A New Challenge: Slice of Life Tuesdays
Posted by blk1 on January 6, 2009
Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers
A Photo A Day-am I up to the challenge?
Here’s the inspiration I found at Bud Hunt’s blog
It was about a year ago that D’Arcy Norman suggested that, if folks wanted to, we might challenge ourselves to shoot a photo a day for the year 2008 and share as many of them as possible. I didn’t do so hot about the sharing part, but I’ve managed to work the question
“What’s today’s picture?”
What D’Arcy’s invitation, and the group’s examples and conversations, did for me was to literally fiddle with the way that I see the world. He calls it “mindful seeing,” and explains in a post he wrote last January:
Mindful seeing is the process of turning off the filters, of seeing your surroundings unfettered and unobstructed.
When viewing the world without filtering, even the most boring and banal subjects can become wondrous and interesting. We are constantly surrounded by interesting things that we normally don’t see – textures, lighting, patterns, shapes, objects, groupings, even messages.
Photographers are often described as distancing themselves from their surroundings by “hiding behind a camera” or “viewing the world only through a viewfinder.” I see photography from the exact opposite side of the coin. By mindfully seeing the world around me, I feel as though I am seeing much more than I would otherwise. I see patterns, convergence, divergence, shadows, lighting, juxtaposition, and composition that are likely missed by others. That’s not to say that I am “better” than any other – just that by being mindful of what I am seeing, I am aware of what is around me. And when I am aware, I am better able to take an interesting photograph.
If you’re interested, the group’s still there, and getting started with 2009.
Of course there’s Photo Fridays at Flickr where we’ve been sharing together since June and going strong.
I’ve begun this challenge as of January 1, 2009. I have sharing photos and text on my photo blog, but every day? So far so good. What will I discover about myself? Can’t wait to get desperate as the days, weeks and months pass. I want to keep returning to D’racy’s quote to rethink my passion for capturing images.
Of course, I need more challenges in my life and here we go again…
Lynn is on board with me. I am also sharing my daily photos on Flickr and with my Photo Fridays group.
Lots of online sharing, what fun!
Bonnie
January 6th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Great words from D’Arcy! A personal challenge for myself for the new year: turning off the filters, of seeing your surroundings unfettered and unobstructed!
My goal is to pracrice “MINDFUL SEEING”.
Thank you for this inspirational concept. My mind is already spinning.
david
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January 6th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Wonderful image!
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January 6th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
good luck on the challenge. Love the shots in this post!
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January 7th, 2009 at 1:03 am
As always, Bonnie, I love your photos. And I love that you’ve been able to sustain the photoblog as well as all the other writing you do. Mine proved to be a little too much for me, but you remind me that I need to put my camera in my bag every day, not just when I know ’something special’ is going to happen.
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January 7th, 2009 at 5:22 am
Thanks Stacie, Stacey, Ashley,and David for offering the responses we all need to keep blogging and sharing in this public forum. The photos above are Bud’s connected to his post about photos.
I am keeping my photo a day project on my blkdrama.wordpress.com
A Photo a day Yikes!
Bonnie
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March 26th, 2009 at 12:25 am
Hey! Your resolution for the year is good. And Nice shots, they look beautiful.
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May 27th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Hi Bonnie, You are a excellent photographer and I am sure you will succeed in whatever challenge you undertake.
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June 16th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Hi Bonnie, I wish to tell you that that you have got a very nice blog. Good photos. keep it up!!!
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