Reflecting on 365@65

So - last year on my birthday, 11/21/2012, I gave myself a challenge.

I named the project:

"365@65" 

Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days of Photographing the World around me, at 65 years of age.

The challenge:

to get at least One Good Shot each day of this year of my turning 65.

Today is my birthday again. So yesterday I reached my goal! Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days of photos.

Day 1

Some were good.

Some were okay.

Some days the weather didn’t cooperate and I had to resort to taking a photograph of our supper. Or Droopy. Or fruits and vegetables. Inside shots.

Some days I was really busy and realized late in the day that I hadn’t “gotten out there”.

Sometimes those last minute rushes out the door were lucky and I’d find a new bird. Or a critter on the deck. Or the light hitting something just right.

Some days I was lucky to find one photo.

Some days I couldn’t choose and posted too many.

I had several friends (and family) who cheered me on. Who noticed and commented on the album or a particular picture. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me. Thank you!

Whether I got a great picture or I didn’t, I was always looking around me with new eyes. I noticed smaller things. Funny or odd things. Not just the Coastal Beauty we are so blessed to see in North Carolina.  A clothespin or a rusty gear. A broken down memory of a truck. 

I have seen birds I couldn’t have imagined. And watched their behavior. They are fun, funny. Amazing.

I look up more.

I look down more.

I look at Big things.

I look at Tiny things.

You’d be surprised at the Wealth: of Beauty, of Quirky things, Joyful things; even Fading, Rusting Remnants of the Past that Trigger a Memory. A myriad of things you will see ~ if you take a minute. Pause. Stop. Turn around. 

I have a tendency to get interested in a craft or project, enjoy it, but then lose interest and crave something new. A tendency to find a thing, do it, then have that “Okay, I did that” feeling that makes me abandon it for something different.

I’m rather amazed at myself.

I stuck with it. 

I pretty much never went anywhere without a camera.

Even when I wasn’t taking pictures, I was thinking about taking pictures.

And I didn’t get sick! Not one day this year did I feel too sick to pull out the camera.

One unexpected thing.

I thought that travel would bring MORE photo opportunities. But I found it more difficult instead of easier. I need to travel alone. Or at least carve out some alone time. For me, photography is a Solitary endeavor. I can’t rush. And most people don’t care to hang around for me to frame a shot. Or wait for the light. Or wait for a person or animal to turn in the desired direction. I appreciate those who were patient when I was in photo-mode. I know it was kind of a drag. Thank you. You know who you are.

My husband fusses at me for always being buried in my phone or computer. And I do that.

But - not when I’m out by myself or with Droopy with the camera hanging from my neck. Then it’s just me and the world. Unplugged.

I learned a little bit more about shooting. About editing. I’m still a novice, however. It’s my hobby. My fun. I’m not an artist. I’m a hobbyist. And I live in a place rich with nature and beauty. A place that's steeped the past, but nods to the future.

This September, a wonderful thing happened. We had this new little family member come into our lives. And I had a new reason for pulling out the camera. I hope our Grandson doesn’t tire of Grandmama sticking a camera in his cute little face. If he reaches that point, maybe I’ll give him his first camera and he can take pictures with me (or God forbid, OF me!).  What a happy thing to look forward to. Sharing my hobby with him. He can't fish ALL the time!

I’m not parking my camera. 

I have enjoyed the year too much to stop. It just won’t be a daily challenge. 

I’ll shoot when the mood strikes. Or the sky is showing off. Or a new bird visits the pier. Or a Flower is just too Showy to Ignore.

Whenever I remember to: 

Look Up. 

Look Down. 

Pause.

Stop. 

Turn Around.

Thank you all for sharing in my "365@65"!

*****

One of my favorite shots of the year was complete happenstance. I was in the kitchen. Glanced out the sliding glass door and saw the sun hitting the Bottle Tree and lighting up the Morning Glories. I quick! ~ grabbed the camera and dashed. I was thrilled later when I started uploading. The flowers just looked lit from within. 

Happy Happy Joy Joy.

Now - on to 66!!

~Cotton

11/21/2013