When I started the O’clock project in 2015 it was a small way for me to make it through the witching hour that consumed our house every day  just before dinner. I emerged from that first year completely amazed at the power my camera had to allow me to see my life objectively and find small glimpses of beauty in an otherwise crazy time. Before the month was done, I knew I’d be embarking on the project again.

Last year, I wanted other moms to be able to have some of the experience I’d had, and so I invited mothers from around the world to join me for a month of searching out beautiful moments in the otherwise mundane. I was blown away by the participation and loved seeing glimpses into the lives of more than 50 participants of the project.

It’s time to gather again, as a group of moms ready to embrace the witching hour, for the O’clock Project 2017.

This isn’t about photography skills and this project is not only for photographers. If you’re a Mom with a phone please join us. If you’re a professional photographer with a DSLR, come on in. All are welcome and I encourage you to define your own goals for the month….be it finding joy, improving technical skills, catching connections, or staying sane.

Ready to conquer your crazy hour this April? Here’s the deal:

• Pick your hour. It can be any time of the day (morning or night), as long as it’s the same hour every day.
• Take a picture during that hour every day for the month of April. Phone pic, DSLR image, point & shoot…..the gear doesn’t matter.
• Post your pictures to Instagram using the hashtag #oclockproject2017. Make sure your account is public so we can see your images. Even better if you tag me too (@fiddleleafphoto) so I receive a notification you posted.
• Search the hashtag and support other Moms who are participating in the project. Be kind. Share encouragement.

My goal this year is to work on creativity. I’m in the middle of a 365 project in which I’m focusing on the connection between my girls and my relationship to them, so this year the O’clock Project is going to be about light and experimentation for me. It’s going to be my chance to try things that maybe aren’t in my normal wheelhouse and push my technical skills. The hour I’ve chosen is 4:30-5:30 pm. That pre-dinner hour is still the craziest in our house as my kids become hangry little wild-things with little-to-no patience. It was a bit of a toss up between the ‘pre-dinner’ hour and the ‘getting ready for school’ hour, but in the end, I’m just so much more tired at the end of the day that it always wins out as the hardest.

I’m not going to sugar coat this and say that the project will be a walk in the park for you or me. The time constraints and monotony of activities during the same hour often make it really challenging. But, that’s the point! Growth always comes from challenges and constraints.

Are you with me? I’ll see you over on Instagram starting April 1! Remember to use the hashtag #theoclockproject2017

 

P.S. If you want to see my favourite images from past O’Clock Projects you can check them out here.