It was Blaze’s 4th birthday. He sat down for breakfast like he did every morning, but this time he picked up his fork instead of eating with is hands. Brian and I were speechless. We had been trying to get him to use his fork for the last couple months. It was not happening so we forgot about it.

“Blaze, what makes you want to use your fork this morning?” I said. Brian and I tried our best not to look surprised.

“Simple mama. I woke up this morning and God said, ‘Blaze, now that your four years old, it’s time to start using your fork.'”

And that was that. Blaze has never looked back.

I have recalled this sweet memory a number of times over the last few months. Every time I put the silverware away and separate the big forks from the little forks, I think about that morning. Blaze was so “matter of fact”. There wasn’t any questioning in his mind; “Did I really hear from God or was that just my imagination? Did God mean for me to start this new way of life right now? today? or when I feel ready?”

Nope, none of those thoughts were going through Blaze’s mind. He had an absolute certainty of what to do.

Forks will never look the same to me again.

The theme for the new photo contest is Inspirational Objects. We are going to step away from capturing people and pets, and step inward to see what objects strike an emotion in us. Is it your guitar propped up against the window with the morning light behind it? Is it a childhood blankie that you still have after all these years? Is it a piece of jewelry that carries a certain promise? Maybe it’s a special book sitting next to your bed.

This photo contest requires you to slow down, breathe deep and look at all the detailed objects you surround yourself with. Pick one object that stirs up emotion inside you. Do a photoshoot of this one object. Still life can be much harder to photograph verses portraits. Especially when the object is NOT smiling back at you. So get out of the box, put the critic’s voice away, and have some fun with this.

Three simple rules for this photo contest to make it even more enriching.

1. Your Inspirational Object can’t be a person or a picture of a person.

2. Your Inspirational Object can’t be your pet or any other animal.

3. Your Inspirational Object can’t be a flower or some other living thing inside or outside.

Your Inspirational Object must be something that is NOT living but gives you life.

What do you think?! I’m so excited!

Submission Guidelines:

1. Email your Inspiration Object image to contest@fioria.us.

2. Make sure you’ve attached your image as a small JPG. Do NOT put your image in the text of your email. Attach it to make it easier for us.

3. Since this is an Inspirational Object that connects to you personally, we invite you to write a couple sentences on why this object is inspirational in your life.

4.SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, October 26th 2008 at Midnight PST.

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For more fun photo exercises, check out our popular Instructional DVDs Refuse to Say Cheese (see the downloadable version available if you live outside the US!), our 101 Kits for starting or expanding a business in photography, click on the words of your choice! To read a great review done on our DVDs, click here!

The Chicago Workshop is sold out. But the Seattle December Workshop is still open for registration with only a few seats left!! Click HERE to register!