All that glitters

Sparkly things catch my eye. I don’t care whether it’s diamonds, shimmering water or broken glass. If it shines and glimmers, I am easily distracted and instantly intrigued. I’m not sure if this is due to gender or genetics, but it is certainly a trait that has been passed down to me by my mother (although her preference is for diamonds and rhinestones). Just try to get us through a department store without touching all the sparkly scarves while oohing and aahing over blinged out t-shirts. The more bedazzled the better.

So one recent summery morning I was immediately fascinated by these water droplets laced between the blades of grass in my lawn. All night long, spiders had been working on intricate webs in the grass. And then the morning dew came along and tiny drops of condensation formed in the nooks and crannies of their creations. The sun was shining at just the right height to light up the drops of water. Perfection. I grabbed my camera and macro lens and spent several minutes on my hands and knees in the wet grass. Now I have a photograph to check back on anytime I need a quick sparkle fix.

Please share your photos with us of anything that shines, sparkles, glimmers or shimmers. I know I’ll be oohing and aahing over here.

best face forward

When you're open to seeing the good, it will reveal itself.

What a delight to look up from putting away pots and pans in the bottom cupboard, to find this smiling face looking at me.

I enourage you today to put a smile on. You never know who or what might smile back. Of course, we'd love to see anything you'd like to share that gives you a grin.

Hello Summer!

This summer I'm co-hosting the Mondo Beyondo Dream Lab, an online class about rest, play and the power of kindness.  Since I knew we'd need a new collection of images to post with the lessons, I commissioned my kids (plus four or five more neighborhood friends) to help me stage a little photo shoot.  All the children involved were a little bit too grownup for bubbles (mom, we're tweens, not kids), but everyone really got into it when I showed them how the bubbles were showing up in the screenfinder.

Whoa, Mom! How did you do that?? That's cool!

I didn't do it on purpose, but I had to agree.  There was something about the combination of shooting in the golden hour, taking an extra step in and turning slightly toward the sun that took our bubble shots to a whole new level.  Add some giant circle earrings and a circle wand, and you're good to go.

So c'mon, sisters, it's summertime afterall! Bust out the bubbles and show us what you can do.  I'd love to see what other cool effects we can get with a little water, sunlight and suds. If you don't have your bubble wand in hand then show us anything that speaks to you of summer. Yes! This is yet another photo contest!!

Show us what you’ve got between now and Sunday night at midnight PST over in our OWP Flickr pool and leave a comment here with a link to your shot. Only one image per person please and only those images shared through links in the comments here will be considered. There will be one “Grand Hello” winner that will receive a 36X24 canvas (Hello!) and 2 runners up that will win a 20X24 canvas compliments of Hello Canvas, of course!

For more summer inspired photography prompts like this one, it's not too late to sign up for Picture Summer with Tracey Clark.  Class starts next week on July 1st! Hello summer!

the perfect pair

Somehow my eye has been noticing all sorts of things that come in pairs lately. Sometimes they make for the perfect combination (like the couple above! don't you think they are just too cute?) and other times they are just plain odd.

So whether you're looking at lovebirds, food, shoes, friends or dogs and their owners... How about sharing those images that show all the interesting ways in which things are paired together around us?

bonus song: Better Together by Jack Johnson

Summer Love

I love summer.  It is here and it is most definitely my season.  It’s the only time of the year that I give myself permission to let myself relax.  I love the long days, warm nights and the chance to wear open-toed shoes after a long winter encased in socks and boots.  And of course, getting a pedicure to welcome the new season doesn’t hurt, either.  Like most girls, I have a thing for shoes.  And because summer is my most favorite season ever, I’m always on the lookout to find the cutest (and most comfortable) pair of sandals or flip flops out there.  I know my camera gets most of its use this time of year as well, and there’s nothing cuter than seeing a ‘tween in her cute little flip flops and newly painted toes. It was only natural then, that when I did a photo shoot of the two girls above I just had to include a shot of those too-cute feet.  Seriously, what’s not to love about kids or babies feet or any feet in super cute shoes, for that matter?! 

What do you love about summer? Show us what summer is to you.  And if you have any cute feet pics, by all means, show us those, too! 

In honor of summer and all things feet, Karin Stouffer of Toes N’ Bows (maker of the darling flip flops above which, by the way, come in both womens and girls sizes!) is giving away one pair of custom made flip flops of your choosing and designed by you, so be sure to leave your comment here by 12 midnight PST to be entered in a random drawing!

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Thanks for all your great comments and love of summer!  And congrats to Brooke of Shutterboo for winning the custom-made flip flops!