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What challenges you to be better at what you do?

For me it is these weekly photo challenges. I have found a gaggle, a pod, a group, a veritable cornucopia of incredible photographers who have literally changed my photographic eye.

Shots I would not have even seen, I now take. Shots I would have thrown away, I now take a second look at and see a picture — all because of the challenges of these photographers who are years ahead of me in this hobby I started last year. I am SO grateful!

Things that look like a letter of the alphabet

This is looking straight up from the entrance to the World War II memorial {practicing my sun-flares of course}. Looks like the letter “O” which is what my heart said when I saw the incredible sacrifice that so many have given that inspired this monument. The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million men and women who served in the U.S. armed services, the 400,000 who died in the war, and the millions of Americans who supported the war on the home front.

Weather (Paper Heart Camera theme 7/10)

I took a journey this weekend down to see the monuments and the DC Folklife Festival. It was an incredible day – not a raindrop in the sky – and I of course, practiced my new-found sun-flare skills {once again}. It is magnificent days like this that I am so thankful for this beautiful city that I have the privilege of living in and all the history that daily surrounds me.

Bling (Heidi’s suggestion)

This is some serious bling going on! Down on the DC mall, there was an Indonesian festival going on next to the Folklife festival. I caught the tail end of an incredible performance by these Indonesian dancers and waited for them to come off the stage so I could get some close ups. They were even more exquisite up close — and nice — in these heavy clothing in 90 degree weather, they waited around until every single person who wanted a picture with them got one. Last weekend I went to Africa, Peru, and Central America. This weekend I added Indonesia to the mix. Did I mention that I like living in DC?

I have many more pix like this — go to my flickr account for more delicious bling!

Tangled (Heidi’s suggestion)

Basket weavers from South America and Africa were out in abundance on the DC mall this weekend. It is so fun to watch them take a tangled mess of material – whether it is horsehair, banana leaves, or softened balsa wood and turn it into something lovely.

Dark (Heidi’s suggestion)

Ok, yes, I’m going to get all patriotic on you… expect more of that tomorrow. The Vietnam memorial is such a powerful experience. Its simple design belies the power of its standard — which still stands strong and powerful for the men and women — hundreds of thousands of them — who sacrificed their lives in Vietnam and came home to jeers, not cheers. What a dark time in the history of the American public.

As people walk down the simple sidewalk to view the names of the fallen, a sacred silence grips them. I have been to this monument at least ten times and that silence is always present. It is deafening really — the silence — and it reminds us all that we failed our soldiers who came back from a horrific war. May this never be our response again.