Pics by Peep

Embracing Her Shadow

Image May 9, 2013May 8, 2013PeepSideshow Darkward6 Comments

We all have one – a darker side. A side we try to avoid. It’s borne of fear and perhaps, shame. The side we keep hidden.

At some point in our journey to self-awareness, we must embrace the shadow. To discover those hidden elements of our lives that so often control our thoughts and actions. But the difficulty lies in deciding what is the shadow and what is our self.

Sometimes it takes reflection. And sometimes in the dark of the night, the moonlight shines through and reflects back on us, allowing us a glimpse of what is buried inside.

In that moment, we can embrace our shadow and allow it freedom – to let us learn and grow.

I’ve decided this will be my entry for this week’s Single Frame Stories post on “Self.”

Humbly Proud

Image May 8, 2013May 9, 2013PeepSideshow Darkward11 Comments

I’ve said frequently that I’m rarely (if ever) truly happy with my photographs. I am definitely my own worst critic. In fact, it took me a long time to even publish any on Flickr and have rarely entered a photo contest. I have considered entering more often, but I look at the pool of entries and decide mine just doesn’t come up to scratch.

Recently, Second Friends, a social networking site started a while back by Seth Regan/Mankind Tracer specifically for Second Life residents, ran a photo contest. I have been a member of Second Friends since September, 2012, but admittedly haven’t done much there, other than check in once in a while. But when I saw a notice for the photo contest – without a view of the other entries – I decided to throw my hat into the ring. I think entering it blind was the main reason I did it. I wasn’t comparing my work to the other entrants.

Ironically, I sent in my entry a couple of days ago, but for some reason, the email bounced back. By the time I realised it, I thought the entry deadline had passed and I just shrugged it off, thinking it would be another of my failed attempts, anyway. But then I saw a post that there were still three hours to go until the deadline, and I resent the email.

This time, it went through. And to my shock, I won first place.

The photo I chose was one of my very favourites I’ve taken. It was from the 2304 Rain post I did a couple of months ago.

Please click the link above to visit Second Friends, and if you are a dedicated Second Life dweller, join. It’s an opportunity to socialise with other SL residents and post about what you’re doing there – events, your business, or just the fun you have in our amazing virtual world.

The prize is to have my photo displayed on the home page of Second Friends for a month, along with a link to my blog. So for a full 30 days, whenever I log in to Second Friends, I’ll be reminded that sometimes I need to stop being so critical of my work and just be humbly proud.

My Second Life Haiku Meme – Pink Cheeks, Oh So Warm

Image May 6, 2013May 6, 2013PeepSideshow Darkward17 Comments

Oh geez, she wants us to write poetry? She wants us to get all literary and creative and stuff? Somebody stop her!

This week’s meme challenge from Strawberry (yeah, she’d better prance!) Singh, is to write a haiku about our Second Life. I’m sure you all had to write one in school at some point – it’s a Japanese style of poetry, consisting of three lines, the first with five syllables, the second with seven and the third with five again.

Here are the instructions:

So the meme for this week is, write a Haiku about your Second Life. Remember to leave your link in this meme’s post so others can come by and read your answers as well!

Well, time for this buttercup to suck it up and show you just how bad I am at this!