at the pub

Gathering at the pub is such a British tradition... and we find ourselves there even more so in the build up to the festive season... a cosy pub, with comfy sofas, your favourite tipple and snacks, make it all so welcoming. I like to savor this time as friends and family connect to celebrate the holidays, and share in togetherness as the year comes to an end.

I’d love to see how you’re gathering with loved ones at the moment and savoring these moments over food, drinks and treats. Please share them here today... Cheers!

thankful for this

A month like the one we've had here, has been incredibly nourishing. To be reminded again and again of all the things there are to be thankful for keeps me in a grateful frame of mind; which is the best frame of mind to be in.

I've been really trying to live in the space of thankfulness; for my family and friends, for health and happiness. For living a creative life, for being surrounded by a community of incredibly inspiring women, and for photography. And from the look of the One Word Project flickr pool this past month, you've been focusing on the same thing.

Although today might be the last day we "officially' celebrate the word thankful, I know that if anyone can continue to carry that spirit into the next year, it's all of you. I look forward to that. But for now, let's share for one more day, what the last month has meant.

Share with us your quintessential thanksgiving (whatever it looks like to you). And because our gracious sponsor Hello Canvas encourages us to delcare our gratitude by enlarging it (canvas style), they are providing the last giveaway of the month. All you need to do is share your "thankful" here in the comments for your chance to win the random 20X24 canvas giveaway!

And as a little something extra, they'll also be giving away a 20X24 over on their facebook page today. All you have to do is visit them over there and share a comment on their facebook wall. Don't forget to tell them you're with the sisterhood for your chance to win the fb contest.

You have until midnight tonight EST to leave your comment here for your chance to win a Hello Canvas print (like the one in the photo above!).

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Congratulations Veronica! You won a canvas print from Hello Canvas! YAY YOU!

Strangers Only for a Moment

 I stood in the crowd taking pictures of Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland while my husband and kids took off to go on their favorite rides. In typical Disney fashion, loud Christmas music filled the park around me.  To my right, as I had my eye to the viewfinder on my camera, I heard a melodic male voice softly singing along to the Christmas music.   I turned my head to see a lone gentleman on a park bench who instantly reminded me of my grandfather.  I'm a sucker for the older generation.  I gravitate to them, always have, so I made my way over to the park bench and took a seat.  More importantly, I wanted to photograph him and I knew before my time was up on that bench, I would.

He smiled at me as I sat down and I complimented him on his singing voice.  In his broken english, he told me that Christmas was his favorite time of year.  I told him it was my favorite time, too, especially the music.  Now I have to tell you, I have no problem talking to perfect strangers.  Ask my husband and he'll tell you it can be a curse or a blessing, but in instances like these, I consider it a blessing.  Everyone has a story, everyone, and I want to know them.  I just knew this man sitting next to me, who I wanted to photograph and who was singing Christmas carols in his sweet, broken english, had a story. I continued the conversation by asking if he was a local or visiting from out of town and over the next hour I got my story, the story of a man who fell in love with his wife when she was 14 and he was 15 in their small village in Italy and who married young and came to our country 28 years ago to start a new life; about how his wife became a teacher because she loved children and how they raised children of their own and now have many grand children; about why his kids brought him to Disneyland with them because they didn't want him to be alone after his wife had passed away a year ago and how he was quite content to just sit on that park bench and people watch all day long.  He grew quiet for a moment and then in his broken english he said with a smile, I'm 80 and life is good, and once again he began to hum to the music.  It was then that I asked him if I could take his picture.  When he hesitated, I explained how he reminded me of my grandfather and how I missed him.  With a dismissive wave of his hand he said, Sure, why not?  He didn't seem to want to look at the camera so I took a profile shot.  He wanted to see his picture and when I showed him he asked, You like?  I do, I said. He seemed pleased with my answer and giving my hand a quick pat, he went back to people watching.

How about you? Have you ever seen someone you didn't know, wondered what their story was and thought, I would love to take a photo of that person.  If you have, share your photos with us.  If you haven't and have always wanted to, try stepping out of your comfort zone and do it. Ask, and I bet they'll have a story to share, too. 

sisterhood and dreaming

photo by our Target cheerleader and photographer, Chris Sneddon

i've been thinking a lot lately about dreams. In fact, my head has been spinning with them.

Camp SS, reignited my dreaminess….. I feel like my dreams have taken on a whole new life. And the best part .... I am no longer dreaming alone. What I discovered at camp is the power of sisterhood. I have never really experienced anything like it. Suddenly something I thought I didn't need, has become something I can't live without.

I witnessed Camp Sisterhood in so many ways….. 

• I watched as Tracey, Jen and Myriam took the power of their sisterhood and made all kinds of magic. Honestly, you could feel their collective energy. It was beautiful.
• I watched friendships form amongst strangers….big and awesome friendships…. It was beautiful.
• I watched blood sisters share the Camp experience together and admittedly felt a little ache inside…. a little sister longing…. It was beautiful.
• I listened to women share their deepest of deep feelings…. their fears and insecurities… they put them all out there. And as they shared, I felt the deepest connection with them. It was beautiful.
• I discovered that sisterhood is powerful. That when women come together, HUGE things can happen. And my oh my, It was beautiful!

Even the littlest of things become important….in the 'sisterhood'…..

I just have to share a camp side story….

I was so determined to get to Target while in the U.S. We do not have Target in Canada, and I really wanted to go. I mentioned it to Xanthe….and she was completely on board. (no Target's in the UK, either) 
But there were a few obstacles in our way.

We didn't have a car....and even if we did, there was no way I was driving. So we needed a car and a driver.

Camp was busy. There were really only tiny windows of time that all of us could make it work.
We had to time our trip, just right.

But, we were determined not to let these obstacles get in our way.

Chris was completely up for it….and willing to taxi us. Have I thanked you for that Chris? I couldn't believe Chris was willing to take us to Target! She has one right across the street from her house. (seriously, so jealous of Chris. Can you imagine?). Paige had a car and she generously offered it to us. Thank you Paige.

Mission Target, became a bit of camp buzz. As I would move about camp, many lovelies would ask… 'did you get to Target? Seriously, you don't have a Target? You gotta get to Target!!' 

We were on a mission…..

Day one went by, no Target, Day 2… no Target…. Then, oh my gosh…. two lovely sisters came to me….with a Target gift card, the afternoon of day 2. It was the sweetest thing. I just could not believe it. Thank you Jen and Brit. You two are both so darn lovely! Target, had to happen!! After all, I could not use my gift card at home. Right?!

And so, as the days progressed, the urgency to get to Target grew stronger, and, finally, a window for Target-time opened! Oh no… no car!! Paige's car was out and about! What? Seriously.... NO!!? Enter.... beautiful Laura!! She's like, 'I can drive you to Target?' I felt terrible, that this sweet woman would have to leave the wonderful 'camp-bubble' to drive us to Target. But, we had to get there!! And so….off we went! Laura as the driver, Chris as the navigator and photographer….Xanthe and I in the back, bursting to get there!!  

We laughed and skipped and oo'ed and awed.....Oh my gosh… watching Xanthe's Target experience was so much fun! Chris followed along with her PEN, taking photos. Laura, gave us her best Target shopping advice. Xanthe bought the cutest 'jumper'...EVER...and tons of American candy to take home to her beautiful boys. I found several fabulous treasures, including a lovely sweater jumper. Thank you Jen and Brit.

It was a sisterhood moment, FOR SURE! The Target dream became a reality…a lovely camp memory. It all happened because of the sisterhood…cheering us on. I realize now, dreams, both big and small, are so much better when shared with sisters.

Today, I am so grateful to sit here…. now part of a sisterhood… a part of something, I had no idea I was missing.
Here's to shared dreams and sisterhood.

This sisterhood thing is all so new to me. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you experienced the sisterhood? Are you longing for it? Have you been part of a sisterhood moment, that has left you wanting more or maybe completely changed? Share with us today.

 It's Friday!!! Hello Canvas is thrilled to celebrate our sisterhood by giving away another free canvas via thier facebook page! Go upload a sisterly photo for your chance to win!

Connection in Community

There are these ties that bind us to our outside world. Sometimes they're tangible. Like a phone call from a friend or an unexpected visit from a family member. All straight-forward events, rather predictable. But there are other bonds, less obvious ones, connecting us in an invisible web of community stretching far from our homes. Take this one for example. You are more than likely reading this blog because of your love of photography, but if you're like me, you return again and again for the special glimpses we get into one another's lives through the daily posts and the various theme groups…and of course the thrill and chance of having your photo featured.

But I've found that there's something more, something bigger, something exciting that takes place when we go from just visiting a group anonymously to engaging with it fully. When we take one little step in its direction, magic begins to happen. You see, I've found that by reaching out, even when it seemed uncomfortable or strange or weird, that my world expanded growing in unimaginable directions. It certainly didn't happen overnight, but slowly I've found myself with a new circle of friends, female photography friends, which as we all know aren't necessarily living down the street. And as my circle increased, something unexpected happened, I found my confidence in my photography grew stronger, my focus deepened, and I found a calm within myself that hadn't existed before. The energy we shared collectively seemed to augment one another's skills. And sometimes, someone who'd seemed unapproachable to me, because they were further along in a journey I wished to emulate, would be willing to respond if I took the time to reach out to them.

Over the past year, I've been able to shift my community out of cyberspace and into face-to-face encounters with these incredible women. From Frankfurt, Germany to Monterey, CA from to New York City to my hometown of Philadelphia, I've been fortunate enough to attend several meetups that a year ago I could never have imagined. I've gone from meeting these women in person to shoving up against one another while barefoot on the beach to get just the right shot…from where we stood! But that's just what has happened. I felt honored and delighted at my reception, and a little amazed at how it all unfolded. And all because I reached out, taking one, little tippy toe step at a time.

How about you? Have you felt the magic of community? What relationships and bonds have you formed lately? Today, share with us your images of connection.

Image (shot with a Lensbaby) and post courtesy of the awesome Holly Clark, who many of us know and love as Soupatraveler.