Madeline Bea » Life Set to Words

I am overwhelmed and feeling beyond blessed by those of you who have decided to take this amazing journey with me! I think that together, with each other’s support, we can really do this. All of us! All 365 days! This is a long winded post…if you’re skimming, make sure to read the section at the bottom labeled “Really Important Information”…it’s important!

I am including some of the more formal shots that I took for Karen Gronsky School of Dance last week because I adored the parallel themes of discipline and practice. In fact, it was a couple of weeks ago while I was watching So You Think You Can Dance when I had this great big epiphany about my work in photography.  I had been disappointed with myself over some pictures that I had taken and was feeling crummy about my personal skills and thinking that I just wasn’t where I wanted to be. During the show, there was this beautiful, mind blowing, exceptional performance. I was literally blown away by the skills of these dancers and the choreographer that had masterminded the piece. But when it came time for the judges to give their critique, they had all sorts of nit-picky things to say about the performance; things that could have been better, areas to work on, what they were doing well that just needed to be stronger. At first I was appalled…but then I began to nod my head in understanding. The only way to go from good to great is to keep working…and working hard! And to try harder and harder. And even when you’re good…even when you’re really good…strive to be better. It has really fueled a lot of my desire to really continue my practice and hopefully, one day, become great at what I do!

Okay…so on to some general info. about the 365 Days project…

A couple of people have asked when we’re starting and/or if they could start later. I have started on August 23rd. You may start any time you’d like. The only thing I ask {profusely} is that you commit to taking at least one photo every. single. day. If you have other, less drilling photographic expectations, then please follow your heart and continue your journey, but please don’t join this community. The challenge in this journey will be taking out our cameras even on the busy days and even on the days that don’t fee pretty. It’s a discipline and that’s why support is so crucial. So if you’re thinking that you’ll join but you probably won’t take a picture every. single. day…there are plenty of other groups for more casual photographers. Please understand, I’m not trying to be rude…I just want everyone comprising this community to be just as committed to daily practice as I am.

Okay…enough of that! I would like to give you all a little information that I found very helpful during my last 365 Day project…

1. Take a picture early on in the day. I try to get my daily picture done as soon as I can…otherwise, the day can get away from you and before you know it there’s no light and absolutely no one and nothing around to photograph.
2. Have some sort of go-to subject that you can use no matter what…like in times of desperation or when you have some nasty stomach bug. It’s also good to have for those days where you’re just not feeling it! Most times, once I have my camera out and the pressure of my daily picture is off my shoulders, creativity sparks and I have trouble putting the camera down. So…find your go to: your kids, your backyard, your feet…whatever!
3. Please know that your photo doesn’t need to be outstanding each and every day. Some days, the creative force will be with you and you’ll take 100 amazing photos. Some days your creative spirit will need to rest and you just need to be okay with that. What you need to realize is that you will learn from taking bad photos, too! So let yourself not be amazing once in a while.
4. That being said, try to stretch yourself a bit here and there. Last year, I was mega active in Flickr. The constant support, inspiration, and enthusiasm of all my friends on Flickr was an amazing motivator. I also got involved in a multitude of themed groups on Flickr which directed my photographic efforts a bit. There was Bench Monday, Two For Tuesday, Bokeh Wednesday, Things I Love Thursday, and Fence or Flare Friday. I also teamed up with two amazing photographers for the Three Perspectives Project where we had a theme each week and combined our photos into a triptych each Wednesday. I did a 30 Day gratitude project in November, I attempted a weekly self-portrait challenge, and I dabbled in other Flickr groups and projects. There was enough going on that I was  constantly pushing myself and stretching my photographic muscles.
5. I made some friends who also loved to take pictures who knew what it was like to be on creative fire and be in a creative slump. We were all new and learning together and it made it more fun and interesting to have people to share my joys, troubles, triumphs, and downfalls with. I will be that person for you and I hope that others in this community will become that for you, too! And don’t be afraid to get involved on Flickr. And here’s the trick to making friends over there: find people, comment on their photos, and get involved with groups!
6. I had a supportive family and husband who knew how much taking pictures was a part of my life. Involve your loved ones in your decision to take this journey.
7. Be gentle with yourself! If you are consistently putting down your own work, your creative spirit will want to go cry in a corner! Tell her instead that she’s working really hard, that she’s getting better every day, and that you are so unbelievably proud of her efforts!
8. If it helps you, give yourself specific goals or milestones. When I began my initial journey a year ago, I was still using the automatic settings on my point and shoot. I wanted to get an SLR and have the courage to take it out of the box. Then I wanted to learn how to shoot in manual. Then I wanted to experiment with different lenses. This time around, I have some different goals about the type of pictures I’d like to take and finding my personal style. It always helps to know where you’re going…especially since you’ll be walking for 365 days!
9. Learn everything you can about photography and your camera. Even some of the basic point and shoot cameras have non-automatic modes. And there is a plethora of free information about photography online. Learning about new things will make you want to try them…and then make you want to get good at them! Also, there are some wonderful books out there that will fill in some of the blanks. I happen to love these sites:

http://digital-photography-school.com/

http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/

http://shuttersisters.com/

http://www.iheartfaces.com/

http://coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com/

…and don’t discount a good old fashioned Google search if you’re wondering about something more specific.

Okay…well I feel like that gives you some good base points from which to begin this journey and make it amazing! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. I am a little behind on correspondence right now but I hope to catch up this weekend!

I have created a page here specifically for the 365 Days project. You’ll find the link in the navigation bar underneath the picture of Rayne in gogglesIf you’re joining us, please go there, read over the info., and add your link so we can all see who is participating.

Also, if I emailed you a code or button, {or if I didn’t}…PLEASE USE THIS ONE BELOW…it links to the specific 365 Days page rather than a post.

UPDATE: I have fiddled with this code a number of times and when I’m editing the post, it works. When I publish and then copy the code from the post, it doesn’t work. I’m sorry…just email me and I’ll send you the code! In the meantime…if you have any suggestions for this %(*$&)#*& code…please let me know!