Shutter Sisters

Photo Love

By

 

I left the bookstore with my arms full. I wanted her to ask why I was buying four of the exact same magazine. But she didn’t. So I offered up my reasoning because I could no longer keep it to myself. “A photo of mine was published in this magazine.” She glanced at me in her ho-hum way of tedium that comes with full time work and the Christmas rush on a Sunday afternoon in December. “That’s great.” She said and asked me if I wanted a bag.

 

“No thanks!” Oh boy did I sound chipper! I wanted to hold these pages close to me. I wanted to gather my babies to my breast. I couldn’t hide my pleasure. It sprung from my heels as I headed for the door. 

 

Lighter. I feel lighter.

 

And somehow more complete.

 

I am who I am regardless of accessories. But the more I dive into photography, the more I feel whole. More human. More real. It’s no longer a camera. It’s a second heart, a third eye that I wear on a neck strap. When I go without photography ~ when I’m too tired, too bummed, too self absorbed ~ I realize just how much I need. It’s become who I am, no longer just an accessory.

 

Today I was walking down a sidewalk with both arms full of photo love and the biggest grin spreading across my face. A smile so big I almost didn’t recognize the feeling. Those muscles have been hibernating, too scared to come out and see the light of day. Those muscles finally pulled around my mouth and I let myself be happy. I let it out in a big ol’ grin cause I’m doing it, whatever it is, I’m doing it right now. And it feels really good. And that is some sort of satisfying that I never expected to feel just by holding a magazine.

 

If you haven’t explored JPG magazine yet, you should do so immediately! Photo challenges and photography themes for each magazine issue keeps the creative juices flowing for me. It’s a phenomenal online community of inspirational photographers, and the magazine is made by people just like you!

 

Words and image courtesy of Guest Blogger / Honorary Sister Meredith Winn (aka camerashymomma).

 

 

 

 

 

Today the fine folks at JPG magazine are offering a subscription to one of you. Subscriptions like this are the kind of gifts that keep on giving. Love that. All you have to do is share the photo love and comment here today to be in the drawing. Good luck.

 

Congratulations to Kacey, the winner of the lens rental at Ziplens. Woot!

Comments

  3. I love reading JPG mag. Only I’ve only read it online. What joy it would be to hold it in my hands =)

  11. I love this story. Meredith’s a great writer and photographer and I’m so glad she was included in the magazine. I find it’s a really fun way to challenge yourself each month.

  13. I keep meaning to subscribe but haven’t as of yet… I’d love this prize! Congrats on being published.

  19. Congratulations on your photo! You are one of my favorite photographers I have found through Shutter Sisters and I keep an eye on your Flickr stream. I would love JPG magazine!

  20. Congratulations, Meredith! I love this statement of yours, "I let it out in a big ol’ grin cause I’m doing it, whatever it is, I’m doing it right now." That is so powerful.

  21. congratulations! that is so exciting – i’m amazed you purchased just 4 copies of the magazine ;). i will check it out as i’d love a magazine about photography.

  26. I won!!! Yippee!!! Yay!! Off to look at the lens rentals at Ziplens!

    Enough about me… congrats on getting your photo published! That is exciting news.

  28. What an honor to be recognized in the mag. I’m sure it’s just the beginning for you. Congrats.

  38. I love JPG! I hope someday to buy armfulls of magazines because a photo has been published! That website is just wonderful and I totally agree with beginning to feel whole.

  49. congratulations! i share your excitement!! i wish the bookstore clerk would have asked too… this is one of my first picks when i enter the bookstore for hours of reading…and a subscription would be fantastic.

  50. Congratulations on being published! And thank you for giving us an opportunity to win a subscription. Their website looks like a lot of fun. I’ll have to look for the magazine the next time I’m at Barnes and Noble. 🙂

  53. Thank you for sharing your story…I’m inspired! I hadn’t heard of the magazine, so now I’ve got to check that out too.

  62. I saw this pic in the magazine while I was at the airport looking through the magazine stand! Awesome! Congrats to you!

  64. Thanks for sharing the excitement & about this publication that I was unaware of until I read this post.
    Congratulations to Meredith on this proud accomplishment.

  66. I am so happy for you, I can even imagine the feeling of that smile! Your description reminded me the smile I get after I got down from stage, after singing. I love that feeling! So, again, I am so happy for you!

  68. Congrats–and how delightful to let yourself be happy in the great moment! That’s very cool. I’d love a subscription to this magazine. It sounds like the kick in the pants I need. : )

  72. Congratulations on being published. It’s high time I checked out JPG. And picked up my camera too. Thanks for the inspiration.

  78. I’m so happy for you! Isn’t it fun to have a passion for photography? And then to be rewarded this way must be awesome! Congrats!

  84. YEA for YOU!! How cool is that?! What an honor to have one of your photos published! I can only dream……

  93. Love, love, love JPG Magazine and my subscription just expired. So I’ll take a gift subscription, thank you very much! lol. Congrats on getting your pic in there!

  95. Congratulations on being published in JPG. It is a cool magazine. I relate to your enthusiasm and the joy that photography brings. Well deserved, so BRAVO!

  101. Congratulations! This journaling really hits home with me . . . My camera has become my American Express. I don’t leave home without it! 😉 And although I’m more than happy to just snap photos of my everyday life, it’s so rewarding to get a little pat on the back every now and again, for a better than average photo.

  104. I can’t wait for the day I walk out of a bookstore with a stack of the same mags, too!! Oh, but I guess it would help if I ever submitted anything …
    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  106. Congratulations! What a great Christmas gift! I haven’t seen this magazine before, I’ll look for it next time I’m at the magazine store.

  111. Congratulations to you!! I’ve grown to feel the same exact way about photography… I see photo opportunities every place I look. The magic is within!

  123. Congratulations on your accomplishment!
    I am learning more about photography,
    to the point of currently feeling like I know nothing!

  124. I think I saw this on your blog too (or Flickr) That is so awesome, congratulations! Had I been the cashier I would have been psyched!

    I pop in on JPEG Mag irregularly, I would love a subscription!

  126. I, like others, have never heard of this mag…and if I don’t win, I’ll have to coerce the hubby to subscribe to it for me for my birthday. How amazing!
    Dana

  131. I love photo challenges too. I tried to do one for December and though I couldn’t keep up, it still kept my juices flowing.

    http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2008/12/21/december-pp-dec-21/
    http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2008/12/19/december-pp-dec-19/
    http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2008/12/19/december-pp-dec-18/

    I was supposed to take and post a photo a day. It didn’t work out that way but thank you anyway, Rebecca of View from a Prairie Box. It was certainly fun trying.

  135. Congratulations! I was the exact same way when I had my first scrapbook page published. Nobody in my family got why I was so excited.

  138. Just found your blog today. Congrats on the publication! I just got a new camera for Christmas and think the magazine would inspire me.