Project 365: May 31, 2008

I estimate that these sandals are 14 years old. They've moved with me cross country, twice. Haven't worn them in years. Got them out today and whaddya know, they're still comfy!

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Project 365: May 30, 2008

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush.  

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Project 365: May 29, 2008

Appropriately seasoned.

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Project 365: May 28, 2008

Somebody's been sleeping in MY bed!!!  

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Project 365: May 28, 2008

My camera phone ate yesterday's Project 365 photo. *sniff*

I actually went out to Messenger Woods this afternoon and shot some photos, but my camera is out in my car in preparation for tomorrow's photog class, and I'm too sleepy to go get it. But, I did make this business card design today. The rectangle shape is bothering me, but I'll work on it some other time.

ZZZzZZzZzzzz....  

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Project 365: May 26, 2008

A pretty wicked thunderstorm brewing in the distance... missed my area.  

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Feeling Inspired

I had an encouraging experience yesterday. Last week, I went on a photo walk in downtown Springfield, IL. I concentrated on shooting my latest self assignment, Circles. I wasn't feeling inspired. Nothing was catching my eye. I shot anyway. Later that night, when walking downtown to a restaurant for dinner (sans camera), I saw all sorts of things that I wished I'd shot. I figured it was just another missed opportunity.

Yesterday, I finally got around to pulling those photos off of my camera. Something strange happened: the photos were inspiring me! Somehow, in that lackluster afternoon, I made pictures that I actually liked - a few of which I liked a lot.

I'm in the early stages of my photography "career." I use the word career in its broadest sense here - my chosen pursuit. At this point in my life, I've become very comfortable with certain pursuits - computers, for example. I am extremely confident when dealing with them, and have very few moments of uncertainty. In photography, though, it's the opposite. I have not much confidence in executing my fledgling photographic skills, and have many moments of uncertainty.

For that reason, days like yesterday are really encouraging and inspiring.

I'm really pleased with my Circles collection, as a whole. It feels good to look at the world with an, "I can do this!" attitude.



Click the image above to view my Circles set on Flickr.

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Project 365: May 25, 2008

Cool cloud shapes, like a blanket of clouds on the world.  

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Project 365: May 24, 2008

The sunset as seen while driving to Tracy's house. I loved the colors in the sky - this photo does not do it justice! Within moments, the sun sunk below the horizon and all of the reds and blues and purples faded.

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Project 365: May 22, 2008

Your Mom, as seen at Floyd's in Springfield.

Project 365: May 21, 2008

Taken in Downtown Springfield, IL, on my photo walk shooting the theme, "circles."

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Project 365: May 20, 2008

Funny Ketchup: Tomatoey Goodness Conveniently Liquified. From Buffalo Wild Wings

Project 365: May 19, 2008

An after dinner drink in Springfield.

Project 365: May 18, 2008

My home for the upcoming week.

Project 365: May 17, 2008

My niece, at cousin Kailyn's birthday party :)

Project 365: May 15, 2008

That's Mr. Cardinal, to you.

Project 365: May 14, 2008

The view from my seats at Alpine Valley for one of this summer's DMB shows, according to Alpine Valley's web site :)

Project 365: May 13, 2008

Baby raccoons along the side of the road at Lockport Prairie. I hope they will be OK. There were 3 huddled together, and 2 that had broken away from the group a couple feet away. No mama in sight.

Project 365: May 12, 2008

When too tired to take a real photo for Project 365, take a crappy one and turn it into art! Sorry, guys... too busy to be a photographer today, and too sleepy to be a photographer tonight. In the meantime, meet one of my cats: Goose!

Project 365: May 11, 2008

Urbanization.

Project 365: May 10, 2008

One of the prints I made in the darkroom this afternoon, for Mother's Day.

PicLens - A Firefox Plugin

Check out PicLens - a very cool Firefox plugin that allows you to browse and search photos from popular photo sharing sites in a very slick gallery interface.

Discovered this one via Thomas Hawk's blog. Good stuff!

Project 365: May 8, 2008

Seagull enjoying McDonald's... caught this on my way in to work this morning. It made me want a McGriddle sandwich.

Project 365: May 7, 2008

Post-clean-up after printing my portfolio for photography class in my darkroom.

Project 365: May 6, 2008

This is one of twelve photos that I will submit tomorrow morning in my portfolio for my black and white film photography and darkroom class. I took it at the Shedd Aquarium last month. Matted it today.

Project 365: May 4, 2008

Tulip Time festival, Holland, Michigan

Playing around with zooming the lens while exposing a shot.

Project 365: May 3, 2008

A tulip outside of a brew pub at the Tulip Time festival in Holland, Michigan.

Project 365: May 2, 2008

Some thunderstorms rolled through this evening, and I took the opportunity to head out and try to get some good cloud shots. I'm still working on finding the ideal shooting locations around here, but I did encounter a rainbow - two in one year! I'd say that's a sign of good things to come :)

Project 365: April 2008

1. Merlin, 2. Late afternoon, 3. Tracy's beverage of choice, 4. Grackle Headshot, 5. Messenger Woods, 6. Sheep Shear 2008, 7. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go, 8. Signature for UO, 9. Bunny Nose, 10. Shedd Aquarium, 11. What I do before bed, 12. Fine art from today's lab in meteorology class, 13. Mourning Dove, 14. First signs of spring around here, 15. Artsy Maverick, 16. FINALLY!!!, 17. Two of my favorite things, 18. Me playing Ultima Online, 19. Cool clouds, 20. Blue-winged Teals, 21. Low red moon, 22. First of the Spring Flowers, 23. First of the Spring Flowers, 24. My Zenfolio, 25. Flowers on a tree at work, 26. Merlin, 27. project365_me-04302008-1, 28. How I spent my week29. Not available30. Not available

Project 365: April 30, 2008

Do I look like I need a vacation? Yeah. Thought so.

Project 365: May 1, 2008

After walking through Messenger Woods this afternoon.

I didn't get any good bird shots today (and boy, does the south loop trail seem a lot longer lugging the spotting scope and tripod with me!), but I inched a bit closer to finishing off this roll of b/w film for class.