Take a Mental Picture and Enjoy the Moment

We've all been there. The light is perfect, the scene is beautiful, you reach for your camera and...you left it at home. The battery is dead. Memory card is full. The camera won't focus in time to capture that perfect moment. Instead of enjoying the amazing sunset you find yourself getting frustrated and paying more attention to your camera. I love taking and having great pictures, but occasionally in my hurry to "get that shot" I lose focus (no pun intended) of enjoying the moment. Left is a pcture of that very thing happening. I was in this beautiful old building in London with a dear friend and my camera wouldn't work. After a minute of pouting about it I put it away and enjoyed my surroundings. (photo credit- Jennifer Ball)
The next time your camera acts up, instead of getting frustrated, take a mental picture and soak up the moment. Even if you do have a fully functioning camera, once you have taken a few shots, put your camera away and don't review the pictures until later. Just enjoy being where you are. No matter how great your photo turns out, it won't beat the memory and mental picture of being in that moment.

And that's your daily good thing!

Be Part of It!

Be a part of something! Get involved in a community, workplace or school activity or event. It is a really great feeling to feel like you are a part of something. I recently entered a photo contest and it was a great experience. I didn't win anything, but that wasn't why I participated. I just wanted to be a part of it. I enjoyed the whole process from choosing the photos I was going to submit, to learning how to mount them, and seeing my work on display next to some really great photographs. There was a opening reception for all the photographers to meet and see each others work, and it was so fun to meet other people interested in photography and to see their work and ask them questions. It made me feel more connected to my community in general, and I now feel like I am a part of the photography community which is great.

So, whether it is a book club or a cookie competition or a lip sync contest, be a part of it. You will interact with people that have similar interests to you and you will feel like a part of a community.

And that's your daily good thing!

At the opening reception.

Pretty excited that my photographs are in a real art gallery.