weekend lookback, august 4

Row 1: Rule breaker | Summer Supper | Road Trip; Row 2 Shore Sunset

Our weekend was a study in contrasts. Lot of gray and rain had us snuggled up and sitting in front of HGTV all day. My mom has a slight cold and she doesn't have a TV, so she was mesmerized. It was great! Just the thing we all needed. Sit and talk and criticize people's decortating choices. It's kind of what we do best.

Sunday, we left the rain to the Southside (that's what we call our far southern tip of the Chesapeake Bay) and headed north up to Chincoteague and Assateague. I've long wanted to do this, and I was so grateful to have my mom along. I took loads of photos, so I'll maybe do a quick Eastern Shore post if you're interested and save my stories for that. There are always things left undone (antiques!), but we covered a ton of territory and saw many, many beautiful things.

I'm having a blast with my "No Flowers No Kids (No Food)" project, but as you can see, I'm cheating like crazy. Look, the rules are black and white and simply state: upload one picture a day... I'm still doing that. And the stuff the other women are doing (they can still shoot food)? We'll, they're inspiring me every day. Just what I needed.

And hooray! Today we start round 2 of #perception_collection! I'm so excited. I'm already keeping my eye out for "simple" things, but I do that anyway. Hope some of you guys come and play along, and I can't wait to see what you come up with. Happy new week, my lovelies!

perception collection

Somehow you guys all tricked me, and here I am back on a Friday again! As you know, I've been in a bit of a funk this summer. Oh, there are lots of reasons, but that funk has extended to behind the lens for me as well. We all go through these cycles in our creative process, regardless of what our creative outlet may be, and in general I don't worry overmuch about it. I try to trust the ride, and know that I'll emerge eventually, hopefully having learned a thing or two. It doesn't make snap after frustrating snap more fun, however!

So I've been casting about for some personal projects to kick start my motivation. I have some ideas that I'm mulling over for the longer haul, but in the meantime, I've joined along with some of my fellow Fuji shooters for a month-long project where we're shooting "No Flowers No Kids." I may have to push myself even further and add a "No Food" caveat. I shoot food more than my kid, sometimes it seems. It's not Fuji-specific, just a way to get us to look a little differently through our lens.

So I tried to finish July with a bang, with a last shot of Cal and some flowers. He was reluctant, but he helped me out anyway, which I always appreciate. Gulp. Wish me luck.

You know what else helps me get out of a photography funk? Perception Collection!

We're back! HA! Christine and I had so much fun with the last go around of #perception_collection, that we just had to do it again. So simple and so fun. Just follow Christine, (she's @plumedpdx ) and me (I'm @laurenkeim) on Instagram and check out each day's prompt. Post your prompt and hashtag it with the prompt name and the hashtag #perception_collection as well. That way we can see the amazing pictures you're taking and everyone else can as well. Truly, the best part is "meeting" everyone from all over the world and seeing how everyone sees the different prompts. I love every minute of it and every photo you guys take.

It's all fun, no pressure, so skip a day or skip a few. Just have some fun and play along. We can't wait to see what you come up with. We'll post some of our favorites at the end. Oh my gosh, we start Monday! Let's have some fun! Happy Weekend, ducks!