Things to Do - Project 52, Weeks 1 and 2

In 2010 (which seems like forever ago), I undertook a 365 day photo project - in which I took and posted one photo a day throughout the year. On the upside, I loved that this project made me a better photographer - more likely to notice details and capture routine moments in creative ways. On the downside, I hated how unbalanced the final results were - some days I had so many good photos that choosing one seemed impossible; whereas other days I was picking through garbage - trying to come up with anything worth saving.

Basically, all of the culling stressed me out.

So I waited 7 years before attempting a similar project, convinced that my acquired skills would help with decision-making. But within the first week I found myself in the exact same quandary from before - why one day was I trying to make bad photos look better, while ignoring the heaps of wonderful photos taken the next day?

So I'm changing the rules. This year, instead of a 365 project, I'm undertaking a 52 project. My goal is to still shoot my/our personal life every day. But rather than look at the daily results, I'll look at the weekly results. And then post on this blog 7-10 photos that best capture our week. And, although they might all be from different days, I'll attempt to make them from different moments or time periods (so there will never be 10 photos taken at the same place at the same time).

Of course, even with the new parameters, choosing photos is always hard - what if it is a good photo of a so/so moment? or a bad photo of an excellent memory? I can never decide, so for now I'm taking the middle ground - with a little bit of everything. So don't judge too harshly (culling is tough!!).

Wish me luck! Happy 2017!

WEEK 1


















(1) Afternoon light outside Longbranch Nature Center; (2) F working on homework; (3) The first 5th grade girls' basketball game (they won); (4) Family dinner; (5) At the dog park; (6) Errands on a snowy Saturday; (7) The first 4th grade girls' basketball game (they won); (8) T reading Captain Underpants.

WEEK 2















(1) A sunny day at the playground; (2) The upstairs of the preschool I work at; (3) F on Musicly; (4) The kids at Hillwood Estate (after this photo, T fell/submerged himself in the pond and we had to leave); (5) The Washington Post; (6) Snapchat; (7) the kitchen at night.