Shutter Sisters

b kind to Earth

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Earth day is just around the bend and we are thrilled to be celebrating with the likes of The Motherhood, Nickelodeon and the National Wildlife Federation in their B Kind 2 Earth Day incentive. What’s it all about? Just a great way to get a lot of people committed to doing something kind for the earth this Earth Day. What’s not to love?

Won’t you join us as we begin the celebration now through blog posts, tweets and facebook notes as well as photos (lots and lots of gloriously green photos)? However you choose to participate, pop over the the B Kind 2 Earth Day Facebook page and let everyone know what’s on your mind as Earth Day approaches.  And we invite you to add your Earth Day (and before) photos to our Flickr pool and tag them #kind2earth so we can keep track of all the wonderful stuff you’re doing!

Let’s see how you capture a little bit of kindness today!

Thoughts on Playing Big

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When I think about playing bit I think of big things. Big dreams, big decisions, big shifts. I think of being bold, powerful and strong. And sometimes that’s exactly what it is about. The Big stuff.

But what about the Big things that happen in tiny, quiet ways? Like the Big shifts that come from taking slow, deliberate steps or making the seemingly smallest decisions. I’m not sure I really felt the importance of those little Big things like I do right now.

I was recently invited to participate in something that sounded wonderful to me. A fun, creative, rewarding experience that seemed like a perfect fit. Perfect, until I discovered a small wrinkle. You know, that something that didn’t feel quite right. I immediately knew it from the “the twinge” inside me. Oh boy. I realized had some sorting out to do.

After doing everything I could to work around it through self-talk (maybe it’s not that big of a deal, maybe I can still make it work, maybe I’m over-reacting, or even worse, maybe they won’t ask me back, maybe there’s no point in telling the truth), it only felt like my dilemma was getting larger, more pronounced, and unavoidable. The small twinge was now an overwhelming get-wrenching. I didn’t need to sort it out anymore. My body was telling me all I needed to know.

I cannot tell you how I agonized over saying “no”. How I played it over and over in my head. How I worried and wondered how my answer would be received and if my truest, most authentic voice would be heard. There was nothing left to do but make a phone call. And I found the courage to do it. And it was scary and hard and I’m still disappointed that what I thought was a good fit, was ruined by one small (ok big) wrinkle. But actually doing what I knew was right for me, no matter how afraid I was, was the right thing to do. No matter how difficult it seemed and no matter how much was at risk from a possible fall out, I just did it. And I can feel it in my bones as I share this story that with one seemingly small decision, I was playing Big.  And even if no one else even noticed, speaking my truth was bold, powerful and strong.

I have been making some Big shifts lately. Big things are happening with me, inside and out. This is true. And Big feels good, especially when it happens without the internal struggle. Sometimes it can come without debate or worry or fear.  That’s one kind of Big.  But  in the case of the small stuff, like the little shifts and the whisper of our inner-knowing, or when playing Big feels really hard? I’m finding that sometimes that’s the best kind of Big there is.

………..

Tara Sofia Mohr shares a number of stories about playing Big on her Wise Living blog. I can think of no better teacher on the subject than Tara which is why I wanted to share with you the details of her soon-coming Playing Big program. Monday is the last day to register so if you’re thinking about Playing Big, I say, Just Do It!

Tara tweeted something yesterday that is still giving me goosebumps:

 Shutter Sisters + Playing Big = World Changing.  That means you. That means me. That means us.

Today, show us something that feels Big to you in your images! Let’s spend today focusing on Playing Big.

igniting inspiration

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Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant, there is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.    -Johann Gottfried Von Herder

 

Inspiration is an interesting thing. There’s no telling when it will come. Sometimes we work for it or actively seek it out. Other times we unknowingly stumble upon it.  Whatever it is and how ever we find it (or it finds us) it is necessary to our work as creatives; as photographers.

I recently took my first trip to the acclaimed Palm Springs Photo Festival in search of inspiration. My only regret? That I didn’t take advantage of more of what they offered.

I can’t tell you how inspiring it was to hear an entire panel of photographers (both emerging and well-established) speak on how shooting your passion is not only what matters most, it’s a must to land the job. And guess what? Even photo editors of our favorite magazines search for the photographers whose passions are expressed in their images. Of course a ton of work goes into it too but when you’re doing something you love, the work, although still work, can sometimes feel more like play. Or something like that. Just ask Ryan Heffernan about that kind of shoot.

Later we heard the story of how one photographer’s journey began when he discovered (quite by accident with the help of a broken mirror) that he himself was the subject he was meant to shoot and how that realization launched a 40 year career in self-portraiture. His work is incredible.

The inspiration didn’t stop there. There were all kinds of things both anticipated (like how friends can be magic) and totally unexpected (like how palm tree and windmills can be totally enchanting). Good company and new surroundings can work wonders for creativity!

For the rest of this month we are going to celebrate inspiration for our One Word Project. We are asking you to share what inspired you most through your images this month! Illuminate us! Shoot your inspiration and in return we’ll be giving some inspiration away throughout the month too!

Today’s offering? A spot in my workshop at Teahouse Studio in lovely Berkeley California. Friends, photography, tea? I can’t think of any more inspirational than that! Leave a comment here between now and Saturday night at midnight EST for your chance to win.
 
Now, show us your images of inspiration.
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Congratulations to Lea for winning the spot in Tracey Clark’s photo workshop at Teahouse Studio. Woot!

Just Add Sparkles

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Yesterday’s post brought so many inspiring comments on how and what lights your creative spark. If you haven’t had a chance to read through them, I encourage you to take a little time to browse all of the great ideas! Awesome!

Many of the comments mentioned being sparked by classes, communities and prompts. I find these kinds of sources work for me as well. It’s one of the reasons I am so excited about the new online offering from Jamie Ridler Studios, Sparkles. Have you seen the lineup of extraordinary women sharing simple and fun sparkle strategies? I was honored to be asked to even share one of my own!

Sparkles is a 31 day class of prompts created to lead you on an adventure to awaken your creative spirit and fill you and your days with sparkle. Each day, you’ll receive a quick-to-read, quick-to-do inspiring creative exercise in your inbox.

What I love most about Sparkles is the “whole package” approach. With prompts from creative women in a number of mediums (from painting to cooking to photography to dance!) I think is a fantastic way to light your creative spark! Sometimes thinking outside the photo frame is a great way to inspire your photography and infuse your creative vision with a little sparkle.

Besides, the premise is that it only takes 5 minutes to sparkle? We can all build in that kind of time!

I look forward to Sparkling with you over at Jaime’s place. She is one amazing lady who has brought together an inspiring group of women with some very fun, very sparkly ideas! I have so enjoyed getting to know her. Oh, and today is the last day to try your luck at winning some awesome giveaway gifts for participants. The list is full of great stuff. There’s a free spot in my community workshop Picture Inspiration and a copy of Expressive Photography up for grabs over there too. Fun!

So, today, show us some bling! Share your Sparkles!

symbolic

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 January was the month we celebrated your word. February we focused on words in general; statements, messages, and comments. For March, we will keep right on track and take our cue from the current CliQ photo challenge and feature letters, symbols and numbers.

Yep, it’s a FIRST in the history of our One Word Project that we are actually using more than one word for the month’s prompt. In this case, we’re asking for any or all of the words letters, symbols and numbers! And just because we think the folks at CliQ are so super cool, we encourage you to enter your images to their photo challenge. You can find those details and the prizes you could win on their site which is full of good photo stuff!

As always, we want to see what you’ve got for the remainder of March and request you share your OWP images of letters, symbols and numbers in the OWP Flickr pool.

1,2,3…shoot!

stacking up

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My One Little Word this year is rhythm. I knew when I chose it, I was going to have to dig pretty deep in the creative well to find ways to visually translate a word like rhythm. Much to my surprise, I see more rhythm, rhyme and repetition than I have ever seen before!

So far, my word is shaping up, or better, stacking up quite nicely for me.

Are you seeing your word appear right before your eyes? We’d love to hear (and see) all about it.

Inspired by February’s lesson in Ali Edward’s One Little Word Workshop.

meant to be

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I took a few dozen shots of her that late afternoon. Effortless, expressive, fun; her. 99% of them didn’t look anything like this one. And even after adoring all the shots that really captured her lightness and ease, her playful spirit, it’s this single image that stays with me. 

It was the first shot I snapped before I checked my manual settings and it’s (obviously) about 3 stops underexposed. 

There’s no telling what magic can happen when we’re least prepared and not all all expecting it.

I’ll admit, I took it into Lightroom and thought that maybe a little processing might “correct” my mistake but nothing I did actually improved the image. This is exactly how the image needed to be. Underexposed and unaltered. Unapologic in every way. A rare gem. A true gift. Totally real.

Share with us a rare gem of yours. Maybe it came through calculated planning, by accident or by fate. Whatever the case may be we want to see your images, exactly how they were meant to be. 

close to home

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Snow days, long nights, howling winds, and chill factor can only mean one thing: winter is not loosening it’s grip. Not quite yet anyway.

*sigh*

For some that means being cooped up indoors far more often than is comfortable. We can sum it up with two little words: cabin fever.

Today, turn it around by looking at your humble and cozy abode with fresh eyes. Share the corners of your world that remind you how lucky you are to spend your time close to home.

bowing out

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I’ve been watching the evolution of this big bouquet of flowers now for over a week. It’s brought me such joy just by it’s being here; each stem boasting it’s own unique bloom, lifting my spirits and offering such inspiration. Yellows, oranges, burnt umber, coral, kelly green and sage (to name a few) have all offered well needed bursts of happy.

But as time passes, so too do the vibrant colors, supple shapes and strong stems. One by one, these flowers are fading. Never being one to overlook beauty in even the most unexpected places, I have been in reverie of the fade. As each stem begins to weaken, petals drop and leaves dry. But still, there is so much dignity left, even in the process of wilting.

I find that i cannot bear to toss the whole lot out at the same time. Instead, I carefull watch and wait and pull the dead flowers out one at a time. Some last much longer than others and I am determined to enjoy each one as each takes it own sweet time to cycle through it’s short yet brilliant life.

I have my own way of honoring these beautiful blooms as they bow out before my eyes. I observe. I acknowledge. I celebrate. I nod and say thank you. For the gift they have offered. For living so bold. So beautiful. And for doing the same all the way to the end.

Show us a celebration today. Something that reveals the process, the life cycle, in whatever phase it might be in. Share the beauty you see.