This is my friend Zelma. What she is holding in her hands is the Devil’s tool. A camera. And not only does it represent the past 30 Days of Hell, but it’s also pointed at me. I love cameras, I love taking photos and look at gorgeous shots other people took, but point that thing at me, and I will run screaming. I cannot stand photos of myself, and as soon as I see a camera pointed my way, I somehow transform into the lovechild of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Hulk. But uglier. Also, I'm pretty sure that, much like the Devil, the camera will suck out your soul if you let it come too close.
This post is a part of the 30 Days of Photographs II challenge. Please visit the rest of the participants for more fantastic photos: MikeWJ, Nicky and Mike, Mo, Meleah, John, aka nonamedufus, Bryan, aka Unfinished Person, Mariann, Malisa, Nora, LaughingMom, Tanya, Elizabeth A., 00dozo, Cheryl, Kristen and Katherine.
I would like to thank all the wonderful bloggers who participated in 30 Days of Photographs II, and made it such a huge success. It’s been a true pleasure to view the photos every day, the level of creativity and talent has been astonishing. I’ve made a lot of new friends during these 30 days, and also, completely lost my mind. Holy crap, that was a real challenge, wasn’t it? But while I’m extremely happy about finally having some free time again, I still feel a little sad about the challenge coming to an end, so Michael and I were thinking, why not expand it, just a little bit?
We know you’ve all taken tons of photos, desperate to make them work for the themes, and if you’re anything like Michael and I, you will have about a million of them that you never got to use since you were following the rules like a good blogger and only posting one photo a day. So we’d like to invite you all to take a final look through all the photos you took, and, if you like, post a few of your favorite outtakes and rejects tomorrow to give them the attention they deserve.
Michael and I are also going to be looking at all of the photos -- yes, all 500-something of them -- and choosing our favorite by each blogger. We will post our favorites soon, and if any of you would like to do the same, we would be thrilled.
Once again, thank you for playing, thank you for being amazing, and thank you for the many, many laughs. Oh, and for telling Michael that I won. *
Congrats on completing this challenge, you Devil!
ReplyDeleteI don't see any free time opening up for you. :)
I know it sucked the soul out of me. :) Thanks a lot, lady.
ReplyDeleteNo, really, thanks a lot. I will be posting a few of my favorite outtakes tomorrow.
What a cool (red hot) photo. You had better buckle up and start enjoying the camera, or are there to be no photos at the wedding??? I don't think M wants too many shots of himself and the Hulk.
ReplyDeleteThis has been fun and I am glad to have spent the last month with you.
Of course, you win!!! Just don't tell MikeWJ that I said that.
Ha! I had no idea what to post today - in fact, I was thinking of taking a shot of my camera for "The Devil", too, but I didn't have another camera. I was also going to do what Nicky did, but she beat me to it. Alas, I didn't have anything prepared. So I kinda broke the rules. Sorry. ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat shot, Ziva! Very creative. Like you, I prefer to be on the other side of the lens and not in front of it.
I too hate a damn camera shoved in my face. I'm not crazy about the microphones either come to think of it. Still, Ziva, you are very pretty in photos and out of them. This was fun but took up so much time that I had an excuse not to mop my kitchen floor. Oh well, there's always tomorrow, or the day after.
ReplyDeleteZiva, that picture is FANTASTIC! Really truly amazeballs. For cereal. But I highly doubt you look ANYTHING like the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Hulk. Not buying it!
ReplyDeleteI also TOTALLY enjoyed participating in this challenge, even though it kicked my ass. However, it was absolutely worth it. XOXOXO
You are gorgeous and couldn't possibly resemble the lovechild of the Hunchback and the Hulk (or as I like to call them, Jepeto and I). Fabulous shot, as always Lemmikki. And of course, you win (second place right after me).
ReplyDeletePul-lezz! I bet you're gorgeous! It's been a fun 30 days! Time for a beer?
ReplyDeleteVery cool, and I love the lens flare, Zelma's hands, the infinite photographic moment, a genius photo and very close to my own idea of The Devil, I see The Devil as an intricate part of every camera...
ReplyDeleteTomorrow?! There's no way I'm getting the outtakes up for tomorrow, but soon I'll do that!
I left all my final thoughts on a page I created on my blog especially for this auspicious occasion: the END of the 30 Days of Photographs II challenge. NOW you're telling me you want us to make it 31???? Are you nuts?
ReplyDeleteI want to offer some food for thought for the next time you feel the need to flee from the oncoming camera. People take photos of what pleases them and the people they like and love. My mother has always hated having her photo taken. If she were a Native American who believed that having one's picture taken is tantamount to having the soul taken, I'd feel no regrets that I have so few photos of her. The point being, I hate that not one of her 6 kids has many photos of her. She has always been at every special occasion in our very large family yet she's somehow missing from the catalog of photos. There's a hole where she belongs in the every day photos as well as the ones taken at celebrations.
I used to do the same thing and used my role as the designated photographer as an excuse to avoid being photographed. I don't anymore because I don't want to be the void regardless of how horrible I think I look or how much I think the camera hates me & constantly turns me into a gargoyle. At least when others look back, they'll know I was there loving them instead of hiding from them.
I don't like being on the other side the camera either, so I get that. That said, I'm so glad that this is over, but at the same time, this challenge was super fun, even though the pressure to produce almost crushed the life out of me a few times. I can't believe what a great job everyone did and just how many awesome photos were taken.
ReplyDeleteWell, you might have won if you didn't pile a homework assignment on us. Geez. Outtakes for tomorrow. Man you're a slave driver. If only I could have posted a picture of you today. But, yeah, yeah, you don't do self-portraits. That picture of yours today, Ziva is just great. Did you two count it off? You got it right as the flash went off. Neat.
ReplyDeleteThat is an uber cool photo. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
ReplyDeleteDufus, my friend, there is no homework anymore. Anything from now on is optional, and does not come with a deadline attached to it. ;)
ReplyDeleteI was actually defending myself against that mad woman with the camera, she kept taking photos, so I had to shield myself with my camera, of course.
I know, it's been amazing to see all the talent and creativity. I feel a little bit bad about almost crushing the life out of you, though.. Anything I can do to make it better?
ReplyDeleteVery wise words, Cheryl, words that I will definitely remember. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mo, I'm really glad you liked the photo. Cameras truly do hate me, but at the same time, they give me so much joy. I feel very confused now, like I'm dancing with the Devil, or something.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the 'tomorrow' part, whenever you have the time to do it, is fine. :)
Yes! Best suggestion I've heard all day. You're buying, right?
ReplyDeleteDoes that mean that I look like that adorable little boy of yours?
ReplyDeleteI'll take second place as long as Michael is third. Or fourth. Or fifth. Or last. ;)
The challenge kicked your ass? And here I thought you were the only one of us who didn't find it difficult at all. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you, Meleah, I'm really glad you liked the photo.
I don't mind microphones as much, as long as I don't have to sing. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen this is over, I'll have some more time again and I can finally catch up on all the blogs that I've missed reading, yours included, Linda. :)
Breaking the rules on the last day of the challenge? Well, that's hardly too big of a deal, especially since you've technically broken them nearly every single day. ;) Anyway, broken rules or not, you took some really great photos during the challenge, and it was so much fun to do this, I hope you had fun, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm actually really genuinely worried about the photos at the wedding.. I'm going to feel incredibly uncomfortable, even miserable, all day long if people are going to keep taking photos of me.. I've not yet decided how to deal with that tiny problem.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it has been an amazing 30 days. Thank you, LM, for sticking with us, even when things got tricky. ;)
You're very welcome, Bryan. I don't suppose you'll be wanting your soul back, then? ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Reffie! :)
ReplyDeleteOh it kicked my ass because I don't remember how to WRITE anymore!
ReplyDeleteWell, I keep hearing these rumors about a whip...
ReplyDeleteI hate being photographed as well. I think for my wedding I just took the attitude that the pictures were for everyone, and that I was not likely going to remember much of the day and those pictures would fill the gaps and let me see the whole, big picture. Our wedding reception was interrupted by a fire alarm and the whole party had to vacate into the streets - we have pictures of my hubby and me dancing in the street and on the back of a fire truck. How could I not partake in those shots!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the fun of the challenge. You were a much better host than Mike, but don't tell him that I said that.
With an Aura like yours, I'd be afraid to have my picture taken, too.
ReplyDeleteDamn, this advice brings a tear to my eye, Ziva.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty obvious that I won.
ReplyDeleteAn aura as black as mine, you mean?
ReplyDeleteI'll be right over.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was my whip?
ReplyDeleteOf course. If by "won" you really meant "lost"...
ReplyDeleteLiar. I read your post today and you most certainly remember how to write, and you do it well, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah, the problem is that I can't just take that attitued. Being in front of the camera makes me feel sick. Anyway, it sounds like despite the fire alarm, you had a fantastic wedding. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you, unlike Michael, I strive to not offend people on a daily basis. ;)
Awwww. Thank you!
ReplyDeletexoxoxo
I'm with you on having my photo taken. I can't stand to have my photo taken. I started shying away from the camera about 20 years ago. I don't know what it is. I tear up paper photos. My kids hate that. I hate camera and bright lights, so I am suspecting vampire tendencies. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have been such a gracious hostess. I thank you so much for allowing me to be part of this glorious project. I am going to rest up and get ready to do it again. I know this meme has been wonderful for my creative process and I thank you for that!
Oh, I never thought about the vampire thing, that must be it! I really don't like bright lights either..
ReplyDeleteThank you for participating, Malisa, make sure to rest up because we'll be knocking on your door in no time with 30 more days of insanity. ;)
Oh, I never thought about the vampire thing, that must be it! I really don't like bright lights either..
ReplyDeleteThank you for participating, Malisa, make sure to rest up because we'll be knocking on your door in no time with 30 more days of insanity. ;)