52 Week Photo Project

Last year I thought it would be fun to participate in a 52 week photo challenge. {A 52 week photo challenge is when you take a picture and post it on your blog every week. There is usually a theme for each week's post} The only problem was that I didn't stick with it. Which I regret because the pictures I did take I loved. So this year I am recruiting my friends, family, acquaintances and anyone else who wants to participate to join with me. You can all hold me accountable and I you. Why should you participate?

1. If you are like me you take fewer and fewer pictures of your kids, family and everyday life and want to change that.
2. If you are like me you have become a terrible blogger and where my blog is my family journal that means I am also a terrible journal keeper so taking pictures and posting them every week will help us accomplish two goals at once.
3. You want to improve your photography no matter what kind of camera you use and the key to being a better photographer is PRACTICE!
4. It will just be fun and you will have a treasure of photos after the 52 weeks.

I have put together a 52 week schedule (bottom of this post) and I am setting up a weekly post on this blog where you will be able to post a link to your blog post each week. This way we can all see what everyone is doing and hopefully this will help keep us motivated. Here are a few more details that will hopefully answer any questions you might have:

• Do I need a fancy DSLR camera to participate?  -  Of course not! You can use any camera you want - iphone, point and shoot, DSLR etc. I don't care what you use just make sure it is your own work. 
• Do I need to stick to the weekly themes or prompts? No.  I have put together a schedule with weekly themes that are merely suggestions and to help get the creative juices flowing. You are welcome to pick your own topic or just post a favorite picture from the week. The point is to document your life and what is most important to you. Having a topic or theme will hopefully add variety and encourage creativity.
• Be Creative! Not only with the topic or theme for the week but also how you take the picture. Consider shooting from different angles - high, low, close up or even far away. Ask yourself "How would I normally take this picture?" and then try shooting from a different position.
• I will have a weekly Friday post sharing my photo and you will be able to add a direct link to your blog post with your weekly photo. I would ask that you link back to my blog post from your post so that others who want to see what we are doing or join in the fun can.
• You can post on your own blog whenever you want but as far as the linky submissions form it will be available Friday through Thursday. If you miss a week don't give up and just start again on the next week.
• I encourage you to check out other people's posts and share some comment love and words of encouragement.
• I reserve the right to delete any submitted entry from my blog post that I find offensive. I doubt I will actually have to do this but you never know. We live in a crazy world.

We will start the first week of January with your first post scheduled for Friday January 4, 2013 and the theme is "52 steps from your front door." 

To be clear on the dates here is an example of week 1. Ideally you will take your picture between Sunday December 30th and Friday January 4th. Post your picture on your blog on Friday, January 4th and then add your link and thumbnail to the blog post on my blog. If you don't get your picture taken and posted on Friday, January 4th don't despair. You have until Thursday, January 10th to link your post for week 1. Clear as mud?

If you would like to participate or if you have any questions please  leave a comment on this 52 week blog post.  I am excited to hear who will be joining me on this journey.