I'm pleased to introduce you to Mary Beth Babcock, an alumni from this year's Project 2011. Mary Beth has been a fantastic source of inspiration to me over the last 12 months and I have loved sharing in her successes. Just when I started to second guess whether to continue on for another year, Mary Beth was there not only pushing me to do it again but pushing me to grow the group and make it even better. How could I say no?
Someone with that much enthusiasm absolutely had to come on board as one of the official Project 2012 leaders. Mary Beth is proudly shooting with her Canon DSLR and beloved 50mm 1.8 lens. I'm looking forward to watching her grow even more this next year and read all the great encouragement I know she'll share with you.
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I love pictures. Always have. Can’t tell you the intricacies of my first camera but I know I’ve always had one handy. One of those Kodaks with the cube flash on top that rotated with each picture. On car trips to Minnesota I used to ask my parents to pull over so I could take a picture of those rock formations in the distance (you know – the ones formed by the glaciers???) I love pictures.
I had my first baby five years ago. Pictures. Lots of pictures. What else do you do with a newborn than set up a prop photo studio and shoot away? But pictures out of my camera weren’t the same as the ones I’d imagined in my head.
With my second baby two years ago, I realized I needed to man up and get a “nice” camera: my first DSLR. Heaven sent {insert heavenly music here}. But again, I realized the pictures weren’t coming out as I had them imagined in my mind. {Insert Tiffany and her Project 52 idea}.
My project 52, I joined because:
1. I love pictures.
2. I wanted to get better at taking them and after watching Tiffany's project 365 on Peanut Blossom unfold for a year, I knew taking pictures on a regular basis was a good way to get better.
3. I have a great habit of starting scrapbooks and not finishing them (remember that two year old I have? His “first year” baby book sits unfinished on my craft table…) By doing a Project 52 I knew I’d have a year's worth of pictures to put into a handy little online book for the family. Done. Easy. No scrapbooking involved.
What have I gained from this experience?
Lots of pride, mainly. While on a family vacation with my inlaws I snapped a picture of the three males in the family along the ocean. I had a coupon for a canvas picture so on a whim I turned that picture into a canvas for my father-in-law. You’d think I’d given him gold or a superbowl ring. That picture is now proudly displayed in their home where all can see. I’ve been there a few times when others visting the home have commented on what a neat picture it is of the three generations.
I also entered my very first photo contest from my Day in the Life project and I WON. Granted, I think I won because I asked a few members of my family to vote for me and they took that to mean ‘vote and vote and vote.’ Again – pride in myself and pride from my family.
Now that it’s December and I’m starting to work on cards and calendars and all sorts of photo gifts for family, I find that I have this amazing set of pictures from throughout the year all bundled together in one folder on my desktop. Amazing. Saves me so much time. At this rate, my Project 52 “scrapbook” will be done before my son’s First Year glue and paper version!
I’m not a great photographer. I have friends and a sister who are truly great photographers. I just wanted to get pictures to come OUT of the camera the way I saw them in my head. Have I done that this year? I donno. Still learning. Every so often I’ll look at a picture on my computer screen and I gasp a bit - those “butterflies” you get when you accomplish something are there. It is those moments that keep me wanting more. More often than not, I’m just documenting our life. Butterflies or everyday captures: either way I win.
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Mary Beth Babcock is learning to whip her DSLR into submission as she captures the everyday moments of her family in the most butterfly-inducing way possible. She is learning to love natural light, embrace bokeh, and is on the constant hunt for the perfect smile from her beloved daughter. Her son? She simply prays he stays dry and sound during their photo adventures.
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