30 Days of the Everyday

Today starts a 30 day photography project for me here. A project that will let me explore my camera a bit, take some shots I might not otherwise try, focus the 'writing' part of my brain on my manuscript, and mix things up a bit here on the blog (coming up on three years soon! gotta shake things up sometimes).
But my overwhelming wish and motivation for this project is that it will be a part of really seeing. Because what's happening right now - right this very moment in my family life as these three little ones grow, learn, and explore so very much each and every day - it feels really special...and fleeting. And I really want to see it, in the slow tiny, simple, and very ordinary moments that make up each day.

There's been a great deal of inspiration leading me up to this little project - amazing photographers, authors, and artists who document the 'everyday' in simply beautiful ways. So in addition to the photographs, I hope to share a bit of that with you as well. And I'm very happy to say that I'll have some excellent company on this journey, as my dear friend Jessie Fields will be playing along too. I cannot wait to see what she sees.

So cheers to the little moments, and thank you for coming along!

Comments

[brandie]

very pretty photo! i love the everyday photos...such a great documentation of life. can't wait to see what you see :) xo

[jean]

ah! my two favorites! Can't wait to see what each day will bring. Love the warmth of this one.

[Jen]

Wow...sounds like a great project. Enjoy!

[Maire Stafford]

What an inspiring idea, I am doing the 2008 a year in pictures thing at Flickr and it might be interesting to view it in this light. My kids are older, and not so cute, but two of them are teenagers and might not be here for too long on a permanent basis. It is too easy to get stuck in the frustration of getting them up for school, (the older two), getting them to help (and finding the things they have 'helped' with) and not getting them to tidy their bedrooms, and to forget what a gift they are and how much you will miss them when they are gone.

[shari]

what a fabulous idea amanda. i'm looking forward to more. xox

[Elizabeth]

what a lovely idea. i love to read your blog and having recently really started one myself, i appreciate you and my fav. bloggers even more for doing this almost daily with such excellence. thanks for all the work you put into this in order to share with us! i look forward to learning from what you see. :>

[Carrie]

Good luck with your photo project, it's such a great idea. I love the red chest of drawers and crate of "stuff", what a lovely picture.

[Crystal]

Looking forward to your pictures.

[Sandy]

What an awesome project, I can't wait to follow along on your photo journey.

[Eren]

Beautiful shot Amanda. Makes me want to give it a go as well. Maybe a shot a day for S while he is gone...to document what he missed. Hmmm...you've got me thinking now.

[Alicia A.]

Ooooo... right up my alley too these days, Amanda. Can't wait!

[julia]

wonderful idea- can't wait to see how it pans out. one of my (many) new years resolutions is to work on my photography and, at the very least, take more photos- and i'm sure i'll be finding plenty of inspiration (as always) right here over the next month

[martha]

This sounds wonderful -can't wait to see what you see. xo

[ChristineG]

Great idea!! I've been wanting to use my camera more. I am not an accomplished photographer like you are, but I recognize the days with my children just the ages they are are slipping away and I need to take more pictures, amazing shots or not! I'm going to join you! Thanks so much for the inspiration, as usual. :)

[kristin]

sounds great.

[shauna]

Yes.

[betz]

I can relate to the part about focusing your brain on writing. The projects come easy (well, easier), the writing not as much. Looking forward to your pics!

[heather]

your everyday moments are so beautiful. this is a wonderful project!

[Lisa Clarke]

I love this idea. I've been thinking along these lines myself, too. Children grow so fast, and I don't want to feel like I've missed it.

[bellablue]

Thanks for the push! I need it. Xox,

[Natalie]

I like it... the point of view, the photograph, the concept, the sentiments. More to enjoy in the new year... thank you.

[Molly]

Lovely plan.

[molly]

looking forward to it, amanda. i love today's picture. beautiful.

[Francesca]

I can't wait to see the photos!

[mithrilsea]

what a beautiful way to start! such a warm and peaceful picture.

[Anne]

This is a wonderful idea. Have you thought of starting a Flikr group for this?

[camerashymomma]

what a perfect combination, you two! (i'm a secret voyeur over there in transition, so i'm glad there'll be some new stuff going on!)

i love this photo, it tells a story in itself. and that sunlight is so beautiful how that blue fabric grabbed it and is draped that way over the trunk. just simple everyday beauty.

can't wait for the next 29 days! :)

[Carrie]

Oh, the blue of that scarf is amazing!
Thank you so much for sharing!

[simply stork]

How funny...this weekend I started a new blog that does just that...partly due to the fact that I want to learn more about my camera and second because I looking at things differently can make for some beautiful shots...the new site is called simply taken. http://simplytaken.wordpress.com/

I think it is a wonderful thing to encourage each other in the "simple" things as well as capturing the "simple" in photographs. That tells those that come after us who we were and helps us to tell our story :o)

~simply stork~

[Julia]

Thanks for the inspiration! I look forward to your photos!

[Toni]

For the longest time--I've thought if I ever could write a book it would on the simple, ordinary days of our lives and the small, often unnoticed moments of beauty that surround us. Looking very forward to what you will be sharing with us!

[Ali]

I was feeling much the same urge, so I signed up for Project 365 over at Flickr. I'm really pleased that the photos I find myself taking for it are very different to what's generally on my blog. That was the aim.

I'm looking forward in sharing your month.

[april m]

It is every fleeting..I have two sons and a daughter, now 13,12 and 8. I love looking at the pics of your babes and remembering when mine were that age.

I love their ages now, but I miss the wood blocks and bug hunting.

[simply stork]

I just love your photography...It always makes me feel like I want to just crawl into them...and in this one...try something on while I'm there :o)

~simply stork~

[peanut]

That's such a fun idea. I've been wanting to learn more about my camera and what makes for a good picture (the sun coming back should help a bit). I might give this a try too (maybe just once a week or something).

Also, what a lovely dress up box (rack? room?). We had a wonderful dress up box when I was little and they were probably the most used of all our toys. You've got some lucky children :)

[bigbucketgirl]

Great idea..i've been playing with a new camera i had for xmas..and playing with taking shots from the kids 'eyes'. kneeling, lying down, upside down! seeing what they see every day. the view if the xmas tree was enlightening in its self for the 2yr old. he could only see the star on the top if he was balancing on the back of the sofa!

[equisetaceae]

I'm looking forward to the inspiration of your inspiration!

[equisetaceae]

I'm looking forward to the inspiration of your inspiration!

[Ev]

Oh, Amanda, What memories that Cushman box brings back! My grandmother on Hartley Street in Portland would put the Cushman sign in her window whenever she wanted the bread man to stop. Since my mother could not afford extras, I was always happy to be at Grammie's when Cushman's came - Grammie had a sweet tooth and was sure to get a box of doughnuts. Mmmmm, I can taste them now. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[tara pakosta]

i am doing the photo a day thing this year as well, but for all 366 days, since it's a leap year! i am excited about trying to capture the things i normally might not think about!
i cant' wait to see what you do as welL!
tara

[amy]

wow! how exciting! between this, the "noticing" project and the 3191 evening session it looks like it will be an inspiring month in blogland as far as photography is concerned!!! Can't wait!

[Mel]

What a lovely idea. Looking forward to following along!

[layla]

look forward to it. thought you might be interested in this www.blipfoto.com.
my contributor name is lonelylittlepetunia

[ariana vanderbeels]

hi amanda i have been reading your blog for a few months and i have really enjoyed your book lists and everything else!
the new project sounds great and i wanted to say that we are currently living in lynn, mass, where that trunk came from...
cheers and good luck
ariana
ps, we love owl moon in our home too!

[Crystal]

I'm looking forward to seeing these images every day. I love today's - all the bright colours! I'm doing a photo project too and I love how it's making me so aware of everyday and the wonderful little things. Have a good week!

[ariana vanderbeels]

hi amanda i have been reading your blog for a few months and i have really enjoyed your book lists and everything else!
the new project sounds great and i wanted to say that we are currently living in lynn, mass, where that trunk came from...
cheers and good luck
ariana
ps, we love owl moon in our home too!

[Veronica TM]

great idea, amanda! i can't wait to see your images.

[Amber]

Sounds great. I understand your needs. Sometimes my "writing brain" needs to stay focused on something other than my blog.

I can't wait to see your images!:-)

[{heather}]

this sounds like good fun.. I cant wait to see it all :)

[Grace]

I love today's picture, as well, and I thought right away of the Noticing Project that Alicia and Heather are doing.

http://noticingproject.wordpress.com/