New Year, New Focus - One Little Word

Welcome 2018!

Well, here we are, a couple of days into the new year and I am knee-deep in getting my next box out for Dot To Dot Connections. I did most of the work just before the holidays so that I could sit back and just relax with family, but all of the last-minute details have to be taken care of before the box ships out this Friday.

This past year was one filled with grandkids, family and the beginning of my new business.
There were some difficult times, to be sure, but they were overshadowed by the good times, as is often the case.

The last holidays of the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, were spent with family, which is pretty much my favorite way to spend any day. Carmelle, Chad and the kids came in for Thanksgiving and instead of squishing everyone into my tiny dining area, the weather cooperated and we had our feast outdoors in the backyard. Jordan fried a turkey for us, and I made all the trimmings.


One of the ladies from my Sunday School class joined us and it was such a nice time to remember all of our many blessings and enjoy each other's company.

For Christmas, all of Ron's kids and families were able to come to our house for the first time ever. I regret that I never got a photo of everyone, but I got a couple of so-so pictures of his kids.

This time it was too chilly to eat outdoors, so we just set up an extra table and enjoyed the meal crowded together.

There was plenty of food eaten, games played, "snowballs" thrown and new toys tested.

The day after Christmas, Ron, Dan and I headed to Georgia to meet up with Jana, Callie and their families for a few days.

We rented a wonderful Airbnb and once again enjoyed exchanging gifts, hiking, train rides and just being together.

The time together is always too short, but I am so grateful for any opportunity to be with family!

January 1st arrived quietly at our house. Along with it came a new focus for me, a new One Little Word to invite into my life this year. This year's word is "Gather". (This wonderful dough bowl was a gift from my dear friend, Debbie.)

In 2018, here are some of the areas I plan to focus on:

• gathering with friends, especially old friends that I have been missing 
• inviting people into my home (I have always felt a bit uncomfortable being the hostess, and it is something I really want to work on.)
• gathering the tools I need to become more organized (even if that means getting rid of things, too)
• gathering the materials for my business (supplies for my Connection Boxes, accounting paperwork, email addresses)
• gathering (and keeping on hand) ingredients for healthier food choices
• gathering flowers from a cutting bed I hope to plant this spring
• gathering and using veggies from my tiny garden

There are so many exciting things ahead and I have a tendency to try to take on more that I can handle sometimes, but most of the things listed above are things that I am already working on or things that I feel like I am really missing and willing to add, even if it means cutting back in another area. While I LOVE photography, I have generally spend so much time editing photos that I never get around to posting them. I've decided for this year, that I will edit only my very favorites and will post photos on here regardless of whether or not they have been edited. I have also decided to discontinue creating new Instagram challenges. I love taking a photo a day and will continue that practice, but I am going to use the prompts designed by Katrina Kennedy over at Capture Your 365. I'd love it if you joined me!

December Instagram Challenge 2017

It is December again and a time that is filled with picture-worthy moments. I have rounded up some prompts for the month that should be fairly easy to capture.  Be sure to use the hashtag #MTMerryAndBright2017 when you post your pictures. I am looking forward to seeing how you celebrate the season!

I think that this will be my last set prompts for a while. I still plan to take a picture-a-day, but want to take a break from creating the prompts. I am looking at a couple of different options and would like your opinion as to which you would prefer:

* Select an overall "theme" for the month and let my photos reflect that them in some way
* Participate in some of the other prompts that are out there, such as those from The Idea Room  , The Wonder Forest, or another site.
* Join Katrina Kennedy's photography prompts which are sent out each week via email
* Each person do whatever suits them

Which would you prefer??

November Instagram Challenge - Make It Wild

I don't know if it is the cooler weather, the recent trip to Colorado or the fall festivals, I've attended, but lately I just want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Perhaps I was inspired by a recent article I read about the 30 Days Wild program that is sponsored by the Wildlife Trusts in the UK, a program that encourages participants to get outside each and every day for 30 days in a row.

November is traditionally a month that we really focus on our gifts and blessings and one of those is certainly this wonderful world that God has given us to care for.  Hence, this month's challenge---Wild November. I challenge you to get outside each and every day this month and find something that is photo-worthy. You may need to re-arrange these prompts to fit your particular situation or weather conditions, but if you include the prompt in your caption, we'll be able to follow along just fine. (hint: I generally post the photo caption, then the prompt in all caps, followed by the hashtag, like this:   WILD - #mtwildnovember2017)

So here's the list for this month:

If you are interested in "upping" the quality of your phone photography skills, be sure to check out the handbook, Picture Practice that is offered in my online shop over at www.DotToDotConnections.com/shop. While you are there, feel free to browse through my other offerings as well.

See you over on Instagram!

October Instagram Challenge

Somehow, I let October slip in and forgot to post my Instagram Challenge for the month. Of course, you can always find it in my posts on Instagram itself, but I like to post it here, as well.  This month, we are looking for signs for fall in the form of nature, activities and sports (or anything else you find, actually).  I hope you will join us----just post a picture for each prompt and use the hashtag #MTFallFindit2017.  When I am posting, I use my phone exclusively since I am working on improving my skills in that area, but feel free to use whatever camera you prefer. I also generally put the prompt itself in ALL CAPS followed by the hashtag----like this:

        CRACKLE - #mtfallfindit2017

1000+ Pictures

I can't remember exactly when we started doing this, but our Instagram challenges have been going on now for several years! That's a picture a day for at least 3 years---That's over 1,000 pictures documenting our lives.  Pretty cool when you think about it!  My phone is full of them (I really MUST clean it up some!!) and so are the folders on my computer and the cloud! And now it's time to snap away again in September!!

This month, we'll be playing a little bit of I Spy!!  The prompts are pretty easy this time-especially compared to those wacky holidays of last month! Have fun and be sure to use the hashtag so we can all see your snaps. Maybe it's time to invite a friend to join us as well---you know how easy it is and everything is more fun with a friend!!

Enjoy!

P. S. Speaking of photography, I have now compiled the Picture Practice Phone Photography course into an eBook that can be purchased and downloaded. The 159-page book includes tips and techniques for using your phone camera to get the "Wow-worthy" photos. If you are interested, it will be listed on my new website in the next couple of days. You can sign up for email updates here.

August 2017 Instagram Challenge

Even though I am now retired, I sometimes can't believe how fast summer flies by! Tomorrow will be the first day of August and around here, school will be beginning very soon. It's time to have a little bit of last-minute, summertime fun!

This month's Instagram challenge is definitely different from my usual prompts. You may not realize it, but there are wild and wacky holidays celebrated virtually every single day somewhere in the world. I thought it would be fun to base our photo ops this month on some that are specific to August. Now, remember, just because the holiday is called "Race Your Mouse Day", it doesn't mean that you have to actually race a mouse---just use the prompt to inspire your creativity and interpret it any way you want.

Have fun and be sure to use the hashtag #MTWackyHolidaysAugust2017.

July Instagram Challenge

June is coming to a close, which means it is time for a new Instagram challenge. For July, let's find some Summer Fun to photograph! Use the hashtag #MTSummerFunInstagram2017 to tag your photos. Remember that the interpretation of the prompts is entirely up to you---just shoot a picture each day and post it to Instagram. If you need to miss a day or switch them up to fit your calendar, no problem, just jump in wherever you can.  If you would like to download a copy of the prompts to your phone for easy access, just click on the photo below and then save (I tag mine as a Favorite).

Remember to check out the hashtag from time to time so that you can meet new friends and find a bit of inspiration.  I'd love to know you if you are playing along, so send me a comment either here or on my Instagram if you are new. https://www.instagram.com/lsperki/

P. S.  If you would like to learn/practice some techniques to improve your phone photography, be sure to refer to my March series on Picture Practice. (just type in Picture Practice in the search box for all of the posts)

June Instagram

Just a quick post to give you an new Instagram challenge for the month of June. We have a couple of new people joining our group, so be sure and check out the hashtag from time to time-you'll be inspired by their interpretations, I'm sure.

For the month of June, I am focusing on Simple Pleasures---those things that we enjoy and often take for granted.  Have fun with it and feel free to interpret the prompts any way you see fit. Part of the fun is seeing what others do with their photos as you capture moments in your own life. For several years now, I have taken at least one photo a day and it is really fun to browse back through the days and see what has happened.  For this month, be sure to use the hashtag #MTSimplePleasuresJune2017.  (you can click on the photo below and save it for easy access on your phone)

If you tend to take tons of photos on your phone and then never print them out, I encourage you to try out Chatbooks.  Several years ago, I began using them to automatically print my Instagram feed into a 6"x6" book, and have never looked back. While I do love to "scrapbook" from time to time, this is a great way to document your day-to-day life for your kid and grandkids without any extra work.

I signed up for Chatbooks when it first began, so was able to get in on $6/book with free shipping. The price has increased a bit since then for newcomers ($8/book), but I still feel like it is worth the money.  While there are several different options available (auto-print from Instagram, design your own, etc., ), I chose the Instagram option. Whenever my Instagram feed reaches 60 photos, they print a book (along with the date and caption) and send it my way.  At the time, I chose to start at the beginning of my Instagram history and "catch up" to the current time by ordering more than one/month at first. Of course, that cost is greater in the beginning if you do it that way, but I now have those days documented as well.

Just an FYI for those Project Life'ers out there, I use the Project Life App, as well, everyday, but I almost always choose a different picture for the day than what is on Instagram so that the books will be different. Project Life is a more in-depth recording of my day-to-day life, while Instagram is just a tiny snapshot. If you want to know more about my Project Life process, check out this post.

Here is a picture of my little collection of Chatbooks--I need to get an additional basket, it seems. 😀

April Instagram Challenge

March certainly came in like a lion and is leaving like a lamb. Today it is sunny with a high of 84 degrees here in Louisiana! The exit of March is also marked by the end of our Instagram Challenge and the beginning of a new one tomorrow. I learned so much about my phone camera (and about Android phone cameras) and hope that I can keep the tips in mind as I take pictures for this next challenge.

If you would like to join us, just post a picture on Instagram that matches the prompt for each day and be sure to tag it with the hashtag #MTAprilAlphabet2017. I created the prompts with April and Spring in mind, but feel free to interpret them any way you want. If you get behind or need to skip a day, no worries--just jump back in whenever you can.

Here is April's list.  You can save this to your phone so that you always have it with you---I mark mine as a favorite so I can easily find it.

Picture Practice - Free Choice & Resources

Day 31 - Free Choice & Resources

Well, it's the last day of March and the last day of our Picture Practice challenge. It was great for me to learn along with you and practice these techniques each day. In the future, I think we'll have lots of opportunities for even more practice. I often get in a hurry to "get the shot" and forget to take a breath and focus on my composition or focus, so this has been a good way to keep those things fresh in my mind.

Today, choose your own technique, choose your subject and have fun with it.

If you want to learn more about taking your phone photography up a notch, here is a list of resources you refer to.
iPhone Photography School - While this site features iPhones, there is a ton of information that is useful for any phone camera.
Digital Photography School - There are so many tips on this site for both DSLR photography and phone photography and it is all free.
Android Central - Specific to all the controls and tips to using the camera on your Android phone.
500pxISO - So many tips for taking the very best pictures you can with your smart phone

Picture Practice - Collage

Day 30 - Collage

Today's prompt will give you a chance to practice making a collage of photos to display on Instagram or other sharing sites. Many of you may already be familiar with this process, but I will review how to do it on several different apps.

Let's start with the Instagram app itself. (This is not my favorite way to create collages because I like the layout options of other apps better).
1. Load a photo that you would like to include in your collage.
2. Tap the collage icon that is second from right. This opens the Layout app that is connected to Instagram.

3. Swipe the top of the screen to the left to choose a layout.

4. For each section of the layout, you can choose "replace" to add a different photo to the collage.

5. Once you are happy with the result, tap "DONE".
6. You can choose other options for each section as well---Mirror and Flip.  Just be sure that you have highlighted the section that you want to adjust.

7. Lastly, you can add a border between the photos of the collage before displaying it on Instagram.

A Beautiful Mess app.
1. Tap the collage icon.

2. Pick which layout you want to use.
3. Select a section and add a photo from your camera roll (which will appear at the bottom of the screen)
4. Once you have completed your collage, you can adjust the "frame size" (or borders) by selecting the icon on the far right.

5. If you want to leave one of your sections blank, you can choose either a background or color to fill it by selecting those icons.
6. When you are happy with your collage, click the check mark in the upper right corner.
7. Click DONE and it will ask if your are finished before saving it to your camera roll.

Project Life app
This is often my preferred app, because you can make a 4x6 collage, rather than a square one. I can crop it later in Instagram if I want to use a square or leave it rectangular if it fits the images better.
1. Tap the Collage icon (which is the divided rectangle).
2. Tap the layout icon in the upper left corner to choose which layout you'd like to use.

3. Swipe the choices to the left and pick a layout.
4. Tap on a section and choose the "Photo" icon to add a photo.

5. Tap on the "Card" icon to choose a card from your library.

6. Once your are finished, tap the arrow in the lower right corner and choose "Export" to save it to your photo library/gallery.

7. If you use Project Life to make a collage for Instagram, remember that if you crop it to a square, you will lose some of the collage. Of course, you can always choose to keep it in a rectangle shape, as well.

Now, you pick the pictures and make a collage!