I’m not sure that this is a group for me. However, I decided on New Year’s Day (I think) to photograph every day for 2008. I’m posting an image per day at http://nyjlm-365.blogspot.com
It has been a great exercise for me- I am looking at things with a different perspective every day. While of course there are negative images made every day (think of the heartbreaking images of the Japanese photographer killed in Burma during the protests), my focus has been on finding the beauty in the everyday. And for a pessimistic, anxious depressive, that’s a good thing indeed!

It seems we share a photographic interest in both flowers and in clouds. I am sometimes literally breathless when I take pictures of either.

I have been using picture taking for years for my enjoyment. I “see” a scene that I want to savor. I have always taken many pics of flowers in my gardens & every where we travel.
While flying on vacations, I take SOOOOOOO many photos of clouds, also. It is a feeling of seeing Heaven. Every cloud has a different form, shade of color, blue skies and with the wing or engine of the plane, it brings such happiness to me. Yes, when I do photo slide shows for my family to see where we have been……..they complain of all those pics of clouds. It turns them off. It proves that each of us have things we “see” in life that someone else may not see.
I get joy reading Beyond Blue and Therese’s thoughts and videos.
If I have something to say that seems important to me, it turns my adult kids off. They feel they can judge me and cut me NO SLACK. They say I am too sensitive. If I ask questions about their families just to pass the time and see what everyone is up to. They criticize me. I feel as if I can’t win so I don’t want to venture comments.

Being a ceramic teacher and through our church we are sharing Christ. When we first started this ministry we had no idea what God had in store for us. This has been a place where heart have healed while sharing the art of ceramics. Also we are a place where all are encouraged. I can’t tell you what “Bridging the gap” has done to this ministry. We have people from 5 yrs to 80 + and they all interact. Having to focus on a piece of clay, bisque, or greenware you forget your day and enjoy and turn your focus on the piece. One of my favorite pieces is “Passion Week” by Bryon Mold.
Also I love nature. I love being with camera in hand. God has made a very awesome world for us to see, if it is only through photography. I love taking flowers, trees, birds, clouds, water, etc. but this past year I have several that have touch my soul. I enjoy sharing them with people who are needing a lift. One of my ceramic students stayed after class and we got to talking about life and I knew she just wanted to talk. Something had been troubling her. When God led me to pull out some of my shots of iris’ she changed to an uplifted person.
Bev, not everyone likes what I take but when God touches my soul I am happy. Don’t let what others think about your photos get you down because this is something that God has given to you. I don’t know you but I am praying for you.