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*

Monday, March 11, 2013

A small zen project

I've wanted to make a time lapse for a while. Our photo group's March theme--motion/flight--gave me an excuse.

Daily light fluctuations affect my little red clover plant as its leaves reach for the sun from the kitchen bay window. Every few days, I rotate the planter to thwart the tendrils from skewing too far to one side. The next day, they'll stretch the other way. Recently, I adjusted the pot and a set of leaves responded to the light by moving so quickly the movements were almost visible in real time. It lifts and lowers as if inhaling and exhaling. Resting and reaching. Yogi-like.

This time lapse is comprised of two shorter sessions spanning two days. For the impatient, a faster, backward version of the second day follows the credits.





The above is the highest res. version I've been able to load.


A still and shot of the credits:





 



Images were shot with a Nikon D90 and Tamron 18-270mm VC pzd lens. Shooting conditions were not the most forgiving for the glass. I wanted strong back-lighting to isolate the subject and highlight the illuminated color of the leaves, and wonder how different lenses might have performed. However, the level of leaf detail is pleasing and the roughness of swaths of colored light create an almost mesmerizing watercolor-like effect for the background. Perhaps someone else would have the patience to create something more finitely polished, but I prefer the raw character of this version. Please weigh in with your thoughts. I was fortunate to find fitting music through Creative Commons, and urge anyone looking for a soundtrack to utilize that source.


This was a nice side project while I worked on my thesis. Since I was sick last week there was more time to devote to both, but I likely won't make much new creative work until after graduation in May.