Embracing February - five on five

A few weeks ago my sister put out a call on Facebook for anyone interested in taking part in an ongoing photography project. I feel that it's always easiest to meet goals (even creative ones) if you have deadlines and a community to keep you encouraged, so I jumped at the opportunity.

And that's the reason for this. A 5 on 5 project means that on the 5th of each month, I will post 5 of my favourite photos from the past month for the world to see. I really felt the need for a spark -- or perhaps a kick in the pants -- to get back to my creative self.

But then I started paying attention. This was going to involve some WORK.

I needed a canvas for my photos - so I built this new blog (with a little help from my web-savvy sister). Oh, and I would have to write something. I mean, people like to know the whys and wherefores if they are coming for a visit. AND I had to dig my camera out of the depths of my closet and actually TAKE SOME PHOTOS.

So here I am at my deadline and despite all the weeks of walking and searching, hemming and hawing, focusing and UN focusing and fiddling with filters, I still did not end up with FIVE photos that I loved enough to share. As a result, and just for this month, you get to see 3 new photos, and 2 oldies but goldies, that I still love to gaze upon.

I hope you enjoy. As an intro, you will note that I named this blog a glimmer and a spark because, well, LIGHT.  I love all kinds of light - captured, glaring, glimmering, glowing, shimmering, and sparkling. And shadows too - bending, wavering, hiding, revealing. Love it all.

So each of the following photos reveals something about what I love about light. Hope you can see it too.

And scroll down to find the link to the next lovely blog in our 5 on 5 roll.

It was cloudy, gloomy last week. But these hearts - gathered for a children's activity - sparkled anyway.

Downtown Toronto, near the CN Tower. Never noticed before because this is a fountain in the summer and these fish sculptures would normally be partially submerged. But I paused in wonder as the shadows of the bare trees made it seem like the fish were underwater -- surrounded by concrete, in the middle of February.

Not sure why I like this one. Maybe because of the suggestion of warmth on the grass as the rails travel onward out of the shadow.

Southampton, on the shores of Lake Huron not long before the sun dipped below the horizon. Love the light caught in the breaking wave and in the splash of water. The long shadows caught on the beach, the darker clouds in the distance. All good.

No filters, no fiddling. Purple light. Cool.

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I feel humbled (and, truth be told, a little intimidated!) to be taking part in this 5 on 5 project with some amazing artists. To see some gorgeous photos, please visit Maureen's post at Cottage 960, and then click on from there to see all the monthly magic of our 5 on 5 community!