Monday, March 21, 2011

A photo a day (starting a 365 project)




I think starting a project like this is a lot like a forgotten New Years Resolution. Everyone starts out with good intentions, and then just as quickly as things began, those good intentions fade into forgotten promises.

I take photos every single day. What I post here is not even half of the things I keep for myself. Personal albums full of family photos, small adventures, and details around our house. For me, starting a project like this is simple in the sense that I am already looking through the lens every day - but almost overwhelming when it comes to choosing just one photo to sum up what that 24 hours meant to me.



There is a quote that says:

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." -Roald Dahl


And so true it is. Here is an article on how to find beauty in life. A good guideline to inspire you to see things a bit clearer.
But I promise you that looking too far into something like that will not help you find that beauty at all. In fact there is a small irony in trying to teach someone to see the world through different eyes. How can you really teach something that can only be felt in your heart? It's like teaching someone to find happiness, when the only true path there is to stop looking for it.

"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden or looking for dinosaur eggs in the Gobi desert. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator. He will not be striving for it as a goal in itself. He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of living life twenty-four crowded hours of the day." -W. Beran Wolfe



Today was a busy day...an end to a busy weekend that left me feeling more tired than rested. I spent the day yesterday pulling weeds and planting new lavender bushes around the patio, and today I felt every bit of 9 months pregnant.





Tonight when evening started to roll around, I realized I hadn't taken one photograph. In that moment the only thing to do was to quiet my mind and look around at what I was thankful for, today. In the end to this busy day, there was such a calm moment in where I was. The breeze outside is so sweet that it almost feels like it is coming straight off the ocean. With all the windows open in the house, sheer drapes gently swaying, everything seems right.



Today, on my brand new day, I am finding beauty in those swaying drapes. The shades of green in every room of our house, finished packages for friends who live miles away, and new garden boots waiting to be worn in and used this season. Soft, evening light through all the open windows, that biting breeze, and the beautiful, quiet moments that come with realizations at the end of a busy weekend.








If you are planning on starting your own 365 project, remember that you don't need to go looking for something beautiful to photograph. There is already so much around you, waiting to be seen and appreciated. These small, quiet details of your day are the ones that we too often forget about by the end of our year. But they are the ones that make our days truly count. We should not remember only the big moments that take place, or else our memories by the end of our years will only fit on our fingers and toes. There are many other moments that slip through our hands and are often long forgotten, like our New Years Resolutions.



Today, on your brand new day, slow down and see the world around you for what it really is. Mundane, ordinary, and absolutely perfect in these still moments.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

beautiful. i too take photographs everyday, not on purpose, just because i find so many things beautiful on a daily basis.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

U r so right beauty is in the most simplest, not thought of things...some people look for colorful things to photograph- me, I go for the plain, simple... those at times have the most impact.

Anonymous said...

I love the way you write. I felt that breeze coming in through the drapes. So peaceful.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous post---your photos and your writing. Just gorgeous. A great end to my day--thank you.

Alivia said...

I had the Dahl quote on my blog forever; it's such a lovely, simple way of living. So glad you shared it here!
Love these photos, and your words, of course.
<3

Unknown said...

Your photos add so much joy to my day. Constantly. Thank you, lady.

Octohawk said...

I'm not one to typically compliment on things of this nature.. but when I see your photos it's just so easy to see what a natural, beautiful mother you'll be.

Cyn said...

What a beautiful blog, Thank you for sharing. Love your photography and yout writing. Congratulatios on your pregnancy. =)

Yellow Cat Studio said...

I always love your photos. They are so simple...so beautiful. I also love the idea of a 365 project...I should try that too some time. :) Have a wonderful week!

Nicole

Bethany Susan said...

you are so wise. thank you for this post, it's the best, most encouraging thing i've read in a while!!!! i agree, the small moments are so wonderful to sink in to and save a glimmer of for later.

the dizzle said...

i love your tips about beauty and photos.. i've been doing a 365 project and sometimes it's so easy then other nights i find myself rushing to take a photo before the day ends. it's the little things though, really.

siniann said...

This is so true. I'm trying to search the beauty of life sometimes too much, the feeling of feelig good. Then I get stressed. I have way too much free time, to think about the world but when I'm busy, everything flows by itself anf life is sweet. I don't take photos everyday, I'm trying to take photos now more for myself. for the memories. You're lucky to have suh a warm weather there! I'm still keeping tight my wool jacket around me :)

Amy Cappelli said...

Beautiful post! I love the quotes you included from Dahl and W. Beran Wolfe. I remember speaking to my homeopath a few years back when I felt sick all the time. And I asked her if there was a homeopathic remedy to make me feel happy. And, she told me that happy is such a subjective thing. It means different things to different people. And if you try to fit into the mold of someone else's happy- you may just find yourself disappointed and frustrated. Sometimes happiness is a lot like love. It finds you when you least expect it to.

kate said...

Beautiful images as always. Please send some of your spring weather to Michigan. pretty please?! You know, scare away the 3-7 inches of snow we're supposed to get tonight!

Alex Byer said...

You have some of the most beautiful words I have ever read. In a strange way, I find them more beautiful than the images. But I'm much more of a vernacular person than imagery-based. But it is all simply stunning.

Learning said...

What lovely sentiments and pictures! I love the quote from Roald Dahl. I believe in magic!

- Angela

Anonymous said...

'Don't be afraid of death, Winnie. Be afraid of the unlived life.'-Angus Tuck (from Tuck Everlasting)

~3iNnA~ said...

Love the quotes and of course the pictures.

I don't usually take pictures everyday. I have similar feelings though...have tons of pictures but hard to just pick 1 photo to sum up...I should try to do it everyday and thank you for the advice.

Anonymous said...

I love those garden boots!

Stephanie said...

I love the landscape picture of your belly and the garden! I really like the processing, so calm yet colorful at the same time. :)

Marfio said...

Thank you for the reminder of the beautiful in the everyday - it is too easy to get caught up in things that won't really matter in the long run.

Good luck with the project!

Ashley said...

Wonderful pictures! You look great!

Seth and Anya said...

Hi aura,
The last picture reminds me of your belly with life sprouting from it!!! Soon...very soon! What a joy to have an opportunity to be a mother. I have been reading for awhile and do not believe I have ever left a comment. I have four children of my own and they are such a joy to my life! It is a tough road, but a joyous one!! Soo wonderful! Congratulations! Anya

Sierra said...

I am so in love with this idea, I'm constantly documenting but often wish that I could remember special little things that happen in the day that may not end up a specific huge memory because it was so simple but I was content. Life is so crazy for me right now it will be neat to have something to remember the moments looking back. I think I will start mine on the first day of summer because summer has always meant so much to me!

Bi said...

Hi dear, i'm looking your blog from a lot of time. I love it! Every time when i open the web im in.
About your new projecy, in my coutry Bulgaria it's in action, but it isn't cool or artistic, the realization is bad.
http://365miga.blogspot.com/
Congratulations for your brave to make someting like this in a public space.
Sori for my english.
be happy!

Anna @ IHOD said...

Aura, this is such an inspiring project and as soon as I get a better camera I am going to try it!

What beautiful images you have! And you are only 9 days from due date?! So exciting! I think I would also be hitting up the yard if my husband didn't beat me to it. Its the best time of year to plant new life! ;)
Good luck on this last stretch!
Anna

Kelly @ turned UP to ELEVEN! said...

FIG! Sorry I get really excited when he shows up. I love those boots I was fawning over them at Target yesterday. I am going to forward this to my boyfriend. He recently started his 365 project and will take this all to heart.

You're almost there - I can't wait until you have your baby girl in your arms! ox

Melanie said...

Yay for big round pregnant bellies! Love it.

AE said...

Beautiful, thank you.

Deja said...

Thank you again for your wonderful perspective. It generally makes me take a pause in my usually hectic day. P.S. I can't believe your little bird is almost here.

yours truly, melissa said...

So which photo did you choose that day? They are all so beautiful!!! Love those gift tags you made... inspires me to be so much more creative with my wrapping and packaging of presents.

Unknown said...

this was a fabulous post that really touched & inspired me today...i've been sick all week...might not sound like much, but this post is encouraging me to embrace my surroundings, open up my windows, breathe in new life and see beauty all around me...thanks for that!