something blue

 

Blue skies, bluer than blue, got the blues, once in a blue moon, true blue, out of the blue, into the blue, playing the blues, blueberry, blue bonnet, wild blue yonder, baby blues.

As you observe the big blue marble today, seek out the various blue hues that surround you.

No matter how ordinary such a simple color might be, the bluest of blues can soothe the soul and elevate your everyday like no other hue.

Share your blues with us today.

Self-portrait courtesy of my teenaged daughter who wants to enourage your teenage daughters out there to join us today in seeking out and capturing the color blue.

reflections

Perhaps it’s the end of Summer or the start of Fall.  Maybe it’s my birthday or something in the stars. Or what I usually attribute it to; getting the kids back to school and getting back to a predictable routine. Whatever the case, this is always the time of year where I do the most reflecting.  For years I’ve marveled at the power of this—what seems to be for me—the new year. It’s no wonder I don’t fuss over the true New Year, taking it all lightly and in stride. It must be because I always do my seeking and searching now.

Reflecting on the past and reflecting on the future play equal parts in my annual soul pilgrimage. One is no more important that the other. In fact, they seem to work together in a perfect alchemy. Looking back, I am reminded of what has been. Looking ahead I can begin to forge my path into the future. Whether I choose to bring what the last year held along with me into the next is never certain. It’s different every year. And I guess that’s not really the point. The point is the time of reflection itself. Slowing down, being contemplative, breathing deeply, holding onto gratitude, shedding  tears, getting rest, listening, musing, and paying attention to every feeling, every memory, every whisper. That is where the true magic of reflections lie.

Today I encourage you to take the time for reflections, whatever that might mean to you and seek out ways to translate that into your images. Literally or figurative, let’s reflect together and share our findings as yet another way to Elevate the Everyday.

window light

"In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary." Aaron Rose

What could I possibly say about the magic of window light that you don't already know by now? Window light is simply magical and it has been the inspiration of painters and photographers for hundreds of years...

I personally love to capture the contrast between light and dark areas, creating a certain mood that is equally beautiful for still life and portraits. But windows are also great for silluetting, for capturing texture and for lighting food. I also often shoot toward the window to get a glowy and dreamy background. The point is: No matter what you shoot and how you shoot it, as Aaron Rose says in his quote above, "in the perfect "window" light, everything is extraordinary." So this is one sure way to elevate your day and find beauty wherever you are.

It's your turn to share now. Look around and find the best window in da house for a quick shoot. What are your favorite ways to shoot that perfect ray of light coming through? Show us a favorite window shot today.

something green

We live in a land of extremes: snow white in winter and lush green in summer. I'd have it no other way, really. When I crouched in the grass to take this shot, it was the peak of greenness. It's a strange time in New England when the greenery around you is so intense it overwhelms your eyes. The world is awake, the ferns are unfurling, the grasshoppers are jumping. Mother Nature is in overdrive! It's like having the problem of too much love, it's no problem at all... it simply opens your heart to expansion and growth; overwhelming as it may be.

Green is one of my favorite colors simply for how alive it makes me feel. Below my feet, through the weeds, or lost in play. I paint my world green as often as I can. Today, share with us something green. Leave a link in the comments below, add your images to the OWP flickr pool, or tag your images #sselevate on Instagram.

shadow play

Summer, or any day with good sun or light, is an opportunity to play with shadows. Shadows can bring out such a wide range of feelings and emotions. For example, shadows can be all about fun. I remember being a kid and playing “shadow tag,” a game like regular tag except the person who was “it” had to tag the next person by touching her shadow rather than touching her body. It was great fun to try and get your shadow away from the person who was it! Shadows can also be mysterious or distorted, full of curiosity and intrigue. Think about the dark and almost scary mood a shadow can invoke, particularly shadows cast from streetlights at night. There’s much room for play and creativity when shooting shadows.

While taking our regular evening walk the other night, I was struck by the shadow of my family in the street. The golden light of the late day made the sidewalk and street a beautiful orangish-yellow, and the low-hanging sun made our shadows long (check out our legs!). I loved the profile of our pup, Parker, and the way his leash was slack in my partner’s hand. I wanted to remember this moment, so I grabbed my iPhone and captured this shadow portrait of my family, elevating the very everyday walk we take together. 

Today, seek out some shadow play with your lens. Elevate your everyday and share it with us. Don't forget to tag your shots with #sselevate. 

Image and words courtesy of Meghan Davidson of Life Refocused at www.meghandavidson.com