{ignite} a creative discovery | january

"Inspired by Nichole Van and her group {Elevate}, several photographers and I have decided to take some time each month to explore the fine art side of photography. Each month, we will post a photo or series of images focused on art and photography. There are no rules. Just post what comes from the heart [. . .], allowing the inner artist a chance to explore and fly." ~Nicole Lubin

This month I was at a standstill, not really understanding what fine art was and feeling overwhelmed by my newness in photography. I felt inadequate to participate in this project & thought about giving up before I had even tried. But then I realized that I had to start somewhere. I had to stop comparing myself to others & their work. This wasn't about anyone else. It was about me & what I hoped to learn & achieve. I am working to perfect photographic techniques and learn what it is that really captures and motivates me as an artist. I want to move beyond the ordinary shots and capture something raw and beautiful. I want more thought and purpose to be behind each click of the shutter. I am hoping this project will help me achieve that throughout the year.

My inspiration for this month came from my sister, Sarah. Her birthday was earlier in the month, & for some reason, I struggled terribly this year when it came. She died 18 years ago. She was 17, & I was 9. I feel like I lost a wonderful friend & feel frustration & guilt because my memories of her are slipping away. I wanted a way to reconnect with her, so I used this month as a way to do that. 

To me, Sarah was:

                          a dancer.

                                   my big sister.

                  the one I looked up to & wanted to be like.

                                                                           beautiful.

                                                                 full of love, life, kindness & sunshine.

Continue the circle by visiting Skye | January Skye Photography | Bayside Melbourne Photographer.

52 on Fridays | 4 - shorts & rain boots

WEEK 4- FRAME IT

It's finally starting to feel like winter here, but that hasn't stopped William from wanting to play outside. When he saw his dad out back, he ran to the garage, grabbed his rain boots, & excitedly begged to go out too. We hurried the rain boots on, & as soon as I opened the door, Will was off. It was much too cold for me to stay out there long, but I couldn't resist taking pictures of my full-of-energy, nothing-can-stop-me,-even-the-cold little boy. He had so much fun playing with his water table, freshly filled from the rain. Nothing is as awesome to me as watching my child enjoy life & live it as fully as he knows how. It's moments like this that make me so grateful to be a mother.

Continue the 52 on Fridays circle by visiting Rhonda at Our Life.

52 on Fridays | 3 - Winter Sky

WEEK 3- WINTER

Our California winter - there is something so beautiful about winter-trees' silhouettes against an evening sky, especially when contrasting with a sunset like the one we enjoyed the other night. The glow of the sun on the clouds was a nice reminder of summer & warm days to come . . . eventually.

"One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Continue the circle by visiting Jackie at Jackie Petersen Photography.

52 on Fridays | 2 - everyone needs a little sparkle

It's week 2 of the 52 on Fridays blog circle. To catch up, take a look at last week's theme: self-portrait.

WEEK 2 - SPARKLE

I had so many ideas of pictures I wanted to take for this week's theme, but with sick children, things don't always come together the way I plan. I went to the mall earlier this week to get some sparkly shoes - it was a great excuse to buy a pair, especially since I love me some Toms! I thought it might be a good idea to go ahead & take a picture of all the different colors while I was in the store, just in case my original photo ideas didn't work out. Will was running around the different shoe displays while Ruby sat in her stroller, watching everyone walk by. I already felt weird pulling my camera out in the store & was nervous I'd get in trouble for taking pictures. It made it even more awkward when I got down to take the picture, & a man & his wife walked by, & I heard him say Who takes pictures of shoes?! Let's just say I hurried & snapped the picture & left it at that. I wanted to try a couple different angles, but felt pretty ridiculous as it was. After getting home & looking through all the random pictures I had taken that day, I decided I quite liked my spur of the moment shot. So here it is - my sparkly shoes!  

Continue the circle by visiting my friend Bri at Bri Marie Blography.

sacramento lifestyle photographer | 10 on 10: January

I hesitated this month when it came to documenting another 10 on 10. What could I possibly do different than last time? How could I prevent it from being redundant each month? Isn't it a little soon to be asking these questions since this is only month 2? Well, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see that life has its own things in store, & the day I documented ended up being wonderful. This month was another lesson in seeing the beauty of everyday life. I was able to capture the sweet personalities of my two children, as well as my husband & wonderful friends. I'm grateful for these preserved memories that this project gives me.

8:00 am - Ruby Jane is sleeping soundly.

9:00 am - retrieving some cereal that dropped on the barstool.

10:00 am - Will gets so excited when his daddy comes home. he can't wait to tell him all the fun things he's been up to.

11:00 am - Ruby finishes her shower & kicks her feet & talks to us while waiting in the bassinet.

12:00 pm - getting ready to drive down to the bay area when Scott notices we have a flat tire. Will did his part to help.

1:00 pm - on the road. sunglasses on & baishie in hand (Will's lion blanket that he takes everywhere).

it didn't take long before this guy was out. he seriously has the most beautiful eyelashes & has since day one. i just can't get over them.

2:00 pm - Ruby meets my other mother & sister for the first time. we've been life-long friends, & they're practically family.

3:00 pm - love this girly.

Ruby bonds with her godmother & my best friend, Caitlin.

4:00 pm - i loved capturing the look on my husband's face while he smiled at our sweet daughter. it's these tender, natural moments that i treasure.

5:00 pm - buckled up & ready to head back home.

to continue the blog circle, head on over to Julie Ander's 10 on 10.

my week according to my phone {1/52}

Sunday -

1. enjoying the christmas tree for a little longer before it needs to come down.

2. Ruby lounging on the rocker in the mother's lounge at church. she's looking pretty content. haha!

Monday -
3. delicious breakfast of eggs w/ peppers, mushrooms & salsa and Will eating peanut butter & honey toast.
4. getting ready to pack up the christmas decorations
5. Will took an unexpected nap around 5:00. it was impossible to wake him up, so we just had a late night.

Tuesday -
6. i love watching Scott when he's telling his paramedic stories. he's so passionate about it!
7. we drove down to danville to see my best friend & godmother of our children, Caitlin.
8. sweet babe nursing - such a blessing to be able to provide for her.

Wednesday -
9. Ruby had her 4 month checkup & shots
10. Scott cut down the christmas tree - he found 3 cars & a toy grasshopper & bee.
11. admiring all the beautiful christmas cards we received.

Thursday -
12. Will loves to help me do the laundry.
13. worked on a self-portrait for my photography project.
14. I wear this necklace practically every day. it's a reminder of those who are most important in my life.

Friday -
15. we went to Boudin's for my favorite, clam chowder, after finishing a few holes of frisbee golf.

Saturday -
16. Will helped Ruby with her tummy time.
17. Ruby was wiped out & more than ready for her nap.

feel free to follow me on Instagram: @lizzie_jane

52 on Fridays | 1 - Be You {tiful}

This is the start of a 52 week project I'm participating in with a group of photographers from near & far. Each Friday, we will post an image representing our weekly theme & then link to the next photographer to complete a blog circle. The purpose of this project is to challenge ourselves, to learn, experiment, & grow in the art of photography. I hope you come back often to check on our progress. It should be a fun year!

WEEK 1 - SELF-PORTRAIT

I was amazed at how difficult it was to take a self-portrait this week. First of all, I felt kind of ridiculous in front of the camera, especially being the only one in the frame. I felt even more ridiculous having to constantly play around with focus, set the timer, run & jump into my bathtub so I could stand in the correct place in front of my window, & then pretend like I wasn't a total dork for smiling at the wall since I had no one to interact with (at least someone who was eye-level with me). I'm telling you, it was awkward . . .

But at the same time, it was fun & empowering. I felt a lot more comfortable with me by the time I was finished. My inhibitions melted a bit, & I realized that this was something I could do. Maybe not perfectly, but that's not always the point. Do I wish I had more pictures to choose from that were in perfect focus &/or had great composition? Yes! But that doesn't really matter. What matters is that I had the courage to try something new. That I was able to put myself out there & risk making a fool of myself. There is a quote from one of my favorite movies, Strictly Ballroom, that says, "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived." I don't want to look back on my life regretting that I didn't take more chances, that I didn't share more of myself with others, that I feared failure too much to even give myself a chance at success.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

~ Marianne Williamson

Make sure to continue the blog circle with photographer, Jackie Petersen.