Shutter Sisters

creative bootcamp

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So we’ve been talking igniting our inspiration this month with the one word project. How about a little Creative Boot Camp to get the sparks flying?.

Are you ready to answer the deeper callings of your creative soul?… Are you tired of following the pack and ready to begin producing your most authentic work… Do you yearn to produce work with full of meaning and brimming with authenticity?…then Maegan Beishline of Madeline Bea Photography has designed a course for you.

Maegan Beishline says “Creative Boot Camp: Spring Training is all about artistic exploration…and through that exploration, getting to know yourself as an artist. It is all about doing the work and flexing the creative muscles in an effort to get to the place where you are producing very authentic work…the work of your soul. Each day of the two week course, there will be a different essay on creativity, an activity to go along with that essay, and some ideas for journaling or further thinking. Also, throughout the course, there will be thoughts and inspiration shared by other artists to really dive into the different mediums.”

You can find all the details of the course at the Creative Boot Camp site and learn how half of the course fee goes to showHOPE: a movement to care for orphans.

I’m thrilled to give away one complimentary place on this amazing journey, so please leave a comment between now and Monday 4/25 midnight (EST), perhaps tell me what inspires you or what a course like this could do for you.


Updated – A winner was chosen randomly – Anita of goingalittlecoastal.blogspot.com – Maegan will be in touch with details…. hope you enjoy the journey.

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.
………..

Congratulations to Lea for winning the spot in Tracey Clark’s photo workshop at Teahouse Studio. Woot!

a present to yourself

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When I submitted a prompt for #reverb10 I crossed my fingers that it would be chosen for the month long project. Little did I know that it would end up being the prompt for Christmas day. I couldn’t be more delighted! I can think of no better way to celebrate this time of looking back and looking ahead than to do so through photographs.

Over the last year I have had plenty of pictures taken of me; self-portraits (such as the shot above) as well as images taken by my daughters, and even some taken by Shutter Sisters. With each shot, something more is revealed. I see a clearer picture of  who I am.

The prompt today is specific however. Find a picture taken of youself that best captures you. Either who you are or who you strive to be.

I have found that when you allow your truest self to be seen, really and truly seen, you are set free. There is so much power in that it gives me chills just writing about it. I know this freedom to be true from first hand experience. When Shutter Sister, and dear dear friend, Jen Lemen shot this image of me on one of the most sacred beaches I have walked on, she captured me in a way I have never seen myself before. Every time I look at it, I get goose bumps. Who is this woman? Confident, strong, powerful, true, real. Even though I might not always consider myself in these terms, I’ve got a photograph to prove that I am all these things and more. It’s pictures like these of ourselves that are worth a thousand words.

This prompt isn’t an easy one. It might take some time to excavate a shot from the 2010 archives. But, I do hope you spend the time needed to study the pictures of yourself over the past year to see what kind of magic you find. When you do, please share it with us here. Leave a link to your photo and/or post in the comments. On Wednesday, I will pick two winners from the comments. One person will be given a copy of Expressive Photography: A Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting From the Heart and the other will get a complimentary spot in my next photo-centric e-class Picture Winter, just for playing along.

Thank you #reverb10 for such an inspiring experience this month. It’s been amazing.

opening my eyes (and a giveaway)

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Polaroid sx70 camera, PX600 Silver Shade UV+ film

Of all the wonderful people I’ve met this past year, Gail is the one who has taught me how important it is that we, as photographers, remember to use our tools (our cameras) to create awareness and motivate positive change.

Since the last time I talked with her, many have rallied around her Kickstarter project to help her raise finishing funds for Opening Our Eyes, a documentary film about her 99-day journey around the world with her daughter to film the stories of people making a positive difference in the world. I can’t tell you how much this project resonates with my spirit and feed my passion.

And you can help make a difference too! Here’s how:

Today I’m giving away a copy of our book, Expressive Photography (UK cover) to one lucky and generous reader. All you have to do is back Gail’s project on Kickstarter, make a pledge of a minimum 1$ amount and leave a comment here before December 24th midnight PST to be entered in a random drawing. I’ll also throw in some Polaroid postcards and Polaroid mini prints.

We’re so close to reaching our pledged goal! Less than 250$ to go, every dollar counts!

UPDATE: We made it! We just reached our goal! Thank you all so much! You can still donate and leave a comment here to enter the giveaway. Anything pledged forward will be shared with the subjects of the film for their causes.

And congratulations to Rachel for winning a copy of Expressive Photography! Thank you all again so much for your support, your generosity has made it possible! Happy Christmas!

we’re focused on you

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Can you believe that the first Shutter Sisters post marked the start of this community almost exactly three years ago? Gosh, we’ve grown so much since then and we’re truly thankful that you’ve found a home in this sisterhood. As we look ahead to 2011, we’ve got some exciting new ideas to share! But before we get knee-deep in planning, we want to focus on you, your interests, and your hopes for this sisterhood. So, we’ve got some questions for you!

Please take our brief survey now (just 15 quick questions) to share your thoughts with us and we’ll enter your email address in our drawing to win a fabulous Epiphanie camera bag courtesy of Epiphanie creator and Shutter Sister Maile Wilson. You’ve got until December 31, 2010, 11:59pm to be eligable for the drawing on January 1, 2011. We can’t wait to hear from you!

the last days

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I am spending the last days of the year bundled up in my favorite scarf, crisp leaves and snow crunching under my feet, blowing on a warm cup of tea that I’m holding with both hands and Christmas songs playing repeatedly over in my head (right now, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” by Tony Bennett).

I am also pondering over my primary intention for the year to come, and as I reflect on the past twelve months and the moments where I felt most alive I can’t help but think of the amazing women that joined the October class of the Simple Soulful Photography workshop. I once wrote that I envisioned this online course like I would arrange a meet-up with good friends in a small café. But what I have received was so much more than that. The class vibrated with creativity, humbleness and courage, engaging in thought-provoking conversations that I learned so much from, rallying around each other when some participants were going through a rough patch, and sharing beautiful images.

Today I am happy to give away 3 registrations for the January session of the Simple Soulful Photography workshop (January 3-29). Please share with us how you’re spending the last days of the year and leave a comment here to be entered in a random drawing between now and Monday 13th at midnight PST.

Note: Last time I wrote that I was creating a little something special for those who couldn’t join the workshop. You can now download excerpts from the first two lessons of the October 2010 session here.

And if you’d like to start the new year exploring the connection between creativity and self-care, learn basics but essential techniques on composition and lighting, and embrace, cultivate and express your most authentic self in a supportive community, I encourage you to register for the four-week course to join me and featured guests Marianne Elliott, Gail Mooney, Karen Maezen Miller, Amanda Gilligan and Bob Smith.

Tell me a story

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When I look at this photo, I am transported back to the exact moment it was taken. We went for a walk on Thanksgiving day around the abandoned streets of Houston and found ourselves in an empty sculpture park. Along the way, my 3-and-a-half year old nephew had selected a pine cone and a stick with great care. And as boys do, suddenly the pine cone and stick turned into a ball and bat.

My sister-in-law and I sat and watched as a 3-and-a-half year old welcomed two grown men into his world. All three were transported to another time, another place, another age and before they knew it, they had built up a sweat, playing stickball like there was no tomorrow. They laughed and howled as my sister-in-law and I cheered them on from the sidelines. The lone guard on site sat by quietly, seemingly annoyed by the disruption to his peace and quiet. When they lost the pine cone and the foul ball went into the stands (a.k.a. the bushes), the guard stood up, walked over to the boys, and handed them a new pine cone.

Thanks and giving.

That is what I see when I look at this photo. I see the story, one that could have been lost if not for my trusty iPhone. Since I was shooting with an iPhone, thoughts of ISO and aperture and shutter speed were irrelevant. What mattered in this moment was the emotion, the love, the story. Luckily, you don’t need a $1500 lens to tell a story.

To me, that is what photography is all about. It’s easy to get wrapped up in getting the “perfect” photo, acquiring the “perfect” equipment, and getting your exposure, composition, and white balance just right. But when it comes down to it, the only thing that matters to me is if the photo tells a story and if it transports me back to that moment.

I often wonder how much I would miss out on if I didn’t always have my camera with me. Whether it’s with my fancy camera or my iPhone, I am continually compelled to photograph these everyday moments. Photographing the seemingly ordinary provides me with a way to find magic and beauty in my everyday life. It slows down my rapid pace and helps me focus (literally and figuratively) on what’s really important.

Have you found this to be true? Today, share your perfectly imperfect photos – the ones that tell a story, slow down everyday life, and transport you back to a time and place that are meaningful to you.

Image and words by Honorary Sister / Guest blogger Darrah Parker.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a spot in the Slice of Life Project, a six-week photography e-course taught by Darrah in which she will guide you to capture YOUR everyday life in extraordinary ways. Class begins January 3 and will jump-start your creativity in the new year. Comment between now and Monday 12/6 for a chance to win.

Keeper of Hearts: Another Bel Kai Necklace for the Capture Collection

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 I can’t believe this year is almost over.  It’s been a good year for me in the sense that I’ve made a concerted effort to be more ‘in the moment’ and to make a point to ‘listen with my heart’ more often.  I even shared my heart, trusting those who love me to be a keeper of my heart when I needed it the most.  Because of this, I’ve had some really great opportunities come my way and have connected with some great women that I don’t think would have occured had I not let my heart guide me and for that, I am so very thankful.

How fitting then, that I am sharing my Bel Kai Designs necklace, the latest addition to the Capture Collection of Shutter Sisters photographic jewelry.  To celebrate, today we are giving one away.  Just leave a comment here by midnight PST and please, show us what your heart is telling you. 

(Cross posted at Everyday Heartbeats)

For the Love of Books

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Where would we be without our wealth of books? On our shelves, our night stands, our coffee tables. Reading to ourselves, to our children, or being read to. Words, illustrations, pictures. Covers, sleeves, pages. Oh, our beloved books!

Ever since our very first Shutter Sisters book has been out, we’ve seen it on bookstore shelves, being busted out of Amazon boxes, displayed in your homes. There have been encouraging words, rave reviews, and giveaways. We cannot thank you enough for all of your support!

With all this good stuff to report, we’ve decided to create a little home pagefor all the links that are around the blogosphere. Have your shared your thoughts on Expressive Photography on your blog or somewhere else around the wonderfully wide web?  Please share it with us on our new Expressive Photography page here at Shutter Sisters. And if you’ve got a shot of the book to share, we’ve got a new place for those too! It’s called Book Sightings and it’s just for pictures of the book. All you have to do is add your images into our Flickr Pool tagged “Expressive Photography” (with the quotes) and we’ll be featuring your sightings! What better way to celebrate?

And because we are focusing on the love of books of all kinds, our generous sponsor this month Focal Press has offered a number of their stellar titles to YOU for a book love giveaway day today.

All you have to do is share a comment on this post between now and Sunday 11/27 at midnight EST to be entered to win one of these photography titles from Focal Press:

Expressive Photography: A Shutter Sister Guide to Shooting from the Heart (wink wink)

The Elements of Photographyby Angela Faris Belt

Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity by Michelle Bates

Lensbaby: Bending Your Perspectiveby Corey Hiltz

The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman

Books! Books! And more books! 5 books means 5 winners! YAY! So, this post begs the question: what are your favorite books? Do tell the story!

seeing the signs

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It’s a funny thing when you’re doing all in your power to be present while at the same time you’re being asked to look ahead and focus on what’s just around the bend. It’s not always easy integrating the now with the later.

I’m fully aware that we’ve still got some time yet until the holiday season truly begins and yet my sights have been set on this soon-coming festive time of year for a while now. Between sharing images and photo tips for up and coming winter publications and writing the daily prompts for my photo e-class Picture the Holidays, I’ve been in my own little winter wonderland over here. And believe me, it has taken quite a bit of imagination on my part considering I live in sunny Southern California.

What I’ve come to find out is that there is great freedom in working ahead. Many of you might already know and embrace this truth, but, it’s pretty new to me. And although I am still literally in catch up mode in many areas still, I’m ruminating on a lifestyle that keeps me a little more ahead, rather than a little more behind. Let’s just say, it’s a work in progress.

Here’s what’s awesome; even when you’re planning the menu for Thanksgiving dinner, shooting your picture for your holiday card, or shopping for (or making) gifts waaaaay in advance, you can be fully present, in the moment and loving it. Without the overwhelming feeling of being rushed you can actually enjoy the moment even more. I’m finding the whole notion to be quite an eye opener and even though my One Little Wordfor last year was “deliberate” (which to me meant to make every moment count and hopefully be more productive by default), I feel like it’s taken most of 2010 to really work it’s magic on me.

So, why this holiday photo today? Because I want to encourage you to commit to being present throughout the holiday season this year. And yes, that might mean not being resentful when the holiday decorations are up at the mall. It might actually mean embracing the extra time you’re being offered to get into the spirit of things! It’s not such a bad thing if you look at it like that. You don’t have to feel rushed;  just take your own sweet time and enjoy it, it on your terms. Imagine, by the time the holidays arrive, you may be totally ready and in a fantastic frame of mind to celebrate. Imagine!

If you’re willing to give it a go with me and focus on the beauty, love and joy that the holidays are supposed to be about, I encourage you to join me for Picture the Holidays. I promise it will be just what your creative spirit needs to shine this season. Registration is open now and class begins Dec 1st and ends on Dec 31st. You’re going to love it!

Just leave a comment here between now and Thursday 11/11 at midnight EST for your chance to win one of three class registrations I am giving away for Picture the Holidays. I’d love to hear your thoughts and see some festive photography too. My guess is you’ve got all kinds of sparkly shots to share!