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Sara’s Photo-a-Day Project: An Announcement


I hope you will join me today in welcoming Sara to the blog in an official capacity.

Sara in Florence a few years ago--

Regular readers will know that Sara is my partner—an amazing and accomplished person (of course, I’m not biased)—an architect by training, international aid worker by profession.  She has worked in the fields of poverty housing and disaster response for more than 20 years—most of that time in developing countries, employed by a major international NGO whose name you would likely recognize.  She directed the organization’s rebuilding project following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and most recently directed the same NGO’s response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

At the moment she is completing a short term project for the same group—one she’s been able to finish from home.

But being home for an extended period of time leaves Sara a little bored.  Thus, she is taking on a creative project we will share via my blog—namely she’s attempting to take a photo a day for the next year—to keep a journal of photos that will image our lives for the coming 12 months.

As an architect, Sara has a good eye, I think.  She does not, however, have a decent camera.  She is currently taking photos with an aim and shoot device that was once mine—a minimally pixel-ed hand-me-down, at that.  So we hope you will appreciate the ideas these photos share—not to mention, my Sara’s heart, and the spirit with which we offer them.

The first photo in the series was taken on January 1, 2012, and is called “Slow start to a new year.”  Sara shot me, having gone back to bed on Sunday, sandwiched by my two white dogs (both of whom snore, by the way).

Slow start to a new year (January 1, 2012)

In this image Sara is playing the vertical lines created by the head board against the horizontal stripes of the bed spread.  It reminds me of the Laurie Anderson song in which she asks, “Is time long, or is it wide.”

“Slow start to a new year,” indeed—me, remaining horizontal on what might be considered a very vertical day.  The photo was also shot near noon—the sun at its highest point in the sky on one of the shortest days of the year.

In many ways, this is the story of our experience right now.  We don’t know what’s next—only know that Sara’s work will most likely take us back overseas in the not-too-distant future.  We are in a sort of suspended animation—our lives generally very vertical with activity, but now stopped short, flat—as we wait, listen, dream.

So, is time long or is it wide?  You tell us.  Did you get a slow start to this new year?

(Note:  If you would like to read more about Sara, you might appreciate a guest post I did about her at Jacquelin Cangro’s blog.  Click here to read.)

63 thoughts on “Sara’s Photo-a-Day Project: An Announcement”

  1. Yay, I look forward to Sara’s Project 365. It’s not the camera that counts, by the way – it’s the eye behind the viewfinder.

    I can’t say if the start to my year has been slow, fast, long or wide. I can say that I feel a bit suspended, just like you.

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  3. Welcome, Sara! You have, of course been, a constant presence on Kathy’s blog anyway. How delightful that you are now here in an “official” capacity. I look forward to your photos throughout the year. Kathy sleeping is a winner.

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    • Here’s the deal, Renee. Sara says she is not going to respond to comments. She doesn’t want the responsibility–that duty falls to me. I promise, however, that she is enjoying reading them. As these comments come in, I’m explaining who each blogger is. She remembers you from our phone conversation–and she says–“thank you.”

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    • It was a cozy, mid-day nap. I love the canine sandwiching, as well. Thanks for taking a look. I think I may have to post a week’s worth of photos at a time. I’m still figuring out how to do this–fun to figure on, however.

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  7. This might just act as evidence of my mom-of-a-youngin’ status, but that picture just made me want to cry a little bit. A nap sounds so glorious 🙂
    P.S. Dear Sara, do you own a shirt that reads “I save the world… Really, It’s no big deal”? I think you should 🙂

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  9. I’m not sure who looks comfier – you or the stereo snorers.

    Most of the time, time is wide … I only find it long when doing things I don’t like … sitting on conference calls or waiting in Department Store Christmas returns line, for example.

    MJ

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    • Ha! Love it! Stereo snorers! Hope Sara has read your comment, as that exactly it. Only Sara snores, as well–so maybe it’s more like surround sound. And I curse in my sleep, according to Sara, so I guess our bedroom gets pretty loud at night.

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  10. Welcome to the blogosphere, Sara!

    Kathy, this is a wonderful idea. You have referred to Sara in your posts, and now we get to know her through her photography. What a great team effort. May 2012 be fruitful for both of you. I look forward to seeing Sara’s artistry, and reading yours!

    C

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    • Thanks, C. Sara is excited to see people’s response. She actually reads blogs–reads lots of lots of things–but this is the first time something she’s created has appeared here.

      Thanks for your comment!

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  11. I agree with MJ. Time is long or wide depending on the activity. It’s also long or wide depending on your age. 🙂
    I love that your dogs snore. Reggie drools.
    Thanks so much for linking back to the Shine essay!
    Have a great day, Kathy!

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    • Yes, I suppose age has a lot to do with it, as well. I hadn’t even thought of that. I’m excited to link back to the Shine piece. We were honored to be included in your series, Jackie!

      Here’s to snoring, drooling dogs!

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  13. We’ve heard so much about Sara through your writing. It will be a pleasure to get to know her more through her photos.

    I wouldn’t say that I’ve had a slow start to the new year. I had plans to keep things mellow, but life has a way of messing with any plans I make! 🙂

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    • Gosh, Terri, your new year has started anything but slow! Sara is getting a kick out of this. Let’s just hope she has time to do this if/when she has work that takes her out of the country. But, then, that will likely make for more interesting photos, right?

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  15. Your affection for one another is so uplifting! I talk about you and Sara like I know you. Incidentally, my kids always ask me how my friend in Kentucky is doing. Now I can tell them that you and your partner are on an adventure.
    An exciting adventure to take together, no less. How nice to have that to accomplish together. You can both share so much creativity. I’m looking forward to seeing the photos……..My year has hit the floor running. If it gets any more productive I’m going to be one busy woman. Regardless, it’s a welcome change to the quagmire I’ve been in for many years now……Here’s to a year brimming with creativity for all of us!

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    • I love it that your boys ask about us. How dear is that! Hopefully we will get to meet you all someday. I would love that, Sista! I feel like I know you too. Sometimes you just connect well with special people, and for me, you are it, my dear! Hugs—————–And tell the boys we said hi!

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      • When I told them about Sara’s project their eyes got huge!
        “Man, that’s a lot of pictures, Mom! What’s she going to do with them?”

        As if I don’t have that many of just them taking up space here!

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  18. Hello Kathy and Sara! The photo a day project is great and I’m looking forward to more!
    Things have been busy around here lately, very social, and I find myself drifting away from my blogs….which is actually okay because I need to focus on other things for the time being 🙂
    Interesting question about time, to which I can only say it is both! Depends on your frame of mind and level of activity. Enjoy the limbo while it lasts. Here’s to an adventurous year ahead! Off to listen to the song now….

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    • Great to hear from you, Mun. It’s great that your life is so busy. I like it best that way myself. I will enjoy seeing you when you’re around. Otherwise, enjoy your social responsibilities. I’ll be here, when you are less busy, as well. Hugs, my friend—————

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    • Thanks for welcoming Sara, Rose. She’s excited about the project–though I have yet to figure out how to make it work. I would like to just post them daily as a sidebar, but I don’t know how to do that. Technology is not my thing!

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  20. Great question: Is time wide or is it long? Either way it stretches, and no matter how you look at it, it’s really all we have.
    Welcome to the blogosphere, Sara!

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    • How fun, Deanna. I love the notion of time stretching. I guess that’s how we sometimes get a distorted sense of it. It stretches itself out of its original shape, making it difficult to recognize the reality of its original form! Great comment. Thanks!

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  23. A big welcome, Sara! I am really looking forward to seeing your photos. I like this one. The lines are great. 🙂

    As for time… It seems sparse to me these days. I have to agree with Marianne about it being short and narrow.

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    • Another great comment. This discussion fascinates me–totally fascinates me! Thanks for sharing, Robin, and thanks for welcoming Sara. She’s looking forward to sharing more photos once I figure out how to make it work. Have a great weekend————

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      • I’ve decided to try to new theme and do these as “status” posts. That way they will appear together in the margin under “What we’re up to today.” We’ll see how that works. Hopefully everyone will be patient with me while I fiddle with things.

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  24. I look forward to Sarah’s pictures – I also only use a little point and shoot – it’s great fun at least -without the pressure because you can always blame the camera 🙂

    Your bed looks real cozy – right now I sleep with a sheet and a fan.
    I have been staying on the farm all alone now for some days – my time feels wide.

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  25. Welcome to WordPress Sara! I think you’ll have a lot of fun with the photo-a-day project. I found that taking photos of the world around me, has made me more observant regarding the little things. For us, following your posts, it’s a way of getting to know your world through your eyes.

    Don’t stress about the technical aspects of photography. Or the fact that you don’t have a fancy camera. I’ve seen people taking amazing shots with a cellphone camera – and you’re already at an advantage in having a good eye for composition.

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    • You’re so sweet, Lisa. I’m excited to see what kind of other photos Sara will take. Thanks for welcoming her. And she’s enjoying these comments, even though she says she does not want to comment herself.

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  26. Am I getting a slow start to the New Year? I’ve been a slug in motorcycle boots walking in slow motion. This is a very cool Sara project! If I had more energy in my typing fingers, I would have logged on sooner to have said that. I look forward to seeing the pictures that follow. Did you take the portrait of Sara? That’s a lovely shot of you sandwiched between your pooches — three more vertical lines. It makes me want to go back to bed right now and resume my own snoring.

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  27. I am so far behind in reading blogs! What a fascinating new perspective here. I never think in terms of lines, vertical or horizontal…an entirely different way of viewing the world. Wondering where you will go next. How exciting!

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    • I have to confess, Kathy, that I don’t think that way either. I had to have Sara point it out to me, and then I made all of the other associations from there.

      Don’t worry about being behind, Kath; just jump ahead and start fresh from now. You don’t need all of that pressure. Great to hear from you though. Hugs————–

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