This post is along the same lines as Tracy's yesterday, when she was talking about obsession. I think artists are especially interesting because the evolution of their life is out there for everyone to see. When I look back at my earlier work, with the perspective I have now, it seems like a whole different world. Buttoned up, and posed, and trying hard to be"perfect". My portraiture was an extension of how I lived my life, which was very aware of the critique. Then it started to get exhausting. There wasn't a turning point moment. Just the fact that lately I haven't been editing as much as I used to...in life or in photography. I'm not as afraid to show the messy bits...like the ones where mom is leaning in to fix her daughter's hair; or the ones that are so out of focus, they turn into impressions. People can make up their own minds. Either way I feel the same about my work, and about myself. I feel like I've begun to let go of the illusion of control. And my photographs (and I) are a teensy bit more free these days. What about you? Do you have any shots that make you feel this way?

There's something about the notion of taking a photograph every day that I find interesting. Last year, I was  in love with this collection of mornings ,(now evenings). I want to get back into the habit of noticing. Not because the light is right. Or because she's-growing-so-fast-and-I-better. I want to have a reason to just shoot whatever catches my eye. So, I've started taking (at least) a photograph per day. Not for work. And not like vitamins. I'm not going to make a big deal rule out of it. No certain ways. And the photo doesn't even have to be "good". Because I don't know about you, but sometimes I just want to capture the moment. Quickly, maybe out of focus. Whatever. Just something so that when I look back on it, I will remember that moment in all it's flawed perfection. When you shoot photographs for a living, you get into a nasty habit of only doing it for a living. So this is where I'm starting, with my little collection of snap shots that were taken over the past few days. I like the idea that each day is important enough to have its portrait taken. Want to join me?

I found this tutorial today at www.fototiller.com via photojojo. The kids had so much fun making their "OWN" coloring pages. Thought yours might too. You could even make them into a book here or here, and give them as birthday gifts. Happy Wednesday!  :)

I started shooting professionally when I was twenty. Besides being young, I was a girl woman in an industry which was dominated by men in high-water khaki pants, incessantly comparing their lens sizes. Our way of dealing with it, was to exclude ourselves. We never joined the organizations, or cared about awards and accolades. In our mind, it was reward enough not to be around people who were patronizing us. Like the time, I literally got patted on the head by a balding competitor. He said, "Don't worry, you'll get there". And I thought, "If 'there' is where you are, I'm fine where I am". Fast forward thirteen years to a different world. I don't know what happened, but today's most successful photographers are inclusive and real. And it totally shows up in their work. It's as if the pretentiousness of the eighties and early nineties tired people out, and created a whole new breed of photographers who just wanted to document real moments. It seriously rocks!

So I thought it would just be nice to raise a virtual internet glass to all the photogs out there who are keeping it real. Here are a few of my personal favorites...(besides all the Shutter Sisters of course)

Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser

Nick Onken

Jesh DeRox

Anna Kuperberg

Kate Mefford

Tara Whitney

Davina Fear

Amelia Lyon

The Whitebox Girls

Melissa Jill

Millie Holloman

Oh, there are so many, many more. What about you? Who are your favorite peeps?

Well, it's 10:29...an hour and a half before I should have this post done, and I don't know what to say. It's been a very long day, and I have no interesting words or thoughts. I do have a cool link for you though. I found this site via Photojojo's newsletter the other day. It's called The Ones We Love. And it's a project devoted to portraying the people who inspire different photographers all over the world. I found myself mesmerized by A. the photography and B. the concept. Somehow it adds a certain dimension to a photograph when you know that the person who is pictured means the world to someone else. Then I realized that we can probably say that about most photographs. Hopefully everyone has someone that they mean the world to, and vice versa. So I thought we could start our own little mini "Ones We Love" photo fest today. I'll go first.