Mornings and Magic

It’s been less than a month and already my attempt at the 365 Days project is changing the way I do things; the way I look at life. As I mentioned before, clicking a few photos each and every morning has helped a great deal. Thank you for the tip Stephanie. The strategy is to get the pictures on the camera before the day escapes me and I have to resort to taking photos of me brushing my teeth before bed or some such less-than-ideal scenario. It has been helpful in that way for sure, but what I am finding is that there’s more to it than that.

Working photography into the start of my day has been totally enjoyable. Just when I thought that my camera couldn’t be any more integrated into my daily life, shooting first thing in the morning has taken it to a whole new level. It felt a little contrived at first. But, after a few weeks I can say that it’s becoming a seamless part of the routine; a daily practice if you will. It feels great to do it. And of all things, it feels important. I am likening the exercise of capturing my 'morning shots’ to what Julia Cameron calls the ‘morning pages’ in her book The Artist’s Way. Maybe there is more to it than just shooting for the project and getting it out of the way. What if looking at things through our lens at the start of the day clears out the cobwebs of our creative psyche and elevates us to a more enlightened state without us even realizing it? Could it be that simple? I don't know for sure but I never underestimate the power of photography.

Share with us your favorite morning shots. Have you discovered any magic in the early hours?

Comments

[Kelly]

I was just blogging about this when I posted today's photo. I'm only at 20 of my 365, but it's really challenging me! I'm learning to notice - to *really* notice - the beauty surrounding me in the dailiness of my life. Thank you for sharing some of your daily journey here.

Here are a couple of my favorites from my own morning discoveries:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3222875730/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3209245185/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3219070428/

[sebrina]

Oh how I love the mornings and especially shooting in the morning. That is why i am doing a year of mornings myself. I thought it would be hard but it's not. I absolutely love it!! I have a morning blog http://myyearofmornings.blogspot.com/ but this has to be my fav so far of my morning pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunmamma/3203630140/ it's the sun and light of the morning that gets me everytime. Thank you so much for including my photo today :)

xo Sebrina

[Bebe]

I agree that I am most pleased with my daily photo when I take it in the morning. Here is one from yesterday.

http://mydailypic.wordpress.com/2009/01/24/this-very-morning/

[Secret Agent Mama]

Mornings are just beautiful.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/3205691625/

[Marcie]

Mornings are my muse:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=666

[brandi]

this is how I spend most weekend morning. I cherish this quiet, cozy, cuddly time

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/3163170576/

[ELK]

Tracey each day IS a new canvas ~glad you are enjoying


my favorite time of the day....
http://www.redorgray.com/2009/01/be-light.html

[spread your wings]

i just posted a morning photo yesterday.
http://spreadingwings08.blogspot.com/2009/01/cat-bird.html

i love the morning light in my house (especially pretty through my daughter's bedroom window) - most of my morning shots have to do with light and shadow.
http://spreadingwings08.blogspot.com/2008/09/dappled-light-night-shadows.html

[Rosa]

I've been taking morning shots for my 365 and it makes a lot of difference. I don't stress the day thinking that I won't get a good shot of "something."

[Amy N.]

i just took some morning photos this morning. as we were getting ready for church DH noticed some birds on the bird feeder outside DS's window. i grabbed my camera and just shot through the glass. technically not great photos, but i still loved capturing that bright sight of our morning.

[claudia]

This morning the camera happened to be right in our room otherwise the dog would have followed me out and wrecked the shot!
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/3218990231/in/set-72157612224191236/

[jeanne]

Not only is it challenging me to look at things I wouldn't have otherwise but using the get what you can in the morning is motivating me out the door on workdays even earlier. http://jeanne-project365-2009.blogspot.com/

[Amy Kingman]

Mmmm, hot english breakfast tea in the mornings just makes everything start right:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aimabo/3225693451/in/set-72157612399248706/

[Alicia]

Actually, the very first day I started the project (merely a week ago) was a morning. I was out taking pictures of my neighborhood the morning after a fresh layer of snow. It was beautiful.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/3209472285/

Friday's was also a morning picture, right before I headed out the door to work.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/3224729124/in/set-72157612757619996/

http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/

[Puna]

Oh to have a nice, calm, unrushed morning. Perhaps in another season of my life.

Here's a cold morning at my daughter's fun meet.

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

Thanks for all the beautiful pictures in the above comments. It makes me think I need to slow down a little bit...

[kosenrufu mama]

I LOVE SHOT A PICTURE A DAY!!!!!!!
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/01/neve-bologna.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3216039654/

[Chris]

Thanks for sharing a link to my "Year of Mornings" on Flickr! Like you, I'm seeing things differently and quite literally, during the week, I grab the car keys, grab my kids and grab my camera as we head out at the start of our day. Who knows what I'll see that will make me stop and shoot? I'm loving it!

[Chocolate on my Cranium]

I recently shared images from my morning walks on two posts. The pictures are of the pogonip we've had in our valley this last week.

http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2009/01/pogonip-crystals.html

http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2009/01/come-take-walk-with-me.html

[Charlane]

mmmm, you all are prodding me out of my resistence to this - I always feel compelled to go outside for my shots.

[Wanda]

I am trying to get started in the morning. Some days...not so much. Anyway, here is today's morning shot:

http://whatwouldwandado.blogspot.com/2009/01/food-for-thought.html

[Bethany]

Yesterday morning's brunch: http://flickr.com/photos/abethanymind/3222987601/

[Jen]

Here is one of my favorites so far:
http://americana.visualblogging.com/archives/11454_1807447140/320678

[Toni]

I must confess that I do most of my shooting at or before sunset, usually because I just don't have time in the mornings before work. I do try to shot in the mornings on the weekend, however, and these are a couple from November.

http://dailyvignette.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/frosty-too/
http://dailyvignette.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/aspen-the-tree-not-the-city/

[Jeanine]

Morning is my absolute favorite time of day. I purposefully get up at 5am to soak in the morning hours (although I don't need to get up until 6:30am). There's something so sacred and peaceful about that time of day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderphotos/3226335335/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderphotos/3118252060/in/set-72157605383663955/

[Bridge]

I love taking photos in the morning light.
http://flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/2698852168/in/set-72157606878138188/
http://flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/2698853604/in/set-72157606878138188/
http://flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/2926063846/in/set-72157606878277332/
http://flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/2409542280/in/set-72157606878277332/

[Meg]

I've unintentionally taken all but one of my 365 photos in the morning! I love the morning, it feels so innocent to me. And, of course, wonderful things like this happen in the morning:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7565577@N04/3224988193/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7565577@N04/3219602293/

I've loved seeing all of your morning shots. So beautiful!

[Kristin]

Just a few days ago I posted a blog entry titled "mornings". I absolutely love when we have a nice relaxing morning before school and on this particular one I was able to stop and take a few photos....

http://brownjelo.blogspot.com/2009/01/mornings.html

[Maya v.]

My favorite way to start the day... nutella and banana on toast!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mayangsari/3103291745/

[renee @ FIMBY]

Hum... how early do you mean by early? Does 9 am count? I get up kind of late on the weekends and here's a couple shots shortly after getting up.

This one taken while still in bed, actually I ran downstairs to get the camera and came back to bed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28442274@N07/3227679804/

These two taken later in the kitchen while preparing breakfasts (on two different weekend mornings):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28442274@N07/3227679928/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28442274@N07/3207761329/

[camerashymomma]

this is one of my favorite morning shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/3012204609/

i tried doing a set of mornings for a month, after doing a photo a day for the month of july (that was hard!) and i fell off the morning wagon about halfway through. sometimes life gets in the way.

i've heard such great things about joining the 365's... such reflective inspiring stories of personal growth. i hope at some point the floor stops shaking so i can steady my hand to join in too!

[Eren]

Here is one of my most recent mornings...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vintagechica/3220303610/

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

I am hopeful that this year brings an early morning commitment....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/3169203739/

[Gabrielle Kai Photography]

I start every morning with breakfast! I love the early morning light ~

http://gabriellekaiphotography.com/blog/2009/01/magical-mornings/

I really enjoyed everyone's images!

[Karyn]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayak57/3228878948/

thanks to your inspiration i'm trying to get at least a few pics taken first thing in the morning - although they may still be me brushing my teeth. this selfie thing can be hard some days. so here's a lovely one that does NOT include me. thank goodness.

[Julie Alvarez]

I am a late waking person. Not always, not by choice. Little lady demands too much energy, and I just tend to sleep until she wakes up, which until the next month when she'll start kindergarten is not too early. So, I skip the better part of the morning. Still... I enjoy (late) mornings very much, for it is our lazy quiet time at home.
I have the digital camera in my room, next to my laptop, so I often take a picture after washing my face, or even before!
Here are some of them:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3209386717/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3209380867/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3209375333/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3215268265/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3218584876/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3227995727/