Carrying on the week of new year's resolution themes, I wanted to chat quickly about 52 week projects.

Basically it is a challenge to yourself to take a picture once a week that is generally focused on a weekly theme (such as laughter, or the color red, etc.) or a skill (such as backlighting, or black and white photography, etc.). There are some whose sole purpose it to motivate you to take a picture of your family, children, etc, and there are some that are designed to help you improve your technical skills. And there are lots of people out in the world that just make up their own theme as they go along.

I sort of fall into the last category. I like the idea of a 52 week challenge. The spirit of forcing yourself to take pictures...practice skills. capture moments. But I find myself not willing to commit to one particular challenge. I guess you could say I am a bit of a "challenge hopper". So this year, as I navigate 2012, I will be hopping between the following challenges/forums depending on which theme or idea sparks my creative interest.

I Heart Faces: http://www.iheartfaces.com/
you can see two of my previous entries that *won* the challenges last year 2nd place and 1st place.
My four hens phototgraphy: http://myfourhensphotography.com
Digital Photography School: http://digital-photography-school.com

Like I mentioned before, there are LOTS of other groups to join or follow out there.... I challenge you, regardless of your camera or your status as a photographer, to join in the fun. To challenge yourself. Even if you miss a few weeks, or decide to turn it into a once a month project. It is a fun way to improve your skills and meet others who share the same passion as you! :D

For the first week, the theme choices were either silly holiday photos, resolutions, or the color yellow. I went with resolutions.

The below image is taken downtown Detroit of the Masonic Temple.
One of my resolutions is to make time to photograph more my own interests and not just people all. the. time. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but it is recharging to pick up my camera for something that is only for me. Enter Detroit. One of my husband and my favorite things to do is drive the streets of Detroit. Seriously, we spend half of our date nights driving around. Sometimes I have my camera. Sometimes we just take it all in.

I love this image. It is slightly dark and intimidating, yet grand and magnificent all wrapped up into one. ~jen