your best shot 2010

There's a group on Flickr that invites its members to reflect on 12 months of capturing life and share their best shot for 2010.

What I like most about this exercise is that it allows me to go back to the earlier months with the kindness that I often lacked of during those moments. Looking back I realize how self-conscious I've been at times, that one of my enemies in my creative process is common sense, but that I've also been brave and learned a lot (even though probably not as much as I wanted to). 

This past year for me has been about developing techniques with digital photography, slowing down, bringing a playful and joyous energy behind what I do and learning how to create the images that I want. The photo above is the one that I shared with the group, my best shot 2010.

Today, show us yours.

a present to yourself

When I submitted a prompt for #reverb10 I crossed my fingers that it would be chosen for the month long project. Little did I know that it would end up being the prompt for Christmas day. I couldn't be more delighted! I can think of no better way to celebrate this time of looking back and looking ahead than to do so through photographs.

Over the last year I have had plenty of pictures taken of me; self-portraits (such as the shot above) as well as images taken by my daughters, and even some taken by Shutter Sisters. With each shot, something more is revealed. I see a clearer picture of  who I am.

The prompt today is specific however. Find a picture taken of youself that best captures you. Either who you are or who you strive to be.

I have found that when you allow your truest self to be seen, really and truly seen, you are set free. There is so much power in that it gives me chills just writing about it. I know this freedom to be true from first hand experience. When Shutter Sister, and dear dear friend, Jen Lemen shot this image of me on one of the most sacred beaches I have walked on, she captured me in a way I have never seen myself before. Every time I look at it, I get goose bumps. Who is this woman? Confident, strong, powerful, true, real. Even though I might not always consider myself in these terms, I've got a photograph to prove that I am all these things and more. It's pictures like these of ourselves that are worth a thousand words.

This prompt isn't an easy one. It might take some time to excavate a shot from the 2010 archives. But, I do hope you spend the time needed to study the pictures of yourself over the past year to see what kind of magic you find. When you do, please share it with us here. Leave a link to your photo and/or post in the comments. On Wednesday, I will pick two winners from the comments. One person will be given a copy of Expressive Photography: A Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting From the Heart and the other will get a complimentary spot in my next photo-centric e-class Picture Winter, just for playing along.

Thank you #reverb10 for such an inspiring experience this month. It's been amazing.

opening my eyes (and a giveaway)

Polaroid sx70 camera, PX600 Silver Shade UV+ film

Of all the wonderful people I've met this past year, Gail is the one who has taught me how important it is that we, as photographers, remember to use our tools (our cameras) to create awareness and motivate positive change.

Since the last time I talked with her, many have rallied around her Kickstarter project to help her raise finishing funds for Opening Our Eyes, a documentary film about her 99-day journey around the world with her daughter to film the stories of people making a positive difference in the world. I can't tell you how much this project resonates with my spirit and feed my passion.

And you can help make a difference too! Here's how:

Today I'm giving away a copy of our book, Expressive Photography (UK cover) to one lucky and generous reader. All you have to do is back Gail's project on Kickstarter, make a pledge of a minimum 1$ amount and leave a comment here before December 24th midnight PST to be entered in a random drawing. I'll also throw in some Polaroid postcards and Polaroid mini prints.

We're so close to reaching our pledged goal! Less than 250$ to go, every dollar counts!

UPDATE: We made it! We just reached our goal! Thank you all so much! You can still donate and leave a comment here to enter the giveaway. Anything pledged forward will be shared with the subjects of the film for their causes.

And congratulations to Rachel for winning a copy of Expressive Photography! Thank you all again so much for your support, your generosity has made it possible! Happy Christmas!

hustle and bustle

Tis the season of crowds and shopping, traffic and short tempers.

So many people in one collective rush.

I was out one night this month, camera slung on my shoulder, when I came upon this beautiful window display of what seemed to be hundreds of white paper circles all strung together in a gorgeous garland. So pretty, so simple and so festive.  Who was noticing?  No one while I was there.  I stopped, stepped back, removed myself from the ever pulsing stream of people, and lifted my camera to capture the scene.  The beautiful window, the blur of the people rushing past, the sign in the window reads, "beyond shopping" and somehow that seemed so appropriate.  If everyone could see beyond the shopping what beauty might they notice?  If they slowed down, exhaled more, looked around instead of straight ahead all the time, they too might find something really beautiful right there just waiting to be seen. 

Today take a moment and appreciate something beautiful around you and share it here with us.  Maybe together we can slow down the hustle and bustle of the up coming days just a little..

Looking Back

It had been a long day; the neighborhood arts festival kept the crowds coming through the restaurant steady and hungry, and Susie stayed on her feet, cooking and serving. Finally, it was closing time, and she got a chance to sit and eat her dinner as she watched a bit of television, her spoon traveling absentmindedly from the bowl to her mouth and back again.

I remember walking by the storefront and stumbling upon this scene. I was moved by how beautifully mundane this image was, and I've often thought of what I saw that night over the next several months.

We are quickly approaching the end of 2010, and now is a good time to look back on the past year of photos you've taken and take an inventory of the images that have remained in your heart over the months. Please share with us a link to one of those images and why it has stayed with you all this time.