Sunshine In A Bottle by myautofocuslife

Sunshine In A Bottle

The little bottle is only 3cm (about 1.2in) tall, so this flower is pretty small. But a little sunshine is better than none, don't you think? 8)

Here's a question for you: Do you take photos of things that represent who you are or what you like? Or both?

I shoot flowers because I love them. They make me smile. But flowers are happy things and I am not, by any stroke of the imagination, a happy thing. The Husband, The Kid and my girlfriends can testify to that. I am a morose person with a cynical outlook, given to gloomy tendencies and a morbid interest in horror and death. But I suppose, maybe it's exactly because of that—because I am an Unhappy Thing—that I am attracted to flowers and bright colors.
Nice bit of sunshine, balances out the gloomy and morbid nicely :)
April 17th, 2012  
Love the simplicity, fav
April 17th, 2012  
great sot simple and perfectly balanced
April 17th, 2012  
Totally agree with Aaron and Howard
April 17th, 2012  
Great! Another one - faved. I love what you do with the white background. And a nice question. The only thing I know is that I am not my pictures :-) (borrowed this thought from a book by Natalie Goldberg - she referred to writing).
April 17th, 2012  
Nice composition. :)
April 17th, 2012  
oops shot
April 17th, 2012  
I think this is absolutely gorgeous! I love the simplicity of the flower and white background! Fav!
April 17th, 2012  
Lovely composition. Really liking the sunshine yellow.
April 17th, 2012  
I would find that hard to believe. I would have figured you as upbeat, cheery and positive. Your photos certainly express that. Anyway, keep up the good work and ;-) I enjoy your photos and love the simplicity, white background and the creative way this one is composed. As for myself, I love nature & the outdoors so most of my photos center around wildlife, birds, lakes, flowers, etc. I don't like darkness or negativity so I try to stay away from a lot of books, movies that emphasize that. I think this is good that you concentrate on cheery photos, too. BTW, I'm faving this shot.
April 17th, 2012  
Simple & Lovely composition
April 17th, 2012  
Does your own disparity between self and subject make you look at other people's work and wonder how they are in real life?
April 17th, 2012  
Beautiful image. Lidia, the fact that you have a husband, Kid and girlfriends says a lot. You are who you are. Don't be too hard on yourself. I like to take pictures of all kinds of things, most of the time what the daily activity presents to me. As long as it's visually appealing to me. ;-)
April 17th, 2012  
I would never have guessed the disconnect between your outlook and your photos! My photos are pretty much of my kids, and I like them (most of the time, heh!), so yea, I see myself through my photography. This is a pretty photo!
April 17th, 2012  
Ooops! Did I just call you Lidia, Livia ?
April 17th, 2012  
@sdpace All the time. I'm not special, so there must be others like me. But I am also inclined to think that most people are probably less... extreme? 8) (And I smile way too much online. But I suffer from Chronic Bitchface Syndrome in real life. That particular confession has already happened: http://365project.org/myautofocuslife/365/2012-03-15 Yeah. 8D)
April 17th, 2012  
@bardejov It's okay, I've been called worse names! Hahaha. XD "Visually appealing" is good. I try to do that too. After seeing what I have to see in the mirror every morning, I get the terrible compulsion to look at pretty things as much as I can. 8D
April 17th, 2012  
This is stunning! I don't know why I take photos. At all.
April 17th, 2012  
Love the composition and simplicity. So pretty!!!
April 17th, 2012  
Lovely picture Livia, My baby girl is saying "look daddy, a yellow daisy" I guess you could say she is a fan also. :)

reading your description I would say morose and cynical are traits we share. I'm not sure about your question, recently I would say I have represented my life as my project has been almost diary like for the last week but as a whole I'm unsure, some pics do, some don't. The words I write are sometimes as important as the picture for me. My writing, grammar and spellings are improving, my photography is just to accompany the words some days and on others it is the other way around,, those would be the days I don't write much.
April 17th, 2012  
Fabulous, I just love taking photos any will do but nature is my kind of photo. I grow 1000s of flowers in the summer and some of these will be shone.
April 17th, 2012  
Love the simple beauty of this capture. And its meaning is perfect. In some ways I have to agree with you. Most of my life has been associated with sickness and death. My occupation as a paramedic only adds to that gloom, for on an average day I see only the sick and dying. But like that flower to you, I've tried to find a light. It acts as a bit of an anchor or guideline. That as dark as it gets, I have it to remember what's important.
April 17th, 2012  
This is a beautiful shot. I think everything we do is a projection of some aspect of ourselves. It's all communication.
April 17th, 2012  
opposites attract-- even in photography! great bottle of sunshine!
April 17th, 2012  
Sweet...love how you shot the flower in the little bottle!
April 17th, 2012  
It is indeed a sunshine in a bottle. I enjoy landscapes and scenes. I think its because I love to travel. Not always far, but I love new places.
April 17th, 2012  
@myautofocuslife You made me laugh, is it OK ? I'm relivied you don't suffer from Chronic Bitchtongue Syndrome.
April 17th, 2012  
A really nicely composed and well lit simple shot Livia.
You've made me think why I do this probably for the first time!
Sometimes my photos document where I am or what I'm doing, other times they are the result of me challenging myself to either emulate other shots I've seen here and elsewhere or find something that intrigues me to shoot. Anyway your shots almost always make me smile, keep 'em coming :)
April 17th, 2012  
very pretty!
April 17th, 2012  
This is absolutely beautiful
April 17th, 2012  
What a gorgeous, simple shot. Love it.

I'm so new at this, I just try to find something to shoot and then hope it is okay and that people aren't looking thinking, "What was she thinking???" Love your shots.
April 17th, 2012  
Such simplicity, so beautiful! Your shots and especially your comments bring a smile!
April 17th, 2012  
Beautiful shot, love the composition....
My shots probably reflect my surroundings more than my personality, i suppose they reflect my moods sometimes too?
Does make you think what other people make of you through your pictures though?! food for thought.......
April 17th, 2012  
Very cool, love the title :)
April 17th, 2012  
I love this and the title you chose! i like your commentary, got a chuckle out of how you love to photograph happy things but aren't nearly as bubbly yourself. i think i take pictures of things to tell stories. whether they describe me, things in my life, or my photo subject and how it relates to me. hope that made sense. you have some of the most creative photos and even though you don't see yourself as that person, you "show" it through your work. great job!!
April 17th, 2012  
this is a cute composition for such a little flower & perfect caption. My pictures sometimes reflect my mood... and sometimes they reflect the mood I want to be in, but I'm not... and at other times how I feel is irrelevant and it's about the scene I want to capture.
April 17th, 2012  
cute pic...I had u down as being as sunny as this flower!!!!!! But the commentary is pretty funny so I think you may have hope!!!!!
April 17th, 2012  
Fantastic photo. I love the way the yellow stands out with all the white. I like to take photos of things that I see that make me smile.
April 17th, 2012  
So simple, so beautiful ,so lovely so great
April 17th, 2012  
Definitely both. Sweet photo.
April 17th, 2012  
Nice and simple!
April 17th, 2012  
simple and beautiful!
April 17th, 2012  
I find flowers to be very cheerful, and I love this photo! Your photos speak beauty to me, you are most creative and it seems to me you do have a pretty good sense of humor! You have a lot going for you! I tend to photograph things I love, things that are beautiful or meaningful to me.
April 17th, 2012  
Great composition. Interesting question but which part of this reflects your true soul?
April 17th, 2012  
beautiful simplicity.
April 17th, 2012  
I think our photos say a lot about who we really are. Maybe the " cynical outlook, given to gloomy tendencies" is what you sometimes present to cover the fact that you have a generous, sharing heart.
Marianne Williamson wrote " It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"
Here on 365 we are allowed to show our inner beauty, grumpy and miserable doesn't fly.
A bit deep for 6.30am
April 17th, 2012  
Perfectly composed, and beautifully lit!! You sure don't sound like a gloomy person though, I think you're rather humorous :)
April 17th, 2012  
great shot, very very good job
April 17th, 2012  
such a nice shot! take more of these and you may become sunshiney like your flowers
April 17th, 2012  
Rob
lovely shot! Viewing, commenting and taking shots at times pulls me back into a good headspace. I would like to think that my photos reflect my personality and how I'm feeling at the time!
April 17th, 2012  
Love the layout of this shot! It is very cheery. I take photos of things that make me happy...mostly birds and nature things. I am glad you take photos like this, they are lovely. You must have a sunny self under your layers! :)
April 17th, 2012  
I love the simplicity of this shot! Wonderful!
April 17th, 2012  
Wonderful simplicity. Nicely captured. I take photos when the mood strikes me; when I find things that I like, when I see things that are funny, when the settings are right (cool lighting, etc). Basically, I'm always taking pictures haha
April 17th, 2012  
How beautiful. A subject so simple...but so pretty.
April 17th, 2012  
This is so cute, works well with the white space :)
April 17th, 2012  
Beautiful! love the space :D
April 17th, 2012  
Love the colour and simplicity of the composition. Maybe opposites attract - or perhaps it's what you wish you were..?
April 17th, 2012  
Simple and elegant, Livia! Good questions! But, I've taken pics of things I don't like and I don't think most of them represent me. Most of my pics are the subjects available to me at the time. I guess that makes me an opportunistic picture taker. LOL!
April 17th, 2012  
Beautiful shot Livia, this is so simple but oh so beautiful =)
April 17th, 2012  
I love this!
April 17th, 2012  
Interesting read, would not have expected you to be the cynical type. Love your POV here.
April 17th, 2012  
Simple and lovely shot!
April 17th, 2012  
Can't imagine you as a morose person or cynical. But if your photos help to become happier and to give you a smile it works great - as your pictures do with me
April 17th, 2012  
my photos are aboout what i like rather than who i am, this is a beautiful shot of your little flower.
April 18th, 2012  
Love this beautiful shot and it's a fav for me. So simple and bright and perfectly composed.
Yes, I take shots of what I like. My photos are not a reflection of me or of what's going on in my life. I love photographing the natural world and capturing the seasonal beauty around me, whatever's going on in my life (which is mostly bad at the moment!) Have a great deal of the cynicism you express, so perhaps this is our way of teasing out the simple beauty in the world.
April 18th, 2012  
Great use of negative space!
April 18th, 2012  
Livia - This is a beautiful shot. I can't particularly imagine you as being morose, but I think we all have multiple sides to our "selves". We may be seen by some as kind and loving, or cheerful and upbeat, or just flat out bitchy. When who we really are is likely all of these things.
April 18th, 2012  
Oh - and Fav! Again :)
April 18th, 2012  
I think I shoot what I like! Thanks for the dose of sunshine! Rx: One dose of sunshine prn for cynical outlook or gloomy tendencies! Love your narrative!
April 18th, 2012  
Funny! I can't believe you're morose either! (Chronic Bitchface Syndrome?! That's awesome and I think I have that right now... well, I did until I saw this beautiful little bottle of sunshine! THANKS and FAV
April 18th, 2012  
yes, i think so.......I will take a little sunshine any day:)
this is so pretty Livia!! i always enjoy your photos! you inspire me!!
April 18th, 2012  
Love the simplicity. Fav
April 18th, 2012  
Lovely little thing!
April 18th, 2012  
ditto exactly what carole said, including the fav.
April 18th, 2012  
Love it, Livia. So beautiful and colorful. Great title. FAV
April 18th, 2012  
Lovely sunshine in a bottle...I usually take photos of stuff that surrounds my life!!
April 18th, 2012  
Excellent! Simple and beautiful! I take photos mostly of things that I like and enjoy looking at.
April 18th, 2012  
I shoot flowers too bc I LOVE them.I know most get sick of seeing them but I dont. Yours are all beautiful and vibrant!
April 18th, 2012  
Beautifully simple, Livia. I shoot flowers too & I love them, though I never really did when I was young. I also shoot critters, insects & birds & I'm usually happy & upbeat - nature makes me happy. :) So much more detail from the lens of a camera. :)
April 18th, 2012  
This is gorgeous! I don't believe you for a second! You make me happy when I see your shots or read your commentary! I think your a closet happy person! ;)
April 18th, 2012  
So beautiful!
April 18th, 2012  
soooooooooo nice.....
April 18th, 2012  
I never would have guessed those things about you! I'm not sure what my niche is yet. I'm still trying to figure it out.
April 18th, 2012  
I take things that make me feel good. If I am a real ly happy person does that mean I take pics of gloomy stuff!
Your yellow flower makes me feel happy, so I thank you for that!
April 18th, 2012  
great idea and composition!
April 18th, 2012  
Interesting message...I take photos of things that I like and that make me happy. I guess I wouldn't be interested in photographing them otherwise.
April 18th, 2012  
that's wonderful, lovely bright colours - I'm not sure whether there is a theme to the pictures I take
April 18th, 2012  
Beautiful shot.
April 18th, 2012  
Lovely
April 18th, 2012  
Beautifully composed. Lovely shot.
April 18th, 2012  
Spring flowers are very nice and can make somebody happy - and this shot too :) I like this
April 18th, 2012  
Breathtaking Simplicity!! Fav! : )
April 18th, 2012  
l agree with Aaron & Howard ...it does balance - l think l take photos of what l like ...but then maybe thats because they perhaps represent who l am... Mmmm ...l have had one too many drinks ...haha ...its making sense in my head !!!
April 18th, 2012  
Lovely simple shot. I agree with some of the others that sometimes my photos represent my present mood, and other times its a reflection of what I want or wish for, and then sometimes it is just about what is happening in daily life, without a lot of depth or significance.
April 18th, 2012  
CK
Simply beautiful
April 18th, 2012  
Love this. Gorgeous
April 18th, 2012  
So minimal. You are so minimalist
April 18th, 2012  
Gorgeous colour and focus, and beautiful little flower! I love your composition against the white background with the use of negative space too :)

I just take whatever pictures are next in the challenge I'm doing that month... I've been doing challenges non-stop since June or July last year, so I don't have to think too hard about my pics :)
April 18th, 2012  
I love the simplicity of it! You could print it out and use the paper for notes, with the flower as a little decoration in the corner.
April 18th, 2012  
Beautiful shot!!!
April 18th, 2012  
Awesome... great title too.
April 18th, 2012  
Great shot and comp Livia. Your commentary bares your soul. I hope you are happier than you suggest.
April 18th, 2012  
Simple and beautiful. Love the composition!
April 18th, 2012  
Aaarrrgghhh!! As always... simple but great3 shot Livia!! Fav from me~ ;)
April 18th, 2012  
@sdpace Stacy, what an excellent question and observation. Like others on this thread I would not have guessed that you, Livia, are moody. Your photos certainly don't depict that. Your picking out bright colors and cheery subjects as an opposite of your personality sounds right as it would be a way to cheer up if that is the case. By the way, I love the simplicity of this shot. It's beautiful!
April 18th, 2012  
Love the simplicity of this, which could mean a 101 things.
I shoot what happens to take my fancy at the time or something that I feel will look good within an area that has 4 sides.
April 18th, 2012  
Mel
lovely shot, I try to shoot things that represent me or things i like, but on the days I am most angry/tired/depressed are the days i seem to have photos which people love as being beautiful/colourful/happ etc like my sunsets and sunflowers lately! it did make me laugh, i missed your chronic bitchface photo! the fact you said that you abuse the smiley faces online because of it certainly has us all fooled :) I love the fact you have admited to being the complete opposite in real life, you have been a favourite of mine for awhile and you have just confirmed that even more :) lol
April 18th, 2012  
Beautiful simple shot! Love the composition Livia! You certainly don't come across as an unhappy thing on this site or within your project, maybe your photography is your inner happiness trying desperately to escape the morose?! I like to think of myself as a happy person, but I find that on the grumpiest of days, I look for something beautiful to shoot, usually helping to clear the negative mood...
maybe subconsiously you're trying to express your 'happy side' in your photography... deep, thought provoking stuff!
April 19th, 2012  
A great, big, not-completely-bottled-up, loud, bright and flowery "THANK YOU!" to everyone!

I've had a great time reading your comments. Thank you for taking the time to visit and write. I appreciate it so much. Even though it's hard to imagine, I really am a terribly moody person. It doesn't mean I'm never happy but being happy is not something I do well at. Seeing beautiful, bright and colorful pictures is a great distraction for me. I enjoy it. Because, if I want gloom and doom, I know I can simply go look in the mirror.

Again, thank you all for your time, thank you so much! 8)
April 19th, 2012  
Love the simplicity of this shot!

I'm consider myself a happy person, with a bit of moody undertone, and I love moody and dark pictures, but I found them beautiful and I don't connect bad feelings with them.
April 19th, 2012  
I love the tiny bright flower, and the composition! i was a teeny bit sad that I thought it was going to be Mr Bottle and then it wasn't quite....
I'm so intrigued by how you describe your self - the characteristics you describe don't come across at all in your site, not in your pictures, nor how you describe them, nor how you comment on other's work - in fact, I was full of admiration on your response to the thread about your bat pic, modest, easy going and calmly accepting of others views. Of course, we all have different sides to our characters and can be quite different in different situations....
April 19th, 2012  
Love it! You have alot of small things don't you? :P
April 19th, 2012  
Beautiful
April 23rd, 2012  
This is what I love about your shots, the precision it is stunning. To answer the question................ I take shots that interest me as well as shots that make me happy, I love to look back at shots and remember that day:0)
April 23rd, 2012  
Nicely composed! Not sure if what I shoot says anything about me.
April 24th, 2012  
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