, a flash, a Pentax K1000, some 120 and 35 mm film, and an iPod Touch—4thgen.), and a notebook. The plan was to photograph the bustling Union Square Greenmarket (with 140 regional farmers, fishermen, and bakers and 60,000 or so shoppers) on Saturday.

The minute I crossed Broadway into the sea of white tents and people rushing by, I wondered if I was in over my head even as I reminded myself how many times I’d photographed such scenes before. I took a breath. Loaded both Holgas, one with color film, the other with black and white.

I circled the market, noticed the light, and watched for moments. Slowly I started shooting. Frame by frame. I tuned the chaos out. I discovered small moments. I shot until I ran out of film. Nine rolls, plus thirty-some iTouch images and ten minutes worth of video. These photos reflect some of what I saw.

Photo essay courtesy of Nikki Gardner. You can find her work at Art & Lemons and find out more about Nikki’s latest workshop, Saturday at the Market: a photography workshop for Food and Film Lovers. Her next workshop is Saturday, October 20, 2012. Union Square Greenmarket, NYC. The workshop is limited to 12 people, so sign up early!

weekending by annette gendler

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Annette Gendler shares her images from a recent weekend visit to Shakertown at Pleasanthill, Kentucky. She writes: “It was a truly glorious fall day spent in the picturesque heart of Bluegrass country.”

You can find more on her website AnnetteGendler.com.

What kind of fall fun do you have planned this weekend?

Todays prompt: path

Sundays prompt : autumn

the strays

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Would you believe that all  of these beauties are stray dogs? Yes, you probably would. Because they all seem to be in their own world. Lying somewhere alone, trying to make themselves invisible.  They might surprise you though. A whistle or a kind word would make them jump up for a cuddle.

I captured these dogs as part of shooting a photo documentary of a spay and neuter campaign in Bosnia.

Being prepared for the worst scenarios it left me speechless to find so much trust and kindness in the dogs I met in the streets. That melted my heart. Dogs like this have to work so hard to find their daily meal. Getting a kind gesture or even finding some love are rare things for most of them. In spite of the hard side of life they welcomed me with warmth and love.

Photographing animals makes me forget all that is around me. It is a healing process for me. Moments to cherish.

Photo essay and story courtesy of Jolanda Boekhout (aka Jofabi). She can be found on her website. More of her Strays series (and more about her trip) can be found on Flickr.

Todays prompt: Collection