look up

So I've made a decision about this photo-a-day project, as my residency looms closer:  I'll be taking a hiatus from the project for a month, and returning to it May 8th. It's important to me, but it's more important to really focus on the work at hand during the residency. I'll miss it during the break, but stay tuned here during April for posts & pics about my project at Elsewhere!

For today's theme, continuing on with my affection for using vintage wallpaper in composites...

prairieskies - monica lacey 2013

trees

Today's shot is a composite I made using 5 different photographs - the main one of the trees is taken about 4 years ago in one of my favorite spots on the riverbank in Fredericton, NB, where I went to school. If you love this image, get yourself a print of it here!

sunset on the river trail - monica lacey 2013

smile

I smile a lot. Generally I have trouble keeping a straight face when asked. So does my dad - I always admired his 'laughter lines,' and now as I'm getting older, I've got them too. I think it's a good sign. Today's photo is actually an older selfie that I took for this project. I shot a few new ones today, but this is still my fave because I was so genuinely smiling at myself - something we rarely do but that feels great! Don't forget to check this out!

smile with your eyes - monica lacey 2013

If your spirit needs uplifting today, watch this. If you need a laugh over something ridiculous, watch this. And if you just need an infusion of visual beauty, have a look here. PS My co-photographers are taking some time off, and I'll be posting an update on the future of the photo-a-day project soon.

light + magic = transparent

Well it's been a few days since I took my daily photo, but it's rare I take time off, so I'm going to skip the guilt and get on with it :)

First, a few wonderful things for you to check out:  on themes of perseverance, the beauty of the ordinary/how one person's trash is another's treasure, and pushing the limits of one's comfort zone.

Also, I'm going to put in another suggestion you check out my crowdfunding page and get yourself some artwork!

see through this - monica lacey 2013

magic is inside you - monica lacey 2013

just a drop of light - monica lacey 2013

apologies

self-portrait feeling sheepish - monica lacey 2013

Yup, I'm aware I haven't posted in a few days!  Basically there has been too much happening this week, and I feel like these guys.  Stay tuned though, I'll be back tomorrow!

structure

I've been lusting after my own orchid for a while, and finally one day, my amazing husband, who had been observing my orchid-desire, brought one home. They have a fascinating and beautiful structure, as do most plants, and are the subject of my shot for the day - in full colour & in black & white. I'm working on a painting of my orchid and have been staring at it closely for a couple of hours. You can get a beautiful print of either of today's shots (or any other from this project) by contributing here!

orchid in colour - monica lacey 2013

orchid in black - monica lacey 2013

See Juliana's photo here & Minka's here.

thankful

give thanks and praise - monica lacey 2013

Gratitude is an important daily practice for me. When we sit down to eat together, my husband and I will each say 3 things we're thankful for that day. Before we go to sleep, we tell each other 3 things we're specifically thankful for about each other that day. When I do my daily yoga practice, I give thanks at the beginning and again at the end, to the teachings of yoga, the lineage of which I am a part as a yoga teacher and yogini, and to my own highest self.

Being thankful is a way of taking the time to pause, to absorb your life, your breath, the people around you, the nature around you, your path, your body, your heart, and to witness the abundant blessings all around you, both large and small. It uplifts the heart and spirit, automatically, and has great power to shift one's perspective and open the mind. You know the stillness of floating on your back with your ears underwater? That's what gratitude does for the soul.

In that spirit, today here are just a few things I am thankful for:

my snuggly cat who lays on my yoga mat while I practice

the sunshine on the snow when I went x-country skiing this morning 

the blooms on my orchid

my husband 

the vinyl cafe & their musical guest today, Joel Plaskett

the generous folks who are helping me realize a dream in my career

getting excited about planting my garden this spring

the fact that my internet was down today & the resulting letter-writing afternoon I had 

If you need some inspiration to find your own sense of gratitude, watch this.

See Juliana's photo here & Minka's here.