Shutter Sisters

self love

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It is such a nice change of pace to occasionally switch up the subject of my photos. I spend most of my photographic energy on people, whether candid shots of my own family or more formal portraits of others. So turning my lens toward nature or architecture from time to time keeps me excited about the possibilities of an image.

Sometimes I notice that I lose a little motivation looking at everyone else’s amazing photos. How will I ever take an original photo when it seems like everything has already been done? In the age of Pinterest, Flickr, Facebook, and numerous blogs it is easier than ever to compare ourselves to others. There’s nothing wrong with searching for inspiration and keeping up with a community of like-minded people. But when we feel the wave of self-doubt approaching it’s important to take a step back and remember what makes photography special for each of us.

So today I encourage you to share a photo that makes you proud & happy. Forget about the technical aspects or how it compares to other people’s photos, but do tell us why you love it.

the important stuff

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I made to-do lists and ordered cakes, balloons and plates for his farmyard party. I cleaned, cooked and prepared for out-of-town guests. But as I planned his first birthday party, I truly wasn’t concerned with spending a lot of money or making it “perfect”. I just wanted it to be special for him and for his family that loves him so much. The decorations and presents are fun. But when his cousin walked in and showed me the origami farm animals he created for the party, I melted. I couldn’t wait to take a picture of these adorable little animals to someday show my little guy what his cousin did for him on his first birthday.

It’s a big milestone, although I know there are so many more to come. But we feel so incredibly lucky to have him in our lives. 

warmth

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As my camera and I come out of a winter hibernation and make our way outdoors, the warmth of the sun is like a magnet for my lens. I find my self ooohing and aaahing over the sparkly light of the golden hour right before sunset. It’s so refreshing to get out with my camera these days and explore the new life and growth that spring has to offer. I get such a burst of creative energy each spring and I’m excited to see where it might take me this time around.

What’s got you feeling energized these days?

Mind reader

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Cats are complex creatures and mine is no exception. I’ve known Roxy for several years by now and I’m still puzzled by her behavior. She is unpredictable and moody most of the time, but sweet and attention-starved when I least expect it (or have time for it). I wish I could read her mind, but since I don’t have any psychic abilities I’ll settle for using my camera to get inside her head. Staring at a photo like the one above, I feel like I can see right into her tortured, teen-angsty soul.

Don’t you wish you could read your pet’s mind? Leave a picture in the comments accompanied by your best guess as to what they were thinking the moment you snapped the shot.

gather

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Happy March 1st!

I personally love the month of March for two reasons. The first is that I celebrate my birthday in March and the second is that spring will arrive this month. These are both great reasons to get together with friends to celebrate! Which brings me to the announcement of our new One Word for the month of March, which is gather.

During the shorter, colder days of winter it often seems easier to snuggle into our routine and spend more time at home. And while moments spent alone or with immediate family is always important, it’s also lovely to connect with old friends and meet new people along the way. So as spring approaches, we encourage you to make an effort this month to have some face-time with the friends who just “get you”. Or gather up a group of photography lovers like yourself and enjoy being the in the company of like-minded people. 

We all have to admit, as much as we love to gather here online (and we really really love it!) nothing beats gathering in real life. And since we’re on the subject, it seems like a great time to announce our 2012 Shutter Sisters Oasis gathering. All the details, like when registration will open, will be shared in the near future, but for now just the thought of gathering again with our fellow shutter sisters is enough. Start packing your bags!

And as you gather, take the time to document some of those sacred moments and share your images with us all month long in our One Word Project Pool on Flickr (tag your One Word photos this month with the following: owp, gather, march). Your photo may be featured here!

almost black & white

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Sometimes there’s no need for a black and white photo conversion when the natural scenery provides it for us. Believe it or not, the above photograph is in full color! Other than a little contrast bump, I haven’t altered this image. I am typically drawn to color photography more than black and whites. But it’s a good exercise for me to focus on composition and perspective in an environment that is naturally void of color.

Have you ever taken a photo that’s mostly black & white on it’s own? If so, please share.

spreading the love

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Top row, left to right: porcelain heart bowls, sweet apple photo by jsharp2121, diy elbow patch, Martha Stewart marshmallow hearts Middle row: be(et) my valentine, custom family print by loopzart, sweetheart sundaes, tp roll heart stamps, Bottom row: i heart you photo by Erin Wallis, The One That I Love book by Paper Coterie, you are amazing photo by Xanthe Berkeley, “Love Courageously” letterpress print by Sweet Afton Studios 

Happy Valentine’s Day! I thought we’d celebrate by sharing some “love-themed” beauty with each other. I’ve gathered up some of my favorite love-finds which include beautiful photography, lovely products, cute crafts and sweet treats. It’s so inspiring to see how other people are spreading the love today!

Play along and share something lovely with us…

object of affection

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This tiny stuffed horse might not look like much, but seeing it gives me that inner “awwwww”. My son has moved on to bigger and better toys recently. He prefers balls, loud plastic items and constant physical activity. So even looking back on a sweet, soft toy that he loved just a few months ago makes me all sentimental. I better get used to this feeling because it’s not going anywhere…for the rest of my life.

But that’s one of the many reasons that I keep a camera handy at all times. Now anytime I need an “awwwww” fix I can just look back through my vast photo archives and get that warm fuzzy feeling.

Have you ever photographed an item that can instantly make you smile?

New vocabulary

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Remember when flare referred to the number of goofy buttons a waitress wore on her suspenders? And F-stop sounded like a train destination? Depth of field makes you think of deep sea diving and composition is something that Mozart is famous for. I won’t even mention what exposure or ahem…pocket wizards might evoke. Perspective is what you’ll hear if you ask my opinion about the state of the economy (ok, not really. It’s what you’ll hear if you ask me about the last episode of Teen Mom or Real Housewives). And then we have aperture and bokeh, which are barely real words at all.

Digital photography has become a largely self-taught subject and it certainly took some time for me to learn the vocabulary. But thankfully the fancy words and definitions take a back seat to the most important thing, the imagery itself. Nothing can replace the act of practicing and playing with your camera to create beautiful photos. If you are still learning the ins and outs of photography, don’t be intimidated by the confusing banter or complex gear you may encounter. Have fun exploring and experimenting until everything starts to makes sense.

Now’s the time to ask a question about photography you’ve been dying to ask! There is a community of sisters here waiting to help. Or, if you are feeling like you’ve mastered most photo skills, share a tip with us that you wish you’d known when you started out.

keeping up

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My creative motivation is constantly changing. I go through cycles of brilliant inspiration, self-doubt, and just plain laziness when it comes to photography. I am currently in the lazy phase, which also happens to coincide with my inability to keep up with what everyone else is up to these days. Between Flickr, Facebook, Pinterest and a million amazing blogs, I often wonder how everyone does it! It seems like the whole photography community is participating in a project to keep themselves inspired through the winter or even the entire year. It can be a bit overwhelming for me, which sometimes translates into a feeling of inadequacy. Why can’t I get it together and be inspired like everyone else?

But one of my New Year’s resolutions is to take it easy on myself. I sometimes need a reminder to keep that internal dialogue to a minimum and to just go with it. I’m not perfect and I’m not like everyone else. So I am giving myself permission to pick up my camera when I feel like it and to let my creativity come and go as it pleases.

Do you ever go through cycles of creativity? And if so, how do you deal with the ups and downs?