Posts tagged ‘gravestones’
milestones and gravestones
Today marks a bit milestone for me – I have just completed Day 365 of my 365-photo project on ShutterCal. For anyone not familiar, it basically involves shooting and uploading one photo a day for an entire year … much more challenging than you could ever imagine, trust me. (OK, well, for me anyway …).
Long before I started #30daysofbiking and #330daysofbiking, I started this little goal-setting photo project. And while I really don’t understand what compells me to do this kind of stuff (???!), because it often drives me (and my family) crazy, I have to admit that I ultimately manage to take away so much more than I contribute. I guess that is the answer to the previous question?
Contemplating this 365-day photo odyssey, I can say that ShutterCal …
- taught me what all of the buttons on my DSLR do, and how to use them (somewhat competently, anyway)
- introduced me to some incredibly talented, kind and amazing photographers – who did everything to keep me motivated, especially on the lame days
- considerably shortened the lifespan of my camera (a good thing?)
- made me covet “good glass” like a cyclist covets carbon fiber (or an Xtracycle ;))
- made me crazy
- made me look at everyday things in new ways
- made me consider how many ways there are to shoot a bicycle (and frustrated me while trying to come up with new ways)
- through the act of “doing”, taught me more about photography than any book, class, or workshop ever could
- made me crazy
- likely instilled a love-hate relationship with bicycles and old barns among most of my ShutterCal friends
- made me use a camera even when I didn’t want to
- introduced me to many Holsteins
- made me crazy(er)
I am now contemplating where to go from here. Stop or continue? Since this has become almost habit-bordering-on-addiction, I will probably continue on for a while. I wonder which will give out first – me, or my camera? Lol.
Meanwhile, wishing everyone a happy and spooky Halloween … and leaving you with a few Halloween-y shots. Boo.
#330daysofbiking Day 47: forgotten
I think my Xtracycle had been feeling a bit forgotten lately. My favorite (organic, local) grocery store closed their doors last winter, and I am now forced to shop at the nasty chain store – which is farther from home, and a more difficult ride (from a traffic/route standpoint). My grocery runs by bicycle have been more infrequent, sadly – and less often by bicycle. I need to figure out a way to change this.
Tonight I took my beautiful bike just out for a ride – no hauling involved. It’s such a lovely bike to ride; a perfect fit, that smooth, comfortable ride of a steel frame.
Ended up stopping at the old Baptist cemetery nearby, once again. Rain clouds were rolling in, and the light was eerily beautiful against the old headstones. Some of the markers are fascinating to read. Some are so worn and aged that they can’t even be identified. I know I probably sound quite goofy with my fascination over old graveyards, but they always intrigue me. Calculating the ages, trying to imagine what the world was like when the person was alive, the records of entire families. I get caught up in the history, and I’m sometimes saddened by some of the old forgotten, broken markers. I always tell myself that next time, I am going to bring some flowers along – for the forgotten ones. Next time.