#ProjectWeekend | Apr. 29-30
I often think about how lucky I am that I can drive 20 minutes and be sitting around my Pop-Pop's kitchen table for a Sunday dinner. There is something about being at his house that brings me back to a simpler time. And of course an added bonus is crashing on his sofa after a big dinner and sneaking in a quick nap. Sundays are meant for family dinners at Pop-Pop's house.
3 Things I Learned from the Shoot & Share Contest: A Rookie's Perspective
Now that the dust has settled from the annual Shoot & Share photo contest I thought I would do a little reflecting. If you're not familiar with the contest, check it out here. It's an incredible worldwide contest, and if you ask me, the only truly fair and subjective one that exists. I took a leap this year and entered 6 photos into the contest in various categories. Here is a visual to help explain the range of the contest this year:
Let me say upfront, I had no expectations of making it past Round 1. Read on to see how I did and the 3 things I learned as a rookie.
1. Holy Talent, Batman!
If there is a word that could better articulate how incredible some of the photo entries were, [insert that word here]. This contest opened my eyes and allowed me to make connections with some insanely talented photographers from around the world. This community is powerful, uplifting, and inspiring. I have many days where I feel on top of the world and confident about how far I've come with my skills, but then I saw some of the work entered into the competition and I realized I still have so much to learn. It's terrifying and humbling all at the same time.
2. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
For the past 2 years I didn't enter the contest. Admittedly I was nervous. Nervous that my work wasn't good enough. Nervous that it would just bring up more feelings of inadequacy. But this year was different. Yeah, of course there is always going to be someone better than you. So after a little procrastination I used those same feelings to fuel and motivate me to enter a few photos. I culled through hundreds of photos and found 6 that I felt proud of. And what do you know... 1 of those 6 was a Finalist out of 300,000+ submissions.
3. Phonetography?
Yup, the photo that earned the coveted finalist badge was taken with my phone. Go figure, eh'? I feel like I should quote something cliché here like it's not the expensive gear that makes a great picture it's all about composition and lighting, but I don't think this is the time or place for that. Ironically I challenged myself this year to put away my iPhone and document life with my "real" camera (Nikon D600). So maybe I should reconsider? Only kidding... I was very much a giddy child on Christmas morning when I would get the email updates from Shoot & Share that announced "someone loves your photo" (the only way to know that you still have some skin in the game since winners aren't announced until the very end). Whether people liked my photo because it was beautifully composed or because of the subject matter was a gorgeous water villa in the Maldives, I'll take my finalist badge and wear it proudly!
#ProjectWeekend | Mar. 11-12
I've been known as the person who has to schedule "free time" in my calendar because otherwise I will drive myself crazy trying to juggle 10 commitments in any given weekend. Since when did being busy become the norm? Lately, I have tried very hard to declutter, focus, prioritize and most importantly carve out time to just be. Between lazy weekends, snow days, and sick days we have been spending a lot of time lounging in our PJs, binge watching Netflix, and playing video games over the last few weeks. These downtime moments have been some of my most favorite ones.
We managed to get out and explore a new local arcade. Carmen brought a friend and it was my first glimpse into what life will be like when she officially becomes a teenager. Wahh!
#ProjectWeekend | Feb 25-26
I've lived in the suburbs of Philadelphia my entire life, but it wasn't until I became an "adult" that I began to appreciate how special this place truly is. We are a 3 hour drive from NY, DC, and Baltimore, a short drive to the Jersey shore, and we have everything Philly has to offer (best foodie city ever!) in our backyard. I grew up in Downingtown, PA, a historic, small town about 25 miles west of Philadelphia. Growing up, one of my favorite places to eat was the Downingtown Diner. For a small town, this diner represented a central location where you could enjoy some good grub and even better company. It also was our town's "claim to fame" because it was featured in the famous movie The Blob . It had been at least 15 years since I ate at the Downingtown Diner so I figured I should introduce Carmen to the greatest place on earth. She loved it.
