Shutter Sisters

life’s focus

By

“Life has a way of coloring your way of living – but it’s you who chooses the colors.” – unknown

Don’t you just love the simple wisdom of this quote?  As we go about our lives, it is so easy to get wrapped up in everyday dramas that play out around us.  When it gets overwhelming, I like to pick up my camera.  My lens becomes my filter. I am in complete control of what I see.  Real life is pushed aside and bliss rushes in.

In those moments, I seek out things that sooth my soul or tickle my funny bone. Saturated colors, my son’s freckly nose, the silly antics of our five dogs, and focusing on the details… all help reenergize me for the next challenge that life throws my way. And you know that with three boys, it is guaranteed that more teen angst is peeking around the corner.

While I am not suggesting that you put blinders on, I do encourage you to spend some time looking at the world with selective focus.  Everything in life will become more enhanced. What was once taken for granted, such as a sunrise, a simple wildflower, or a quiet moment suddenly comes to life.

Today, focus on the little things in life that make you happy and share them here with us.

 

Images and words courtesy of the Tammy Lee Bradley, founder of Mortal Muses and newest contributor to Shutter Sisters. YAY! You can find her on Facebook and her blog Bliss and Folly, as well. Help us give her a warm sisterly welcome!

Comments

  9. I relate so much to your words, Tammy, and your photo is so joyful, with that wonderful light.
    congratulations for having become a contributor here, I am looking forward to your next posts!!!
    I love bringing my camera very very near to the ground and exploring from there. it is a great way for me to focus on what I see through my camera and detach myself for a while from all the rest.
    here's an example of what I find:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/mar_s/5957485976/lightbox/

  10. Beautiful, wonderful thoughts.

    Here is one where even mud looks wonderful

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccasmithphotography/5957075789/in/photostream

    Another that means a lot to me-a special moment shared by my daughter with her daddy. The kind of love I never experienced so every time I catch a glimpse I'm blown away, and I'm curious-always wondering what it must feel like, and I try and capture it–without them seeing me, because I understand-deeply, what a special moment this must be to a little girl and her daddy.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccasmithphotography/5957075939/in/photostream/

  17. Dearest sweet tammy. this is such a beautiful post and i adore that quote too! Ohh congratz!! Have a lovely merry happy mid-week and love to you!

  18. You are the Color Queen. Leaving my house with only my camera to walk through the park is always reenergizing for me.
    So glad to see you here, congrats on becoming the newest sister!
    xo
    Mo

  20. Great post! I checked out your blog and enjoyed that also. I agree that part of the draw of photography is that it gets me to notice the details in each day. Things I look at, even something as simple as clouds, become paintings of color and light. Photos also allow us to remember those special days. Recently I pulled out photos from my Colorado trip to remember the cool streams of water from the melting mountain snow. It gave me some relief from an especially sweltering day.

    http://cowgirlbyproxy.blogspot.com/2011/07/im-melting.html

  30. Wise words from a wise friend. Like someone else I know, walking out the door and crouching down with my camera to capture a small moment in my garden, hopefully with Sweetpea in frame, is as healing sometimes as a day at the spa. Never liked spas much, anyway….

    Love you! Congratulations!

  33. Congratulations, Tammy!

    I really like this post! It's nice to be able to pick up a camera and focus on what I want to focus on! To capture little pieces of magic!

  37. Tammy!!!! I know how much this means to you and I am thrilled that you will be a regular here your photos are such an creative inspiration for me! Its so true this passion (addiction) I have with my camera its a coping mechanism, that I know is true.

    Yey! Girl go get em!