Always There

Even when we weren't looking, our life was always there. The morning light was there, the mug of fresh coffee, corn flakes, milk, the shiny spoon on the counter, reflecting our kitchen and our life back at us. It was always there. Their smiles were there, their sleepy eyes, the striped socks, crayons, the big fun mess on the floor, our childhood and theirs. It was always there. The condiment jars in our pantry were there, our favorite records, the cheap souvenirs from our trips, old letters, faded pictures, things lost and things found. It was always there. Even when we weren't looking, all those things that make up our messy lives and define us, have always been there, waiting for us to notice and cherish them.

So today, show us something about your routine, your family, something that is close to your heart. Something that is always there, even when you are not looking.

a thank you note

As I ponder on Gratitude, our One Word for November, I can't help but think about all the wonderful photographers I'm surrounded by here in the Shutter Sisters community.  When I became a contributor almost two years ago, I didn't realize how much I would grow as a person and as a photographer as a result.  Every time I look through our collective body of work, I'm amazed and humbled.

What a gift it is to be party of a community that supports and encouragees you, challenges you to grow, shares in your joys and sorrows. 

So today, I want to thank all of you, my fellow photographers and photography lovers who have taught me so much about not just how to take a good picture but also about friendship and generosity and sisterhood.

*****

In the spirit of generosity, Memolio is giving away 5 more books today! But first, the winners of last weeks Memolio giveaway are

xantheberkeley, Amanda, Nancy Orozco, Jo and Toni. Congrats sisters!

Leave a comment today to be in the next random drawing for 1 of 5 free Memolio books!

There's More

On the surface, it appears as though this is more than enough. Plenty. But it was the only source of food I could see for the three families we visited on the quiet edge of the village that day with Arusha-based non-profit BEST (Business and Entrepreneurship Support Tanzania). There was no kitchen. No pantry. No grocery store. Just this basket of tomatoes and an anxious dose of hope that rain would fall on this modest patch of ground to produce the maize.

* * *

Shutter Sisters is proud to support our non-profit partner Epic Change and their TweetsGiving project this year – a global celebration of gratitude on November 24-26. Our friends Stacey Monk and Sanjay Patel graciously extended their support to connect us with Mama Lucy Kamptoni and Shepherds Junior School in Arusha, Tanzania. Jen and I are so grateful for the work they are doing and were thrilled to contribute our images and time to produce a video in support of TweetsGiving. I hope you will get involved and share your gratitude.

amazing grace

image bycitrushearts 

Focusing on gratitude is an amazing practice. Its one of only a few states of mind that can truly shed light into the dark places.

I would venture to guess that almost everyone reading this post would put photography on their list of what they are grateful for in their lives. Not to be over-dramatic but I honestly do not know what or who I would be without it. For me it began as a hobby, turned into a career and has ended up being a part of me that sometimes feels as important as air.

So, I ask you today, what exactly is it about photography that you're most grateful for? How has it shed light in your dark places?

Have you started your Memolio Gratitude Photo Album? If not, today's a great day to start! Memolio is giving away 5 free books to 5 lucky readers. Anyone who comments on this post between now and midnight tonight will be entered into the random drawing. More things to be grateful for!

Celebrating Gratitude

photo by Childplay (Tiffani)

Happy November (already). October was so illuminating! Thank you for participating in the One Word Project and bringing to light all the photographic wonders that the month had to offer.

Alas, it’s time we shift from the frolic of Halloween to the festivities that November boasts; family, friends and gratitude. What a great and giving season! 

Isn’t it perfect then that our word for November is gratitude? We think so!

We are giddy about it actually as we are partnering up with Epic Change and getting into the giving spirit with the ever-exciting ultimate give-back Tweetsgiving. By getting involved here in our One Word Project and submitting your images of gratitude you are helping us get the word outabout Tweetsgiving. And be sure to join the communityover there to see about other ways you can get involved. The whole wonderful scoop on Tweetsgiving can be found on their site.

And if you can believe it, there is so much more to it this month! Remember our recent write up about the adorably awesome and affordable photo books by Memolio? We thought you might. Well, the fantastic folks there are totally into making a difference too and are sponsoring this month’s One Word Project! Totally Sweet!

Here’s the plan: You submit your images of gratitude and we will work with Memolio to create a Gratitude Book featuring a collection YOUR images from our One Word Project Flickr Pool. The book will then go on sale through their site and all the proceeds from book sales will go to Tweetsgiving. Talk about full-circle awesomeness all around! To have your image(s) considered for the book you’ve got to tag them accordingly. The tags to use are OWP, November, Gratitude, Memolio AND Tweetsgiving.

And to add a finishing touch on the excitement of this project, I personally want to challenge you to create your very own Gratitude book at Memolio to share with all of us sisters and with your friends and family. Once you pop over to the site and create your book, your creation will live at Memoliowhere you can then share the link to the book with those you love (like us). Of course having your book printed as a tangible reminder of gratitude is great and and giving them as gifts is yet another fab idea! We simply cannot wait to see what you’re grateful for. Once links to books come in we’ll gather them up and do a Gratitude Book Round Up just in time for Tweetsgiving and Thanksgiving.

Each Sunday this month we’ll be giving away gift certificates for free Memolio books! It is all about giving after all.

Tweetsgiving, Memolio, Thanksgiving and an abundance of gratitude! What a month!

So...let's just dive in. I'm grateful for all of YOU. What are you grateful for?