Announcing: The One Word Project

You've inspired us! Thanks to an impromptu 30-day photo challenge idea exchange discovered in the Shutter Sisters flickr group and a little "one word" creative inspiration from Ali Edwards, we're mashing up the best of both ideas to bring you the Shutter Sisters One Word Project starting in February. Each month, we'll choose one word to guide creative inspiration for your shots. Then you do your best shooting, and we'll feature one of your images daily here in the site, and select one award-winning image at the end of each month to win a super cool prize from one of our fabulous sponsors.

February's One Word Project is Brought to You by Lensbaby

The word of the month? You choose.

The cool prize? a Lensbaby Composer – the ultimate selective focus SLR camera lens!

Here's how it works:

1. Pick a word that best represents you or your focus. Your word should inspire images throughout the month of February. If a word doesn't come immediately to mind, scan Ali's extensive list of words to inspire you.

2. Once you've selected your word, share it here in the comments or blog about it in your space and leave a permalink to your post here so we can go check it out. The project begins on Sunday, February 1, but you can join the project any time after this date.

3. On February 1, begin shooting images that visually represent your word. You can shoot, tag and share your best photographs in the Shutter Sisters flickr group every day or whenever you feel moved to do so.

4. TITLE each of your One Word Project images to include your word (e.g., Hope, Love, Courage, Peace). TAG each of your images as follows: "oneword (month)" (e.g., "oneword february", "oneword march", "oneword april", etc.). Tagging is important as it's the only way we can find and enter your images in our contest.

5. Beginning February 1, check the new One Word Project page daily within this site to see if your image is featured. The first award-winning photo of the month will be chosen by the Shutter Sisters team and announced on March 1, along with the new One Word Project for March.

We've created a discussion thread in the Shutter Sisters flickr group to manage questions and answers. If you have any questions, check for the answer or post your question here.

* * *

As for my word... it's Motion. I started a series of "motion experiments" – video captures with the Nikon D90 SLR this weekend, and intend to push this concept through the month of February. I'm intrigued by the idea of capturing motion in the form of still images.

What's your word?

Comments

[Donna Good]

My chosen word for February is MOMENTS...

[Martha]

I have been working on focus,
and so that will continue to be my focus in February
for my one word project!

[Angela Giles Klocke]

Staying in line with my theme for the year for myself as a whole, I'm going to choose the word THANKFUL. I will blog about this soon...

This should be fun and challenging!

[Elizabeth]

I'm in! And my word is "Breath"... I wrote about it here: http://mindwhisperingsphotography.blogspot.com/2009/01/25.html

[jenn]

I am going to try to live with -Intention- . I am going to do what I set out to do and not fritter away time on things I don't. I have no idea how I am going to come up with pictures for that... but that's the challenge of the whole thing right?

[Karen G]

My word for februari will be 'soft'

[Nessa]

What a lovely and motivating idea. My word is ::STILL:: a word I would like to influence my daily life and through the lens. I am so looking forward to how this will be realised over the month. Thank you.

[Jaden]

I'm going to try and participate in this challenge, as per the nudging of angela at This Woman's Beautiful Life :)

I think my word for February will be "growth".

Thanks for the chance! I'm nervous, but excited! I hope I can stick to this, and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with :)

[Jaden]

I also wrote a blog with the rules, my word, etc. and a couple of links back to you here: http://bendyruggles.blogspot.com/2009/01/challenge-to-kick-start-my-bloggy-blues.html

[Tracy]

My word is QUIET. I hope I can fins it LONG enough to Shoot it! LOL!

[Clarisajo]

My word is "grace"

[Meryl]

My word is "small".

[Bonnie]

I think my word is going to be "Friend". I'm going to try to take an interesting photo of 30 friends. (Hope I have that many).

[Diane]

I've been mulling this over for days... and tonight I chose the word Sustenance: That which supports life; food; victuals; provisions; means of living; nourishment

[Mama Thrift]

Wow, what a great idea. I shoot in film, so I'll have to be organised for developing and scanning to take place.

My word for Feb was easy to choose - it is THRIFT and I imagine that my other months will be along similar lines.

Thanks for the inspiration!

[Conchi]

Hi!!
Mi word is Now, and i´m very nervous for to star.
Kisses from Spain

[Lynda]

My word for February is simplicity. I'm looking forward to the challenge!

[sarah costa]

I am so excited. My word is "Abundance"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahcosta/

http://sarahbearlove.blogspot.com/

[cloudscome]

I love this project already! My word is "rest". First post: http://sandycovetrail.blogspot.com/2009/01/rest.html

[Schelle]

Such a great idea! My word is "blessings" - I'm gonna count them!
http://fleetingreality.blogspot.com

[Sabrina]

I love it!! My word for february is "light" (meaning: like the light from the sun)

http://thepoeticframe.blogspot.com/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabnadpau/sets/72157613161831273/

[Dory]

I have been pondering this since I first saw it posted. So many words, not sure what to choose. And so I decided to go with heal as I will head to Bangladesh this month on a mission with Alliance for Smiles. I hope to be a part of a lot of healing on that trip.... now just to find a creative way to see healing in my everyday life too. Thanks for the challenge.

[Lynn]

I am new here and can't wait to get started. My word for this month is SEASON.

[Teri]

Okay, my word for February will be Pause. I find that as I get busy, I see things and think, that would make a great photo, but don't take it, because, well, because, I am "busy". In February, I will Pause and take the shot:)

[Kirsty]

Found this project via http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com I'm looking forward to extending myself. I've chosed "suburban". Thanks.

[Aziza]

So excited:)
The word is Appreciate

http://flickr.com/photos/azyalg/3243434414/

[Misty Sparks]

I think this will be a lot of fun! I just joined Flickr so I could participate. My word for February is Transformation. I'm on a mission to eat healthier and exercise to transform my body into something beautiful and something that I feel comfortable in (Psst... I'm trying to lose the baby weight from my second baby who was born 3 months ago).

[kristin]

this month since it is february and valentine's day coming up i choose "love" as my theme.

[Bonnie]

I decided to change my word from friends to faces. I am reluctant to "feature" faces because I never seem to get the light right. But this is about improving, so here i go...

[Papillon Sky]

My word is "reflection". Here's my first submission:
http://flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/3243687281/

[Sherry]

I've lurked around this site before but have been pretty shy about participating. I'm going to take part in this and make myself get over my shyness!

My word for the month will be peace. I see I'm not the only one who chose it so I will not only look forward to everyone's projects, I will also look forward to seeing how other people interpret peace.

[Gabrielle Kai Photography]

The word I have chosen for this month is "Imagine" - I look forward to everyone's images!

Like most, I will be integrating this theme in my 365, or Daily Discoveries project.

[Julie]

This month, I'm working on "renew." It's a stressful time for a teacher--this is the month schedules are formed for next year and cuts are announced. Focusing on renewing instead of the stress will definitely help me get through it :)

[Candi]

My word will be love since it is February...I know it's cliche...but anyone that knows me knows that I love themes :)

[Dory]

Here is my first submission for the One Word Project- My word is healing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorothyf/3245390066/in/pool-shuttersisters

[Lyssa Cole]

My word is self-care. Do hyphenated words count?

[gonzomama]

this challenge came at just right time. great idea!

http://gonzomamaknits.blogspot.com/2009/02/finding-my-balance.html

[nicky thomas]

hello shuttersisters,

i was torn.

i was going to choose Pride - but it would end up being photos of my family - something i am very comfortable taking already so... no challenge there.

then i was going to choose Calm - i need to be calm, my doctor recommends it! - but I have 3 small kids so who am i kidding?

so i have chosen Light.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/3244963585/

have a peaceful evening my dears.

nicky x

[kimberlee]

JOY

I wrote about my reasons for choosing Joy to focus on in my blog.
http://shadowofgrief.squarespace.com/journal/2009/2/1/joy.html

I will also be integrating it in bits and pieces into my project 365.

[Grey Street Girl]

Okay, I'm in. My world for February is Zoom.

http://www.greystreetgirl.com/blog/2009/02/watching-you-like-a-hawk.html

[Kristi]

My word is dreams. I'm trying to create images that evoke a dreamy, surreal feeling. Almost giving the feeling of a distant memory.

[robin-bird]

I am happy to be part of this challenge! my word for february is friendship.

http://robinbird.typepad.com/bird_tweets/2009/02/day-210-the-joy-of-photography.html
http://flickr.com/photos/22496405@N03/sets/72157613219201535/

[Melissa]

I've been deliberating a lot about what my word should be. I've wanted something a little bit different, but I keep coming back to the word GROW. My life is all about growing. My growing baby, hobbies, and just finally noticing how everything around me is living and growing and changing.

Oneword February:
GROW

Flickr profile:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissaesplin/

Blog:
http://www.melissaesplin.com/

[sarah]

I love this idea. My word for February is radiance. The light is getting more lush as we head towards autumn here, and our days are promising to be more full. And you should see the sky around here lately! Radiant.

Thank you for this creative opportunity.

[louise]

Fabulous idea. Think I'll go with 'love' as it's February :)

[claudia]

I'm in for February ~ my word is "Amore", blogged today. Thanks for motivating me to focus on all the love around me.
http://gnubee.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/one-word/

[Beth]

I'm so excited about this challenge - I've been looking for something like this to spark some creativity and add some more meaning to my photography :)
The word I've chosen is "home"

[mariemandelieu]

I LOVE this creative Challenge. My word is SLEEP. I need to give my body more sleep. I have been working too much and have had lousy sleep quality for quite a while. I need to focus on my health. In order to focus my life towards the way I want, I know I have to start by sleeping. Then the new path will be shown to me. I know. I will post as often as I can, not every day I think. My project is about the effect more sleep will have on myself and my loved ones. Will I see and experience different things and get more energy. One thing is for sure; no-one can sleep for me.. That job is mine:-).

[Lesley]

I picked nurture for my word of the year and for this month. I hope to push myself to take more photos and get better at it in the process.

[Jen (Cherry Vanilla Studios)]

I posted my word on the Flickr group, but I thought I'd cover my bases and post here as well. My word for February is "one." Take a look at my stream to find out why :)