choosing what to focus on

Lately it seems like all of the various projects I have been working on are all teaching me the same thing. Funny how the Universe can work like that sometimes. I'm finding that the clearer I am, the more clear this truth becomes to me. What I choose to focus on becomes my reality.

I began the year with my trusted companion Simple Abundance, a gratitude journal and a creative journal, all of which I use during my first moments of quiet time after the morning shuffle of breakfast, packing lunches, and carpool. That 20 minutes I spend focusing on creating and maintaining the life that I want has made all the difference. My life just looks better. I know it's my same old life on many levels but with the right focus on the right thing the entire picture changes.

I suppose it's a perfect photographer analogy to liken a life's focus to the sweet spot in an image.

When these dangling water drops caught the light, all I could see was beauty. Each time I walked past these new tomato plants on my kitchen counter, the water glistened; winking at me. I couldn't ignore them any longer. With my trusty macro lens and my heart and aperture wide open I focused on what I wanted to see; the light, the clarity, the camaraderie, the determination, the beauty. I chose not to focus on the dirty dishes, the remnants on the cutting board or the water spotted window. Those things are all there if you carefully decipher the blurred background. But, they are not what I wanted to focus on and sure enough, you barely see them.

Amazing how that works.

Do share what you are choosing to focus on lately? Give us your picture.

Comments

[chris]

Lately I've become obssessed with the deluge of finches that are visiting my almost completely bare maple tree. I've really fallen in love with them and photograph them endlessly because I know once spring is here and my tree is full and lush again, I won't be able to watch their antics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/4288503168/in/set-72157623243109648/

[Marcie]

What a stunning image - beautiful color..and light. And such inspiring words. It really does depend on what one chooses to focus on and sees as 'art' vs. 'ordinary life':
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1051

[Elizabeth Harper]

I frequently focus in tight on the tiny drops that reflect a smaller world, but sometimes my tight focus causes me to overlook a gift of another kind.

http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/seein-the-boundary-stones/



I love your photograph, color, light, and depth of field ... especially your message of focus and reflection.

[Puna]

It's staying focused, that's my problem!

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2010/01/jan-20-my-turn/

[Samantha D of Dutcher Photography]

I LOVE the Simple Abundance book, and my favorite book of all time is her follow-up to it, Romancing the Ordinary, which I highly recommend if you haven't checked it out already!

The ideas are so simple, so pure and filled with joy, that they cannot but please. :-)

[bright and blithe]

Monday was one of those days that mothering a toddler is faithful to deliver. I was on the verge of a meltdown by midmorning but a trip outdoors helped me to refocus and find the beauty, even in the bedlam.

http://brightandblithe.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/therealstory/

[jakki]

I SOOOOOO feel you on being and staying focused. My word for the year was !LIVE! and in doing that I dont mean to just have a wonderful party every second of every minute of every day but even in the simple small acts, I want to be aware of the moment. If that means water droplets and their beauty ( like here) than so be it. If its the excitement and adrenaline rush of a basketball game like here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeenwashington/4282958040/sizes/o/


then so be it. I want to enjoy every waking minute of it.

[Katrina Kennedy]

I'm focusing on simplifying in 2010. I want to focus on what matters most in my life, what tells the real story.

Yesterday I was asked to photograph a group of runners with an Olympic Marathoner. A bit boring, two people in the frame together, get through 30 people fast.

And then I looked down, and simply focused on what defines them.

http://ianck.blogspot.com/2010/01/look-in-unexpected-places-for-your.html

[Kate Sutterfield]

http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2010/01/ive-felt-lot-of-love-recently.html

[Shelly]

I love this post, it really rang true with me right now

http://shellymoralesphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/anybody-else-have-winter-blues.html

[kirsten michelle]

For me this year, it's all about taking risks and having fun with self-portraits (I'm a photographer who, before I started this 365 project -- hated being in front of the camera my own self) -- not being afraid to try something wildly different than I've ever done before.

Case in point:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirstenmichelle/4280155002/

:o)

[Joy]

That's great! My mind's been on the same thing lately: http://www.joyschmoll.com/2010/01/which-widgets/

[Kara]

I was playing around with a 365 self-protrait the other night and I got this:

http://ketchupjars.com/2010/01/18/day-18-project-365/

Sometimes life isn't in focus, and that's ok.

[Kristine]

It is amazing when you choose to focus on a portion of an image and you immediately know that it just works. Nothing else needs to be done and right out of your camera you are looking at perfection. It only happens every so often for me...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/froggyphotos/4288095618/

[Patty Reiser]

This week I find that I am focusing on a very shallow depth of field. Its been a lot of fun and a great time of learning and photographing.

http://pkphotography.us/2010/01/project-365-day-20/

[damiec]

Focus is the key to so many of the images I love and I've been working at improving mine for a while now. Here are two recent images where I was pleased with the result.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4289794222/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4254817018/in/set-72157622418015954/

[Misty]

yes staying focused...I'm at work, supposed to be working, but here I am.
Here is my focus picture.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/4053756978/in/photostream/

[mosey along]

Today the wind is howling around the corner of the house and the rain is pounding on the patio roof. I'm hoping the power won't go out. Last week out on a video shoot with a friend, we took a break to have lunch. She was tired and didn't want me to focus on her face while we waited for our crepes, so I focused first on her hands (checking email) and then on the effervescent bubbles in her glass. That's what I'm focusing on today, trying to remain light as air and not sinking into rainy day doldrums.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7687752@N03/4290275697/

[Jennifer]

great image and post! I too have been focusing more on life around me. I think I'm just trying to be more aware and conscious of what is happening in my life. It's sometimes too easy to just coast through it.

[Aubrey]

i love, love this post. The comments about the dirty dishes...so true! When life is hard and frustrating it is nice to be able to focus on something else. I have thought about this a lot lately.
Thanks!
http://aubreyplays.blogspot.com/2010/01/wheres-your-focus.html

[Darlene]

Such a perfect post! My mornings are spent with a cup of tea, usually coupled with editing photos, answering emails, writing. It's a quiet time, which I need as a start to my day.

My focus is beginning to shift from the usual "rules" of photography to expressions of art. Life is art and I want my photography to reflect that. I think this image is a good example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whimsicalyearsphotography/4291240238/

[natalie]

I'm realizing as I look through my 365 photos that many of them are my family. I think it's fitting...focusing on what makes me happy shows in what I choose to photograph.

[Sheila Cain-Sample]

I think by focusing in we clear away all the clutter. Today I was focused on recycling.

[cigi]

Love this post. Some unusually wintery weather has kept me at home the last week or so, trying to focus on the beautiful details around me.

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/14365/

[Jade Sheldon]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmsheldon/4291301992/

[leaca]

I was just talking about this on my blog yesterday.

http://simplyblogged.blogspot.com/2010/01/catching-upwith-side-of-blog-talk.html

[leaca]

P.S. who wrote this article? I just like to know who writes what.

[Anita Johnson]

I recently found shutter sisters...so glad I did. I really don't like winter...not at all. But when I focus on the beauty of it, the unique characteristics of the season, the joy in seeing God's creation returns.

[Trude]

Such true words! Thanks for sharing. I've been focusing on the skies a lot lately, since we've been having "real" weather here in Southern California all month. :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/4286424209/

[cindi]

.. this is such an affirmation for me! thanks for sharing

http://cindi-aspiretoinspire.blogspot.com/2010/01/focusout-of-focus.html

[cdscott]

I have been VERY unfocused lately and am just starting to feel things falling back into place. Thanks for the timely nudge toward a more focused, balanced me!

http://courtneysablogger.blogspot.com/2010/01/choose-your-focus.html

[georgia]

i needed to "hear" this analogy for life. and i love that the dishes in the background are just as much of what makes this photo beautiful. the color is amazing! so, i like that, too. with proper focus, even the humdrum or the necessities of life can be colorful and exciting!

as far as the photo goes, i love it! i used to take macros all the time with my little canon a470, because that is what that camera did best! it really had a quite amazing macro feature for the kind of camera it was. makes me miss it. but i still use it on my bigger camera and still enjoy the macros.

here is my most recent macro -- also with dew drops.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/11/synonymous-labyrinthine.html

[georgia]

oh, and this one...
http://jorjah-b.blogspot.com/2010/01/jorjah-find.html

[Gretchen Schock]

Wonderful post. Love the reminder of focusing on what is important. I'm going to carry this thought with me all day.

[Samantha Dutcher]

I am choosing to focus on the overlooked - to zoom out and get the whole picture. And sometimes, when I think I have nowhere else to turn, I remember to look up.

http://robandsamphoto.com/artwork/1148189_Maggie.html