I started a project a while back, to take photos of the things I see while walking the dogs.

This has been a challenging, fulfilling, eye-opening task for a number of reasons:

• I am not a photographer. A knowledge of shot composition would go a long way, and though I can sometimes visualize what I want to capture, it rarely ends up even close.

• I am limiting myself to my camera phone. Granted, it is a decent camera in a sweet phone, but it is still very primitive compared to a decent digital camera.
• I am posting the shots “as is”, with only one or two shots that I cropped in phone before posting. What I get is what you see. (there is one collage of images that I did for a previous set – the exception to prove the rule)
• My walks only involve going 1/4 mile in any direction. I am limited to the same flora, fauna and folks every day. So far, I think the only repeat is a cactus that I captured for it’s size first, then again when it bloomed. (Other similar shots are from one session, for instance, there are many photos of the flowering pear trees, but I got them all in one stop, in one yard) (Oh, and there is one shot from inside the veterinarian’s office when Cash hurt his leg. Definitely not in walking distance)
• I have the dogs with me. On leashes. Tied to my wrists. They are getting better about sitting and waiting, but they are still curious, adolescent dogs. Many times I found what may have been a fab shot turned into a blur when a leaf blew down the sidewalk.
• I am working out at the time, especially now that I started the C25k program. So, I am usually breathing heavy, sweating and focused elsewhere. In fact, there were a couple of days I just didn’t want to stop so missed getting pictures – but I’ve got the logistics better sorted out now.
• The sun is shining, and it is bright. Not only am I dealing with harsh shadows, I often can’t see how the pic(s) turned out until I get home. Sometimes I think I got a nice snap, only to be disappointed. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised.
• Other stuff that escapes me at 12:30 in the morning…

For all that, I have managed a couple of nice images (and a lot of poor/fair/mediocre ones). I heartily recommend it as an exercise – for a week, a month, whatever, take at least one photo a day of something. Interesting, pretty, funny, whatever (more positive is more better )….it will teach you to notice and appreciate the little things in your life.

If you have any interest in the story so far*, you can see them here.

* That phrase always make me think of Marillion.