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• Shelby Erickson
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Each January 1st, I continue my tradition of reflecting on the years past and creating goals for the year ahead. I love the fresh start of a clean slate, of having a new beginning, and the excitement attached to the possibilities that await us in the New Year.

Earlier this afternoon, on this first day of two-thousand fourteen, I sat outside in the warm sunshine penning my goals to my trusty journal and committed to a challenge. In trying to strengthen my photography skills, I chose to create a photo project–to take a picture each day, for 31 days. I knew that it needed to be a challenge that would take a bit of effort, but in a time frame that is achievable. There aren’t too many rules, just that I have to snap my shutter every day.

Feeling excited to get started, I picked up my camera and focused on a bloom that was in my backyard. I chose this subject mainly because in the past, photographing Iris have been tricky for me to capture elegantly. I got down low for the right angle, moved some of the surrounding leaves out of the way and chose an aperture that was a little smaller than I like to use, for the main reason that I wanted many of the intricate details in focus. And, I’m pretty happy with the result.

I have a feeling that this “challenge” is not only going to help me grow, but will be pretty fun as well!