I love taking the same picture with different cameras. This was a hot air balloon that was giving free rides. We waiting in line for almost an hour so that the kids could go up. The picture on the left was taken with my phone. The middle one was taken with b&w film in my Canonet. The one on the right was taken with my Canon Rebel (DSLR). The same, but different!
two underwater shots from a waterproof disposable
Projects are much easier to start than finish. The last time I tried a 365 project [a self portrait every day for a year] it was a complete and utter failure. When January rolled around this year, I decided to give it another go but without the ‘self portrait’ part. The year is halfway over and I’ve actually kept up with it. There are a few days that all I have is a crappy cell phone picture, but there *is* a picture for every day. The set is a pretty good recap of my year so far.
I took this a year ago today. It is still one of my favorite pictures. I love the dark shadows of arms and legs echoing the black lines above and below. It feels like summer. Light streaming through the frame. Shades of red, white and blue. This is the sort of thing I love about Photojojo’s Time Capsule. My flickrstream is autobiographical, an ongoing visual diary of my life. My Time Capsule reminds me of where I’ve been. I can also see how much my kids have grown! Generally, I appreciate the pictures more in hindsight than I did at the time.
Check out my Photojojo Time Capsule or go get your own!
same sign, same time, same camera, different direction
I love taking pictures of the same thing over and over. OCD? Maybe. I find comfort in rediscovering the familiar. One great trick to taking good photos is to move around and look at your subject from a different point of view. Get down on the ground, hold the camera above your head. Don’t be afraid to change things up! On this particular day, I walked around the sign to take a picture of the back because the sky was more dramatic from that side. It reminded me of the time I photographed a fence as the sun was setting. When it comes to photography, there is no ‘right way’. In fact, mistakes and experiments sometimes end up working better than a planned shot.
The same advice works in life. For better or worse, our perception is based on our point of view. When things get hard, take a step back and try coming at the problem from a different direction. When I’m frustrated, confused or angry I ask myself this question: “Will this still bother me in a week? A month? A year? Ten years?” If the answer is yes, I embrace my righteous indignation and address the problem. If the answer is no, I take a deep breath and move on.
“We cling to our own point of view, as though everything depended on it. Yet our opinions have no permanence; like autumn and winter, they gradually pass away.” Chuang Tzu
Kids at the Four Corners Monument
“Tourists who want to put a hand or foot in each of four states at the Four Corners area are apparently are way off the mark. According to readings by the National Geodetic Survey, the Four Corners marker showing the intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah is about 2.5 miles west of where it should be.” [Link]
“Mistakes are a natural part of growing up. They’re to be expected and made light of. But children bloom like spring flowers under praise. They want so much to be noticed and appreciated, to excel and have that excellence noticed.” Earl Nightingale
Mia: I am proud of the way you are becoming a responsible adult. I like the way you know when your phone bill is due and pay it yourself with money you earned rather than relying on me to do it.
Mica: I am proud of your sense of self. You know who you are and that is something many people don’t learn in a lifetime.
Mikal: I am proud of the way you take care of your things. You appreciate everything and keep your room neat and clean without being asked.
Bleu: I am proud of the way you have handled yourself for the past few days. Your positive attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Butterfly: I am proud of you for earning your prize in the Mayor’s Challenge. You decided to do something and followed through, even when it was hard.
Jon: I am proud of your behavior this week. You have been making better choices in school and that makes me happy.
Echo: I am proud of the way you have been wearing your shoes lately. You haven’t lost them in over a month!
It is easy to complain about the bad stuff. Today, take a step back and look for the good in those around you. If you have something nice to say about someone, feel free to leave it in the comments!
