Joy365: Week Four of the Photo a Day challenge

Dani Zebrowska
2 days ago
2 min read

It feels like week fifty-six of January, but it's week four of my Joy365 photo a day challenge - to take a photo every day in 2026 of something that brought me joy.

Start here, and I'll link previous weeks below this blog.

Week Four:

Railway tracks stretch into the distance, flanked by bare trees and bushes. Overcast sky with patches of blue above creates a serene mood.

Photo One: A grey Saturday, but Oli had her creative club in the morning, and, while it's not a long walk to the venue, it does cross over the railway. I'm very much drawn to leading lines and contrasts, and it'll be interesting to see how this view changes over the seasons.

Hands spread butter on bread slices on a wooden board, with a lettuce head and butter block nearby. The mood is casual and simple.

Photo Two: We visited my grandparents for a Sunday dinner, so we weren't particularly hungry in the evening. Oli wanted to make her own sandwich for tea, and I was so proud as I watched her put all the ingredients together and enjoy her self-made snack.

A bowl of stir-fried rice with vegetables, topped with sliced almonds. Set on a wooden table, the dish includes broccoli and peppers.

Photo Three: I think we knew this was going to feel like a long week when we all felt wiped out by Monday afternoon, so we went all-in for a treat and ordered Chinese takeaway. I'm trying to eat more healthily this year, so rather than my usual, I went with a vegetable salt-and-chili dish, and topped it with some almonds for a bit of crunch.

Brick buildings under a partly cloudy blue sky, with a chimney and antenna visible. A calm, serene atmosphere.

Photo Four: We actually started seeing some blue sky this week, which was very welcome! Chester is such a beautiful city, even behind the scenes, and I love the shapes the roofs and buildings make. I love a city skyline, and seeing things from different angles.

A squirrel on a tree trunk in a leafy park setting. The squirrel's tail is bushy, standing alert, with sunlight filtering through the trees.

Photo Five: I took my new camera out on a photo walk during my lunchbreak (few more photos from this in the gallery below). It was so much fun spending time working out and playing with the different settings, and I'm so excited to see how my photography improves as I learn more throughout the year. I spent about ten minutes sitting in a churchyard just watching the squirrels play, and it was such a peaceful moment of mindfulness during a busy day.

Historic red brick buildings with arched windows and chimneys on a cloudy day. A red car is parked by the curb; greenery in foreground.

Photo Six: Another photo walk at lunch, but the weather was not on side with a bitingly cold wind coming in. I went down some of the side streets away from town and love the mix of architecture you can see. I want to work out the right settings on my camera to ensure the sky doesn't 'blow out' when I'm centring the buildings, as there was a bit of texture in the clouds that I liked, but it was way too cold to stand in a car park and fiddle about with it!

Shadow of a spoon on a wooden table, with soft light creating a warm glow at the tip. The table features varying wood grain patterns.

Photo Seven: Friday night and I enjoyed a glass of gin & tonic. There's been a lot going on this week (work-wise, and world-wise) so I enjoyed the quiet evening, feeling grateful for my wonderful family and friends, and trying to unknot myself.

A few other photos from the week: mostly from my solo-date with my camera at lunch.