kindness matters

 

"Be excellent to each other." - Abe Lincoln,Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

There's no better way to say it than this.

Kindness, compassion, tenderness, encouragement, support, love...these are the best of the best. They are the things that matter the most.

In this community, all of these things have been infused in our daily exchanges and I thank all of you so much for that. And there are some other amazing places where things like kindness are brought into clear focus. Kind Over Matter is one of those places. I encourage you to spend some time there. I promise you will be inspired.

Today, let us see how you focus on kindness. Share with us the shots that speak of being excellent to each other.

So excited to share that there is yet another giveawayfor Picture Color over at Kind Over Matter today. YAY! 

To Mama With Love

This year, your Mother's Day gift could change the world.

no, really.

To Mama With Love is a collaborative online art project that honors moms across the globe and raises funds to invest in remarkable women who are transforming the world. Participants create heartspaces that include words, videos, photos & investments in honor of mamas they love. 

This year, the funds raised will be invested to expand the efforts of four extraordinary women who are building schools in Tanzania, providing education and loving care for local children in Nepal, and running shelters for women in Afghanistan. People from all over the world have already joined the love bomb movement and shared their heartfelt love for their mother, wife, sister or friend.

So today let's celebrate motherhood. Share with us the stories and images of the women who inspire us to be brave, to be playful, to love fiercely, and whose support continuously reminds us that we are strong and capable even under the most difficult circumstances. And if you're so moved, show a mama your love and change the world!

Also, a group of talented women photographers have graciously donated original prints to benefit the To Mama With Love 2011 campaign. If you're still looking for a unique and meaningful Mother's Day gift, please consider purchasing one of the beautiful prints in the store. 100% of all profits from print sales will be invested in the dreams of these four inspirational women changemakers who create hope in our world.

Happy Mother's Day to you all!

b kind to Earth

Earth day is just around the bend and we are thrilled to be celebrating with the likes of The Motherhood, Nickelodeon and the National Wildlife Federation in their B Kind 2 Earth Day incentive. What's it all about? Just a great way to get a lot of people committed to doing something kind for the earth this Earth Day. What's not to love?

Won't you join us as we begin the celebration now through blog posts, tweets and facebook notes as well as photos (lots and lots of gloriously green photos)? However you choose to participate, pop over the the B Kind 2 Earth Day Facebook page and let everyone know what's on your mind as Earth Day approaches.  And we invite you to add your Earth Day (and before) photos to our Flickr pool and tag them #kind2earth so we can keep track of all the wonderful stuff you're doing!

Let's see how you capture a little bit of kindness today!

connections

He surprised us and came home early that day. We were already at the beach. She saw him and ran into his arms. Daddy's girl in looks and spirit. I watched as he guided her over the slippery rocks.  My telephoto lens afforded me a glimpse into this moment between them without disturbing it.  She feeling safe by taking his strong hand, an assurance of knowing as she reached out he would be there to help her.  His heart full being needed in that moment, knowing she won't always be so small or need his hand.  A connection, a touch, transference of love.  Just a simple moment captured, but one that speaks to my heart and makes me ever so thankful for this thing called photography.

What connections have you captured lately? Please share one here with us all today.

His Bride

I like being in his studio behind the house and listening to his stories about Vietnam, his early years as a painter and the influence of the war on his work, the similiaries and difference between his twin and himself, and the challenges of choosing to channel his creativity within the boundaries of a career as a university art professor. Richard Olsen (known as Olie by most of his students, peers and friends) talks with his hands, punctuating key phrases with gusto and passion. High on the wall is a poster-size image of this beauty sunning on the sand. "Who's this?" I asked with a smile, pointing up at the confident woman on the wall. Raising his eyebrows, he quickly fumbled over tubes of oil paint and stacks of papers to locate and lift up this miniature replica. "That's my bride," he replied.