Shutter Sisters

reoccurring themes

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Sometimes we don’t really notice patterns when we’re too close them. Day in and day out we carry on with our routines and rhythms, repeating actions, activities, habits and rituals. We wake and walk and work. We lift our forks to eat, our pens to write, children to love, our cameras to click. Every day with little fanfare.

I’ve recognized my love affair with coffee mugs for years. The shape, the feel, the message, the color, the rim, the handle. I notice and take note of all of these things each time I lift my mug to sip. And yet, it wasn’t until I began to use my iphone (and instagram) that I really noticed how much I really observe the beauty, simplicity, and poetic and hopeful aesthetics of this simple everyday object and how this one seeminly mundane item takes center stage in so many of my photographs.

Is there something you have found that often takes the center of your attention? The subject matter of your images that occurs again and again in ways that might even surprise you?

Take a good look at what it is that captures your eye and your lens and share with us the reoccurring themes of your daily work.

daddy’s girl

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My father and I, circa 1972.

Today, here in the States, we honor our fathers. You didn’t think we’d miss it did you?

Daughters, let’s pay homage to the father-figures in our lives. Share a thought and/or a photo in celebration of these phenomenal men. 

the muse of connection

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1. wildflowers and sunshine via instagram, 2. flare me. first iphone selfie. this is a whole new learning curve!, 3. 横顔, 4. Ghost leaf, 5. Open the doors…., 6. green, 7. Bad mother alert, 8. Untitled, 9. Watching Monsters Inc, 10. Paper thin, 11. Fresh cut peonies, 12. sunflower

A few weeks ago I went right out and got myself an iphone. It wasn’t exactly that simple or that easy. It came after months—ok years—of deliberating, debating and planning. And after all that, I still hesitated. Until one day, I didn’t.  And then, it was that easy. I walked right in and got myself an iphone.

I cannot claim it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me, but I will say, it’s pretty great. The ironic thing is, it has absolutely nothing to do with the phone. As you can probably guess, it has everything to do with the camera. But not just any camera. The camera that gets transformed by the apps.

I’m not a gadget and gear girl nor a techie so I haven’t taken much time to load up on igoods. But what I have found are some of the super-fun photo apps that I had only dreamed of using.  Enter Instagram; my new favorite photo toy.

Yes, I am having a blast with it. The whole world looks like a photo to me now (even more so than usual) but in a totally different light.  I am seeing all the things I want to share. I am compelled to capture all the stories I want to tell. Because the most compelling part of Instagram is its instant connection to the rest of the world. Sure, it comes with and easy and awesome 1-click edit tool that turns your snap into a little work of art. But the fact that almost immediately after you shoot, your image is shared. And—just like that—you’re connected. Your image is shared. Your vision is expressed. Your story is told.

I am fascinated by this new wave of creative connection. Of sharing without saying a word. Of shooting exactly what we want to share, when you want to share it. It’s empowering, it’s liberating and it’s really fun.

In the name of our many muses and the many ways we connect with each other, let’s share some of our favorite visual stories and let’s comment! Let’s click around today and really see each other for who we are; sisters who find joy, strength, encouragement and inspiration through our connections.

Share your links, comment, tweet, facebook, flickr, instagram; let’s talk today in all of these places. Let’s show each other how much our connection means! If you want to hashtag it, use #ssconnect. It will be like our own secret handshake. I can’t wait to see you out there connecting!

Oh, and please, come find me on Instagram! I’m traceyclark (how totally original of me). See you there!

softening

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I remember when soft-focus portraiture was all the rage. Believe me, I shot my share of them. Glad that trend passed. Alas, the softness of photographic images can be magic. It’s just not usually done with a soft-focus lens anymore. Whew.

However it is achieved, softness can be timeless, dreamy, ethereal. It can be comforting, wistful, melancholic. Softness can evoke all kinds of emotion.

I have toyed with so many photographic styles and techniques over the years, some of which yield beautifully soft results. From shooting out of focus to dragging the shutter capturing a soft blur of motion to using lenses like aLensbaby to shooting through water (as I did in the featured shot) to the wonders of post-processing, softness can come any number of ways.

Today share your tips or tricks on how you soften up your subject. Show us your vision of soft.

kindness matters

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“Be excellent to each other.” – Abe Lincoln,Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

There’s no better way to say it than this.

Kindness, compassion, tenderness, encouragement, support, love…these are the best of the best. They are the things that matter the most.

In this community, all of these things have been infused in our daily exchanges and I thank all of you so much for that. And there are some other amazing places where things like kindness are brought into clear focus. Kind Over Matter is one of those places. I encourage you to spend some time there. I promise you will be inspired.

Today, let us see how you focus on kindness. Share with us the shots that speak of being excellent to each other.

So excited to share that there is yet another giveawayfor Picture Color over at Kind Over Matter today. YAY! 

ablazed with color

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Color is everywhere! Have you noticed? Have you captured it through your lens? My guess is you have. It’s that time of year after all when the world is waking from the last few months of cool slumber.

In honor of the season and all things colorful, we are giving away 2 complimentary class registrations to Picture Color. Leave a comment here between now and Friday, 5/27 at midnight EST to be entered in a random drawing. And for another chance to win, visit Mortal Muses. Those girls rock! Oh, and the gals at Write.Click.Scrapbook? Yep, they are awesome too and are giving away some Picture Color spots in the next few days so head over there too! See what I mean? Color IS everywhere!

And with that in mind, let us celebrate the coming colors together. Show us blazing, beautiful color today!

clues

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“We need to find inspiration whenever we can, because when we’re spiritually tuned in, everything is a clue pointing us in the right direction.”– Sarah Ban Breathnach, Peace and Plenty

Haven’t you found those clues? When you’re tuned into the frequency of the Universe? When you’re following your bliss? When you’re moving toward the direction of your dreams?

Today, share with us your direction. Share an affirmation that you are finding your clues. Or find an image that reminds us of the beauty and power of the path before us. Let’s walk in the right direction together.

bravo

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There’s nothing like some recognition when it comes to being brave. Sometimes we make bold moves and never even slow down to give ourselves our well-deserved pat on the back. We get so caught up in forward motion that we often act bravely with little or no fanfare. Why is that? I think courageous acts deserve some acknowledgement.

Who’s with me?

From sharing stories to sharing photos to sharing support to sharing dreams to sharing our talents, the bravery of our sisterhood (and ourselves) knows no bounds.

Today, let us be proud of the strides we are making and give ourselves the kudos we so deserve. Let’s here about the things you’re proud of today! Consider this your personal invitation to exercise your bragging rights. Come on, let’s hear it!

Bravely done my friends, bravely done.

Works of Art

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Every once in a while a product come along that not only totally enraptures me but also meets every single wish on my wish list. Simple, beautiful, mindful, well-designed, high-quality, easy to create, nice to the touch, visually stunning, etc. etc. Enter Pinhole Press. Talk about Inspiration!

They pretty much had me at hello; when I found out they used Mohawk Fine Papers I knew it would be good! Next, they enticed me with the beauty of their website. And when I got the opportunity to make a photo journal of my very own? Let me just say that the interface made me giddy. Simple, sexy and super-fun to use, I enjoyed creating my book as much as I enjoyed choosing what photos would go into it. No, I am not kidding and highly recommend popping over there if for nothing else, just to play with your photos and see amazing they look in the gorgeous products Pinhole Press has to offer. Come on. Have you ever seen a day planner this beautiful?

All that and I haven’t even mentioned that I am 100% over the moon smitten with the most beautiful little journal that came to my door soon after I ordered it, which features my own images both on the cover and adorning the inside pages.

Rest assured, this journal is not your average photo journal. Far from it. This journal is a work of art; a high end, fine art journal that showcases my work to it’s full potential! What photographer doesn’t want that? I have been dreaming of a book like this which is why I’m so excited to be singing their praises today and am eager to be putting Pinhole Press (and Pinhole Pro for those of you with your own photography businesses) on your radar for the coolest photo products around.

  

Today we are thrilled to be offering a giveaway, courtesy of Pinhole Press. One lucky winner will receive 75 dollars worth of stunning Pinhole Press products. *swoon* And because we really want you to experience the wonder of Pinhole Press, we are offering a 10% discount on all orders for Shutter Sisters everywhere. Just use the code Shuttersisters upon checkout. I can only imagine what amazing works of art will be born out of it. And hey, if you visit them on Facebook, you can enter other sweet contests they’ve got for their Facebook friends. Yay!

Today, share us an image that you think would make a great cover for your journal. We want to see something you’d consider cover-worthy!

Leave a comment here between now and Thursday 4/28 at midnight EST for a chance to win goods!