Upping the Ante

 

Photo taken with my new Lensbaby Composer

We all have our irrational fears and insecurities that hold us back from taking the next step in our respective life journies.  When it comes to photography, I admit that I have many fears.  One big one is that I'll wake up one morning and find that I'm unable to "see" photos through my camera, that I've lost my intuitive approach to capturing the image I'm after.  Another fear is that I will totally mess up a photoshoot, or that people won't like the photos I share, or that every image I take will just start looking the same.

While the year is still newly fresh and dreamily hopeful, I'd like to face some of these fears.  Instead of playing it safe, I'm choosing to up the ante.  I want to challenge myself to learn new things, even if it means I may have to read a book or manual or two, or that I'll have to finally overcome my life-long avoidance of familiarizing myself with the basic laws of physics.  I plan on taking more shooting assignments.  I'm going to figure out how to find my sweet spot on my new Lensbaby.  I want to capture lensflare that I actually like.  I'll try to shoot with a visionary purpose at least some of the time, instead of the haphazard, aimless route I normally depend on.

I don't know if all this is too much to hope for, but I'll be darned if I don't at least TRY.

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Speaking of new challenges and to-do's, we at Shutter Sisters are excited to launch our newest feature: The One Word Project.  Many of you have already shared  what your One Word will be for this month.  If you haven't already and would like to join in, see complete details here.  The word-of-the-month for February is yours to choose, and you can submit your One Word inspired photos to the Shutter Sisters Flickr group for your chance to be selected as the daily OWP featured photographer.  February's OWP is graciously being sponsored by LENSBABY, so one lucky participant will win a Lensbaby Composer at the end of the month!

If you've already begun participating in the One Word Project, please share something you've captured so far.  Or share with us an image in which you succeeded in upping the ante by doing something new or challenging.

Comments

[kosenrufu mama]

here there is my first shoot, the word is compassion...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3241434097/
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/

[JeanaMarie]

hi :) this is my first oneword image; my word is 'change'

http://flickr.com/photos/jeanamarie31/3242997343/?edited=1

[Shawna]

I'm very excited about the word I chose, depth, and all the words in the months to follow. I look forward to drawing inspiration from each sister here! Let the growing begin!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28479290@N05/3243882496/

[cloudscome]

My word is REST: http://sandycovetrail.blogspot.com/2009/02/scented-geraniums-at-rest.html

[Meryl]

My word is "small".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird13/3243313745/

[marty]

My word for the month... aware ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyhadding/3231879516/in/set-72157613051967730/
Was so excited that I blogged about it early :-)
http://famofsam.blogspot.com/2009/01/aware.html

[kristin]

i chose love as my theme for february. i was a lucky recipient of "the love project " in january. this was a shot from that...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3198459929/in/set-72157608160457239/

[shelli]

Eck! I need to get on this!

[Kelly]

a "promise" for today
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3244490274/in/pool-shuttersisters

[Bridge]

My word, TREES, as I seem to capture the world around, the mood, the seasons and the weather.
I love trees.

[Tracey Clark]

my word is 'ease'. i had a different word picked but changed it at the last minute. i think 'ease' is a nice concept for me to focus on.
here's my first shot-
http://maypapers.blogspot.com/2009/01/ease.html
this is going to be so fun!! thanks everyone for playing along. your words and images are so inspiring!

[Charlane]

my word is "emerge"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlaneg/3244647182/

[Caroline]

What fun - I'm going to work with "Vibrant"

I've only just joined so I hope that's okay.

My first image is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caroslines/3244920706/

[Courtney]

New to this world, and thought this was the perfect opportunity for practice. Diving right in.
My chosen word: grateful
http://flickr.com/photos/7977864@N04/3244924784/in/set-72157613235147460/

[Puna]

I am ready to play!

And today...I shot in manual mode. Talk about upping the ante...

[Kelly]

my word is "cusp"............ I love the definition of it.. now i just need to figure out how to capture it.

[Sheila@DrCason.org]

My word is Humanity

http://flickr.com/photos/11turtle/3233279802/in/set-72157613176658951/

http://flickr.com/photos/11turtle/3240788268/in/set-72157613176658951/

I have two posts already. It's Feb 2nd here in Guam.

[mommyknows]

I've decided on the word, 'hope'.

This is my first image:

http://flickr.com/photos/mommyknows/3245707212/

[Lu]

This has so been my year for upping the ante. My goal is to not only enter more photography contests, but to win them and take my work to the next level.

This picture is what flow looks like when I am really feeling it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldb/2407026041/in/set-72057594120121854/

[Kelly]

I know I already posted one today for one-word - this one is also for one-word (for tomorrow!) but this shot upped my own ante! I was in the middle of processing a wedding, and I just couldn't see anymore, so I grabbed my camera and went out back to wake up in the cool air. This is what I found:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3245795262/

[Alexandra]

First One Word February Fresh Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/sillyspheres/3244996853/
Upping the Ante: Been playing with light and perspective a lot. Thought these different perspectives of the tree with the sun (light) came out pretty decent: http://flickr.com/photos/sillyspheres/3245001165/in/set-72157613211004291/
http://flickr.com/photos/sillyspheres/3245002121/in/set-72157613211004291/
http://flickr.com/photos/sillyspheres/3245002513/in/set-72157613211004291/
http://flickr.com/photos/sillyspheres/3245831614/in/set-72157613211004291/

[Martha]

I chose the word focus for the project and then spied this eagle to challenge my long distance abilities to really focus in a new way!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/3244291081/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/3242715760/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/3244102147/

[Kyla]

I posted my photo for the one word challenge over in the Shutter Sisters flickr group, but the photo below is one that really "hit" me this morning. Just a run of the mill thing, really . . . I spend countless moments of my day standing here, but this morning it gave a little something back to me . . .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thekreativelife/3245115683/

I really got to thinking about capturing the "atmosphere" around me. It's an unexplainable feeling, but when you feel it, and see it captured in a photo . . . WOW! This is something I'll be striving for in the future!

Thanks so much for this wonderful challenge!

[littlepurplecow]

Love that shot, Sarah.

[Lecia]

I chose mindful as my theme for February. I write about my choice here:

http://www.leciawphinney.com/2009/02/mindful.html

picture #1 is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_day_that_is_dessert/3245541031/

[Georgia]

I am really excited about this! My word this month is Discover... I'll be back with my photo :)

[Lois Lane]

My word for the month is drive...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superha/3245930348/

[Georgia]

Okay, I have a few images to share that center on my word "Discover".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiabean/3246113341/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiabean/3246938546/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiabean/3246113229/

I am not sure which is my favorite... I love different aspects of each one. I really adore the furry little tuft in the center of the third image...

[sheSaid]

Texture
http://flickr.com/photos/purplehouseonpearl/3245289473/

[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"

[Teri]

Here is my first one word shot http://teriargo.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/33365/ My word is {pause}.

[Blazey]

I had a really hard time picking my word for this project. I finally decided on "searching" - searching for my style, my inspiration, my path, for things I don't even know and can't express... for myself.

http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/3247913125/

[tonya]

my word is shine:

http://flickr.com/photos/uglyisthenewpretty/3244953907/

[gkgirl]

my first post...
do i dare?

http://itsacanadiangeek.blogspot.com/2009/02/do-i-dare-oneword-shuttersisters.html

[golightly]

My February word is Tranquility
<a href="http://justaddcolor.blogspot.com/2009/02/tranquility-for-february.html">here</a>

[Jane Swanson]

My Word for the month is J*O*Y and this photo says it all for me.

http://janeswanson.blogspot.com/2009/02/joy.html

[Kala]

my word - inspire

http://karenjinks.blogspot.com/2009/02/one-word-project-inspire.html

[camerashymomma]

this month i will find peace.
hide and seek style if necessary.

here's my photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/3239906917/in/photostream/