Photos from our Instagram page that we have chosen to highlight are below and are in alphabetical order. Click on the names to link to the photographers page. Go and like them, show them some love, you will enjoy seeing their images in your feed. Congratulations to you all.
Thank you to everyone for sharing your take on the theme {Light}, there were so many beautiful images. .
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. Don’t forget to tag the Instagram posts with #sharesix_intentional for the next week. Then look out for the new theme after the 6th. Each month we feature one artist on our Facebook and Webpage banner. We will also do an interview with the featured artist, so share your images to be a part of this opportunity.
I often start out by thinking about where we are in the year. However, this month I really wanted to thank the ladies for their continued blogging. Each month we are challenged to think outside of the box. Sometimes it does not always go that far out but I love that each one ponders the theme and does their best to come up with something. I appreciate each and every lady in this group.
The definition of {Intentional} is “done with a purpose”
I am excite to see what each blogger comes up with this month. We’d also love to see what you have come up with for the theme as well, so please share your photo’s with us.
As you can see our bloggers have stepped up to tell a story with words and images. Don’t forget to go and see what they have shared by clicking on each link.
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. Don’t forget to tag the Instagram posts with #sharesix_intentional Each month we will do an interview with the featured artist, so share your images to be a part of this opportunity.
@kristcx was chosen as our Featured Artists for the them {Joy}. I spoke with Kristen before I went traveling out of the country but this is the first time I have been able to sit down and write since I got back. I took some time to get to know a bit more about Kristen and so can you.
I had to include a family portrait. I love to stop and take in the view on most of our adventures. I think it is so good to remind my kids to just be present. Take in the beauty around them and be in the moment because life moves fast and you never know what is around the corner. So be here, in today, no matter how hard it feels some days. I often will set up my camera on a rock or tree stump, whatever I can find to sit my camera down somewhat level and safely. Set a 10-second timer and snag these moments. Then I join in on being present. Leaving my camera as is and just sit for a moment.
Tell us a bit about yourself? And, are you a hobbyist or a pro?
I am Kristen Ryan or Kristcx on IG. I am a hobbyist photographer from Oklahoma. I have been working my way through my 365 projects for the last 8 almost 9 years now. I have absolutely loved what this project has taught me both in photography and really about life in general. So it has made me want to keep pushing through year after year, as challenging as it is because I appreciate the process and lessons. I love being able to capture my little family and our adventures together.
My self-portrait project is probably my most intimate project. Something I don’t often like to take in front of others. I retreat back to my room usually, shut the door and just fall into myself. I tend to be very empathic and my feelings on life are often overtaken by those that are around me. So I need some time to unwrap my own feelings, this project has helped me in so many ways to do just that. It has helped me find me again and in a new way. I have been working on this self-portrait project for the last 5 years or so and it has been quite an interesting process. In a good way. 🙂
What inspired you to pick up your camera initially?
I have always had a love for photography for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my walls were filled with photos of friends and family from all my disposable cameras. In high school and college, I took photography courses for fun and then really fell hard into learning more about it once I had a baby. I found I needed to find something for me, motherhood can be overwhelming sometimes and it is very selfless, which honestly can be a lot sometimes. So I needed something, mentally, for me to focus on and have full control over all my own. I never realized what exactly could have come out of this process, the person it made me become, the ability to let go of the little things and just be present in life. I am so very thankful for this journey and hobby
Childhood, my 365 project has been a documentation of my children’s childhood since they were tiny babies. I am so thankful for this journal I have collected over the years. There were times that life was so overwhelming I don’t have much memory from them, but I have these photos to look back and remind me what life what like. It has made me a better mother too, showing me just how short these stages are. When I feel overwhelmed and frustrated, I just look back at those times that felt so slow and never-ending and see that we are long past those days that never felt like they would end. In a new stage with new challenges to meet. Life is so precious and it passes by faster than I can keep up. These photos help me slow down and remind me to take in each moment, the good, the bad, the ugly, the amazing. This is what life is about. It’s a rollercoaster.
How do you improve your technique?
My 365 has 100% been the main factor in improving my technique. It has pushed me in so many ways. It has taught me to be open to exploring and experimenting. Not everything has to work out, not everything sticks with you. But you lose that fear of failure which is something a lot of people get stuck on. I don’t share all the photos I take with my 365, which for me takes off any pressure I feel for them to be something good. I can play and try things, things that I build on over time. I can take something one day and come back a week later with a new perspective to try because the first one didn’t work. I know I have 365 days to fill and instead of seeing it as a burden of something I have to fill, instead, I see it as time I can play and experiment. Explore this stage of life I am in fully and soak in each day, as good or bad as it may be. I am here, today is what I am in and how can I remember this day? What is a fun way to capture my every day when it all feels so mundane? My life is boring really, I am a creature of habit for the most part, but it has taught me to look at every perspective, and play with new camera techniques. Exploring editing techniques, or some days it makes me take a different way home from a familiar destination just to see what I can find.
The little moments, in this photo we were driving home 10 hours in the car heading into hour number 7 we were all a little weary and tired of being cooped up. When the sun started to set, the sky turned a beautiful hue of orange, pink, and purple. We rolled down our windows, blasted the music, and played in the wind. It was one of those moments that reminded me to enjoy the little things. There is beauty in everything we do if we are just looking for it. As I listened to my kids’ laughter, my husband singing away, and felt the warm breeze on my face from the wind I was thankful for that moment. The time we had together, the joy we were able to find at that moment, and the day we had.
Secret weapon. Or piece of advice that’s helped you?
I know I already said this but it is my biggest piece of advice, don’t be afraid of failure. Once you can take that away from your mind, the possibilities are endless. There is nothing really holding you down. You know if it doesn’t work out, it was a lesson you can build on and move forward from. Everything can be built upon. We grow from trying, sometimes we lose interest and move on to something else, and sometimes it took us making a wrong turn to get us down the path we were meant to be on. By just being open to trying new things and exploring the space you are in today you can grow leaps and bounds. If you fail, well try again with a new perspective, look down a different path, and see what’s ahead.
Probably the most unflattering self-portrait I’ve ever taken! Ha! But I wanted to include it because of the challenge it was to make. I enjoy seeing something inspiring and wondering if I can make it. By being open to each day I am able to find inspiration everywhere and by not being afraid of failing I put my efforts into trying something I never would have bothered before. This was a fun process I tried about a year ago with a glass of wine and it has since become a fun series I’ve been playing with all sorts of everyday things.
Why photographs? Why not painting? Or poems? Or, for that matter, statutes or taxes?
Once I dove back into photography and used it as a craft to find myself and voice outside of being a wife and mother, it hit in a way I had never experienced before. It helped me be me without the need to find the words to explain that to anyone. I could feel all my big feelings and express them through photos. My photos all have a deeper meaning for me. It became a personal journal, one for myself, but then secondly for my family. I am able to share the joy, the darkness, and the love I have for each stage of life. Something I can share with them many years from now and maybe even with those family members I’ll never meet in my lifetime. These photos are my legacy. They won’t bring me any notoriety, or recognition but that’s not the point with my photos. This work is deeper than that for me, it is my way to express myself in a way that I have never been able to find a way to do so before photography. It has given me a voice when I’ve never truly felt heard before. It is my way to stand out from the crowd, without drawing attention to myself, as any introvert prefers 😆. It is my way to feel seen and at the same time share the love I have for my life and family.
This was a favorite photo I recently took of my son and his fascination with all creatures he comes across. What I love most about this photo is that it came out of just taking a moment to search for some beauty that day. It was evening the sun was setting and I hadn’t taken anything for my 365. I asked my son to join me in the backyard to look for a picture for the day. Lucky for me they know this is an everyday thing for me. So he joined me and in the process found a snail in the garden. I sat it on a piece of glass I was holding and he was studying it closely as it tried to crawl itself away from us. I loved the way the light was shining on them so I grabbed my camera while this was happening and just happened to catch this moment where it looked like they were communicating with one another. These magical moments are my absolute favorite to capture. The ones that come out of just any ordinary moment. The ones that if you weren’t paying attention you wouldn’t have looked twice at, but if you are paying attention you see something magical happening. That to me is why I can’t stop my 365 just yet. There is beauty in the everyday little moments and if you aren’t purposefully looking for it, it just goes by you unnoticed. I want to keep looking for it, I want to find appreciation for the little things. It gives life a little bit different meaning some days and I love that.
I love each and everyone of these images and I love the advice that Kristen has shared. And I agree that last image is a magical moment. Thank you Kristen for sharing your story. Look out for Kristen’s work on Instagram at @kristcx.
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. The theme this month is {Travel} so tag us with #sharesix_travel for a few more days. The theme will change on September 6, 2022.
This month theme {Travel} was chosen by Sharleen Stuart Photography. Her reasoning was simple. She was traveling and would only arrive home 4 days before we were due to go live. Her pictures would be of travel. However, it is summer months, school holidays, and I am sure that we have all been traveling and have things to share.
The definition of travel is to “go from one place to another, typically over a distance of some length”
For Sharleen, travel broadens her horizons. Opens her up to different ways of life. Gives her the opportunity to meet new people, taste new foods, share new drinks. It helps her to view and understand a completely different way of life to that which she lives. It educates her.
Here are some favorite quotes on travel:
“Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your life with stories to tell.”
“I love places that make you realize how tiny you and your problems are.”
“Travel makes you realize that no matter how much you know, there’s always more to learn.”
“Live your life by a compass, not a clock.”
“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos, kill nothing but time.”
Here is the blog group’s take on travel, at least those who are not traveling 🙂
I am a firm believer that if you ever get the opportunity to travel, then take it. The world is your oyster and there are so many places to visit, so many new ways of life to learn, so many new friends to make. Go, see, learn, engage all of your senses and come away a richer person for doing so.
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. Don’t forget to tag the Instagram posts with #sharesix_travel Each month we will do an interview with the featured artist, so share your images to be a part of this opportunity.
The theme was {Flat Lay} and chosen by Sharleen Stuart Photography. The idea was to stretch ourselves to see what we could come up with. We had not done this kind of theme before and it certainly was challenging.
Sharleen Stuart Photography chose this particular {Flat Lay} submitted by @iloveoldhickorylake for the following reason:
“I loved the flow and movement of this image. The delicate color of scarf and the flowers popped out against the dark background as did the meringues in the white bowl. The little extras, the card, the slice of lemon, the teaspoon, and the tea steeping in the cup all seemed to complete the image. Thank you for sharing your beautiful image
Photos from our Instagram page that we have chosen to highlight are below and are in alphabetical order. Click on the names to link to the photographers page. Go and like them, show them some love, you will enjoy seeing their images in your feed. Congratulations to you all.
Thank you for sharing your take on the theme {Flat Lay}, we loved seeing all of your ideas.
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. Don’t forget to tag the Instagram posts with #sharesix_allabouttoday Each month we feature one artist on our Facebook and Webpage banner. We will also do an interview with the featured artist, so share your images to be a part of this opportunity.
Lynne Grant Photography chose the theme {All about today}. What happened yesterday, was all about today, one day ago, and what happens tomorrow, will be all about today, the next day. Today is the day that we choose to take our images.
We can do so much or so little. We can hang out at the pool, walk in a garden, snuggle with a loved one. There are so many options to choose from. I cannot wait to see what the blog contributors have come up with for the {All about today} theme.
Today is what you make it, so make the most of it. Once today is gone, we can’t get it back. So choose wisely and enjoy every moment.
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. Don’t forget to tag the Instagram posts with #sharesix_light Each month we will do an interview with the featured artist, so share your images to be a part of this opportunity.
@jojoartjo was selected as our Featured Artist for the theme {Revive} and I connected with Julie to learn more about her story and her stunning art.
Tell us a bit about yourself? And, are you a hobbyist or a pro?
Hi, I am a Julie. I live in a little mountain town in Northern California, but I am a beach girl at heart. I live here with my hubby, three kids (who are growing up way too fast), and four cats. Art is my happy place and I started seriously learning about ten years ago. I tend to break the art rules and strive to always shoot new. I don’t want to do the same thing over and over. I love texture and color and images that make you think.
Out of the Clouds – I often depict my emotions in my art and often I have a lot of dark and moody work. But in the piece I was wanting to feel the ability to come up and out of that dark place. I captured her jumping and tried to make her very bird-like to soar out of the clouds.
I was a hobbyist who went pro and have now gone back to being a hobbyist. Photography has always been about processing life for me, so after going pro for a few years I realized photography wasn’t meaning that anymore. Since I have a career, I decided to let the photography business go and now it feeds me in a much more important way.
Transformation – I wanted to create an image of transformation and the butterfly is the perfect representation of that. So here she is, in a cocoon of sorts, transforming, emerging, into her beautiful whole.
What inspired you to pick up your camera initially?
When I was a kid we had a darkroom and I loved being in there. Bringing photos to life was fascinating. Many, many, years later I was an adult, married with three kids, and busy acupuncture practice. I was struggling with balance. I needed something for myself. I remembered how much I loved the darkroom but now everything was digital. So I bought a camera and from the very first click I was in love and off on an adventure.
Underwater Solitude – This is an earlier image of mine that still captures my eye years later. The softness of the water and color surrounding and holding her brings me peace
How do you improve your technique?
I absolutely loved the process of learning and mastering the camera/Lightroom/Photoshop. I was obsessed with learning and any spare moment I had was spent on it. I never wanted to shoot traditional photos. I loved blur and rule breaking from the very beginning. This combination gave me a lot of room to just play and explore. I am also very open to letting the art find itself. Most of the time where I start with an idea will completely morph as I create. And that is when I am at my happiest.
Out the Window – A theme across my art is shooting through things. I like wondering what the story is on the other side. Here color and composition played a major role.
Most important thing you have learned about editing?
Oh gosh, well that could be a never ending list of things. But I would say for me is giving yourself the freedom to try really random things. Try things that completely change an image, using tools that don’t make sense, add many layers with different blending modes. The beauty of editing is that anything can be undone or changed. Edit with freedom.
Beauty Is – I love this image. It was one of those images that came alive as I edited. I really explored as I created. There are three words written across her and you can see the Beauty Is but the third word is intentionally unclear, I mostly did that to give the viewer the ability to see whatever they needed to see. I know what the image means to me but I like to often leave the image open to the viewer to interpret it in their own way. I like images to make someone stop and think about them.
Secret weapon. Or piece of advice that’s helped you?
Don’t limit yourself.
Firenze – A very early image that is still a favorite 10 years later. This was was from my very first exploration of a Lensbaby lens. I did everything wrong and the combination with the beautiful Italian texture came together so nicely.
Why photographs? Why not painting? Or poems? Or, for that matter, statutes or taxes?
I think it is natural to gravitate to a certain medium. For over a decade photography has intensely held my attention. But I miss the process of learning and mastering. So if you look at my IG feed you will see I am currently working on learning to draw and paint. (I am a complete newbie at it, so it needs a lot of work, but I believe that artists should see other artists learning, that it takes practice and effort to become good at something.). If you are an artist then why not explore all sorts of arts? It all feeds each other. My knowledge of light and shadow from photography has helped me to learn how to shadow a face in a drawing. All art informs other art. And if creation is what one is after then I think any and all are welcome. But not the taxes. Definitely not the taxes.
Whatever lights your eyes up and tickles your fancy should be embraced. Let’s feed our souls.
What great advise from Julie. I am in awe and in love with her images. Wow! Thank you Julie for sharing your art with us. Don’t forget to check out her work @jojoartjo
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. The theme this month is {Light} for so tag us with #sharesix_light for another 9 days. The theme will change on July 6, 2022.
Our theme for April was {Joy}. We have had a number of long years throughout the world, and Joy is something we could all do with a great helping of in our lives.
Photos from our Instagram page that we have chosen to highlight are below and are in alphabetical order. Click on the names to link to the photographers page. Go and like them, show them some love, you will enjoy seeing their images in your feed. Congratulations to you all.
We all need a little {Joy} in our lives. These images bring a smile to our faces and we thank you for sharing them with us.
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. Don’t forget to tag the Instagram posts with #sharesix_light. Each month we feature one artist on our Facebook and Webpage banner. We will also do an interview with the featured artist, so share your images to be a part of this opportunity.
This month Janet of @wiredtothemoon_ chose the theme {Light}. The web had so many different definitions for light:
“the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.”
“an expression in someone’s eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood.“
“provide with light or lighting; illuminate.“
“make (something) start burning; ignite.“
“having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark.
(of a color) pale.“
We have a quiet month, with some of our group away, some dealing with illness in the family, some taking a much needed break. However, I hope you join Janet and I to see how we have interpreted this theme
If creative blogging to a theme is something you think you may be interested in doing, reach out to us on our Facebook or Instagram page. We would love to hear from you.
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. Don’t forget to tag the Instagram posts with #sharesix_light Each month we will do an interview with the featured artist, so share your images to be a part of this opportunity.
{Revive} – I think that this is something we all look to at some stage. Certainly going through 2 years of Covid, has left us needing some form of {Revive} in our lives. Even with day to day happenings that sap the life out of us, a {Revive} in a day can make a huge difference.
Congratulations to @jojoartjo for being selected as the Featured Artist for the theme {Revive}
“What a stunning and emotive portrayal of revival. I can feel the sun on my face, the flowers blooming and a sense of peace and hope-filled energy! Thank you for sharing your beautiful art with us!”
Photos from our Instagram page that we have chosen to highlight are below and are in alphabetical order. Click on the names to link to the photographers page. Go and like them, show them some love, you will enjoy seeing their images in your feed. Congratulations to you all.
We look forward to seeing your images on our Facebook page and our Instagram Page. Don’t forget to tag the Instagram posts with #sharesix_flatlay. Each month we feature one artist on our Facebook and Webpage banner. We will also do an interview with the featured artist, so share your images to be a part of this opportunity.
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