whatever makes you nervous

I read recently that whenever Michael Jordan steps onto the golf course his buddies always ask him what the bets are on the match, his standard response is "whatever makes you nervous."

I love this. This is what I'll bet on myself this year - whatever makes me nervous.  Not comfortable, not safe. Nervous.

Making this deal with myself has lead me down some pretty great paths already but one thing I must do is make this road a little less cluttered from distractions. I am launching a full force photography & design business this year - not just going with the flow like years past. I am getting married! I have some big things coming up and I need to focus on quality time with my loved ones. After my 365 is over I will not be spending unnecessary time online. I will be promoting my life with healthy choices and taking what I've learnt this year to push further into my career.

So where does that leave us? Well I will no longer be a regular muse but an on call and sporadic one instead, I will pop in here and there as the other ladies might need a break from their regular posts. One of the things that pushes me to be a better photographer is this community and the land of flickr. Something that I am so very grateful for. Soooooo, who's going to be my replacement?!? This is the exciting part!!!!!

Christy of Urban Muser is going to take the gig. yay! We are so very excited to welcome her on board with us. Her take on life in NYC is amazing & she will be sure to add some spice to this amazing group of ladies.

thanks for everything,
we'll see you soon!

Michel of wishful thinking
michelfeist.com

looking by Urban Muser

play time

Like my fellow muses, I love shooting down low.  It is especially fun during play time to show the perspective of my children.  I spend most of my days down here on the floor which is usually covered with clothes, books and toys, and I wouldn't change it for the world!

I love all the lines and colors in Ruby T.'s photo, looks like some fun playing going on!

Thanks once again for sharing your beautiful inspiring photographs :)

April from april's 365

untitled by ruby t

heavenly alchemy

A beautiful sunset can be spellbinding as Shakespeare says, "Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy". Of course they are a particularly good time to take pictures and mixing the ingredient of an unusual point of view adds to the magic. I spent an extraordinary evening in the summer, watching a sunset while lying on the ground, taking pictures every time the colours changed. It was a perfect way to appreciate just how bewitching those colours can be.

I chose princessinboots's picture because this beautiful sunset is transformed through heavenly alchemy into an even more magical moment with the added ingredients of the lower perspective.

I'm looking forward to having a go at making a diptych or triptych, having never done one before. You guys just keep inspiring me!

kirstin
x

farewell to summer by princessinboots

everyday lowdown

I began shooting 'down low' just recently, and it's become one of my favorite things to do with my camera. It always offers up such a unique perspective of sights that I have seen so many times before. This photo was taken along a trail in a nearby park where I run most days. It was fun to capture this other view of what I normally see along the familiar trail, including the camera shy squirrel.

I also love the perspective Elizabeth found in her photo, and her description of "occasionally lying on the ground taking worm's eye views of something or another."

maureen of cottage 960

327/365 - November 23 2010 (Outtake) by : Elizabeth :

feet first

This Thanksgiving, I discovered the expressiveness of feet.  To be honest, I've been a little puzzled by the whole feet-photo-phenomenon on flickr -- even though I've taken a few myself, I didn't really get the fascination with bench shots and toe shots and shoe shots.

But then last week I spotted my daughter and her cousin doing the dishes together after Thanksgiving dinner.  My daughter, a stylish 17, is adored by her 7-year-old cousin.  I remembered back to the days when I  idolized my older cousins -- I wanted to dress like them, wear their shoes, BE them.  So this shot of just feet kind of tells the whole story, doesn't it?  Someday this little 7-year-old will be the one sporting the high heels, and will be idolized by the next generation of cousins.  And so it goes.

Mimundo's photo featuring happy red pigeon feet tells it's own story -- hungry birds doing a little pushing and shoving to get the best morsels, claws skittering on the cold stone walk.  I love the focus on those red legs, and their little heart-shaped beaks.

I guess I've seen the light when it comes to feet.  Can Bench Monday be far behind?

Until next time.  --lucy

hungry by mimundo

the low-down

My husband and I were chuckling recently over our differences when we go on photo walks (sometimes we're even able to take photo walks together like in the old days, when family are visiting to keep an eye our seven year old).  He will be up trees, hanging over cliff edges, and clambering up rocky hills to get his shots.  I on the other hand am most often crouched down - or lying down - to capture the world from the perspective of my feet.  It's a vantage point that I, at almost six feet tall, don't often get to see unless I make a point of gettin' down, camera in hand and mud on my knees and elbows.

The photo above is a perfect example, taken while my hubby traipsed down a steep slippery path on the Northern California coast while I attempted to get low enough to position the light somewhat behind the amazing colour of these ice plants.

And speaking of ice,  although it was a chilly day when I took my photo, nothing could compare to the nose-nipping frostiness Tracy K. must have been experiencing as she snapped this bokeh-licious piece of gorgeousness recently.

Thanks for helping feed my love for worm's eye view shots in the flickr pool this week. 

cheers,
mosey

11.18.10 ~ More sparkle by Tracy K.

below

Down low happens much more than we expect. I often forget that.
A few days ago I took this shot and realized that there is much more we could look for on the ground.
Maybe reflections, raindrops in a puddle, leaves, forgotten notes or candy wrappers. In these dark and dreary days of the upcoming winter, we must look everywhere for inspiration. Even if it might be on the ground.

I loved the picture of MarieLouise {more outside than inside} because, simply I am a sucker for bokeh and puddle reflections.

Thanks for so much beauty in the Mortal Muses flickr pool. See you in 9 days, my friends!

Love,

Suki of sukiphotographyblog

It's magical by MarieLouise {more outside than inside}

The Winner of  the WE ARE THANKFUL blog hop giveaway,

 a Holga Starter Kit, is Linkup #28 - ROSIE GREY.
Congratulations!

what you see

What you see changes depending on your point of view, we learn that through photography and it's a life lesson we can take with us. Ever since I wondered what the world looks like from a flower's point of view, the "down low" perspective has been one of freedom and play for me. I love how things look different, the details you see. I would have never noticed the painstaking paint job that had been done on these steps without getting down low. The love and care, and the little imperfections of a few stray strokes - it tells me something of the person who lives there.

In faithruckus' photo, I loved how the "down low" perspective changed her image to one that is more about line and color and less about place. It's only a shift of a few feet, from eye level to down low, but there's a whole new world that opens up.

Kat of The Kat Eye View of the World

Aggressive Greens by faithruckus   

change your perspective

forest trail by blue elephant photography

The easiest things in my world to miss are those things lying 5 feet below (may be more or less for others). However, whenever I can remember, I always take a minute to stoop DOWN LOW and look back out at the world. The world becomes brand new again. The leaves rustle a bit louder and the ground sure seems hillier.

We see the world at eye level for the majority of our days. Day in and day out we follow similar routines and we start to take the world around us for granted. It’s when we change our perspective that we can learn again to appreciate and marvel at simple things like the little ballerina who is trying to make a statement in AnnGeeDee's photo.

It’s down here, down low, where my imagination can more easily wander. Merely one of many leaves, I can take a minute to decide which breeze I should catch and where I may like to go. I can’t hide from the world and stare at my shoes. I am my shoes and all I can do is look up and soak everything in. Or maybe have a quick conversation with a blade of grass or my leafy friends.

Have an awesome day! I hope you are enjoying your long weekend break. ♥

guest muse kristine of blue elephant photography

312.365 by AnnGeeDee

___________________________

Please share some comment love today with our first muse's muse.

You never know when I may reach out to YOU to muse with us.

♥ tammy lee

and the next theme is... down low

Looking for an interesting photo? Try getting down on the ground for a whole new perspective of the world around you. I used to be nervous to do this, especially in public, but then I realized that the wonderful results far outweigh any embarassment that I may feel. Now, only my kids and husband are embarrassed.... for me. You may want to wear something that you do not mind getting dirty.

We look forward to seeing all your DOWN LOW photos in the flickr pool.  Make sure to visit with us tomorrow when I start musing on "Thankful."

Until then. Stay sweet. ♥ tammy lee