7/52: Pretty Ugly

I’m a little behind … week seven was actually last week.  Oh well!  Sometimes photo challenges make me anxious (which is why I hardly ever follow through with them until the end) … this time I’ve decided to just take it at my own pace.  If I miss a week (or am late), so be it.

[5DMKII – 100mm – f/3.5 – 1/640 – ISO 250]

I really liked this theme.  There are a lot of “pretty ugly” things in my world right now.  A dead leaf laying on dead grass would typically be considered ugly.  However, you add in some frost and the right amount of morning sunlight and it is transformed into beauty.  I’ve said it before and I’ll [probably] say it again:  photography has transformed the way I see the world.  Everywhere I look, I see beauty in the ordinary.  I will always be grateful for that!

6/52: Linear

I’ve struggled with this theme all week … until this morning when I realized I had already taken pictures this week that would work.  There are some pretty good lines in this picture don’t you think?

I think the fact that some of the branches are in focus and others are not make it interesting.  Isn’t it wild the way the frost sticks out from the branches like thorns?

As a quick side note:  When I was unsure what to do for this theme, Andrew suggested I take pictures of some of the linear equations he’s been working on in math!  Ha!  I don’t think so.  Math has never been my thing!

Me

It is super scary to get out from behind the camera!  But I’ve been challenged lately with the fact that it’s just as important for me to be the subject of pictures as it is for me to take pictures of the ones I love.

When I see pictures of myself, I immediately see all of my imperfections … flaws that I would rather hide from the world than put on display.  But then I think of my kids and my husband, who see me for who I am every single day and never focus on those flaws.  Sometimes I wonder if they even see them at all.  And I realize that it’s really not fair to them if I continue to hide myself simply because I’m afraid.

So this week I allowed forced myself to be in front of the camera.  And it wasn’t that bad.  And I’m kind of feeling inspired to do it again very soon.

[5/52:  You]

Frosty Macro

Earlier in the week we woke up to a crisp, clear, cold morning in which everything was covered in a layer of frost.  It was gorgeous!  So I decided to brave the cold and take a photo walk around my yard to see what I could find.

Typically right now everything in my yard looks dead and ugly.  But, I love the way the delicate frost gives everything new life.  Even a dead, brown leaf looks kind of pretty with a layer of frost covering it.  And bare tree branches sparkle in the morning sun when dressed in little ice crystals.  Winter where I live requires me to search a little harder for beauty.  But it’s there.  All I have to do is see.

[4/52:  Unexpected Perspective]

2/52: Open

This was my submission for this week’s Project 52 theme which was open.  Long after the rest of the flowers from the bouquet had died, the Stargazer lilies finally opened in all their splendor.  But I’ve also been thinking of the word “open” in other terms as well…

Earlier this week we attended a parent orientation meeting at our local high school for all current 8th graders and their parents.  I went into the meeting feeling slightly anxious and left feeling a little overwhelmed.  I’m finding that there are so many emotions involved in sending our firstborn to high school this fall.  I’m sure I felt the same way when he I dropped him off for his first day of preschool or when he started kindergarten or just recently on his first day of middle school.  But there are also different emotions involved.  On one hand, I’m super excited to watch Andrew grow and mature and become all he was created to be and on the other hand, I’m aware that our time with him here in our home is becoming less and less.  And that the next five to ten years of his life will be filled with some pretty major life decisions.

Joel and I both feel strongly that it is our responsibility, as his parents, to guide him into this next stage of life, ensuring that he takes classes that are best suited to his talents and gifts … classes that will put him on a path towards his future.  The problem with that, however, is that he is a fourteen year old boy, living for today, with no clue what he wants to do with his life.  And the choices?  Oh, there were so many class options – even at the freshman level.  It was seriously overwhelming!

So what I keep coming back to is the fact that God knows.  God knows what Andrew will become.  And he also knows what the path looks like to get there.  With all my heart, I believe that God has a perfect plan for my life so why then would I have trouble believing the same for my kids?  Yes, I want to be in control, but God is reminding me that it is not my job to be in control.  It is my job to be open to what God has in store for Andrew – not only in high school, but now and for the rest of his life.

It sounds so simple doesn’t it?  Trust God.  How hard can that be?  [*wink]

January 12:  Jesus Calling (Sarah Young)

Let me prepare you for the day (or year) that stretches out before you.  I know exactly what this day (or year) will contain, whereas you have only vague ideas about it.  You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your (or your son’s) journey.  You’d feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead.  However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you (or he) will encounter today (or in the future):  Spend quality time with  me.

I will not show you (or him) what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you (or your son) for your (his) journey.  My living Presence is your (his) Companion each step of the way.  Stay in continual communication with Me, whispering My Name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts.  Thus, you can walk through this day (or year) with your focus on Me.  My abiding Presence is the best road map available.

Exodus 33:14; John 15:4-7

(parentheses mine)

1/52

The beginning of a new year is a great time to start a photography challenge.  Initially I didn’t think I wanted to take part in any of the challenges I’ve seen sponsored at various photo blogs, however, I’ve been a little frustrated with my photography lately and decided that maybe I could use a little inspiration.

The first challenge is something I’m doing on my own - I’ve taken a photo a day this past week and am purposefully working on my perspective … getting down low or shooting from above … basically just trying to see my subject from a different perspective.

Then yesterday I came across a Project 52 – take one photo a week for a year – at Paint the Moon, which sounded interesting and do-able.  Most of the photo challenges I’ve come across for 2012 have themes.  I’m typically not a theme lover when it comes to photo challenges because I feel too confined.  However, the Paint the Moon challenge was different in that there were a couple of themes to choose from … one that was more open to the photographer’s interpretation and another that could be taken more literally.  And the really cool part about this particular photo site was that they also are sponsoring a challenge for kids! 

So I decided to give it a try and was able to enlist the kids to be a part of the kid’s challenge as well.  I’m not going to commit to post every one of my pictures from the challenge, however, I will start by sharing this week’s capture…

The two themes for this week were “all natural” and “sharing.”  I think it’s pretty obvious which one I chose, although I do have an idea for the “sharing” theme as well that I’m going to try and capture this weekend.

I’m hoping that this challenge will push me to learn and I’m excited to be doing it with my kiddos.  The themes for their first week are “pets” or “metal.”  Andrew is helping Joel work on his truck this morning out at his brother’s shop so he took the camera with him, hoping to find some good shots that involve metal.  I can’t wait to see what he came up with!  Hopefully I can share some of their captures throughout the year as well!

If you’re interested in more photo inspiration, you can visit the challenge’s flickr site here.