Friday's Feature -A Kirtsy Call (photo contest)

I'll bet some of you are surprised that we didn't feature a Halloween photo today, aren't you? Never fear, we got the obligatory pumpkin photo out of the way a while ago not to mention this spooky and oh-so-adorable shot at The Daily Click today. Over here, we've got a treat of a different kind.

In the name of sisterly love and community, we are partnering with the fantabulous ladies behind the phenomenal social media platform Kirtsy for a photo contest! It's going to be way better than Halloween candy (except for maybe Reese's). It's a Kirtsy Call, if you will. And we will.

See, Kirtsy has a book coming out with BrightSkyPress and they've asked us, to ask you what you think a Kirtsy might look like and then capture it in a photo. Nothing like an awesome theme photo challenge to get us Shutter Sisters clickin'! We knew you'd be all over this one.

So, what's in it for you? Well, above and beyond the creative satisfaction of visually interpreting a theme of a "fantastically made up word" nothing much...only a chance to BE PUBLISHED! Hello! The top 5 winning images will be featured in the soon-coming book, due out in Spring 09. Oh, don't worry winners, you'll get a free copy of the book too so you can capitalize on those bragging rights.

To enter the contest you must first capture a photo (each participant may submit up to 3 images) that best depicts the word or idea or vibe of the word Kirtsy. No rules ladies, the interpretation is up to you. Second, you must add the image(s) to either your blog or your Flickr stream and third you need to comment on this here post with the link to where your photographic Kirtsy masterpieces are found so that we may, you know, find them. Three simple steps. That's all there is to it.

The contest starts today and ends in one week. In other words you must leave your comment here with the link to your photo(s) sometime between now and midnight PST on Friday, November 7^th.

And since it's Friday and we've promised to feature valuable resources on Fridays, we hope you take some time getting to know the Kirtsy community and all the amazing content that is featured over there. If you'd like to join in the fun (you know you do) you can send any article/blog post you think is worth sharing to Kirtsy for all to enjoy. For example, you'll notice at the bottom of every Shutter Sister post there is an option to share article. When you click it gives you a list of places where you can share the post. Kirtsy is one of those places. Of course, we would be honored if you ever wanted to share our posts with the masses so by all means, click away. We're just sayin'.

OK, Happy Halloween already! Have fun!

Grand Collaborations

View from the Navy Pier in Chicago at BlogHer 2007

As I tie up loose ends and back my bags for the weekend’s festivities I am giddy. More than anything BlogHer has become a block of time to be in the true physical presence of some of my favorite women that for the most part, I only get to spend time with virtually. It’s something I look forward to all year.

This year feels extra special though.

At last year’s BlogHer I was talking up this great idea I had of a unique collaborative photo blog for women that I had planned to launch called Shutter Sisters. People would ask for details and I remember saying, I’m not exactly sure what’s it’s going to be. I just know it’s going to be amazing. And it is truly amazing. I had an idea of what I hoped it would be but little did I know the caliber of community that has come to surround and support the blog would surpass my wildest dreams. You all have helped make Shutter Sisters what it is today. And it just keeps getting better. Thank you all so very much.

This year BlogHer for me will be an even richer celebration of sisterhood and some of the contributing sisters and many of our community will be gathering, walking the streets of San Francisco, clickin’ around town together. It feels almost surreal and I eagerly look forward to Saturday’s PhotoWalk. What’s more is that, thanks to Blurb, we will be kicking off the Shutter Sisters Collaborative Book Collection! You asked for it. You got it. The book will be called ShutterWalk and it will be full of some highlights from the PhotoWalk images captured. All participants have to do is upload their PhotoWalk Photos into the ShutterWalk Flickr Group, tag them with ssphotowalk08 and our favorites will be chosen for our book.

Since there are so many of you that aren’t able to join us this weekend, we are also going to begin the process of choosing the images for our second book. Yep. That’s two. We’re pretty ambitious, aren’t we? This is so that everyone can get into the spirit of starting our library of books. It will be called The Daily Click (crowd goes wild). The photos that will be chosen for the book from our Daily Click stream will be up to you!

Between now and August 1^st it is your job to be book curator. All you have to do is click through all The Daily Clicks and comment on the ones you hope to see in our book. The photos with the most comments will be featured in our First Annual Daily Click Collection. We can’t wait to see which photos you choose!

Once the books are done, they will be available at the Blurb Bookstore. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the best cause we could think of, Jen and Odette’s Girl Power Afrcia fund.

Thank you again to all of you for being involved here and so wonderfully supportive. It means to the world to us. Especially to me. Sniff sniff.

And the Wii Winner is...

Christina's fitting photo She would sleep in a box. She would sleep with a fox won her the Wii and the Wii Fit! Perhaps when her daughter takes naps in boxes and whatnot she can use the quite time to get some Wii Fitness in. Pretty cool!

Congratulations Christina!

And because Beer Mama and Jenny Kim were very fitting finalists, they will we receiving token Wii gifts. One lucky runner up will be getting a Wii yoga mat and the other a Wii fitness bag. Thanks Nintendo!

It was a fantastically fit contest everyone! Thanks for playing along.

The Wii Fit Finalists

Well sisters, here they are fit as fiddles; the three Wii Fit Photo Contest Finalists (shown here in no particular order).

Because I fit...by Beer Momma

BW by Jenny Kim

She would sleep in a box. She would sleep with a fox by Christina

Aren't they perfectly fitting? We think so. As were all of your fantastically fit submissions. Thanks to everyone who played along.

Now, what comes next is up to all of you. To participate you must choose your favorite shot of these three. You only can vote for ONE of these shots and you must place your vote in the comments on this very post. Feel free to share the contest with friends and family too. Anyone and everyone can vote but you must comment here to get your vote counted. You have until 5pm EST on Thursday, June 19th to vote. The winner will be announced on June 20th.

Come on everyone, one of these fine sisters of the shutter is going to win a Nintendo Wii system and the Wii Fit to go with it! It's up to you to decide who runs away with it so...if the vote fits...cast it!

MamaFocus Monday

The big winner of the MamaFocus Photo Contest (a la our collaboration with Mamazine)  is this wonderful shot by Iyoyome. YAY!

There were so many stellar submissions, I urge you to take a peek at the pool and see for yourself. Good stuff.

Speaking of stellar submissions, check out  the rest of the winners of the contest-

I wish i had more arms...or wings... by kimthemidwife - first runner up

After the Migraine by Camera Shy Momma -second runner up 

Sun Spinning by SouleMama- third runner up

Such great images ladies! Congratulations to you talented Shutter Mamas! It's always nice to win fabu prizes for your efforts, don'tcha think?

And since we're on the topic of mamas (albeit totally off the subject of photography), today the brilliant Brene Brown of Ordinary Courage begins an unprecidented series for parents based on her life's work, "The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting-raising our children with courage, compassion and connection." I had the pleasure of listening to the just released CD of the same name and I will tell you IT IS REMARKABLE! A must have for any parent--any person for that matter! Seriously. It's life-changing stuff but it's delivered in the most approachable, hopeful way. Don't just take my word for it...check out Brene's blog today as she begins her series. And get the CD.

Go. Now. Read. Be enlightened.