Capturing May: A Story of Photography
“At last came the golden month of the wild folk — honey-sweet May, when the birds come back, and the flowers come out, and the air is full of the sunrise scents and songs of the dawning year.”
— Samuel Scoville Jr.
May signifies a pivotal period of spring distinguished by flourishing vegetation, lengthening daylight hours, and revitalized energy. The month delivers the complete spectrum of spring’s vibrancy, letting us appreciate nature’s renewal and the anticipation of brighter days ahead. Characterized by robust growth, striking colors, and favorable weather, May offers outstanding opportunities for capturing visual splendor across diverse contexts. The nuanced interaction between morning light, dew-covered grass, and blooming flowers provides compelling subjects for photography.
Explore Nature: Photograph the verdant landscapes and blossoming trees, especially during sunrise and sunset, to achieve exceptional visual results. Are there new wildlife or domestic babies nearby?
Plan Your Sessions: Incorporate thematic elements, including Mother’s Day, Older Americans Month, Memorial Day, graduations, and school’s end for many.
Experiment with Techniques: Apply advanced approaches, such as polarizing filters for water lilies or starburst effects created with shallow apertures, macro images of flowers and gardens in progress.
And did you also know that May is recognized in the U.S. as National Photography Month? It is celebrated to honor the art, history and impact of photography.
We are almost to halfway in our 365 journey, May is a great re-boot month, time to get outside and enjoy the seasonal beauty.
Enjoy this wonderful month of newness and beauty and please share what you see with all of us.
MONTHLY CHALLENGES
A PICTURE IS WORTH...
You know the saying that “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words? Well, once a month you will have the opportunity to include words in your photo. You can use a letter board, include a saying on a photo using a writing app or even photograph something that has words on it such as a sign. The choice is yours.
MUG SHOT
Once a month we will have a day where you can show off your favourite mug and what’s in it. We all have a variety of different mugs. Some are downright hilarious! Now’s your chance to show them off!
COLOUR WEEK
We are continuing with colour again this year. The colour will be introduced on the Sunday and you can include it as little or as much as you’d like during that week. You can choose to include the colour for only one day of the week, three or four days, or even the whole week if you like.
HOW DO I DO THAT
Once a month our creative team will include technical information in their prompt write up. They will explain to you the technique they used to achieve the look of their photo. Our goal is to provide a little advice and guidance to those in the group wanting to learn more about photography techniques. Then it’s your turn to go out and try it.
SELFIE SATURDAY
It’s selfie day! We will be asking you to include a picture of yourself in the daily prompt. This gives just a chance to let our community members know what we look like.
WHAT AM I MAKING
There is so much talent in this group and not just a talent for photography. The creative projects that you show us in your daily photos is remarkable. For this reason, once a month, we will ask you to show us what it is you are making. A chance to show off your many talents. Maybe you’ll pick up a new hobby by seeing what everyone else is working on.
BLACK AND WHITE
Do you always shoot in colour? Have you tried black and white photography? This year we will be having a prompt once a month where we will ask you to shoot in black and white, or to edit your photo in black and white. Creating black and white photos can let you approach photography as an art form or a study of composition and light.
QUOTE
Once a month a creative team member will use a quote as part of their daily prompt. Your goal it to take that quote and interpret in your daily photo. What does that prompt mean to you and how can you capture that in your daily photo.
QUARTERLY CHALLENGES
SCAVENGER HUNT
The scavenger hunt is a quarterly challenge. We will give some specific words to use to go camera hunting with. You will be asked to take 4 photos while on your scavenger hunt. This is a fun challenge that also includes your chance to make a collage.
SEASONAL PHOTO – MY WORLD
We will revisiting the My World prompt again this year but it will be quarterly instead of monthly. Once a quarter, starting in January, you will take a picture in the same place. You will be asked to revisit this prompt once each quarter and document the noted changes. This will show the changing seasons or changes in your environment. If you cannot be in the same place each quarter, just take a picture of where you are and what your world looks like on that day.
PICTURE THE WHOLE OF ME
In the past, we’ve done picture my feet and in my hands. This year, we’re replacing those with a quarterly PICTURE THE WHOLE OF ME prompt. You’ll take one photo each quarter, capturing a different part of yourself, and at the year’s end, you'll turn them into a fun mosaic of the "Whole of Me"!
