Getting my photo-mojo back!

Lately I have been rather out of sorts when it comes to taking photos, which is completely unlike me as I have usually taken at least 50 photos of whatever by the time I snuggle up in bed at night. A lot of things have affected my life recently and have completely messed my mind up as far as photography goes. My photo-mojo has been off and I have found myself photoless on too many days!

I did enjoy a day out in Brick lane recently (about a month ago) with London Photo Walk, which I really enjoyed and while I didn't meet masses of people in the group (I chatted to one or two fellow photographers) I did get to chat and hang out amongst some of the most vibrant and interesting people and places in London. I LOVE the East End and don't know why for so long I have wasted my time fighting the crowds of the trendy, expensive West End. The East End is where I should have been, with it's grubby streets, quirky little restaurants and cafes and amazingly dark history...I have found my London niche and it is somewhere I will go often! The sights and smells on my walk around were something I can't describe...but I can say that it was ALL GOOD!

 

These are some of the photos I managed to snap while out and about...my photo-mojo was working well that day!

Since then however I have been a little flat. I have started to follow another photo challenge 365 Project.

I have taken a photo most days for this but as I am feeling uninspired they are often at the last minute and not well thought out (not something I am used to!) To see some of my 365 pictures here is the link to follow...oskandoly 365 project.

Hopefully I will get back into the groove and start back on taking 100's of photos a day again! #fmsphotoaday November has started and I have vowed to take each and every photo this month, October was a bit of a wash out! Here's the first pic for the month and November's list should you want to get involved (and I really think you should!).

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you had a good Halloween.....take care.

xx Pen xx

The last of my June photo challenges and hello July!

Why am I finding time just slipping away? I didn't feel 100% yesterday so didn't feel up to blogging my Monday shouts and today I have all of yesterdays chores to catch up with so am not sure when I'll get time to shout out for the wonderful blogs I have discovered.

I will post my photo updates from the photo a day challenge. I have a few June ones to share and also the new July ones (am still having a ball with this!)

June 26th- Where I shop. I got a skateboard for my son for his 6th birthday.

June 27th-Bathroom

June 28th- On the shelf.

June 29th- Soft. Well it is fairly self-explanatory...my baby boy's soft curls!

June 30th- Friend. This may seem like a strange thing to have as
a friend but I was slightly seedy from indulging in too much wine the
night before...so these babies were definitely my besties!

And so the July photo challenge begins!

July 1st- Self Portrait. I am still trying hard to get as many photos of me as I can.

July 2nd- Busy. I kind of cheated on this one as I couldn't get inspired on this day so I
used a photo I'd taken ages ago in Calais, France of a busy bumblebee.

July 3rd- Best part of my day. We had the school's olympic torch relay coming to our school and I had
organised a special Maori welcome for the other school. There was flag waving and singing and Oly was given the NZ flag to wave. She did it with such vigor! It was fantastic to see my wee "pommy" daughter getting back to her roots and waving the flag with so much excitement!

July 4th- Fun. As part of his birthday treat Osk and I went to Lakeside Shopping Centre
for shopping, lunch and a film. It was nice to have some alone time with him without the monster!

July 5th- On the floor. I was covering in a Year 10 History lesson... this is my camera and handbag on the floor under my desk.

July 6th- Chair. A collage of my fave chairs from around my house, technically one is a couch but I love snuggling up on it so felt it should be part of the photo!

July 7th- Garden. I am feeling quite pleased with my garden at the moment, everything is starting to bloom and the fruit is ripening. I managed to pick enough currants to make some home-made Ribena!

Well that's it so far, it's so much fun to look back at all the photos I've taken since I started doing this challenge in April. I am thinking of making a big canvas picture using the printsgram.com service to make a huge collage.

I hope the day is treating you well...I am off now to get stuck into the housework...ewwwwww there is a huge pile of ironing beckining I HATE IRONING!

What is your most loathed household chore?

xx P xx

More of my June photos

A quick post to update my June photos from @fatmumslim photo a day challenge . I have missed a couple of days...eeeekkkk....as I have had a rather manic few weeks at work and home but have got most of them done, I will attempt to go back and catch up when it all calms down here. The new list for July has gone up though so I am pretty excited about that!

June 15th- Yellow. This was from a family walk in the country in amongst the fields of Rapeseed. The colours were amazing.

June 16th- Out and About. A family trip to the garden centre.

June 17th- In your bag. My beloved cameras and other handbag goodies.

June 18th- Something we don't know about you. I am a tad OCD about who folds my washing.
Don't now why but I just have to fold it myself!

June 19th- Imperfect. This was a tricky one so I ended up getting onto the google machine
 and seeing what results came up for imperfect to see if I could get any inspiration.
This quote by Leonard Cohen came up and I thought it was kind of cool.

June 20th- Fave photo you've ever taken.
 I have taken sooooo many photos that I love I could never have possibly just chosen one.
 I had a hard time choosing six to fit onto this frame.

June 21st- Where you slept. I wish it could have been longer though!

June 23rd- Movement. I have been playing around with my camera and experimented with movement and light effects.
 Still a wee way to go to get the perfect pictures
 but this was a fun thing to do and I sure I could get some amazing effects.

June 25th- Something cute.
I think I may be a little biased on this one, but this is definitely something VERY CUTE!

Well there they are so far...only a few more day to go until the new July list takes over...pretty excited to get into that on!

I hope I have convinced at least one of you to take part in this challenge. I'd love to see any photos that you have taken too. It's a really great way to record day to day life and I am enjoying looking back at the photos I've taken so far.
Hope you are having a fabulous Tuesday, time for me to go and soak up some Vitamin D in the garden.

xx P xx

June photos so far...

I'm still loving the photo a day challenge and have managed to take almost all of the pics this month, all bar 2 that I didn't get to do...I just couldn't get inspired on those days, which I hate!
Have you started the photo a day challenge yet? I really encourage all those I talk to to get inspired and get on board. It is so easy, you really only need a mobile phone that can take photos and you're away! It has become one of the first things I check each day...what is the photo challenge I need to do today? Is that a bit sad??

June 1st -Morning...a night in London away from my babies...a girl could get used to the lie ins!

June 2nd- Home made cider...very dangerous stuff!

June 4th- Close up..playing with one of my phone apps here, trying to make early morning/no make-up eyes look ok!

June 5th- Sign...Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London with my gorgeous family!

June 6th- Hat...amazing how a quick snap can be transformed into something quite cool with the help of a few phone apps! This photo was literally taken at the last second with me bunging a hat on my head, holding the phone up, clicking and hoping for the best!

June 8th- Drink...best coffee I have had in a long time from The Squeeze in Leigh on Sea!

June 9th- My view today. It was a sunny, beautiful day and I had accomplished quite a lot! I was in a glass half full mood!

June 10th- Best bit of your weekend...discovering a wee slice of home in Southend, it was just like sitting in a Wellington cafe!

June 11th- Door. I always smile whenever I see this door...home! I am also very proud of the beautiful clematis, that my mum got me last summer, that is growing so well!

June 12th- From a low angle...peace descends on my classroom, it is break time and the kids have all gone out!

June 13th- Art...from one of my all time favourite artists...my baby boy! He's included us all...Mummy, Daddy,himself,  his 2 sisters and the dog!

June 14th- Time...a shot of the clock I made for Oly's kitchen (still needs some hands though!)

June 14th- Time...another time picture I created using a new phone app I downloaded...I think I am a tad obsessed with photo apps!

Well that is June so far for me. I really hope my photos perhaps inspire someone to have a go and get snapping, it is absolutely addictive and a great way to catalogue your day to day life.
I hope everyone's Thursday is treating them well and thanks for stopping by.

xx P xx