100 days of summer :: day 10

“If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for a moment.”

― Georgia O'Keefe

laying in bed this morning and listening to the birds
watering the garden at dawn, before the neighborhood wakes up
the flaming red maple tree out the bedroom window
those Almond Windmill cookies from Trader Joes
finding beauty in a fading peony

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100 days of summer:: day 8

“I thought I was growing a garden, but the garden was quietly growing me all along.”

― Bhuwan Thapaliya

A rare day at home alone, with nothing that needs to get done.
the sound of the crows across the lake
leftover broccoli salad for lunch,
a hair cut, and how I can always trust Mandy to have a meaningful conversation with me
filling the vases with flowers for the house
short sleeve t-shirt, all day long!

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100 days of summer :: day 7

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready to break my heart
as the sun rises, as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

-Mary Oliver 

We hold class in one of the parks down by the bay this week. We all bring food to share for lunch, and gather around in small groups getting to know each other. Some are long time friends, who welcome us newcomers with open arms. I breathe in the ocean air and allow myself to relax, taking in the offer of friendship and not overthinking it all too much.

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100 days of summer :: day6

“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at,
then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”

— Don McCullin

six days into this project and this is what I have learned…
I shoot the same things over and over, causing my images to lose a lot of the depth and meaning
I need to try some new things, because truth be told, I am a bit bored
I have to get out of my yard! into the woods, down to the water, out in public,
I need to stop with the excuses and get a bit bold, and go out after dark
I want to look for things that break my heart open, and shoot what I feel
I need to fine tune my camera settings by slowing down and not shooting just to shoot
I need to study images that move me and try and figure out why
I need to maybe change all these needs into wants, and give it a go.

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