I'm Bloggin! Woot! :]

A Practice Beginning [Exposure]

Thought I would begin my first post with a little introduction.  Hi my name is Karen, and I like to shoot people.  Even myself sometimes. :]

This self-portrait was shot just yesterday for a project called "The Expose Yourself  Project".
(found on facebook. run by two very awesome ladies who just happen to be fantastic photographers....no plug intended...I've never met either one of them nor knew anything about them til this project surfaced)

I participated in a little "A Day In My Shoes" 'get ya started' mini-deal over the weekend & completely threw myself out there.  I've been holding my breath since and secretly wondering if I should go back in and take it all back....but I won't because taking chances & pushing outside of my comfort zone is completely what I am about these days.  So my project sits there on a public Facebook page all Exposed and stuff. Which is the whole point of this awesome project to begin with.  Right?! :]  Right!  Even if no one but my own Mother ever responds to my post, at least I can take comfort in the fact that I accomplished something that made me feel completely uncomfortable, but satisfied and happy at the same time. :]
(thank God for my mother, who supports me without question.  I could post a picture of a rock and my mom will 'like' it and comment something adorable ♥}

 Part of Exposing myself :] (yeah, I like to type it~which is why I've used the bold text) ..is letting others know who I am.  A sneak peek (so to speak :] ) into my life and what I am all about.  So although having Grave's Disease is NOT at all WHO I am nor does it define me in any way...it certainly is a part of me and my life because it's probably the single most difficult challenge I've ever had to face, which I totally am counting my blessings over because I am fully aware of the fact that others suffer far worse afflictions than I ever have & hopefully, God willing, ever will.Part of the reason Grave's is challenging to me is because it has affected my eyesight tremendously. & continues to as my disease progresses. My hands shake because of this disease which is kind of debilitating for a photographer who needs a steady hand & sight to shoot.  I'm learning ways of getting around these bumps in the road.  I use a tripod often....or lean on steady objects to minimize camera shake. (There is often shake to my images)...and some of the time it is my disease as well as a combination of fear of my environment as I shoot a lot of street photography...which is not always the safest thing to do depending on where in the world I happen to be shooting.  My site problems are difficult to get around.  Some days are better than others so I try hard to shoot a lot on the days my eyesight is improved....otherwise I guess where my subject is and pray. lol  Much of the time this works for me.  I  feel very blessed and grateful for having this experience as it's made me a stronger and more capable person.  I am happy that I can understand how important everything in life is and not take anything for granted....the way I have in the past.  It's a hard lesson...but I truly believe everything happens for a reason and although I do not always see the wisdom behind that.....I have faith there is a purpose for suffering of any kind. 

 ( props to the photographer of this shot:, My sister, friend and fellow shooter,  RW Photography)

And so as difficult as all of this was to document...I also decided to go one step further & include this awesome picture of myself taking a picture of ...um, I am really unsure what I was shooting here but whatever it was, I am pretty sure it was something fabulous and exciting :]~

 In conclusion: The Finished Project
 If you were to walk one day in my shoes....
You will pray.
You will know what it is to survive 
even in the worse of times
because you will have no other choice.
In my shoes, giving up is never an option.
There is too much to accomplish and too many people to love to sit around feeling sorry for yourself.
In my shoes, you will worry a little about what tomorrow will bring because you fully realize there are things that are out of your control. 
You are not only blessed with so many beautiful things in your life, you are faced with a few struggles along the way.
You realize that it is within these struggles you find strength~
You will need that strength to get you through the next rough spots that are surly ahead.
In my shoes, you will understand how important your health is.
No matter how exhausted your body feels and no matter how much you wish to give up at times...
You don't & You won't.
 You will push yourself to keep moving forward.
& learning....& growing....
researching, loving.
You will not only walk in my shoes....
 there is a good chance you will find yourself RUNNING, JOGGING, JUMPING, SKIPPING, DANCING, WORKING OUT & PLAYING in my shoes....
because that is who I am....
what I am about....
& how I roll!

Now that we have that out of the way.....I hope you will stick around and join me on my journey through this awesome adventure & wonderful world of Photography....join me as I expose myself..... :]

♥K.