Crowd Goes Wild

It’s that time again when the children among us head off into the annual ritual of structure and routine that is school. Another year older, more articulate, confident, sure. More…grown up. I am left now reflecting on the journey and what its taken to get to here—the hard work and growing pains, the exhilaration of approaching a milestone; breathing in the goodness of the day, arms to the sky celebrating where we have been, where we are now…how far we’ve come.

I can see it in my daughter’s face as we pack her backpack for middle school. She is giddy with growing up. I thought she’d be nervous, pensive, hesitant—but she’s not. She’s thrilled! And she should be.

The same should go for us. We should mindfully create a time in our own lives to take stock; look back at the past, nod in respect and appreciate how much we’ve grown as people, as women, as wives, as mothers, as friends, as photographers. No matter where we are in the journey, we have traveled to get here and our present place (where ever that may be) is worthy of acknowledgment.

Good news often greets me with words from this community—photo milestones, projects, awards, recognition. Reasons to celebrate. That’s what we’re here for. To encourage one another in our creative work. So…I urge you all to recognize how far you’ve come. Celebrate yourselves and each other as we all raise our lenses to the infinite blue sky and bask in the accolades we so deserve. Whether it be through the recognition from the public or capturing an image that sings to our own soul, what you are all doing, the creative strides you are all making are amazing.

So, out with it. Is there anything you want to say today to take that step in giving yourself a loving and appreciative pat on the back? What about those photos? If there’s a shot you want to celebrate, post it here. Today is all about bragging rights. I can hear the roar of a collective applause already!

Comments

[Marcie]

Starting the school year with two exhibits. WOO HOO!!!

http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=508

[Naomi]

I finally committed to doing my Masters:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2809422175/

And a shot of a shot from my teaching graduation:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2809422171/in/photostream/

[Shalini]

Beautiful post and so inspiring...

[Terri]

This shot because it has gotten so many nice comments on it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mondaysmemories/2736620610/

And this one because I spent 2 weeks trying to get a close up of my husbands motorcycle he built, and all I ever got was reflections in it. It still has some in it, but it looks so much better than all the other ones I took.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mondaysmemories/2799960715/

[kristin]

thanks tracey, and congrats to all the ladies out there doing it everyday! each day growing, striving, experimenting, sharing. sept i turned a new page, something braver in me. this shot marked that for me. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2818469262/

[abbey]

I won my first photo contest with this photo.... I don't think it is the best photo... i think it is the subject and the love. I love this shot though...

http://www.photoblog.com/abbeyh13/2008/08/22/

[shelli]

Beautiful post. Thank you. Let's see, I just celebrated my son's second birthday. Recently I finished the first draft of my new novel, and I'm going to begin making revisions very soon. This summer I got my first SLR. My blog will be one year old next week. I'm finally de-cluttering my house. And this is the photo I've gotten the most positive comments on in Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spabis/2636546477/

[margie]

this was a good one kids. i sat for a very long time thinking about what i feel positive about. sending the youngest off to university this weekend? having two adorable grandsons? a great extended family? a soul mate? the best dog?

no, i am proud of myself that i have discovered a love of taking pictures and that my sister went down that road with me, and that we connect every single day because we have our blog. it's fun, it's creative and it's all mine, or half of it is. hehe. our very first post. xo to kath the sister.

http://3yrplan.typepad.com/soeursdujour/2008/06/first-to-the-post.html

[Angella]

I did my first shoot of a pregnant belly (one of my best friends is due any day), and I love how they turned out. Here are two of them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourcrazylife/2808771441/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourcrazylife/2809626372/

[camerashymomma]

here's an old one of me as hula girl just because it fits today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2656531592/

congratulations to all the sisters!! yay for this community, for the inspiration and creativity it invokes in all of us. i look forward to this site every morning, and always come away with something so very good. positivity begets positivity. that's what i have learned.

i got the good news yesterday that some of my photography will hang as wall art in a local coffee house, i'm thrilled to be taking this step in getting myself out there and i have to say it's due to the shutter sisterhood. truly.

here's a new fav from yesterday, looking at the world with a new set of eyes:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2823316883/

[dr lyn]

I have taken one photo a day for 250 days (251 if you count today) and I feel more confident than ever with my camera. I had no idea I would get such great personal satisfaction from taking everyday photos and posting about them on my blog. It's a true blessing.

And on a side note, my twins started kindergarten this morning and there I was, shooting away through the tears...

My journey and theirs is chronicled on my blog:
http://lynlepre.typepad.com

(first day of kindergarten pictures to come!!)

[Corey]

I am sooooooooooooo very proud of this set of photos. It made my month. :)

http://livingandlovingeveryminuteofit.blogspot.com/2008/08/photostory-friday-senior-moments.html

[Kath]

I see Margie has already commented up there! Me too. I am so proud of both of us, this shared journey into photography and writing that gives us the gift of connection every day, not only with each other but with all of you. We can create, explore and learn. Really, you can't ask for more.

xo to the sister(s)
Kath

[kacey]

What a great post. It is nice to celebrate the things we do and love, isn't it? I've found I love, love blogging and photography...so combining them just felt so right. First I realized I could take photos of ordinary things and share them with my thoughts on this stage of life:

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/01/21/high-heels-to-crocs/

My photography improved as the year went on. I love this purple flower photo I took in the cute little town of Carmel! (at end of post)

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/08/05/youyou-meme-part-two/

So, yes, I regularly celebrate the wonderful stage of life I'm in now.

[Kate Baumert]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30172877@N02/2825718236

[Christina]

Beautiful words, Tracey. I join the thunderous applause for the achievements of us ALL!

I am proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone and beginning to take photos for others...working towards making my dream come true. Most recently I had my first newborn shoot, and I LOVED it!

http://momology.blogspot.com/2008/08/for-you-jennifer.html

[Jodyangel]

I was asked to take some photo's at a friend wedding. Not professionally..just as a friend. I actually have a nice enough camera to do this now. I tried to capture some of her magic that day.
She loved the photo's. I loved taking them..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2804867792/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2768256066/in/set-72157606672252019/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2782083612/in/set-72157606672252019/

[Emma]

I didn't take this picture, but I did teach the young chap who did. Almost exactly a year ago I stepped out of my comfort zone and travelled south to Kenya. Although I taught these boys how to use a camera and other things, I can hand on heart say that ultimately I was their pupil, and they taught me soooo much more.

http://flickr.com/photos/26239056@N05/2825704523/

I am proud of them today, for inspiring me to keep learning, and challenging myself, for documenting my trips and making me see the world through different eyes. And I am proud that our little hobby called photography can bring strangers together from all corners of the world.
Yay for Shutter Sisters!

[NatureMama]

This is the first photo that I entered in any contest, and I made it into the finals. It was also published, which was my first publication. Yeah, me!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2635289796/in/set-72157605952816701/

And YEAH to everyone else celebrating their achievements!

[Jenny Rebecca]

I've been practicing madly on my daughter. On a recent trip to Colorado I did two different photo shoots with her on an old chair in a field of flowers, but I picked this "plain" shot because it is the very first time I finally got a picture of her smiling up at me with great catchlights in her eyes.
http://flickr.com/photos/fanglord2/2734096802/in/set-72157606524148014/

[Cindy]

Quiet time is precious around our house...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11816099@N08/2798054180/

And away from it as well....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11816099@N08/2797270481/

Happy Love Thursday Ladies.

[claudia]

Other than giving myself a small pat on the back for being able to home school my kids, I guess I finally feel like I'm well into my personal photo challenge I started last December. 7000+ photos later, even I can see an improvement. And certainly Shutter Sisters and other photographers and groups on flickr have encouraged me to post a few of my shots and feel like they're "good enough" to share. My favorite at the moment is this one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2827149654/
http://gnubee.wordpress.com/