Melissa Maillett Photography, lifestyle and event

One of my favorite photographer/bloggers, Brooke Snow recently posted about breaking her "go-to" 50 mm lens and being challenged by using other lenses. She ended up enjoying the challenge and has issued this one to the rest of us:

Hey, its 2012! I challenge you to spend part of your shooting time this year being uncomfortable.

-Shoot with your old camera

-Shoot with a lens you rarely use

-If you normally shoot in auto or priority modes, try experimenting in manual

-If you normally shoot favoring your choice of depth of field, shoot to favor a slower shutter speed

-Shoot at night

-Shoot in the middle of the bright noon sun

-Shoot a self portrait and get in front of the camera!

Growth happens when we stretch out of the routine.

I think I'll start by using my 50mm 1.4 lens more often - the fixed distance really forces you to move and change position to change the shot. I used it the other night because my teenage son rarely graces us with his presence and his job of making guacamole for taco night is one of the only ways we get him into the kitchen with the rest of us, so I wanted to document it - and because I wanted to shoot without flash inside at night - and here are some of the photos...