shift

2009 has been a challenging year for many, and I'm no exception. Like others, I spent too much time worrying, over-working, and under-experiencing. When the year ended, I felt a sense of relief: finally I could start over again. With that shift, a few burdens lifted. Suddenly some things which had felt insurmountable, seemed possible again.

But what really changed between December 31st and January 1st? Besides a few minutes ticking by, it was simply my perspective. Nothing is really different about my life or situation, except that I allowed myself to be open to the idea of having more freedom. Suddenly my world feels more expansive, just because I believed it was possible. I see now that my mistake may have been waiting, as if I somehow needed the world's permission or a specific date to make these changes. My hope is that this year, as the inevitable struggles approach, and the resolutions begin to wear thin, we'll remember that it never requires a grand gesture or a holiday, or someone else's validation. A new perspective is always just a moment away. 

I found this link yesterday via one of my favorite photographers. It described my year perfectly, so I thought you might enjoy it too.

Please share your perspective (or a brand new one you're trying on) with us today. 

Breaking My Own Rules

I don't like to think of myself as a "by-the-book" photographer.  I never learned "the rules" of photography, mainly because of my inability to read non-fiction.  Over the years that I've been shooting, however, I must admit that I've developed a few unwritten rules for myself when it comes to photography.  One of my big ones is to avoid shooting with an ISO greater than 800, even though my camera is capable of shooting at much higher ISO settings. In fact, I try to shoot at ISO200 or lower if I can.  Sometimes, though, you have to break even your own personal rules to capture the essence of the moment.

The night I took the photo above, I had been shooting all evening with a speedlight at a comfortably low ISO of 200.  However, when I looked across the room and saw my dear friend Amy as she shared a perfect moment with her son, I didn't think that a flash-illuminated shot would do justice to what I was witnessing. I wanted to capture the scene just the way it was--dim but warm lighting and all.  So I took off my flash and cranked the ISO to 1000.  I know that's still low compared to many other people's standards, but to me it was going beyond my ISO comfort zone.  I'm so glad I broke my own rule, though, because this photo will always remind me of the peace and contentment I felt when I looked at the closeness my friend and her son were sharing in that moment.

As we embark on a new year and a new decade, I hope to challenge myself as a photographer by rewriting my own personal photography rules and by breaking the ones I've already set up for myself.  How about you? Do you have rules that you try to follow when you're behind the camera?  And have you ever broken your own rules and surprised yourself with the results?  Please share with us your rule-breaking stories and images.

Friday's focus and a flip

Focusing is something that most of us take for granted. Our vision is vital to our daily lives and yet we rarely think about it. Until that is, it becomes compromised. I can't believe I'm even going to say this but, getting older can do that do a gal. My eyes are not what they used to be.

20 years ago when I first began my love affair with photography I used an all manual camera which of course included manual focusing. And I got really quick with that thing and I loved it, never thinking twice about the manual part and about how much I depended on not only my knowledge of the camera, of light, of my settings but of my sharp (manual) focus. Fast forward to now and I know there is no way I could get away with a manual focus. No way.

I got thinking about my eyes (and how much I need an eye exam) when I caught wind of this video contest You Gotta See This. The simple premise behind it is life is better with clearer vision. Amen.

So...if you're inspired by the importance of our focus and how we see the world (my guess is being photographers, most of you are) read all the details to the contest on the press release media sheet and if you're so inclined to enter for a chance to win $5000, go for it! And if you do enter, be sure to tag your entry with Shutter Sisters*. Why?? Because we're giving away a Flip Ultra HD video camera to someone from our community who enters the contest! Yes! Our own personal giveaway right here! Those Flips are the bees knees, let me tell ya!

We're giving you plenty of time to enter (over a month!) but the sooner you enter, the less likely you'll forget. Need I remind you that vision isn't the only thing that goes with age?

And since we're on the subject I'd love to hear your thoughts on your vision, perspective, focus and what it means to you. My guess is...everything.

* Enter theYou Gotta See This video contest between now and Nov 20, 2009 and tag your entry like this YOUR NAME_SHUTTER SISTERS for your chance to win an HD Flip from us at Shutter Sisters and your chance to win $5000 from Ilasik. The winner of our Flip will be announced before Thanksgiving.

We're going to Disneyland!

I take it as a personal challenge to shoot in a location where just about every other person there has a camera in hand as well. Every where you look mothers are begging their children to smile next to the furry character and tourists are clicking away to capture the Disney iconic rides and locals with the fervor of a wild game hunt. I make it a point every time I visit, to find the photographs that NO ONE else has yet to capture. It’s an ambitious task, but each visit I am certain I will get great shots. And Disneyland never fails to disappoint.

The added bonus? No one looks at you sideways when you feel compelled to lay down on the ground to get the ultimate shot of the Penny Arcade with a delicious sky. Well, except your husband and kids that is....

Our guess is that you have visited and photographed a highly trafficked and dare we say overexposed locale? Did you go out of your way to discover something else no one else might have discovered? Or framed it with your own unique perspective? Do share your vision.

Photo and words courtesy of Guest Blogger / Honorary Sister Marcy Massura.

Mystery from the Fabric of Life

One of my favorite photographers is John Loengard. His "As I See It" book of black and white images sits on the table beside my bed in good company with Annie Leibovitz's "A Photographer's Life" and a borrowed copy of "The Family of Man." I keep it there for inspiration and I can't tell you how many times I've flipped through the pages and poured over his photographs, finding something unique with each view. In his preface to the book John Loengard writes about discovering photography at the age of twelve and goes on to say...

"Since then, I've met many others who fell in love with photography at around that age. Invariably, magic is the word we use to describe what we discovered. Still, the fact is, photographers work only with what's present. I suspect our chief emotions are anticipation, frustration and patience (if that's an emotion) – balanced by a marvelous sense of elation when things go right: when we think we've captured in a photograph some missing feeling, or hidden beauty, or bit of mystery from the fabric of life."

When I went through the process of selecting just twelve images (from easily a thousand options) to share in an open critique with long-time, well-respected ASMP photographers a few weeks back, I was intriqued to discover a common theme in my favorites – a tension or uneasiness. Question marks. Perhaps a bit of mystery from the fabric of life.

Share an image from your collection that gives you pause and makes us think.