b-Cleaning - Aphotoaday.org

(Photo by Matt Slaby from Aphotoaday Essays)

I've been a member of http://www.aphotoaday.org for a long time. It's a collective of photographers searching for their vision. Everyday they send photos to a list that many of their newspapers wouldn't run. As the list has grown to over 1000 photographers, many of them have branched out past newspapers or never worked for newspapers and post a photo for one reason or another. Some are looking for criticism, some want to test new ideas, and some just want to show off their best work.

Melissa Lyttle, who is currently with the St. Petersburg Times, brainstormed the idea with classmates who she had gone to school with. When they graduated they missed the daily critiques of each others work and just seeing each other's work.

One of these photos is pulled from the list and displayed on the front of the site every day. Even if you don't follow the list, this one photo can be inspirational.

On top of this one photo the Aphotoaday news blog is full of information surrounding photojournalists. Many times they will interview one of the many amazing photographers who are on the list, throw up a portfolio of an inspiring photographer or just pass on relevant news.

By surrounding myself with these inspirational and outside of the box photographers it helps inspire me to keep creating photos that move away from the cliche. Even as I move away from news photojournalism, these photos are awakening.

http://www.aphotoaday.org

Put in "5 star photographers" folder

010309 Jaina's 1st BD

I have been friends with Travis and Julie since we were neighbors years ago and they have invited me to document their sons birthdays and now their daughter's. Jaina just turned one for the first time and I was invited to document it. It's fun watching their kids grow up, and it will be even more fun to look back at the pictures in years to come and remember these special moments.

Being born is a pretty big deal, so turning one is the second biggest deal, right? You will probably never remember it and it only happens once, but hopefully your parents documented it. Now in 17 years when you are going to the prom your parents have something to show your date.





























They always know how to put on a good party. You know the party was great when there is more cake on the birthday girl than there is on her plate and there was cake everywhere!

Thanks Travis and Julie!

B-Cleaning - Matt Stuart

Matt Stuart shoots pigeons, among other things on his amazing street photography website. He has an awesome ability to capture the weird and wacky. You can go out in the street and just snap pictures, but to be quick on your feet and compose images that are oddball and have a punchline is a whole different skill set all together. I love to look at these images because I always have to wonder what he was thinking when he made an image. Did he actually plan it out or did everything just fall into place and did he actually see it falling into place or just get lucky and find it later?

http://www.mattstuart.com

Filed under "5 Star Photographers"