Group Action

This is a polaroid I shot at Shutter Sisters Camp, and one of my favorites, because it is not only extremely weird looking, but it is a photo of a photo of a photo! In the background you see a row of sisters jumping and shooting Kristin and Xanthe, who are in the foreground, shooting the sisters in action in return. Then, of course, there was me, shooting them all, as they faded back into the thick beach fog.

I'm seriously grateful for group photos, aren't you? I think they each carry a story and fun energy of their own, almost always making us smile.

So today share your group shots with us, so that we may have a window into light, silly moments you witnessed. Make us smile and make us feel thankful for these special moments of gathering and laughter in our lives.

You, beautiful moment

You, you only, exist.We pass away, till at last,
our passing is so immense
that you arise: beautiful moment,
in all your suddenness,
arising in love, or enchanted
in the contraction of work.

To you I belong, however time may
wear me away. From you to you
I go commanded. In between
the garland is hanging in chance; but if you
take it up and up and up: look:
all becomes festival

Rainer Maria Rilke

***

Dear Rilke,

We totally get it! A moment is indeed such a precious thing!

Thank you for praising it with your words.

Now, we will do so with pictures. :)

Warmly,

Shutter Sisters

***
Go ahead, sisters, it's all you, now!

Please share that special moment, a"festival" of color, love and magic you captured in one single click!

untold stories

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Maya Angelou

As our month of stories comes to an end, I can't help but wonder about all the stories that are still lodged inside each one of us, patiently waiting to be told. I'm wondering if you are like me, and perhaps you've just scratched the surface in terms of what you need to say and shoot. I mean, I am not even talking about whole life stories here, I'm just sticking to this month still...

As I pondered on my September, I remembered moments when I felt excited, in love, sad, challenged, hopeful, out of words...  To each of these moments, there was a story attached, of course. But sadly, I'm now only carrying the weight of memories, because those stories remain untold. So I wholeheardly agree with Maya Angelou's quote above, and I would like to add that maybe, if we all told more stories, then maybe, we could all walk lighter in this world...

At least we've got a good start here at SS, right? :) And since we still have time (lucky us!), how about we share one more image, and tell one more story that needs to be told today? Share with us today a photograph that tells the story of your September/ or your life.

 We are giving away one $100 Paper Coterie gift card EVERY SINGLE DAY of September to one of YOU! All you have to do is share a comment each day before midnight EST for your chance to win that day's random drawing. And be sure to keep shooting your own stories and adding them to the OWP Pool on Flickr where you have a second chance at winning one of those $100 Paper Coterie giveaways.

*image taken with sx70, Impossible Film PX70 Color Shade.

stories of experimentation

 PX70 Color Shade First Flush

When the folks at the Impossible Project released their first new instant films in 2010, I couldn't resist the urge to embark on a pioneering journey with them. Now, we are not "just" shooting with instant film again, which is in itself alluring enough, but we are shooting with new, amazing films that are still up for experimentation and refinement. In this new pathway, there is surprise, creativity, variety and possibility. I know it can be daunting to work with a medium that is somewhat unstable (and expensive) but there are no wasted shots. Everything counts because we are thinking and learning every time we compose and press the shutter.

Personally, I've had a bit of a hard time shooting with the PX70 First Flush (an earlier release of the now more stable PX70 color shade). But I persisted and I played with different exposures, light sources, intensities, etc. After many shots - a couple of (not wasted) packs - I got the shot you see above. Although it is still developing as I type (it should get less blue as it settles more), I already love it as is. Right now it is the perfect kind of weird for my taste. I love the bluish tones, the painterly feel and even the snake pattern in the lower left corner (my 1 year old model ain't half bad either ;))

What about you?  Impossible film or not, how do you push yourself and your medium? Today, share your shots and stories of experimentation with us.

And remember, we will be giving away one $100 gift card EVERY SINGLE DAY of September to one of YOU! All you have to do is share a comment each day before midnight EST for your chance to win that day's random drawing. Be sure to leave links to your story shots.

Superpowers

Lately I have been thinking about all the ways in which Photography has given me superpowers. For instance: I can freeze a special moment (any moment actually), I can capture someone's soul (huge!), I can make people smile (and I'm so not the funny type), I can make someone feel beautiful (I only reveal the beauty that is already there), I can change the world (documenting and sharing stories), I can make one travel around the world (through images), I can create memories (for myself or someone else),I can make ordinary things look extraordinary (it's all about how you look at things), etc...

But I know it is not just me, right?

So tell me, what superpowers have you acquired since you've started carrying a camera? Can you share an image to illustrate that superpower today?