Shutter Sisters

when the water is warm

By

On this day a ball ran away, first with intention and then with current, and I dove into the ocean after it fully clothed, up to my neck in the salt of July. For the rest of the day and until we sailed home I festered in the sun, my shirt crispening and stinking of seaweed, but oh, the rightness. There’s something rare and delicious about being wet and dressed.

Tonight, the land is tucked in for winter along with the sailboat and the beach, and the sea is a determined grey, and thanks to your encouragement I am set to keep my photo-mojo from going into hibernation.

Can I tell you something? You’re all glorious, a kick in the pants in the most excellent way. I visit the flickr pool and see this and this and this and think my god, how can I presume to post in company like this? You are teacher, mentor, muse.

Thanks for being here, shutter sisters. Thanks for being that runaway ball for me, for each other, for saying jump the heck in.

++++

 

In grand celebration of our sisterhood here, we are giving away a coveted Flash Bulb Necklace (as seen above) to a lucky reader.  You must comment on this post today to be included in the random drawing. It seemed like the perfect way to jump start the December festivities here at Shutter Sisters. What December festivities you ask? We thought you’d never ask. All month long we are hosting A Giveaway a Day and just as the name promises, each and every day this month we will be giving something fabulous away to one of you. It’s just a little way to show our gratitude. Click over and comment each day for your chance to win something wonderful just in time for the holidays. Be sure to invite your friends! The more the merrier we like to say.

Updated 12/2…and the winner is Lilia (aka Pumpkinoodle)at Babymoon Photography. Thanks everyone for your comments! 

Comments

  1. And as you guys bunker down for winter, I’ve been for my first swim in the ocean for the summer. I love the flashbulb necklace so fingers crossed for me.

  13. Kate, you must know that YOU are the kick in the pants I needed about a year ago.

    Much thanks, my friend. 🙂

  26. For Christmas I purchased a new lomo camera so that when the new year comes, it’ll be shooting and shooting nonstop! I hope to contribute more to Shutter Sisters. 🙂

    I would love to get the necklace, it’s so pretty! 🙂

  27. what a way to get a groove on, as the winter season looms on the horizon. nothing like a new, shiny necklace to excite a girl!

  29. The power of giving is irrepressible. This is my very first time to visit your little space and definitely lovely inside. I should express you my sincere thanks for giving this opportunity to enter in your giveaway, and hopefully to win:)
    Smiling Hello from CrossRoads & Happy December wishes.

    N~

  35. Right now, our trees are still beautiful colors. . . seems really late to still have fall foliage even for this part of Texas

  43. I am so happy I found Shutter Sisters this year! You ladies are the best! I love visiting each day and checking out the day’s post everyone’s links in the comments!

  47. This place is Inspiration Central! Not only for the fabulous photography, but also for the lovely writing. And I would love a flash bulb necklace!

  49. I’m not concerned about losing my mojo…I think I’m only just starting to find it. I visit each day for inspiration & would love the flashbulb necklace. Happy December!

  52. i’m just posting to say YAY! what a fantastic idea, a giveaway a day from shutter sisters. brilliant. and those photos along with your beautiful neckline? awesome. i’m feeling the sisterhood these days and it’s so very good and inspiring.

  55. The photos in the pool intimidate me, but if you get me to come here every day, I might just get over my intimidation and take photos until I have something I feel confident enough to contribute. If not that, there’s always the pretty necklace….

  57. laughing at your photo. my daughter recently moved to sackville. she is the smallest 30 year old around. she has been complaining to me about the maritime wind, MOM, it’s so hard for me to walk against the wind, why did you make me so small. did i mention she is 30 and complaining to me??? i love your photo. and the ocean.

  58. Ohhhh, I LOVE THE FLASHBULB NECKLACE! My granddaddy was a shutter brother, and it makes me think of him. All old cameras make me think of him. 🙂 Right now I have a case of his old cameras beside me.

  60. Oh, I’ve been drooling over that. It’s so simple, but the meaning for me is profound. I LOVE photography… and shutter sisters.

  64. Just found your website through Ali’s blog… how amazing!!! Just signed up to follow you, sisters!! Tks for the giveaway, so beautiful!!!

  66. december 1 + it s snowing
    i love coming here everyday
    i am nowhere near as good as most you girls
    but here i never feel bad about being a beginner, a learner.

    much love for ss

  77. Love that flash bulb necklace! I bought one as a gift for my mom when they were available before. It’s so pretty! Thanks for the great post!

  79. Love the necklace!

    I look forward to the family time and parties with friends. Now that I have 3 little ones, the holiday gift shopping has taken a back seat – and I kinda like it that way. Helps me focus more on celebrating the true things about the season – celebrating Jesus, and celebrating my love for my family and friends. 🙂

  84. How fun fun!! I am so excited for December myself…. I love ALL the tastes of the season… it all just brings my heart such joy 🙂

    Hugs.. Amy

  86. What a grand giveaway. And now I have another excuse to make sure I check out this site every day.

  91. Hi am in my own hibernation not imposed by weather since Denver has barely seen snow this year but from a creative cold snap that has me chilled to the bone. I even forgot to take pictures of the Thanksgiving feast until it was almost done and a stunned friend said "where’s your camera." A flashbulb necklace would be a great reminder to take that camera with me.

  95. Kate, so glad you’re not in hibernation! Way up here in the north we’re experiencing weather extremes and instead of it being continually 20 and 30 below zero … one or two days we get the frigid weather and then it turns around to strong winds and rain!! We never get rain in winter up here in the north — just goes to show that even Mother Nature comes out of hibernation.

    Diane

  96. What a beautiful necklace. I love this blog – it inspires me very much. I have tried new things because of this blog. Keep it coming. 🙂

  98. This site has been such an inspiration…I am in awe of the creative geniuses who gather here as "sisters" and I feel honored to have been a part of this wonderful group of talented women. Keep up the good work, all…and may the new year bring us all the peace we long for.

    I would love to have the necklace…thanks for the giveaways!

  102. Gorgeous photo of you, above. And yes, I often feel as though I dare not apply when I see the beauty in the images the sisters share. And yet, we all have our own special version of beauty that nobody can touch. I guess that’s what makes us US.

  104. I’m trying to spread my photo mojo… by shooing away the fear in my mother’s eyes anytime a camera is near. With but a few pictures of my mother during my childhood, I am determined to photograph the beautiful woman she is today and show her the joy in making photographic memories. Now, how do I calm those eyes?

    http://www.stephwiese.squarespace.com

  105. You guys are my new best friends, ‘cos you give so much inspo and creative warmth. December giveaways are the icing on the cake 🙂

  107. This site is so inspirational. Thanks for all you do. The necklace is beautiful, I would love to wear it proudly.

  109. I love this picture. It seems as if the wind is carrying her forward, pushing her towards something, pushing her necklace forward. It inspires me to take more pictures, no matter how inadequate my skills feel. Thank you.

  115. December photography around here can be challenging … but I like the challenges your site gives … gets one thinking "out of the box". Yep, I’d like to win that necklace too.

  120. Oh, wow, 119 comments already (and growing as I type)! The things that a giveaway can do! But the beautiful thing is that we are just a tiny part of the large bunch of people that surely reads the blog but never comment…
    Thanks for sharing this and for the giveaways!
    (I love being wet and dressed, I did that all the time as a kid, let myself wet in the rain as I walked…)

  121. The creative side of me has been wrestling of late with some highly critical demons they share space with in my head. Soon, soon, soon I will start sharing photos. I just know it.

  123. You all have so much vision and courage in your photography. I’m learning new things everyday and not just about photography.
    Thank you.

  127. What wonderful ideas you girls have. I need to get back in the swing and you guys have helped me do just that. Thank You~ I look forward to your giveaways.

  132. Wow! I love what you wrote and I love this necklace! I hope to be a good enough photographer one day to be part of your group!!

  134. That flashbulb necklace is totally cool, especially after seeing it in the image above. I’d love to have one, and if I don’t win one, might just have to order one anyway. But, pick me!!

  135. A giveaway for something I’ve been coveting is the perfect way for me to get over my inhibition about posting here with all you talented ladies. Now if I could just get the nerve up to share a picture!

  140. The words and photo of this post are simply wonderful.
    I would love to be the owner of one of those great necklaces.
    Thank you!

  142. What a dreamy photo. I so agree about the wet clothes.

    My goal this winter is to photograph a snowflake. I think it’s a challenge that will last all winter and might even get me into the mountains.

    Thanks for the giveaway and the constant inspiration!

  143. I visited your blog quite a often earlier in the year and have just returned recently. Thank you for inspiring and for the giveaway.

  145. I just started reading this blog a couple weeks ago; I just want to say how wonderful, inspiring and beautiful this blog is!

    I would just love to own a flashbulb necklace. Hopefully luck will be on my side.

  146. As you are our teacher, mentor, muse. I love how we all share. I’m mostly a lurker, but who doesn’t come out of hiding for a giveaway? Thanks for all you do!

  148. I’ve been thinking about sending my hubby a link to the flashbulb necklace as a hint. Winning it would be just great! So, please, throw my name in the hat!

  150. We’re just easing into the full strength of the summer. I’m a transplant; a nordic, frosty, sparkling icicle thrust suddenly into the unabated glare of the sun. I miss the snow and ice and I’m looking forward to seeing the many ways SS interprets my favourite season, and all of the beautiful photographs that spring from these ideas. Maybe it will make me feel homesick a little less.

    I’d love to win a necklace. I need something pretty to wear on the beach to distract from my too-pale skin.

  159. Though I may not comment on a regular basis I’m always gazing at the photos on the site and in the Flickr pool. I’m blown away by the beauty there and oft times those photos have brought me to tears because of the sheer emotion packed into each pixel.

    Happy December Shutter Sisters and thank you for putting yourselves out there for all to see so that the rest of us can be encouraged, enlightened, comforted, celebrated and inpsired.

  163. Happy December Shutter Sisters! Love browsing this site…great photography, great writing, great giveaways! 🙂

  164. Happy December Shutter Sisters! Love browsing this site…great photography, great writing, great giveaways! 🙂

  169. a friend led me to this site, and i have been visiting every single day since.

    me want the necklace. 🙂

  173. I have been eyeing that necklace quite a lot, and since my birthday is in a couple of weeks, it would be the best treat ever (hint, hint)!

    🙂

  174. Love that photo! How gorgeous! I too, will miss the warm days of summer, but I’m looking forward to the possibilities that only winter brings.

  175. I"m pretty new to your site but what a perfect give away from you. . . the flashbulb necklace.

    Merry December!!

  181. ..what a beautiful picture that shows off that gorgeous neckless so well! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, the give-a-ways, and the inspiration…Thankful I found Shutter Sisters this November! Happy December to all!

  184. I think the necklace is wonderful, and what a fun way to celebrate the season of giving! Good luck to all! And of course, the photo is gorgeous!

  187. Love that necklace and was noticing it on the side when…voila…I was so excited to see it is being given away today. Love the poetry in your writing…and the post below about your daughter’s tooth. How true it is that we are taken by surprise at what tugs at our hearts.

  198. Woohoo….December giveaways. What is better than giving stuff to others (I guess being on the receiving end!)

  208. The Flash Bulb necklace is beautiful, I hope I am the lucky winner. I wanted to say that Shutter Sisters does inspire one to take a minute out of your busy day to snap a photo here or there, who knows you just may capture a magic moment.

  211. I didn’t think the year would wind up this way. Who was I kidding? I can’t believe it’s already December; so much to do, so little time.

  216. This group is also a big inspiration to me. I have learned so much through this group! Thanks and a very Happy December to all!

  217. I love Shutter Sisters. I’ve been visiting your site daily for inspiration for quite some time and am just waiting for my opportunity to seize the day and begin my photography passion, for real. I absolutely love it, and am hoping to someday call it a career. Ahhhh, someday! Thanks for being my inspiration in the meantime.

  221. Yay! what a beautilful post. I wholeheartedly agree.
    and thanks for the giveaway…I have it on my christmas list for hubby…but with the market the way it is and me having become unemployed, we are not gifting to each other this holiday season…my birthday’s in march so here’s holding out hope until then if I don’t get one here. 🙂

  222. When spring arrived last year and I spent the first warm day outside taking rolls and rolls of film, I realized I had been in miserable hibernation. So this year I am determined not to let it happen. Some homeschooling friends and I will be spending some time each week at a local hiking trail, and I am bound to get some wonderful winter pics then to accompany my many autumn pics there.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/3019712789/

    Thanks for being a resource here to help me avoid photo hibernation! You are all inpirational.

  230. Whoaaa!! Looks like I’m a bit late here lol. Well Shutter Sisters is my favorite site. I’ve learned and grown to know and understand some of the women here. We are a sisterhood and should always encourage and hold each other up…even when we’re down.

    I hope I win the necklace!! =)
    But if not it won’t make a differance. I’ll still be here with you wonderful women!

  231. Whoaaa!! Looks like I’m a bit late here lol. Well Shutter Sisters is my favorite site. I’ve learned and grown to know and understand some of the women here. We are a sisterhood and should always encourage and hold each other up…even when we’re down.

    I hope I win the necklace!! =)
    But if not it won’t make a differance. I’ll still be here with you wonderful women!

  241. Thanks for linking my photo, I was wondering why the views spiked up so quickly, whipped cream is always fun:)!!!!! AND IM WAY TO LATE FOR THE GIVEAWAY…NONETHELESS i LOVE THIS PLACE, IT RELAXES AND INSPIRES ME!!!

  244. I would be so proud to wear that necklace…i love December and am so thankful i found this sister hood!