Nectar & Light

As Stana and I both have some travel throughout the last weeks of April, I am announcing the May theme a bit early this month: 

Losing Focus:  Find beauty in the blur...

Challenge yourself to see things a bit differently this month - I would like the main focus of your photographs to be {for lack of a better term} out of focus.  Capture something you love - a place, a person, a precious treasure - and transform it into a piece blurry beauty.

For more information and to sign-up, please visit the site, The Photo Trade.  If you are new to The Trade, please be sure to read our rules here.

xoox~jla

*edited to say:  i didn't realize how similar the last two photos are - both off set blurry flowers - hmmm - i think i like off-set blurry flowers.

I would like to start by thanking each and every one of you who has signed up to be a part of this exchange.  The response has been so wonderful and it makes me exceedingly happy that everyone is having such a good time of it!  Due to the rapid growth of the group, some guidelines have been set in order to streamline the whole process:

~The PhotoExchange is now The Photo Trade and it even has it's own home here;

~ I have enlisted some help from this wonderful friend - so if you see her responding to your emails or posts on the Flickr group - all is right with the world;

~ Because of the enormous time it takes to gather names and match partners from email, the Flickr group and Flickr mail, we will now only be excepting sign-ups through the website; additionally, we are unable to provide contact information on your partner {again due to time constraints}.  However, we have created a participant roster that you can check in on once you receive your partner's name - you are not required to include your own information to this roster, but it will make it a more personal experience for everyone if you do;

~ As we have yet to build a database {we are not that big yet}, it would be most helpful for you to include your full name and address each month that you join The Trade {even if you have participated before}; if we do not receive a mailing address with your request, you will not be included in that month's swap.  Unfortunately we do not have the time to reply to every request that is not properly addressed - so be sure to include it;

~ I have created a side banner for anyone who would like to put a link to The Trade on their site - if you would like it, please email me at jenifer@thephototrade.com

~ I am no longer asking that you hold your own photos from the Flickr group.  We all have such busy lives and it takes some of us longer than others to scan or reshoot the photos and post them.  So please feel free to post the images you are sending as well as what you have received;

~ And on that note, please realize that this is an international affair - it does take some time to receive packages from the other side of the world - be patient my friends and I am sure you will rewarded!  And do not stress if you photo goes out a week late - you are having fun - remember? ;)

~ Lastly, we are unable to police non-participants.  Please understand that you enter The Trade at your own risk of giving and not receiving.  We have a wonderful group that is dedicated to this project, but in all likelihood, there will be people who forget, get too busy or packages that get lost in the mail.  If you do not receive anything after a month of the shipping deadline, please email stana@thephototrade.com and she will pass on your partner's information to you so that you may contact them if you wish.

Thank you so much - these new guidelines will allow this group to grow and flourish - we look forward to building so many wonderful friendships through this project! 

Okay then, on to the fun stuff!  The theme for April is "A Faerie Tale Told".  A challenge this month my fellow photographers!  I would like you to interpret, however you see fit, one of your favorite tales from childhood; a nursery rhyme, a book, a faerie tale {can you guess the tale pictured above?}  The deadline for sign-ups is 4 April and you can sign-up right here.  Photos should be mailed by 18 April {or there about}.  As always, please send at least one 5x5 or 5x7 and be sure to post your photos to the Flickr group!

For general inquires regarding The Trade, please email info@thephototrade.com

Have fun friends - I truly can not wait to see your tales unfold!

xoox~jla 

Good Day Friends!  It is that time again - to announce the theme for this month's PhotoExchange.  And if you can not tell from the photo above - the theme is... Green!  You are free to interpret his how ever you wish - the first blossoms of spring poking through the thawing earth; your son's first attempt at his tricycle; your efforts to save our dear Mother Earth - it is completely up to you - be creative - push yourself - just remember that the recipient should be able to interpret your idea of Green as well.

If you would like to participate in the swap, please email me at info@nectarandlight.com with the following information:  Your name, website/blog, mailing address and link to your Flickr account {if you have one}.  I will collect names through 7 March - you will receive your partners name by 10 March at which time you will mail them a printed 5x7 or 5x5 of your shot of the month!  I have also created a Flickr group for the swaps in which you can upload the photographs you receive - you are free to sign up there as well.  All items {feel free to throw goodies in and a hand written note of course!} are to be sent by 24 March.

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I have received a few emails asking if you have to be a professional photographer to be a part of this Exchange - no, no, no my dears!  The only requirements are a true love of photography, a desire to push yourself creatively and a commitment to mail your photograph to your partner on time.  Hope that clears it up ;)

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*Whether you sign up via email or Flickr - be sure to send me your address, if it is not included I will be able to provide you with a partner.

Thank you so much Friends - Happy Swaping!

xoox~jla

p.s.  I just want to thank Marta for her lovely words this morning - she is such an inspiration and I am so honored she enjoys Nectar & Light.  Marta, please join us for scones and jam - Adie would love to make you tea ;)

p.p.s. We should be seeing the photos from the first swap in the Flickr group soon - thank you again to everyone who played this last month!

p.p.p.s. and be sure to check this out - from the queens of inspiration.

One of the primary reasons I decided to return to blogging is the sense of community I feel in this realm.  This time around, I want to do more to engage my readers in this adventure - community, openness, sharing - some of my mantras of 2008.  One project I have planned for this blog is to host a monthly photo exchange where each month will be a different theme {Polaroid, Holga, black and white, the season, etc.}

So... I would like to share this month's theme and invite readers to participate.  We will be capturing moments from 'Morning Rituals' for the month of February.  Whether it be a shot of your favorite mug of latte or an action shot of rushing for the school bus - I simply would love to honor this hour of the day and your moment in it.  If you would like to participate in the swap, please email me at info@nectarandlight.com with the following information:  Your name, website/blog, mailing address and link to your Flickr account {if you have one}.  I will collect names through 9 February - you will receive your partners name by 11 February at which time you will mail them a printed 5x7 or 5x5 of your shot of the month!  I will also be creating a Flickr group for the swaps in which you can upload the photographs you receive.  All items {feel free to throw goodies in and a hand written note of course!} are to be sent by 25 February.

Thank you and I hope you have fun with this!

Please Note:  I can not be held responsible for a swap partner who does not follow through.  If you have such an experience, please email me so I can ensure they are unable to participate in any future exchanges.

***Edited to say:  Thank you so much for the wonderful response so far - we have some amazing photographers signing up - so exciting!!***