Beginnings (the start of a visual journey in 2010)

Many widely recognized yearly photographic efforts are made by the likes of Jim Brandenburg, among others, but I decided to undertake this series for many reasons. The first spark occurred when I came across a collaborative daily blog turned written documentation, A Year of Mornings, which appealed in a human way. It was a part of the photographers' daily lives, a document of the passage of time, as well as an aesthetic effort.

This project is designed to amass a series of related and unrelated images as they flow and feed off of each other, creating a vision of a whole year of experience.

A larger reason to shoot so much was to force myself to continue to push images. Some days I have projects in mind, other days I'm inspired with a flash of insight, and some days I think, "damn, what am I going to create tonight?" Either way, I've kept going.

When this series began I thought of it as a 365+ project because the goal was to have the equivalent of a year's worth of daily images that would follow and reveal twelve months. But, because I'm also working and a full-time graduate student as well as a human being with other interests, I gave myself the leeway of not photographing every day, so long as the final number of images surpasses 365. When I began posting on a social network site, I started by sharing an average of two photographs a day; by the end of January it looked as though the quantitative goal would be reached halfway through the year. I tend to work in series and like to show context, so a challenge has been paring down daily posts to just one or two images. With this blog I will try to be more particular and share no more than two photos per day.

Thus far, we're 1/12th of the way through and not a day has been missed. More importantly, though, I feel the tendrils of inspiration not previously imagined, and for that reason, this already feels like a success.

Please enjoy, contemplate, comment and share with your friends.

Quarterlings

March is drawing to a close, which marks the completion of 1/4 of the year and this project.

Reviewing the images I'm pleased by some and bored by others. Many photographs would not make the cut were it not a daily regimen. But, though I missed one day due to illness and, technically supplanted one day's picture amongst its vacation brethren during the week and a half of Alaska photos, the gears are still rolling.

The images I've been more pleased with have been the light/color compositions, although projects such as the water droplets, reverse lens macro, smoke and TTV photography were also highlights. Where I seem to grow stagnant are with images relating more directly to documenting me or my life, especially the mundane, but perhaps that's personal perception. April will be kicked off with a weekend in Chicago.

Keep on checking in as I keep on keepin' on. Recent layout goodies includes the ability for you, oh honored viewer, to rate posts and vote on imagery types.

Middlings

As June winds down, 365+ nears its crest. Counting back, however, just over one hundred images remain to be posted.

These past few months I've embraced the loose design of the project and shifted into a relaxed schedule of posts. In favor of sharing greater context and more consistently solid imagery while maintaining an eye on the year as a whole, I may not shoot or post every day, but continue to translate the spirit of the time. Early July marks the beginning of the descent and holds the promise of visual adventure as I head back to Alaska.

Please be aware of new links on the right column noting Artists, inspiration and intriguing ideas or commentary.
*Clicking on most photos will enlarge the image*

Friday, November 12, 2010

November ~ film

Here are a few delayed Holga (120 film) images from the State Fair




I like the bare effect of this panorama of three files blended in Photoshop.
Here are a few digital shots from the State Fair.


Gear: Holga 120n, Ilford film
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Thursday, November 11, 2010

November ~ cultivate


Several days ago I intentionally left out a covered cup of tea, curious to see what would grow. The gasoline-like color spectrum wasn't nearly as attractive in this image as the simplicity of the linear pattern graced with light. I also reduced the clarity to emphasize the overall color/line/light pattern as opposed to the minor details. It must be my black and white roots. Although, a hankering for a slight color tint prevailed.

An elongated figure dances, but this also reminds me of an idea that occurred while flying home from Alaska: to work with waterway aerial imagery.

Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AF 60mm f/2.8 micro
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Monday, November 8, 2010

Nobember ~ mini road trip

To meet a Madison-area friend for dinner, JP and I drove from the Twin Cities area to Black River Falls, WI, where a large orange moose holds sentinel.

With little manual control on my compact camera, I Played with the flash and a low-ISO setting combo for this look.


We ate dinner here. The top image might be more amusing if it were composed slightly more to the left, better displaying the dark space where "resta" should have been. But, oh well. Eye roll please. . . you can rant all you want.


Gear: Canon SD1100IS
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Sunday, November 7, 2010

November ~ boots

I haven't worn these boots for a while, but they were fairly well broken in--or, broken--during a semester in Italy six years ago. Purchased in Venice after the heel separated from a previous pair, these tramped all over that country and beyond.

This also reminds me of when my grandmother died, four years ago. It was the first experience with death for my cousin's very young son, who had, incidentally, just learned to tie his shoes. His parents were trying to explain to him that grandma wouldn't be tying her shoes anymore. He looked blank for a moment, brightened and asked, "Grandma wear boots?"


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AF 60mm f/2.8 micro, Nikon SB-600
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November ~ cracks in the horizon


I had a lot of fun shooting a variety of images with this ceramic mask, made a few years ago by a roommate.

Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AF 60mm f/2.8 micro
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November ~ blues

Glass can do great things with light.


Gear: Nikon D90, Tokina 12-24mm f/4
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November ~ shadows

Many little figures live in this home. Sometimes they tell quiet stories.


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D
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Friday, November 5, 2010

November ~ a recount

I've been meaning to count posts/images to see where this project lies, numerically. Have we hit 365 yet?

Stay tuned, kids (or, you could count for yourself, but that might be asking too much of our time/patience/attention span-strained culture. Also, be aware that an entry may have two images that were counted as one).

If we haven't yet hit the magic number, I'll try to plan something fun for that upcoming event.
If we have... um, well, I'll still try to plan something fun.
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