August Challenge!

I do apologize but this is is now the fourth time I've written this post. The first two times I felt I was being too negative. The third time, I finally got it where I wanted it, and when I went to post, it decidede to disappear. To summarize what I wrote:

• I felt my post was too negative and that I could get points across through a bulleted list
• I bulleted pros/cons of photography (in my opinion)
• I gave a shout out to Melanie Harradine for one of my favorite photographers.
• I feel like some people are more concerned with showing everyone they are having a good time rather than actually having one.
• Photography is an art
• I understand why friends in far places enjoy photos of friends in far places
• too much of a good thing can take away meaning
• I think people should be able to take a good photo
• My opinion/frustrations have not been balanced
• I'm doing this challenge to gain a "photographer's mind" and hopefully learn to take a decent picture
• I look intoxicated in many photos (could be where my frustrations began)

This month's challenge: I will take a photo every day, the subject matter will be in alphabetical order.

I thought it would be enjoyable to invite another favorite photographer to join me in this challenge. For those not familiar, she operates a great photo blog. Her reasons for joining this month, views on photography (and skills of) contrast my own. I've enjoyed debating photography with her. I like her style and she understands my frustration with there being so many people taking pictures all the time.

This month's guest blogger/photographer, Jen Glen had this to say:

"I love photography. I love cameras, film, reels, tanks, darkrooms, and the smell of developer. I used to plan for trips by figuring out how many rolls of film I needed to buy. I was violently against the transition to digital photography, and even now, I'm not positive exactly why I went in that direction (hearing Jen Green (and others) yell "you sold out?!" after seeing my first DSLR was not easy) - but I'm glad I did. It has saved me SO much money and allowed me to practice taking good photos without wasting film.

Digital photography is looked down upon by many purists and the Indie Fresh because 1. EVERYONE is now a photographer, and 2. There is so much editing done, "can it even be called photography?" I vote that it can - I personally prefer the look of older photography, but we have to remember that those photographers edited their photos too, to the best of their ability at that time. They adjusted contrast when printing, they dodged, burned, and painted bleach and toner on their photos.  Photoshop isn't evil just because some photographers overuse it! There are good photographers out there still, we just have to find those that have the style we like. As for the millions who now document every waking moment and post everything online...well, they annoy me too, but I just try to ignore them and work hard to produce art that makes me happy.

I don't know if I have a distinct style or focus of photography; when people ask what I take pictures of, I find it difficult to answer. Is "everything" an acceptable response? I suppose some of it is documentation of life, but mostly I like to try and find the hidden bits of beauty in the huge mess of ugliness. It's a way of seeing for me - something just feels wrong when my camera is not sitting pretty on my shoulder. I don't claim to be the best photographer in the world (not even close), but I have a lot of love for it. This attachment to the art is (I'm fairly sure) why I was chosen to collaborate on this month's challenge - my feelings on the matter sharply contrast how our friend Jonathan feels about photography. I hope this month of looking for and capturing the hidden helps him change his mind about it. Before our friendship ends."

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Bonus Challenge
I'm taking a photo of every comment in this Facebook thread:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/jonathangoodwin/posts/798235482837