What does this time of year mean to you?

To me it means family, food and fabulous decorations.

It is the beginning of the Christmas season, show us how it is for you!

You should have no trouble finding something sweet this time of the year! Did I say it had to be edible? I don’t think so! (wink)

It's that time of the year where we wonder if we are on the naughty or nice list.  Apparently at our house, the lego snowman shares the final verdict.  Use a little holiday whimsy to show whether you are on the naughty or nice list this year.

Comfort: things that make you more comfortable and that make your life easier and more pleasant; a state of being relaxed and less worried. 

We certainly don't want your POTD to cause any discomfort, so keep it simple—show us what made your day a little more pleasant! I love a good holiday playlist! 

It's the 5th of the month and this is the last installment of the "My World" prompts.  Did you photograph the same place each month or did you do something different?  Regardless of where or what you photographed, you will now have 12 My World photos.  It's fun to look back and see the differences from month to month.

This year I have taken my photo at a different cafe and/or a different pastry each month.  It's certainly been a sweet journey for me!  

Where will you photograph your last My World prompt photo for this year?

This is our last color day of 2024. Today... capture the colors of Christmas. You may prefer the traditional colors of red and green. Or... you may like the sparkly silvers and golds. Or... You may be contemporary and enjoy non-traditional colors. Capture the colors of Christmas that you enjoy the most!

A kettle bell may not be the first kind of bell that comes to mind at this time of year, but just in case you make Santa's Nice List, lifting weights to make sure you can carry your haul seems like proper planning.

Whether it's a kettle bell, bells on a bobtail, church bells, bell bottom pants, or bells on a kittie's collar, show us the bells in your world.

I love this magnificent tree and so does everyone else. It’s a Compton Oak, a Virginia Champion Tree that’s 78 feet wide!

Is there a notable tree in your world? Or one made more striking because of the weather or locale? Take us on a walk around your personal arboretum today so we can enjoy it too!

Do you manage to keep alive your Christmas Cactus alive year to year, or are you like me that you have to buy a new one each year.  It makes a great subject for a Macro.

What do you want to take a close up of today?

Holiday light displays really make the season feel magical! They are vibrant and often quite elaborate. We enjoy driving around, searching for the most dazzling displays. 

Share something bright and colorful that adds to the festive spirit!

What story do you want your photograph to tell today?  How can you set the stage that will tell the reader what the story is?

They way I set this scene it's clear that I'm about to make muffins.  

Set your scene and let us see what your story is about.

Frosted Window Panes. Frosted Cakes and Cookies. Frosted snow on the ground.

You can take this anywhere you want!  Have fun.

There are things that become more necessary at this time of year.  For me, a few of those things are coffee, patience, and tape!  Today I can put my hands on six rolls, but I assure you when it comes to wrapping those last-minute gifts, I won't be able to find any!  In that moment, the true necessity of this simple little thing becomes a big deal.

What in your world is a necessity at this time of year more so than in other times?

Bokeh allows photographers to isolate their subjects, making them stand out from the background.

But in this case, we are aiming to make the subject blurred, and by using the lights on the tree we have a bokeh tree.

Whether you celebrate Bodhi Day 12/8), Hanakkaf (12/25-1/2), Yule (12/22-1/1), Christmas (12/25), Kwanza (12/26-1/1), the eve of a new year (12/31),  or simply live through the rhythms of the changing seasons this month, December's vibe is one of wonder and reflection.  Can you capture your December vibe in a single photo?  Give it a try today.

Evergreens are truly spectacular with their deep green foliage. They enhance our outdoor spaces and play a vital role in seasonal decorations. Evergreens have been used to decorate our homes for centuries, whether it's around the front door, on the mantel, or as centerpieces on the table. Their beauty is striking, and their fragrance adds to the festive atmosphere!

My aunt in Maine sends us a fresh-cut wreath every year, and it's such a nice treat!

Tis the season for Joy!  The holiday season can be busy and stressful for many.  Take the time today to slow down and find the joy.  It's everywhere if you look!

I find joy in doing crafts. I made these ornaments a couple of years ago and one of them just happens to say Joy!

What will bring you Joy today?

I love all the ornaments that I have out around the house during this season.

Try to stage your ornament with some lighting and add some other bits in so that you can show it off.

What is your favourite ornament? Take a photo of it!

I love giving, finding, or making the perfect gift for each person on my list.  Unfortunately, my love of finding the gifts exceeds my love for wrapping them so I seem to always be doing that at the last minute.

Show us your favorite, or least favorite, part of gift-giving with today's photo.

Holiday shapes are everywhere if you look closely! From twinkling trees to festive shapes in unexpected places, each captures a piece of the season's spirit. Take a photo that reflects the unique shapes of the holiday season, whether unusual decorations or your traditional favorites!   

Time for Picture Me! Keep your eyes open and you might find a Santa willing to pose with you. If not a living, breathing Santa, maybe a toy or decoration. Keep it simple and enjoy the ho, ho, ho!

Someone put lots of thought and effort into setting up this tree on the beach, going the extra mile to find the perfect shells that would hang on the branches despite the elements. It was a nice surprise while strolling on the beach!

Show us something hung with care.

Pretty lights are everywhere right now.  This house goes all out every Christmas and they decorate like one of the Christmas movies.  This year, they decorated with scenes from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

You should have plenty of choices for your photograph today.  Your Christmas tree, a menorah, a candle, a neighbourhood house, you pick!

"Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house...."

Are you ready for the big day? Have you decorated your home, yard, table? Wrapped your gifts?

Let's see!

Today is a blank canvas for which all of the other prompts have prepared you.

Keep your eyes open and have fun!

At this time of year here we sometimes have frosts, which if the sun is shining, can make the frost glisten.

What will you come across today that is glistening?

The year is almost over and a new one is on the horizon. This is a good time to reflect on what was positive about your 2024, and what wasn’t. Is there something you need to let go of in 2025? Your photo can reveal it literally, or figuratively like I did. It doesn't need explaining. And just like the “Pause” prompt in November, display it to remind yourself that next year you’re going to “Let It Go!”

Today focuses on a technical aspect of photography; however, the technical challenge is not one that is accomplished with your camera.  Rather, it lies in what comes before and what comes after you click the shutter.  We are going to create a triptych.  A triptych is a three-panel image.  It is used to either tell a story, illustrate three aspects of the same thing, or show sequence or progression.  

Before you take your photos, you'll need to consider what you want your triptych to say or show.  Then, you'll combine your photos to best accomplish this.  This can be done in any app that can be used to create a collage.

Amy and I share the same birthday.  So today, we will both be basking in the glow of birthday candles (Mine will likely be much brighter since I'm due way more candles) and the warmth of family and friends.

What three-part story do you want to share today?  Have fun!

"Life is like a mirror.  Smile at it and it smiles back at you." - Peace Pilgrim

Show us your smile today or photograph someone or something that makes you smile.  

The year is almost at an end. It's a great time to reflect on your memories of the past year. 

Today is Challenge Day and we are going to try selective color. Selective color is a technique used to draw attention to a specific color in a photograph. By desaturating the image to black and white, you can selectively highlight one or more colors to create visual impact. However you choose to capture your memories, we want you to play with isolating color. In my example photo I have removed all color except the orange fox on my slippers.

There are apps that will do this for you. Lightroom and Photoshop also work well for this technique.  I used Lightroom for my example.

This is how I executed in Lightroom. First, In the Color Mixer Panel using the Saturation Sliders,  I moved all of the sliders to -100 except for the color I wanted to highlight. Next, I created a mask and used the Adjustment Brush, set at a saturation of -100, to paint over and remove unwanted color from any remaining areas.

This is the final photo of the year, marking a significant milestone! You now have an album that tells your unique story throughout 2024! Take a moment to celebrate and reflect on all the amazing images you've created!

The 365 Picture Today team would like to sincerely thank you for being such an essential part of this incredible community. We truly appreciate your support and involvement. It’s the connections we build one photo at a time that make this journey together so meaningful. 

Join us as we kick off 2025 tomorrow! You won't want to miss it!