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*

Thursday, May 27, 2010

May 26 ~ filmy layers




The vibrancy on the top image was reduced to soften the affect of the color. I'm always drawn to the ability of macro images to simulate larger landscapes.


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 25 ~ opacity and transparency


An oily partial thumbprint relieved the complete opacity of this aromatic bottle. Back-illuminated scenes catch my fancy.


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 24 ~ back garden



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 23 ~ front garden


My mother requested photographs of flowers in her back and front gardens, two days in a row.

Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 22 ~ glass and flares



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 21 ~ morning lace



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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Thursday, May 20, 2010

May 20 ~ drops





Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

May 19 ~ birch




Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

May 18 ~ lush



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 17 ~ hard and soft




Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 16 ~ beginning an exploration of the backyard



I've been using the macro lens frequently.


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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Monday, May 17, 2010

May 15 ~ blend



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 14 ~ a vert



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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Friday, May 14, 2010

May 13 ~ warmth



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro, SB-600
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May 12 ~ cool



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro, SB-600
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May 11 ~ laze



Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro, SB-600
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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

May 10 ~ summer dawns


Another semester ends.


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 9 ~ bloom


A day for moms.

I like the soft look the extra noise pixelation gives. Again, exploring that as a painterly affect.


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 8 ~ identification

I entered a few pieces into a juried show recently. Unable to attend the opening, I visited the exhibition on Saturday morning and received the pin on the left, meant to have been worn at the party the evening before. Though more whimsical, it reminded me of the official purple ribbon from another recent show.

It feels a little strange to be identified in such a way, but we wear nametags and photographed badges in many places.

Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 micro
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Monday, May 10, 2010

May 7 ~ treeline


The flatness intrigues me.


Gear: Nikon D90, Tokina 12-24mm f/4
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

May 6 ~ simplicity

images from the arboretum's Japanese garden








Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 5 ~ pavement embedded leaf


We don't just walk all over nature, we drive.


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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May 4 ~ may the fourth be with you

More images from the arboretum






Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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Sunday, May 2, 2010

May 3 ~ blending land, water, sky




Gear: Nikon D90, Tokina 12-24mm f/4
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May 2 ~ marked


My friend Jess is a great fan of trees and often views them from an anthropomorphic perspective. We wondered what these blood-red tags designated.


Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f2.8 micro
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May 1 ~ waterfall

I made many photos during a visit to the U of MN's landscape arboretum in Chaska, and they will be used for images from April 28th through early May. Several different kinds of images were inspired, from macro color/texture explorations to traditional landscapes as well as a few other visual odds and ends. A tripod was not handy, but a rock served the purpose of helping to create the skewed blurry waterfall study pictured amongst the mossy greenery below.




Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor AFD 60mm f/2.8 micro
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