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Awaking with the assurance that that today would be both historic and glorious, I stumbled down stairs, children still sleeping, and was greeted by this sight. The rising sun, circled by halo of hope; a symbol of what this day and our future holds.

Join us as we blog this moment in time. 1 photo, 44 words. History in the making.

Thank you Melissa and Alice.

Oh, The Possibilities

I know we're already almost half way through January but I am still settling into this whole New Year thing. In past years, with the hustle of the holidays I think I have passed over the event of the New Year with little attention. But, this go 'round has felt different. I have done a lot of musing about what it all means. It's a clean slate (not that I consider mine dirty) that can offer new beginnings. Possibility. Potential. Growth. So much to look forward to.

I'm not into the idea of resolutions really. I think breaking them can feel icky so I'm more about intentions. With intentions, the best intentions are enough. At least that's the way I can let myself off the hook if I don't keep up with a project like, let's say, 365. Yes, I have started a 365 project with no other rules except to shoot at least one photo every single day for 365 days (the entire year of 2009). Although I am not making myself post every photo of the series, I'm sure you'll all be hearing a lot more about the project in future posts. So, why the confession? I thought it was only right to at least admit that I am intending to do it. If for nothing else, to document this year in a routine of photographs. It's a small gesture that I know will push me creatively and encourage me to keep seeing things through fresh eyes. Every day. It may seem small but I think it's a good thing.

Behold, images 1-9. They are all in my 365 Flickr set.

As far as My Best Shot this week, is the opening image of this post. It reminds me that even the tiniest gesture can feel important. I'm sure that among a million other creative projects I am participating in (big and small) and/or future projects I'm sure will reveal themselves this year, each one will be worthy of my attention and will be meaningful (if not to anyone else, to myself).

Here's to all that the future holds for each of us. May we honor each day and make each of them meaningful in our own way.

What kinds of meaning are you discovering in your life these days? Do share with us your Best Shot this week. Whatever it means, I'm guessing it's wonderful.

Anyone else attempting a 365 project this year? I'd love to know the company I am in.

Edited to add...as it turns out Stephanie Roberts shared the perfect 'how-to' 365 guide over at Shutter Sisters. I am delighted by this timing! Too cool. Thanks Stephanie.

Giveaway City

-photo taken with my Lensbaby (pretty, ain't it?)

Not only is Shutter Sisters giving away a Lensbaby today (omg!) but Design Mom is hosting a 12 Days of Christmas at her blog where there's a Shutter Sisters necklace up for grabs as well as an HP All in One Printer. Among 11 other yum yum items.

Go. Click. And. Comment. Now.

Amazing

Although I no longer have a baby in the house *sniff sniff* I was eager to check out the new book by Desmond Morris Amazing Baby. The rumor was that it was a beautiful book adorned with interesting and relevant content but more importantly for my aesthetic, stunning photography.

Amazing Baby is all that and more. I am not easily impressed when it comes to the design of the baby book genre but this one is GORGEOUS. And very substantial-note the photo above right for scale. Choc full of insightful and enlightening text about the nature of baby and toddlerhood (as told in a fresh and unique perspective) Amazing Baby is one of those books that would never be left and forgotten on your bookshelves. Any parent would happily set this on the coffee table as not only a valuable resource but as a work of art.

Amazing Baby
would make for the perfect baby shower gift. You can pick it up at Amazon.

Review brought to you by The Parent Bloggers Network.

The Map of my Heart

In the ebb and flow of our everyday lives we walk and wander our own unique path. Some days it's a stroll; a slow but steady meandering, one foot in front of the other. Others we use our big tall legs to walk, taking confident and bold strides into the future following only the map of our heart.

For me, the last few days I have been asked to find the strength of my legs to walk boldly toward a place that is hazy in the distance. Although I cannot make out exactly what it looks like, I can feel that is somewhere I need to be. A place I have mused about for my future. I had no idea my future could come so quickly.

I spent my Saturday filming a segment for the Oprah show. A dear friend, my fairy godmother, my husband and kids and a bunch of strangers (who are no longer strangers) all with me in my home for one of the most surreal experiences of my life. The feeling might only be eclipsed by my flying out to Chicago for the shows taping on Tuesday.

I know, I know I must share the details. But right now my head is spinning and my knees are weak and I am using every bit of strength I have to keep walking, trusting, enjoying, soaring along my path and the opportunities that lie before me. It's all so very overwhelming-good overwhelming but overwhelming none the less.

The shot above is the Best way to describe what I am feeling right now. I captured it in our entry way only moments after everyone left our house and the dust began to settle.

Big huge grateful exhale.

Let's see what Best moment you caught this week. Something from the map of your heart I hope.

Best Shot in the Magic Mirror

Today's timeless moment is offered in celebration Springtree Road's Black and White in November.

What have you seen through your lens this week?

Shopping Some Best Shots

Our Sunday consisted of a large list of to-dos. The shoe store, Home Depot and the super market. Of course, the camera came with me. Who knew that taking photos in the super market can actually make for a pretty hilarious (and even fun) outing. For a day filled with errands, my girls and I had a pretty good go of it.



The two I'm sharing for my best shot(s) are among my favorites of the 100 photos I took today. Yes, 100! I will add however that the girls got in on the action too so they shot a fraction of the 100. But still! Wow. Talk about trigger happy!

And speaking of running errands and being trigger happy...did you know that you can pop into a Long Drugs and get photos and other photo related products while you shop? HP has a new photo kiosk where it all can happen right there in front of your eyes. Even calendars and cool collage photos. Just one more way to get some of your Best Shots off of your computer and made into something tangible! Something I need to do more often. How about you? I guess this 'week in the life' project has really got me thinking about ways to help myself and my family enjoy the photos I take everyday.

And as a little incentive for those of you with a local Longs Drugs in your neighborhood, when I signed up in the Longs Studio Club I got a coupon for bogo free poster. Woot! And for those of you in California, I actually have a coupon to share with you for a bogo free calendar right here. Compliments of Blue Suit Mom. Enjoy!

Happy Best Shot Monday! Can't wait to see yours.

Every Night

Shooting everyday moments also means shooting every night moments too. Ours usually revolves around bedtime snacks. Since last night was watermelon, I took the time to snap a few shots.

Shooting indoors can be tricky. Shooting indoors at night can be near impossible. But, since I'm a tenacious gal, I have come up with a few tried and true techniques I use to get the job done. A few of which I am sharing today at Shutter Sisters.

This first shot came straight out of the camera.

This second version is my idea of a small tweak that makes for a much better shot all around.

All I had to do was dial out a little yellow/add a little blue, dial out a smidge of red/add a little green and boost the contrast a tad. A 10 second fix that improves the shot and makes it a keeper. Don't ya think?

Getting A Little Perspective Today

Today is A Little Perspective Day!

A day to focus on how are children view the world through the lens of a camera. The shot above was taken with a trust point and shoot many years ago when my youngest daughter was barely 2 years old. Pretty sweet shot!

So, let's see what your shutterbugs have come up with!

Leave your links in the comments so we can take the day to click around for a Little inspiration. And don't forget to add your pix to our Flickr pool too.

For tips on how to get your children into the 'click' visit my article at PBS Parents.

A Best Shot Through Fresh Eyes

Seeing the world the way your children see the world is a gift. The beauty of handing your kids the camera is getting a glimpse into what see as important to capture in a photo. It can be enlightening and inspiring!

A portrait of a sister under trees in upstate NY, summer vacation 2008

My oldest daughter spent her graduation money on a new camera. Her own camera. I have never been one not to share my cameras with my kids but she wanted her own camera, not mine. Of course, I couldn't be happier that she loves photography despite it's prominence in our everyday life. I am thrilled that my love of photography hasn't caused her to run the other way. At least not yet anyway.

Over at PBS Parents today, my Expert of the Month post goes live. Go check it out! I hope it inspires you to encourage the children in your life to get into photography. I would love to hear your comments over there so we can start a little discussion in the next few weeks on the subject. You can even add photos that your kids take in the Flickr Pool called A Little Perspective. I'd love to see what you're kids come up with when they are behind the lens.

And on this fine Best Shot Monday share with us your best capture of the week.

And how about a little something EXTRA this week here at Mother May I?? I propose this Friday A Little Perspective Day. That means you can pop over here and share a link to your favorite shot from your child's photo collection. Let's honor their creative vision-no matter how young they are. What do you think? Are you up for a Little fun this week? Hope to see you back here on Friday, if not sooner.

A Superhero Shot for BSM

Being Seen by Andrea Scher.

My Oregon adventure was amazing beyond words. God knows I've been posting enough of the images on Flickr to prove it. I could try to articulate how much it meant to spend quality time with 11 soul-sisters but I think when the planets align like that, the words only fall flat and could never really conjure up the magic that swirled about in the salty air, beneath the Mystical Manzanita Moon.

Among countless other gifts, I came home with an entire collection of photographs of myself which is a rarity for sure. That the shots so beautifully and insightfully tell the story of who I am leaves me feeling deeply seen and makes me weepy with gratitude.

I am a soul-searcher at heart so receiving photographs that have captured a part of my soul feels incredible. Through the lenses of women I hold dear, I am able to see myself as I am and as I strive to be;

open,

alive,

playful,

happy,

content,

and full of love.

Sometimes these kinds of shots are the Best Shots there are.

Share your Best Shots today, whomever and whatever they may have captured.

from the road

My Best Shot at Slowing Down

I woke up this morning with a start. Gasp! What day is it? It's Monday, isn't it?

We've had quite the eventful week and I so wanted to write about all of the spinning and swirling mommy emotions that have been flooding my head and my heart but alas, besides a birthday, and a promotion ceremony (my baby has been promoted to middle school) we had a different kind of flood. The laundry room spilled over with so much water from the defunct washing machine that it's damaged our wood flooring AND it got the wall so wet that all of our cabinets actually fell off the wall. Big, heavy cabinets. Right onto our washer and dryer. Big huge crashing sound. Not pretty. And certainly not good timing. Happy Father's Day.

It's hard to focus on the light at the end of this tunnel because I'm not sure how many miles down the road it is but I know we'll get there eventually. This too shall pass my Grandma reminds me. She's right. And it could be worse. As we still have some wrapping up to do before all of the end of the school year hullabaloo starts to settle down it feels so hectic around here, it's hard to keep my head about me. Deep cleansing breath. I will look back on all of this and laugh, right?

Although I have hundreds of photos on a number of compact flash cards all over the house and videos galore from the recent pomp and circumstance(s) -we got a new video camera-yay!-I have yet to get any of them to my computer. However, in the midst of the chaos, I thought it might be nice to share a photo or two that speak more of slowing down and being mindful of what is important, than anything else.

I submitted this image as well as a few others for consideration in a lovely collaborative project called my heart wanders. I was so inspired by their call for images and the project itself, I spend one afternoon in the midst of all the activities and slowed down long enough to create a handful of photographs that I really love. Truthfully, I'm just delighted to have stumbled onto my new blog crush.

So, in the theme of slowing down a bit today, I offer you this best shot for the day. If nothing else, I will be using it as a mediation of sorts to find some calm today. I know it's there somewhere. I just have to seek it out.

Did you find any time to slow down and smell the flowers this week? OR perhaps you captured the craze of life in a shot that brought perspective or maybe even humor? Whatever your week looked like, we'd love to see how you caught it in action.

Let's Click!

You going to BlogHer this summer? Sweet. Me too. And check out what the Shutter Shutters are up to. It's the first ever BlogHer PhotoWalk!



So, who's into roaming the streets of San Fransico shooting photos with with a flock of what Pam calls BlogHer birds? I am, I am!

If you would like to join us, please let us know so we can look for you. Hee hee.

My Best Shot and Kate's Perfect Post

Last summer my family and I traveled to Key West Florida where this shot was taken. It’s one of many that I took on the trip that only touches on the history that exists at this southernmost point. Even simple photos of the architecture give you the feeling that you are not alone there, that there is more than meets the naked eye, that those that came before accompany you with each step.

I hadn’t really reflected much on the trip until a few days ago when I was deeply stirred by a post over at SweetSalty. The photos Kate posted of her peaceful place are sacred, still, and so impossibly hopeful. The quiet calm, the whispering wind, the tranquility she captured prompted me to re-look at some of my photos from our trip.

I began to see things I hadn’t seen before as I poured over the images using her words as a guide. Her offering enlightened me and filled me with an understanding I hadn’t held before. Everything about Kate’s Perfect Post is poetry. Each word woven into the next with some sort of soul string that is beyond anything I can explain. It may be intangible (and something I cannot convey through words) but I can feel it.

The image I share today for My Best Shot is another ode to Kate. To hope and love, to the past and present and to keeping the balance of both. But most of all it's an ode to magic.

I lust so deeply for magic, I swear sometimes I can will it into existence.

These words of Kate's call to me as does the black bird perched on the fence of the ancient cemetery—singing to all of us that our mere will for magic can most certainly bring with it little miracles.

What shots do you have to share with us today and what kind of magic do they hold for you?

--

To see more of the Perfect Post nominees for May, go visit Lindsay at Suburban Turmoil and Kimberly at Petroville where the lists are posted.

Rockin' It With the Rookies

A few years back (has it really been that long?) I met the fabulous ladies affectionately called the Rookie Moms. Not only are they wonderful people, but they are behind a great site that offers the most clever and quip ideas for new moms ever compiled into one delightful website and corresponding blog. It’s no surprise that somebody snapped up the idea for a book.

Enter the totally adorable, very helpful and ever entertaining book for new moms, The Rookie Moms Handbook!

I have read through many of the ingenious (and humorous) activities offered on the Rookie Moms site but when I sat down with the book, I was delighted once again by these rich little mommy gems. My favorites being some of the photo projects they suggest, of course.

Take activity #236 which suggests documenting your child’s latest obsession via photos or video. You know, like eating oatmeal every single night before bed. Or is that just my kid?

Or #227 which encourages you to remember photographing babies objects of affection. Since I’ve got one bunny lover and one blankie baby, this one is near and dear to my heart. The Rookie Moms even go as far as to offer effective ways to tackle the photo challenge depending on your personality type; the sentimental or the artsy mom, the absurdist or the bad girl. Funny stuff! I am sooooo going to do some of these (and I am far from a Rookie Mom anymore).

The Rookie Mom Handbook is the perfect book for any new mom (hello baby shower gift). It’s a quick read with fantastic and funny activities to make the early years of motherhood meaningful and that much more enjoyable. And it’s written by two cool moms who have been there before and are doing it all over again.

Way to go Rookie Moms! You rock. All the cool moms think so.

Fit Photo Contest

Do you think you've got a photo that fits? If not, then nows the time to get clickin'.




Pop over to Shutter Sisters for a chance to win the Wii and the Wii Fit!

A Gift from Rwanda

Jen has updated her blog with the most stunning photo of Odette's daughters Grace and Lillian.
I just wanted to share it with you.
Sigh.

Portrait of Mom

There's a mom celebration going on that I heard about via the Parent Blogger Network. It's a little something called Portraits of Mom. There's photo sharing going on and of course, prizes. And if you're in San Francisco or Brooklyn, you can even waltz into a Windows Live studio to get a free portrait with your kids which is something all of us photo moms could really use (as we're never in the photos because we're always taking them). Be sure to read the rules because the pros aren't eligible to enter to win the prizes. I hate that when that happens.

Along with the campaign, the PBN asks us (and YOU are included in the us) to describe our portrait of mom. And timely enough Paige just shared Hand it Over at Shutter Sisters and so I couldn't help but want to share this portrait of me as mom that my talented sister took.

I love having portraits of my kids and I as seen by someone other than myself. I do shoot self-portraits (as you alredy know), but a view through someone elses lens is always refreshing.

What makes this shot especially compelling to me is that it brings to life how I feel about being a mother.

I'm in the center. I am the center. My children revolve, spin and exist around me, both in their reality and mine. Although this is changing and I already see signs of their gradual flight from our insulated, circular nest- right now, this is our life and I am still the center. And for a mother, this can as difficult as it is delightful. Being a mom means giving oneself. The hardest part for me is giving myself without losing myself. I have been vigilant (maybe to a fault at times) about holding on to me as me, beyond me as a mother. And still, now that I am a mother, they are a part of me. As I see it, they aren't separate from me but at the same time, they are. I might be talking in circles here but I have finally discovered, it isn't an either/or. It's a both.

As a mother I have become a richer, fuller me and as my girls continue to grow and change and move away from me as the center, I can only hope I too grow and change gracefully, ever becoming the best me I can be, as a mother. As myself.

Got Photo Tips?

If you're interested in gathering a few tips and tricks to add to your photo knowledge arsenal, pop over to the Hip Slope Mama blog. They asked me to offer some of my ideas over there so be sure to go check it out.

Happy Clicking.