Hello and welcome! Somehow, someway we have already completed one full year of our 10-on-10, collaborative project. Applause for all that have been with us for this past year, and a hearty coffee cheers to all of you who are joining us for the first time in “10-on-10: Year Two.” I am very happy and excited to kick off a second year.

When Courtney Zerizef first approached me to join this project way back in May 2013, I felt pretty certain I would only be involved for one year. A nice little, 12-month package. But then 2014 rolled around, we quickly arrived at the one-year anniversary mark, and Courtney asked everyone if they wanted to commit to another year, or bow out gracefully. I pondered the options and ultimately decided this was a project I wanted and needed in my blogging life. It keeps me on task when it comes to the ol’ A/E blog. I will admit that on some months, the 10-on-10 post is the only post to appear in an entire long month in this little space. Mostly this is a reflection on my horrible blogging habits (insert sheepish face here), but in a more positive light, I think it’s a fantastic testament to the beauty of a collaborative project such as this. It keeps us all honest. It keeps us accountable. And it makes us pause once a month, and take inventory of how we’re spending our time each and every month. For me, it’s forced me to make sure I’m taking at least one day a month to photograph something purely personal. In the rushrushrush working world I occupy, taking a camera out with me to photograph my own life has become more essential the further into my career I go. It’s so easy to think of photography just as my job, and not as a wonderful gift I’ve been given. This project helps keep me grateful. How can you pass up an opportunity to be part of a group that does all that? I ask you!

So here we are. Year two. A few of our inaugural members declined to take on a second year. And in their stead, Courtney recruited a few new members. So please give a wave and throw a happy high five to all the new and old photogs who participate. Their links are right here:

And now, to my July 2014, 10-on-10 post!

For those who are new visitors to my blog — HI! A few things about me: I live in beautiful Denver, Colorado. I am a photographer for the local section of the Denver Post. I drink (probably too) much coffee. (It comes with the journalism territory. See this instagram photo here.)

As a working journalist gal, I have the awesome pleasure of being a member of the nation’s oldest press club. (You go, Denver.) Every Wednesday, the Denver Press Club offers a $6 burger-and-fries special. So a few weeks ago, we walked on over and enjoyed the beauty of a six-dollar meal. Instead of shooting on my trusty fancy phone, or lugging along the big DSLR beasts I usually have slung over each shoulder, I broke out my Fujifilm Instax camera. I don’t use this little fellow much. However, I’ve been experimenting more and more with film these days, so thought it was a great opportunity to do so. Not all the results were very pretty. But that’s just part of the process right? Practice, practice, practice.

Next time you fancy folk are in Denver, I’ll take you over. We can sit at the bar, chat with Bartender Will (a gem of a person), and if it’s winter, we can sit by the most perfect fireplace in all the lands.

And if you have managed to make it through this long blog post, I will buy the first round. Thanks for reading!