New Series: Photo of the Week and the Stories of Your Lives

Today marks the beginning of a new series on Half Moon Bay Patch: Photo of the Week, which will highlight a new photo every week by a different reader.

I'm inviting you to send in your photos to be considered for publication. By submitting your photos, you are giving Patch the right to post your photo online.

We're lucky to live among some of the most beautiful landscapes anywhere. That doesn't mean, though, that the photos need to be centered upon the natural environment.

In addition to photos that document our unique surroundings, I'm looking for people to send photos that tell stories: of who you are and what's important to you, significant moments, poignant moments, gatherings of friends and family...even just a photo of your pet, a picnic at the park on a Saturday afternoon, or a photo of your favorite meal that you cook for dinner once a week.

To kick the series off, I've posted a photo I took today of a bird flying over the Pescadero State Beach at sunset. It's not spectacular, but it's what I saw as I parked my car on my way to take a photo to add to today's breaking news story about the lawsuit filed against the state over what the plaintiffs say is a loss of habitat for endangered species at the Pescadero Marsh.

Birds like this fly over our beaches every day. It's a regular event, but that doesn't mean it's not special. Everyday things like this are what make Half Moon Bay and the Coastside our home.

The rules are simple:

• Photos need to be taken in Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County Coastside area (from Montara to Pescadero).
• Tell me the name of the photographer, the date, location, city or unincorporated community, and the time it was taken. 
• Write a few paragraphs of the story behind this photo -- what was happening, how you felt at the time the photo was taken, why you chose to capture this moment in a photo, what the significance is of the photo subject. I'd like to accompany each photo with a unique story. (Photos without a story behind it are much less likely to be chosen for publication).
• Each person can send no more than 5 photos a week for consideration.

I'm looking forward to receiving your photos and your stories. Please send them to me at kristine.wong@patch.com.