Shutter Sisters

one sweet shot – april 2008

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A few years ago I had the pleasure of virtually meeting Sheri Reed of Mamazine. We were both blogging for ClubMom at the time. Since then we have had our share of online collaborations and I have grown to adore her. I know, I know, I haven’t even met her in real live person yet. Such is the nature of Blogville. None the less, through her poignant words and her totally fresh and inspiring photographs, oddly enough, I do feel like I know her. Don’t you love when images speak volumes about a person? I have been eager to gush about Sheri for quite some time and when I saw this delightfully and intriguing shot of hers, I couldn’t resist featuring it for this month’s One Sweet Shot.

And here’s a list of more links that should keep you sufficiently busy on this fine Sunday:

Camera Shy Momma is honoring another shot by Sheri (storygoil). Great minds Meredith, great minds.

Anna is honoring this shot by Nanako Koyama.

L. Michelle is honoring this shot by Lanne at Life Blogged.

Jenny Rebecca is honoring this shot by lawatt.

Ruth of Sparkle Thots is honoring this shot from valska.

Aimee of Greeblemonkey is honoring this shot by gorgeoux.

Strawberrygoldie is honoring this shot from BeeBee Mod.

Maggie of And the Duck Said is honoring this shot of Carrie’s at Barely Controlled Chaos.

Rachel is honoring this shot from Amanda Yeager.

Paige B. is honoring this shot from CherryVanillaStudios.

Stephanie is honoring this shot by n.elle. (sorry this one was wrong but has now been corrected)

Nicky Thomas is honoring this shot from JustMakeIt

Sarah Ji is honoring this shot by Mama Rosa

and Amanda is honoring the shots in this post from Polkadot Photo.

Thanks everyone for playing along! Have yourself a sweet Sunday!

on the radio (uh oh)

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We ask a lot of questions around here at Shutter Sisters. What inspires you? Are you up for a challenge? What images would you like to share with us?

I think it’s high time we give you a chance to ask us a question or two.

On April 16th at 6pm PST, Sister Kate (it makes me giggle when I get to call her that) and yours truly have been invited to join the lovely and very clever Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored on her Blog Talk Radio podcast where we will answer your questions live on the air. Crowd goes wild.

Here’s what we’re proposing—you offer up your questions here in the comments and we will pick a few that we’ll address on the show. If we choose to use your question on the air, we’ll be sure to extend a little token of gratitude (gifts TBA) if that’s any incentive. *

So ladies, fire away. What is it that you want to ask us? We’re all ears.

 

* edited to announce that our little token is a BIG gift card to Snapfish. We’ve got 3 – $50 cards for the lucky winners! YAY!

the right light

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My entry into photography began with a passion for portraiture; brides, babies, families, and eventually my own children. Because I was shooting soft and subtle subjects, I had to develop an eye for soft and subtle light. Since my photo training didn’t go any further than Photo 101, I had no idea how to use artificial light (aka a flash of any kind) and therefore had to learn how to achieve my desired results using natural light whenever humanly possible. After much trail and error and working at fine tuning my eyes to see the light (I swear I am not trying to be cheesy) I can now say that I’ve got it down.

So, why then did it not occur to me that the same rules can apply when shooting other subjects?

As I have turned my lens to the beauty of natural elements (flowers, trees, found objects) I guess I found myself in a similar light learning curve. As I was figuring out what worked and what didn’t, what I liked and what I didn’t, I wasn’t even falling back on the techniques I had already worked out. It wasn’t until I shot this blooming agapanthus that it clicked. I never tire of that pun. Why did this shot come out so well (with no photo editing needed at all) when other attempts on other days didn’t? The answer was simple. I shot the image in the late hours of the afternoon during the delicate light of dusk. The light was soft and my aperture was wide open (by default I might add as the camera was doing it’s best to gather as much light as it could under the dimming circumstances) which usually creates the perfect alchemy for an exquisite photo of any kind.

As I have taken my new/old lesson to heart, my nature photos have dramatically improved. I’m not saying you need soft light to capture lovely flower pictures. You don’t. But today, I challenge you to try treating your nature photos more like portraits. Schedule a session or two with the blossoms and blooms that are waking with the warmth of Spring. Be mindful of the light and try to flatter your subject as you would a dear friend. Relax and enjoy yourself and watch your nature photography bloom.

Words to Fly By

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The night before last I had the incredible honor of seeing both Anne Lamott and Elizabeth Gilbert together at the beautiful Royce Hall at UCLA. I know I know, how could it be?  Needless to say, the evening was pure magic.

Since almost every single word out of each of their mouths felt meaningful and moving, I wasn’t sure I could even write about it. Almost like a you had to be there kind of night. But I will say that in one short evening, these two incredibly authentic and articulate ladies gave a huge room full of women permission to be human—real, fumbling and flawed.

A perfect example was when someone in the audience asked them if they had by chance mastered living in the now. Wow. That’s a question.

Ms. Lamott began with an unapologetic No, which was certainly liberating in itself, but Ms. Gilbert added that she thought the living in the moment movement was somewhat overrated. Oh yes she did. She went on to share something she had recently read that made mention (and I totally paraphrase what she had paraphrased) that perhaps the key to a happy life is when one has good memories to look back on and great plans to look forward to. She ended with a simple line of advice that keeps ringing in my ears—take pictures and make plans.

Is it just me or is that most wonderful thing you’ve ever heard?

I knew these women were amazing even before attending the event but when I floated out of that concert hall with wings I began to see them as divine.

gathering hope

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Last night after falling in love with a photo of a beautiful mother and her son, I was led to reading Jen Lemen’s post (when I posted this the site was down but it will be back up again soon) which then in turn took me to Meg’s and then to Belle’s (you all know how it goes) and I was reminded of what the mother in that photo is enduring right now. Jen Ballantyne is one of us—a sister among our vibrant, creative, passionate community. She’s a mother, a photographer, a blogger. Authentic, honest and hopeful. She’s much like you and much like me with a substantial difference; Jen has stage 4 colon cancer.

As I was reading her story again and going over the details of the auction that is happening in her honor, I was inspired to think of something to include to help raise the funds she needs to better take care of herself as she continues her journey as well as what her sons need now and in the future. And then it hit me, of course… I’ll send a photograph! And before I could even decide which I would have printed up, I had an even grander thought—What if other sisters would do the same? What if the Shutter Sisters community pulled together to support one of their own through photographs?

Well? What if? I’ve seen what ya’ll got and there is some money to be raised, let me tell you! In the true spirit of sisterhood, let’s prove there’s more than one way to capture hope through photography.

If you would like to participate in the auction by offering a printed photo that you took to be auctioned off, please email weloveyoujen@gmail.com for instructions ASAP. And be sure to mention that you’re a sister. Thank you in advance for your help.

The Details of Friendship

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I was lucky enough to share some of my weekend with a handful of dear friends. This much needed girl time was like food for my soul; a time to slow down, to catch up, to unwind, to take in, to savor, to be present, to give and to receive. I rarely take my camera to these kinds of gatherings because I can get preoccupied with the photo part and I have learned to allow myself (and enjoy) being camera free. But lately, looking at endless photos of friends basking one another’s company, I have longed for my own visual treasures of my soul sister experiences. Needless to say, I took my camera this time around in anticipation of capturing the day in a way to help me relish and relive our time together.

I used the self-timer for a handful of gems (the kind of shots to go straight into a frame) and quickly clicked a couple more of things that caught my eye—pods I gathered from the patio, Lucy the dog and a few charming vignettes of my friend’s home. We were outside for while and although the light was harsh and somewhat uninspiring, I shot the photo above, just a quick click, with little thought in the midst of light and easy conversation.

When I got home and got the images up on the computer, I was delighted to discover this shot and how it made me feel. How can a just simple little detail of a friend stir up such rich feelings of gratitude? Is it her signature well-worn clogs and the playful way her toes point slightly inward? Or perhaps it’s the many layers of slightly ruffled fabric, skirt on skirt, and the textured hint of her brimming basket? Or maybe it’s her bare skin, being nourished and warmed by the vibrant sun of the perfect morning. It must be a little of all of these things and how they weave a story together, strand by beautiful strand, of our day, our friendship and how blessed I am to have women like this in my life.

Do you have a photo to share with us that stirs your soul, reminding you that life is good? You know we’d love to see it.

growing where you’re planted

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“Every blade of grass has it’s angel that bends over it and whispers, ‘grow, grow’. –The Talmud

 

When I wake up in the morning I usually feel pretty good. There’s a lot to look forward to in the early hours, like a strong cup of coffee and a day open for possibilities. I manage to serve breakfast, pack lunches, dress, drive and drop two kids off at school to return home, still eager to sink my teeth into the hours that lie before me. Unfortunately, the clock seems to tick in double time often leaving me feeling outrun. This in turn begins the if I could just… cycle.

If I could just work on this project for a few uninterrupted days…

If I could just hire a cleaning lady…

If I could just get some time to myself…

If I could just get a little more sleep…

If I could just find a pair of matching socks…

I fixate on these ideas with some crazy notion that my life would change if I could just… Oh brother. I am evolved enough to know by now that if it weren’t this list, another would most certainly take its place.

When I spotted this little spring of grass popping up from a tiny crack in our patio, I was intrigued and inspired. If this little speck of life can muster up enough energy to emerge from a nearly impossible place, then what’s to say I can’t do the same?

How would it feel to choose contentedness over desperation? What if my daily efforts were enough (without apology)? Can I put my energy into growing right where I am planted and be happy about it? I hold the hope that I can. If I could just find that angel…

One Sweet Shot – March 2008

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Hey sisters, it’s One Sweet Shot Sunday again! Welcome to our monthly inspirational link fest!

My pick this month is the gorgeous photo above captured by the lovely and talented Gayla Trial of You Grow Girl. I was fortunate enough to get to speak on a panel that she moderated at BlogHer last summer which was quite a pleasure. If you aren’t yet familiar with her website,  I encourage you to pop over and dig around (the oldest pun in the gardener’s book I know) to discover her wonderfully earthy and soulful images.

And now, on to the other honorees of this edition of One Sweet Shot:

Vixen’s Den is honoring this shot from ProjectMommy.

Write Mama Write is honoring this shot from Steph.

Maggie is honoring this shot from christinator5 .

Rebecca is honoring this shot of her Winter Beauty.

Shelli is honoring this shot from Springtree Road.

Hay is honoring this shot from mommymac.

Lawyer Mama and Maile are both honoring this shot from happy girl lucky.

Redness is honoring this shot from Corey Amaro.

Val is honoring this shot from Jo.

Mrs. Eaves is honoring this shot from Vixen’s Den.

Krystyn is honoring this shot from Beebee Mod.

Andrea is honoring both this shot from romanlily and this one from she saw things.

And Mandi is honoring this shot from Amy Shaba.

To all of you that submitted your honorees, thank you. To all of you that were honored, let this be a little dose of feel good on this fine Sunday. And to the rest of you, sit back and enjoy the clicks!