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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100 days of summer :: day 5

A night out. Dinner, and the theater to see my favorite music group! They did not disappoint!

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100 days of summer ::day 4

The deer are leaving the irises alone this year, but just in case they change their mind, I go out early each morning and cut a few.
Percy was in the house today, and the kitchen window is full of tiny bouquets. His energy level was sky high and I am worn out when we drop him off. There was chili in the instant pot when we got home and, a tiny glass of hard cider to drink with it.

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100 days of summer :: day 3

drinking my morning coffee while watering the garden this morning
how we tackled pruning the old lilac tree together without getting testy!
talking family, photography (and our gear) with a good friend who gets it,
the way Brandon sends dinner photos most days and how they make my mouth water
how a deer walked right through our pruning session without blinking
and, how surprised I was to have it come so close
the way it felt like summer today

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