#365. I'M DONE WITH THIS PROJECT/I'M HERE IN THE DR!

Ta-da. I am done with this 365 day project. (Thank the good Lord, I was over this thing about 4 months ago).

[All point and shoot pictures, all not the super greatest pictures, and all taken from my plane window... but I'm okay with that because I was living/enjoying my first official (half) day in the  DR.. not worrying alot about this project.]

first sightings of the coast

Final thoughts on my 365 day project + some other thoughts mixed in there.

• My 22nd birthday is TOMORROW. Holler.

• I'M HERE IN THE DR!

• I am so excited for this blog to switch from 365 day project to my life in the DR blog.

• I know, so much negativity towards this 365 day project. But after chatting with a good friend about it.. I realized that as much as I love photography, love my camera, love capturing life etc. etc... I just really despised being forced to take a photo everyday. A 365 day project is supposed to hone your photography skills, and mine did just the opposite. I often watched my photo quality decrease, because I just wanted to get the daily photo over and done with, and move on to the rest of my "busy" day.

•I'm really looking forward to photographing the next two years of my new life here in the DR (without daily pressures), learning the ins and outs of my camera, adding stuff to my "portfolio" of photos that I'm proud of... you know doing all the stuff my 365 day project was supposed to do originally.

• You live and you learn right? All in all.. I guess I'm happy for the lessons this past year of taking a photo every day taught me. Not super clear about those lessons yet, but I'm happy about them.

• I'm done being a negative nancy. I'm in the DR, and God is about to take me on the biggest adventure of my life (at the risk of sounding super cheesy).

#364. typical.

If I were to go through pictures from this 365 day project, I'm pretty sure flowers would be very high up on  the list of most frequently photographed.

(Photo taken on August 30)

#362. more damage from Irene

After driving on Monday, I realized the damage was more extreme then I thought in our area.

(Photo taken on August 29)

#361. leaves flown on the balcony after Hurricane Irene

Thankfully, the hurricane didn't have a huge effect my neighborhood. Praying/hoping that everyone else is okay where it had a huger effect.

(Photos taken on August 28)

#360. more flowers

Who's noticed a small pattern in photos of the last few days? Flowers. My mom l-o-v-e plants. When I have crazy busy days (as I've had the past few days).. I only have time to take pictures of the flowers around our house.

#359. roses. b&w photoshop action

Okay this photo is really me experienting more with photoshop action. It wasn't super great straight out of the camera. I'll openly admit that.

(Photo taken on August 26)

#358. scale. packing. luggage.

Things I learned today:

1.  Packing for 2 years of your life WILL take you 7 hours, so when you start at 10pm, you will finish at 5am.
2. There's not many exciting things to take pictures of when you're running from doctor to doctor appointment all day.. and then rolling up clothes to fit in suitcases
3. A bathroom scale will not effectively weigh your toiletries or suitcases (Thankfully got a better scale from my mom's friend later!)

Regarding #2. Here's the only pleasing photo I was able to take today. And truth be told, it's only "pleasing" because I added a few of Pioneer Woman's Photoshop actions to it.

(same photo, different action)

(Photo taken on August 25)

#357. surprise fireworks

Shopped ALL day today for the Dominican Republic. As I was leaving Old Navy/Target/Marshalls the Somerset Patriot stadium started setting off their fireworks. Let me tell you, after a long day of being in out and out stores.. seeing (free) fireworks from my car was the nicest surprise.

(cell phone pic)

(Taken on August 24)

#356. lily (favorite flower)

Sometimes I take several photos of the same thing, changing the focus spot each time. And sometimes I can't decide which of those various shots to post. So today I post all 3.

All in focus

Left petal in focus

Right petals in focus

(Photos taken August 23)

#355. view from the road.

On my many many errands today, I snapped a pic from the car. With my cellphone, while driving. (shh)

Sorry these pictures have a been a bit on the lame side lately.. it's all I can manage with my cold/to do list miles long!
(August 22)

#354. sick as a dog.

I don't get colds super often, so when they do hit.. they hit me hard. 

As I'm in my last week of packing, shopping, doctor appointments, goodbye dinners before the DR, I am reminded of what a TERRIBLE week it is to be sick, but I am living and breathing in the truth that.. in my weakness, God is made strong. 

(cell phone pic)

(August 21)

#353. prayer cards

officially printed.

(August 20)

#352. typical typical-view from my plane window-typical

(August 19)

#351. memorial stones

For one of our last sessions at MTI we made & spoke about our "memorial stones" from the last 3 weeks.

(August 18)

#350. growth group

Yes, I didn't take this photo.. but it is on my camera! And it was my growth group (small group) for the past 3 weeks MTI, and these ladies meant a lot to me.

(August 17)

#349. no picture

It was a long, emotional, and great day at MTI today. And I wish I had time to pull out my camera.. but I just didn't. sorry.

(August 16)

#348. I've run out of creative titles for different Colorado views

(Photos taken on August 15)

#347. ladies

Some of the MTI ladies and I before church!

Disclaimer- I obviously didn't take this photo. And confession-- its not from my camera. But I kind of forgot to take a photo today.. so this is the best I can do.

(Photo taken on August 14)

#346. hiking- mt. herman.

(Photo taken August 13)

#345. basketball, sunset

(Photo taken on August 12)