Superhero Photo Challenge: Dance

"While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole." -Hans Bos

Those two year olds have got that thing, right? They know how to let go, to be completely immersed in their joy, in their delight, or even in their upset. They don't live live half way, but dive in totally. 

In yoga this week, the instructor brought this question into the space: Where in our lives are we living half way? Perhaps it's in our relationships, or in our jobs, maybe we say no too much when we should be saying yes. I think this question humbled all of us, for wherever we are living big in our lives, there are places that we live small. And I'm not necessarily talking about heroic feats of living here, just about diving into each moment, each dance, and the arms of your loved ones with as much aliveness as you see pictured above.

Do you have any photos that show the aliveness I am talking about? Let these images be our teachers today... I am excited to see what you've got.

Superhero Photo Challenge: Superhero

I am in love with this photo I shot recently of my son and husband... Without realizing it, I had shot Ben's superhero portrait-- my two year old at his most heroic, proud to be standing in such a precarious place all by myself. The only thing missing is his cape. 

One of my favorite all time superhero portraits was shot by fellow Shutter Sister Maile, and I love this polaroid by Kate Pulley. 

Who are the superheroes in your life? Let's see em! and then tell us why.

Superhero Photo Challenge: Mornings

By now many of you have seen the gorgeous book by Stephanie Congden Barnes and Maria Vettese called A Year of Mornings: 3,191 Miles Apart. It is gorgeous... and I haven't looked at mornings the same since opening it. Imagine that, a book that can alter the way you look at your life, every day. That is magic, and the power of great art.

Their collaboration began as a blog, each posting a photo from their morning, one in Portland, Oregon the other in Portland, Maine. The results are a collection of extraordinary diptychs, capturing a delicate, graceful and ordinary/extraordinary beauty.

In honor of this book, and to mornings, I offer a new challenge today.

Superhero Photo Challenge: Black and White

Some photos just lend themselves to black and white. I love looking through photos after a shoot and deciding which ones have just the right combination of elements that makes for a good black and white image. Sometimes it's about contrast, other times an image has that dreamy, vintage quality, sometimes it's just trial and error, clicking back and forth between b/w and color.

How do you choose what images you will make into black and white? Let's crack the code on good black and white images. What makes for a beautiful shot? I want to see your favorites.

I found so many gorgeous examples in the Shutter Sisters flickr pool. Wow people. You are good.

Superhero Photo Challenge: Follow the pattern

For the superhero photo challenge this week, let's use fabrics and patterns in interesting ways. Use them as backdrops, photograph against vintage wallpaper, go bold with patterned clothing and color. Can't wait to see what you've got!