May 2024

"Let all thy joys be as the month of May, And all thy days be as a marriage day."
- Thomas Tusser

The beauty that May brings can only help lift our spirits. Flowers are back, trees are leafing out, and even the gentle showers can bring us joy. That includes bridal “showers”!

Your photography can express emotions. Your choice of colors, your lighting, and of course your subject will say much about your life at the moment.

Life isn’t always sunny. Maybe your May clouds over. Don’t be afraid to let your photos reflect that. As we remind you -- and ourselves! --, this is your 365. Your photos can be a form of journaling to help you through this time. The most wonderful thing about this group, in my humble opinion, is the complete honesty that is shared within our community. Because our pictures reflect our lives, our hearts become wrapped up in each others’. I’ve seen us cry, pray, empathize, and reach out publicly and privately because we know that here we care. And here, we’re safe.

Don't want to publish your photo? That's okay too. You can still keep up the habit. Create a file on your computer or on Facebook, set your audience to "Only Me." Audience settings are right under your name. You can even make it your default setting until you're ready to go public again!

Be honest with yourself this month. Express your life’s sunshine and clouds with your photography.

Explaining the Prompts

This year we are pleased to announce a whole new look to 365 Picture Today. We asked! You answered! Instead of weekly themes, we will be featuring specific days with specific tasks.

Where I Stand

This prompt will occur on the last day of every month! You get to be as creative as you like, but the challenge is to include your feet in the photograph. It will be fun to see the different environments our photography journey takes us to.

Colour Day

Colour day is back by popular demand! Instead of a full week of colour we are introducing "colour day". It will be occurring once a month with a beautiful colour chosen by your creative team. It is completely up to you to include either a little or a lot of the specified colour.

Macro Monday

On Macro Monday we focus on the little details! On the 2nd Monday of every month we are asking you to use your macro skills to enhance the prompt of the day. We encourage you to get in close! You can use your macro lens, macro filters or simply crop your photos.

Challenge Day

This is an exciting, new and super fun challenge for 2024! On this day we will be offering you a photography challenge and ask you to recreate it!

Technical Day

This one is for the inner techies in all of us! On Technical Day we will be giving out instructions on specific photography technical skills. There will be a variety of skills explained to help you learn or enhance your abilities. We can all learn from one another.

Picture Me

It's selfie day! Once a month we will be asking you to include a picture of yourself in the daily prompt. This gives us a chance to let our community member know what we look like!

Scavenger Hunt

The scavenger hunt is a quarterly challenge. We will give you some specific words to use to go camera hunting with. This is a fun challenge that also includes your chance to make a collage.

My World

On the 5th day of every month you will take a picture in the same place. This will show the changing seasons, or just the subtle changes of the that environment. If you cannot be in the same place every month, just take a picture of where you are and what your world looks like on that day.

Guest Prompt

Once a month we honour a member of our community with a Community Profile and the chance to write a prompt with an accompanying photograph! It is a special day for community members and a chance for all of us to get to know one another just a little bit better.

MAY

Day 122 - May 1 - Line 'em up

Day 122 - May 1

Line 'em up

Lines and repetition create movement through the frame. They draw the eye to a particular point.

Either find or create an interesting line-up of items today.

Kris

Day 123 - May 2 - Ground Level

Day 123 - May 2

Ground Level

The only way I’d get this close to a snapping turtle is if it was a baby! Was it hard to shoot it? Yes! Was it worth it? Double yes!

If getting up prevents you from getting down, shoot from where you’re most comfortable. The important thing is to get the “camera” on the level with your subject. It's a whole different world down below!

Leslie

Day 124 - May 3 - Fairy Tales

Day 124 - May 3

Fairy Tales

Once upon a time there was a little girl who lived in a village near a forest....

A fairy-tale is an enchanted, mythical short story belonging in the folklore genre. The word fairy- tale can also be used to describe something exceptionally happy, as in having a fairy-tale ending. If you tell a far fetched story or tall tale, it might also be described as a fairy-tale.

Today you get to choose your own fairy-tale! Are you going to dress up and act out a scene? Or, has there been a fairy-tale ending to your day that you can photograph? Maybe you might want to tell a tall tale in the form of a photograph.

Me, I dug into the depths of my tickle trunk and headed out to the woods....."What big teeth you have Grandma".

Lysle

Day 125 - May 4 - For You

Day 125 - May 4

For You

As you go through the day consider the little and/or big things that you do just for YOU!

Maybe you routinely pick up flowers at the grocery store, get your nails done, set aside time for a peaceful stroll along your favorite trail or meditation on the living room floor. Maybe you meet friends for a round of pickle ball or book club; or, simply grab a coffee or take out after a long day!

I took a few minutes to pick some daffodils on my way home from work.

Amy

Day 126 - May 5 - My World

Day 126 - May 5

My World

Seasonal Photo

It's the fifth of the month again! Time for your monthly "My World" seasonal photo. Some of you are photographing the same spot each month, or using a letterboard, or meeting friends for coffee and pastries! Let's see what your World looks like today!

Garnett

Day 127 - May 6 - Yellow

Day 127 - May 6

Yellow

Color Day

Yellow is such a cheerful color. It seems to be the color that epitomizes happiness.

As you go about your day today, look for a little bit of happiness in the color yellow. It may be a flower, someone's clothing, some sunshine, or you may be surprised to find happiness in an unexpected place. Be open and be happy!

Kris

Day 128 - May 7 - Water

Day 128 - May 7

Water

Whatever water you can find today will be good. If you, for some reason, can't get outside then look towards your fruit bowl or your flowers. Spray them gently with some water and photograph the drops.

What sort of water will you find today?

Lee

Day 129 - May 8 - Staying Healthy

Day 129 - May 8

Staying Healthy

Someone was having some healthy fun while staying healthy!

What does staying healthy mean to you? Exercise? Food? A good habit? Inspire us with your photo.

Leslie

Day 130 - May 9 - Five

Day 130 - May 9

Five

High Five!

Did you know that the number five symblizes freedom, curiosity and change? I interpret this as an opportunity to go out and explore or go on an adventure....to find five items! I set out on an adventure and found a burned out car in the bush and was intrigued by it's 5 lug nuts! If you cannot get out, a still life is a great back up plan.

Lysle

Day 131 - May 10 - Everyday

Day 131 - May 10

Everyday

Share a quick snap of something that is part of your everyday!

Amy

Day 132 - May 11 - Prompt Free

Day 132 - May 11

Prompt Free

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

Keep your eyes open and have fun!

Prompt Free

Day 133 - May 12 - Mother's Day

Day 133 - May 12

Mother's Day

A mother's job is to nurture those in her care. Whether you nurture children, pets, or plants, you are important in the lives of those for whom you care. As we celebrate Mother's Day in the U.S. today, show us those who have been entrusted to your care or the person or persons who have nurtured you.

Kris

Day 134 - May 13 - Sharp

Day 134 - May 13

Sharp

Macro Monday

In your photos you do not need all of the object to be in sharp focus. But make sure that the focus is on the bit that you want to be sharp.

Put the sharp focus on the thirds, this really helps to draw your eye. Nigella's are in season here and is a different sort of flower to the normal. I focused on the twirly bits.

Remember it is Macro Monday so try to get in close and show us the interesting bits in sharp focus.

Lee

Day 135 - May 14 - Negative Space

Day 135 - May 14

Negative Space

Negative space is a simple, but powerful way to draw the viewer’s attention to the subject. It can also heighten the story you want to communicate, such as fear, awe, or, in my case, the punchline! Uncluttered backgrounds like an expanse of empty sky, open water, or a blank wall work. Let that space take up much more of the photo than the subject. If you are not in complete control of the background--a seagull overhead for instance--put that healing tool to use and wipe it out.

Negative isn’t always negative. Used well, it can be very positive!

Leslie

Day 136 - May 15 - Artistic

Day 136 - May 15

Artistic

ar-tis-tic having or revealing natural creative skill

What a fabulous word for this group! We are a creatively divergant group. As photographers we create artistically every single day. We are supportative and appreciative of each other and I love that we are not a competative group, but instead learn from one another while encouraging each other to carry on.

Many of us have artistic skills outside of photography. We are a group rich in musicians, painters, dancers, knitters, sewers, book binders, weavers, florists, bakers, quilters and even flower print makers, to name a few.

What is your artistic talent outside of photography?

Lysle

Day 137 - May 16 - Larger Than Life

Day 137 - May 16

Larger Than Life

When something is larger than life, it is more exciting and interesting than anything else around. It attracts a lot of attention and becomes the stuff of legends.

Since 1858, the Mickey Coffee Pot has been a towering fixture in NC. It stands over 7 feet tall and can hold up to 740 gallons or 11,840 cups of brew!

Share something that caught your attention today!

Amy

Day 138 - May 17 - Pages

Day 138 - May 17

Pages

Challenge Day

Today is Challenge Day! The challenge is to recreate the image shown above with your own twist. Today we are going to intentionally blur the pages of a book.

To create this image, I had my camera on a tripod and the settings were ISO 500, 42 mm, f5 and 1/8 sec. I used natural light coming in through the window. I pressed the shutter and then flipped the pages.

Find a book today and have fun blurring the pages. Play around with the shutter speed until you get the blur you want. The objective is to have everything else in the scene clear with only the pages blurred.

Have fun!

Garnett

Day 139 - May 18 - In a box

Day 139 - May 18

In a box

Scavenger Hunt

Are you ready for a scavenger hunt! Today's the day. Our prompt is "In a Box". I decided to do a little rhyme with today's scavenger hunt. I used the same box for each of the photos but you could use a different box for each if you'd prefer. For today's scavenger hunt find something old, something small, something floral, ending with them all. I took a photo of each item and for the last photo, I placed them all in the box together attempting to arrange them in a pleasing way.

Happy hunting!

Diane

Day 140 - May 19 - Find a Face

Day 140 - May 19

Find a Face

Did you know that seeing faces in things is called pareidolia.

So whilst out and about today, see if you can find a face in an object.

What expression will you find today?

Lee

Day 141 - May 20 - Stacked

Day 141 - May 20

Stacked

Guest Prompt

Stacked; verb, past tense; a number of things arranged in a stack or stacks. (definition from the Oxford Dictionary)

What is the difference between stacked and piled, you may wonder? According to my research, a stack is neat and orderly and a pile is messy. You might see stacks of pancakes, papers, rocks, books, or even stacked heels today. Let your imagination run wild and take a photo of any stacked item you find. Have fun!

Cheryl Hammer

Day 142 - May 21 - Painting with Light

Day 142 - May 21

Painting with Light

Technical Day

It is technical day! Today we are going to try physiogram light painting! Don't be scared. The word is big but the technique is simple!

Simply put, a physiogram is a picture of a light pattern caused by a swinging light and captured by using long exposure.

Here is the step by step process

Hang a torch or laser pointer from a piece of string from the ceiling.
Set your camera exposure to manual, and use your smallest aperature and a low ISO setting. Set your shutter speed to 30 seconds (you can experiment with what works best for you). Put your camera on 10 second timer or use your remote.
Place your camera on a tripod that can face upward (or put your camera on the floor facing up) and place it directly under your hanging light.
Turn on your hanging torch. Turn off all the other lights. Swing the torch, and press your shutter button on your camera remote to start the exposure.

It's that easy! Experiment with different exposure times, coloured lights or multiple light strings! I used the flashing emergency light on a small flashlight.

There are many, many light painting techniques including spinning steel wool, waving glow sticks, and writing words with light from a flash light or sparkler. Try light painting today!

Lysle

Day 143 - May 22 - From below

Day 143 - May 22

From below

Let's try to capture a unique perspective of our subject, by shooting from a low angle. This can be achieved by positioning your camera below eye level, on the ground, or looking up at your subject. Can't wait to see how low you go!

Amy

Day 144 - May 23 - Currently loving

Day 144 - May 23

Currently loving

Earlier in the year I bought myself these Lego roses. I used them for a prompt in January I think. At that time, I had completed four of them. I've since completed the whole dozen and the accompanying baby's breath. I am in love with them and have them in a vase on my dining room table. This was my first venture into the Lego world and I think I'm hooked. I see more Lego in my future.

What are you currently loving? Photograph it and show it off to us!

Diane

Day 145 - May 24 - Skyward

Day 145 - May 24

Skyward

Look! Up in the air! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a steeple! It’s whatever you want to shoot that’s pointing skyward! (Just don’t hurt your neck looking.)

Leslie

Day 146 - May 25 - Eyes

Day 146 - May 25

Eyes

Picture Me

“The most pathetic person in the world is some one who has sight but no vision.”
― Helen Keller

Today is Picture Me day with a focus on our eyes. As photographers, we think of our eyes as our most valuable asset. Being legally blind, I have to agree with the words of Helen Keller. I don't have the sight that most of the world does. It is "vision" that helps me to feel confident picking up my camera every day. It is also difficult for me to want to photograph my eyes up close because I have nystagmus. So, my photo today reflects all of those things.

For those of you who have beautiful eyes, be grateful for them and show them off today! And if you don't, show us how you relate to your eyes.

Kris

Day 147 - May 26 - Scissors

Day 147 - May 26

Scissors

I decided to go big or go home with my “scissors!” I also put them to work!

My photo's impact depends a lot on diagonals as a compositional tool (no pun intended). The eye is led around the image by the angles within the shears, the diagonal line of the fence, and the pops of orange. It’s a popular technique dating back to the Renaissance.

While you’re photographing your scissors today, give diagonals a try. They can take this simple subject and turn it into art.

Leslie

Day 148 - May 27 - Alone

Day 148 - May 27

Alone

To be alone means to have no one else present.

By isolating your subject within a large amount of space, you can get some very satisfying results. It may show isolation, sadness or complete peace of mind.

Today photograph one item, alone! It can be one person, one tree, one boat, one building or anything you find....alone!

Lysle

Day 149 - May 28 - Framing

Day 149 - May 28

Framing

There are lots of ways to frame your image; with structures like doors and windows, with bits of nature like the branches of a tree, or literally with a picture frame. What will you choose?

Amy

Day 150 - May 29 - Low Tech

Day 150 - May 29

Low Tech

I grew up in a very low tech world. There have been so many technological advances during my lifetime; it's hard to keep up! Many low tech items are now obsolete or are gracing our museums!

A lot of people still hang their clothes on a clothesline to dry. Sometimes the low tech way really is the better way! Do you still hang on to low tech ways or devices? Let's take a walk down memory lane today and revisit some of our favourite low tech devices and systems.

Diane

Day 151 - May 30 - Letters

Day 151 - May 30

Letters

The art of letterwriting seems to be vanishing from our culture. It makes me a bit sad as a letter preserves a piece of the sender forever. The handwriting and writing style are unique and the contents can snap a piece of history. I have a collection of letters that my parents and grandparents wrote. They are special treasures to me. Do you have any letter collections? If not, you can write a letter today!

Garnett

Day 152 - May 31 - Where I Stand

Day 152 - May 31

Where I Stand

This time of year, much of my "free" time is spent in the greenhouse or in the garden. In reality, my time spent tending to the plants is doing chores, but they don't really feel that way. I enjoy this time more than I do most other chores.

Are you doing chores today? Having fun? Or mixing the two together? Where do you stand?

Kris