reoccurring themes

Sometimes we don't really notice patterns when we're too close them. Day in and day out we carry on with our routines and rhythms, repeating actions, activities, habits and rituals. We wake and walk and work. We lift our forks to eat, our pens to write, children to love, our cameras to click. Every day with little fanfare.

I've recognized my love affair with coffee mugs for years. The shape, the feel, the message, the color, the rim, the handle. I notice and take note of all of these things each time I lift my mug to sip. And yet, it wasn't until I began to use my iphone (and instagram) that I really noticed how much I really observe the beauty, simplicity, and poetic and hopeful aesthetics of this simple everyday object and how this one seeminly mundane item takes center stage in so many of my photographs.

Is there something you have found that often takes the center of your attention? The subject matter of your images that occurs again and again in ways that might even surprise you?

Take a good look at what it is that captures your eye and your lens and share with us the reoccurring themes of your daily work.

Comments

[Heather]

Two major themes for me, flowers and my journal pages!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toliveinspired/5708600060/in/photostream


http://www.flickr.com/photos/toliveinspired/5707227751/in/photostream

[Brenda]

I am completely smitten with shadow images.

My Flickr "Shadow" set
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gottgraphicsdesign/sets/72157626759073511/

A blog post on my love of shadows:
http://www.gottgraphicsdesign.com/2011/05/20/sun-burned/

[Marcie]

Funny - altho I don't consider myself to be a bird photographer..I photograph them over and over and over again:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2011/6/21/beach-day.html

[Anna]

Glimmer and shimmer attracts me over and over again - crystal, reflections in windows, beads, sunlight on the lake.... Maybe it's the magpie in me?

http://www.vandemarkdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/06/color-magic.html

[Kat]

Wow, what do I choose? Potted plants on a doorstep always get me. Windows and doors, and lately door handles and locks specifically. But also scooters. I've been building a collection of them lately. Here's one: http://www.kateyeview.com/2011/06/orange-power.html

[Libertad Leal]

I have a couple of "themes" that rule my photography:

1. Vintage cameras: http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/sets/72157624752449950 (this is an obsession, let's be real here hehe)

2. The different shades of blue of the sky (this I did not realize until recently):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5763476053
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5772079596
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5654305206
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5016259995
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5629713267

[Libertad Leal]

This is like total overkill but I have to add these ones to my list of blue skies. I love them so much:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5841069969 Santa Monica Pier

http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5841600002 Disneyland

[DebC]

I've always loved architecture . . .
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57210424@N06/sets/72157626898172225/

[camaca]

I always walk with the iphone camera open. This days I just have to stay in a park with my little prince, and there are a lot of things to capture. Feet this time.

http://aifonejant.blogspot.com/2011/06/els-que-passejen.html

[Jessica Peña]

I find myself drawn to photographing barbed wire often, and what is behind it. There is a great contrast of textures between the sharp metal and sift countryside people wrap it around. I also really love park benches, empty but full of possibilities and stories.

[Kathryn Dyche Dechairo]

For me I'm always drawn to wildlife and nature.

http://dychedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/06/bug-eyed.html

[urban muser]

funny, i was noticing all of your coffee mugs on instagram. love it!
for me, it's been all about my feet and my shadow lately. everytime i look down they are there!
http://www.urbanmuser.com/2011/06/one-word.html

[Roxanne]

Ohhh I love this question! Thank you for the really interesting post!

Like everyone else, I have more than one theme: reflections of people and objects in water, bicycles and motorcycles around the world, photos of Coca Cola ads worldwide. I wish I had a link to some of these -- you are inspiring me to publish some of these photoessays!

[pthurmond1]

I would have to say wildlife. Of course, I love flowers, horses, sunrises and sunsets.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50901045@N02/5528750193/in/photostream

[Maery Rose]

I'm drawn to trees and rivers and how they change throughout the seasons.

http://cowgirlbyproxy.blogspot.com/2011/06/still-growing.html

And my dogs and the things we see on our walks.

http://cowgirlbyproxy.blogspot.com/2011/05/dog-walking.html

[Emma]

I have a thing about photographing food. Lately, because it's winter in my part of the world, pink grapefruit have caught my eye and tastebuds ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/5796279312/in/set-72157626337460034
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/5809771605/in/set-72157626337460034
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/5778953488/in/set-72157626337460034/

[missing moments]

I have one coffee mug that I LOVE ... and have searched for years for another just in case it gets broken. But the thing I seek mostly in my pictures is I love roads or paths or alleys ... guess I'm always wanting to travel down them!

[Ice Gal]

Rust. I am drawn to old rusty metal, trucks....

[Chantal]

Made a collage of reoccurring things in my life

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26687796@N00/5862895382/in/photostream/lightbox/

[Leanne]

I love fences
http://knowwheretostand.blogspot.com/2011/06/country-fences.html
http://knowwheretostand.blogspot.com/2011/05/shadows-and-fences.html
http://knowwheretostand.blogspot.com/2011/04/fences.html

[elk]

so many for me ...
weeds . always

http://www.redorgray.com/2011/06/allow-yourself.html

[Gail]

I seem to have many recurring themes...but all are related my daily life...Foremost are my grandchildren
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733432@N08/sets/72157613159129974/

and food...at least this one will stay still:)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733432@N08/sets/72157613121560171/

[autumn sun]

one of my most recurring themes is my simple morning breakfast
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/sets/72157624567007889/

[Lizzie Staley]

I keep going for flowers. I think nature interests me. So intriguing, so beautiful. Light too is something I love. Trying to capture it's shimmering, the glow, the ever changing.
http://lizzie-staley.tumblr.com/post/6839985377/golden-purple-on-flickr

[jeremy]

Better "Recurring," not "reoccurring." :)

[Microsoft Office 2007]

Take a good look at what it is that captures your eye and your lens and share with us the reoccurring themes of your daily work.
http://windows7sp1.org/

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[gosia]

I totally get your passion for coffee mugs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pankarmelek/5855939528/in/photostream
But my 'theme' would be flowers:)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pankarmelek/5855387977/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pankarmelek/5851801801/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pankarmelek/5749225135/in/photostream/

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