Very Mary

Foto Friday: Night

Our challenge for last week's Foto Friday was "night." My shot is in the middle, and you can see a larger version here.

I had other thoughts about what I wanted to shoot, but if I'm honest, this is pretty much where I am in the evening: on a date with my Mac. I'm still getting the hang of the Project 365, and I still have a tendency to overshoot, so I always have a ridiculous number of photos to sort and process. I'm learning, I'm learning, I'm learning, and I certainly can't complain about that. 

I had to contain my compulsion to clean and organize my desk. I left it "as is." In fact, it looks almost exactly the same right at this moment, except for an empty chip bag next to my keyboard.

I really do organize from time to time, but as it happens, when I start reading and writing notes and checking books and such, everything gets scattered here and there and everywhere. One of these days, I'll get a real desk with drawers, and then I can put stuff away and pretend to be organized.

Listography: Guiltiest Pleasures

Subject to change, of course, depending on my mood: 

1. Eating creme brulee and not sharing

2. Sleeping all by myself

3. Sipping a grande white chocolate mocha

4. New shoes just because

5. Uninterrupted Flickr time during the day

6. Buying books (instead of checking them out at the library)

7. Watching American Idol religiously

8. Letting the answering machine pick it up

Foto Friday: Reflection

Our theme this week is reflection. 

Reflecting on this project: When I created this list of challenges for us to use last year, there wasn't any rhyme or reason, I just picked random themes that would direct our individual creative energies and still be vague enough for unique interpretation. It's turning out to be so cool. I look forward to our challenge results every week, and I'm grateful for these two photographer friends who continue to motivate and inspire me. 

You can see me in a closer fashion right here. But only if you feel like it. :)

Listography: Words I Love

For no real reason. I just like the way they sound...

 

1. momma

2. rambunctious

3. lush

4. exactly

5. tangerine

6. hippopotamus

7. periwinkle

8. dazzle

9. snap

10. fantastic

11. copacetic

12. wink

13. badonkadonk

14. fandango

15. articulate

16. vibrant

17. mariposa

18. lululemon

19. toucan

20. aquatic 

Foto Friday: Macro

Our Foto Friday theme this week is macro. I find those close-up details so fascinating, but I rarely shoot macro. I'd like to do more of it, but in the midst of this Project 365, I'm finding I rarely have time to stop and just really LOOK at things, which is the essence of macro after all, isn't it?

For this macro selfie, I naturally thought of an "eye shot." Interesting that all three of us decided to focus on the eyes in some way or another:

The lighting in my shot is completely artificial courtesy of my iMac (which I love dearly but that is neither here nor there), and the star is not photoshopped in.

Here's what I did, if you happen to be wondering: I opened a document in Photoshop, painted it black, and added a white star, switched to full screen, and then I stared at the screen while I took the shot, or shots, rather. Shooting macro without seeing through the viewfinder is trial and error as far as I can tell, so it took me quite a few shots before I got anything even close to sharp or not largely featuring my nose. In a rather unattractive way, I might add. Macro is definitely not forgiving, that is for sure. 

Listography: I'm Lucky Because...

1. My children are healthy. and smart. and beautiful.

2. I'm married to the most supportive man ever. He thinks all my ideas are good ones.

3. A long time ago, I survived a horrible car accident. 

4. My mother and I are very good friends.

5. I have a high metabolism.

6. I'm American AND Canadian.

7. I'm happy to be a stay-at-home momma.

8. Depression is treatable.

9. I learn quickly and I'm determined.

10. We can afford for me to love photography.

Listography: If I Could I Would...

1. Travel. As much as possible. There are so many places that I want to see. So many. 

2. Stay up late. Every night.

3. Sleep in. Every day.

4. Watch movies without feeling compelled to multi-task.

5. Give up coffee.

6. Move outside of the city. Have land and space and a view. 

7. Make a career out of photography and be good at it. 

8. Upgrade my camera and buy a wide angle zoom lens. 14 - 24mm, come to momma.

9. Grow my hair long. And toss it around, all sexy-like. Because that looks fun.

10. Banish guilt forever and ever and ever. And jealousy too. Blargh. 

11. Six-pack abs. I want some.

12. Learn another language and be fluent about it.

13. Write a bestseller. 

14. See Mumford and Sons live. And Paolo too, of course.

15. See the Smithsonian American History Museum.

16. Watch a Broadway show on Broadway. Maybe Wicked?

17. See the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Museum.

18. Buy a pair of mopeds. 

19. Build a bigger bathroom with a soaker tub.

20. Have a window seat. And a personal library.

Foto Friday: Abstract

Abstract + selfie was a really annoying combination. And that's all I have to say about that.

 

Listography: Things I Like to Photograph

I'm perhaps not as well-rounded as I would like to be, but at this point in my life and in my photographic journey, I am primarily interested in taking photos of my children. They are fascinating and wonderful, adorable and amazing. A wise person I know said, "You’re going to look at [these photos] and cry because your babies aren’t babies any more and you don’t really remember as much as you thought you would about how they smelled, and how their voices sounded, and what was so important to their hearts." I know it's true, and it makes me a little sad, so I capture what I can with my photos:

1. the quiet moments

2. the milestones

3. the joy

4. the quirks

5. the connections

Eventually this will change, as all things do. They will get older and won't appreciate having the camera focused on them all the time. And I will keep learning and growing and changing and my own photographic style and tastes will evolve. But this is where we are at right now, and these are the photos that make me happy.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I heard on the radio today that Environment Canada is predicting three more months of winter. THREE MORE MONTHS. I hate to be so middle-aged that I discuss the weather first thing, but seriously, that deserves discussing. That whole thing I wrote a few weeks back about it feeling like spring? I have been deceived. 

2. My thumbs split open AGAIN today as I was buckling the kids into their carseats. Band-aids are not working. Should I try super glue?

3. She hand meters consistently:

4. And she calls it "tography."

5. Today she heard the radio announcer interviewing a local photographer, and she yelled, "Mommy, did you HEEEEAR that? She is a 'tographer' with lots of photos. Just like you."

6. He discovered his shadow:

7. IKEA is taking all of our money. But! We actually bought a practical piece of furniture: a chair, a chair! I committed to buying a chair!

8. In case you were wondering, the chair is not going in the empty livingroom.  

9. The empty box is in the livingroom though, and it makes a very nice playhouse.

10. His first word: "cracker." 

Derrick did not believe me either. But this kid repeats himself when he wants to be heard. He's rather loud about it too.