a city's embrace

On Sunday bloggers scattered -- some to the airport, others to shop. Many ended up at the Art Institute of Chicago. I stood in front of Picasso's Nude Under a Pine Tree as a couple approached.

I love this one, said the woman. Their eyes travelled over the canvas. She continued, speaking softly as though in a church. He didn't see a nose or legs or breasts. He saw bodies and faces as shapes, as triangles and squares. And so that's how he painted them.

In Chicago I couldn't get enough of line and shape. Containers of electricity all standing poised, perhaps slightly forward, into the wind. We were all overwhelmed. There were tears, and there was delight and mischief. But most of all there was recognition.

I know you! I see you. Come over here. You are shaped like me.

Empty spaces smile, waiting to be filled.

+++

Today, think like Picasso. Show me photographs that crackle with line and shape -- and not just explicitly. Blur your eyes from simple subjects and see blocks of colour, balance, interplay. And share!

Pictured above, clockwise l-r: Chicago reflected in the mirrorball; serenity at the Art Institute; downtown seen through an Institute window; the lovely Jenny the Bloggess.

Celebrate and Sparkle

Patriotism is love of and/or devotion to one's country.Sometimes we get so lost in the "roller coaster of life" to see the loveliness that's around us. The street corners, local bakeries, town celebrations. It's all just so inspiring.

So on this day of celebration in the States, take some time to show what you love about where you live. Share your little nooks, eateries, playgrounds and how you best like to spend days like these. And remember to soak it all in.

Image and words courtesy of Jen Way; Miss Americana.

confessions of a 365 dropout

141/365 141 - SOOC

I hate to even have to say it outloud, or in writing, but it dawned on me the other day;

I have failed in my efforts to keep up with the 365 project.  Heavy sigh.

It's certainly not the biggest deal in the world. I can begin again at any time and kind of pick up where I left off (I guess) but there was just something magical about starting on Jan 1 and actually thinking I would/could stick with something every single day for an entire year. I did manage to make it for something like 141 days. I think that's fairly impressive.

Regardless of the fact that I'm officially throwing in the towel on the project this year, I learned a few things along the way that might help those of you who are still committed and diligent in your photographic efforts (I wholeheartedly applaud you btw).

Here's my follow up to Stephanie's original post offering her tips on sticking with it.

1. Keep a 365 idea notebook handy. Anytime you drive by something that catches your eye, jot down the location so you can't revisit on a day when you have time to snap off a few pictures. Anytime you have a fleeting thought about something you've been wanting to capture in a photograph, write that down. When you're feeling uninspired and out of ideas, use the lists in your notebook as guides.

2. Keep an eye on your battery. Make sure it's charged (plug it in before bed) and have back-ups handy.

3. Take your camera to social functions. It's fun to round out a collection of still-lifes with some pix of friends and family.

4. Try to shoot at least one shot each morning. I know this was on Steph's list but for 141 days, it was my mantra.

5. Don't wait for perfection. As Kate recently urged, 'do not wait for perfect light'. Just shoot!

6. Plan regular photo walks or field trips for yourself. Go alone or with friends.

6. Shoot from the hip. Literally. Sometimes the less invested we are in getting the shot, the more likely we are to capture delightful surprises.

7. Pick up a few extra memory cards to carry with you so you never end up with a full card when you're out and about.

8. Give yourself permission to shoot the same subject over and over again. If there is something your are drawn to shoot, then try capturing it differently on different days. Be inventive and the repetition of subject matter becomes interesting, not boring.

9.Get involved in shooting for regular photo features around the internet, like the One Word Project, Best Shot Monday and Love Thursday.

10. Never underestimate the power and beauty of your SOOC shots. Why spend time editing the shots that don't need to be edited. Use the 365 project as the practice to get your shots right the first time! Less editing time means the less time the 365 project takes each day and it leaves more time to shoot.

One thing I was reminded of as I played along this year was that paying attention to the details of my daily life, camera in hand, was totally therapeutic for me. I had no agenda but to shoot and there were many times I was blissfully lost in shooting. It was amazing and enlightening.

If you started on Jan 1 this year then today is day 167 for you. Almost half way home. Surely you have some ideas for us on how you keep it up. Anything that keeps you shooting like the prolific shutter sisters that you are would be helpful. Links to your favorite captures always welcome.

The Art of the Vignette

I think my very first digital darkroom infatuation was the ability to vignette my images. You know, the method of manipulating the edges of an image in order to really make your subjects pop? For me, it was darkening the edges and I couldn’t get enough of it. Although I was having fun with it, it got a tad predictable, I will admit. As I continued to experiment with processing techniques I found other fixations. Textures, tones, saturation, or whatever my processing flavor of the day happened to be. Even after a few of years in experiment mode, I still don’t know what all the potentials are in processing and am still having fun trying new things. I do know what I like when I see it and I know that I shoot in waves of my own personal preferences and trends of whim. Maybe we all do. It’s just a part of the creative process I suppose and part of the fun for sure!

Although my love of vignetting still remains, I am beginning to enjoy challenging myself to build those vignettes into the shooting process. Natural vignettes can be just as intoxicating as their fabricated cohorts but I find they can be a lot less predictable which for me is refreshing.

I’ve recently begun toying with using a shallow depth of field in the foreground of my images as opposed to using it only in the background. I am loving the results! I am addicted to using my trusty macro lens and getting down at ground level, right up to my subject makes it easier to get that soft and lovely blur in the foreground. As long as my focus is on my subject (in the case above, the flower) and there is enough information in front of the subject that will be thrown out of focus with a shallow depth of field you can achieve these results. In this case, the edges don’t go dark but the softness of the bottom edge does do the trick of pulling your eye right to the subject almost as if it were framed.

I would love to see your vignette success stories, whatever they may be. Show us an image of when it really worked just as you wanted it to.

the 100 step challenge

I recently stumbled on a blog post titled "10 Ways to Break Photographer's Block" on PhotoCritic.org. He's got some really great ideas to kick start your creativity. But one in particular caught my attention and caused me to jump up and participate instantly. It's called the 100 step challenge. The author describes it like this:

"It’s easy: Grab your camera and start walking. Count your steps. After 100 steps, stop where you are, and where you’re standing, you have to take a photograph."

When I read this, I literally got up, grabbed my camera and started counting my steps. I headed toward the back door and ended up in my back yard. When I got to 100 steps I stopped and looked around at my options (It didn't hurt that I had a little creature following me). This is such a great exercise because it forces you to create an interesting composition right where you stand. Turn your body 360 degrees and really look at your surroundings. Look high and low, look close and far. Find something interesting and show us what you come up with! If you aren't able to participate today, please come back and share it with us when you can. I'll be checking back often!