OK, I think I have invited everyone to join the Flickr group who expressed an interest in participating in P26/52. If you want to join and you haven't heard from me, make sure I have the URL to your Flickr page. If you did get your invitation, make sure you accept it and head on over to the group page. I've written up a welcome there and a brief description of this week's prompt. I'll likely continue to deal with the business end of P26/52 over there. Even though the group is by invitation only vis-a-vis posting to it, anyone can look in on the group's pictures. To do this, here is the URL for the group's main page: http://www.flickr.com/groups/p26-52/
The first week is now underway. The prompt is Depth of Field: Deep and photos are due by the end of Sunday night. Shoot if you dare.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Second Coming
I've taken a month off and now I'm eager to get back behind the shutter. Who wants to do a P26/52 with me? Misty from Project 365 is in. Are you?
Here are the details. Dust off your camera and set up a Flickr account. Once you have the Flickr account, let me know and I'll send you an invitation to post to our newly minted P26/52 group. Starting on Monday September 5th, we'll all begin taking pictures to a set list of themes. There will be one theme a week and no requirement whatsoever to take daily photos--thus making it a far less daunting challenge than Project 365. At the end of each week, put your best photo or a handful of photos up on the Flickr group. They'll all sit side by side there in a way that we can learn from each other.
So why 26 or 52? How does that work, you ask? Look at the list of themes below. If you want to tackle all of them, then commit to a P52. If you want to do only those that serve as a camera/photography tutorial, then do only the odd numbered ones and post your photos biweekly at the end of the appropriate week. If you want to tackle only those prompts that focus on subject matter, then jump in at week two and do only the even numbered themes. Or you can be a will-o-the-wisp, jumping in here and there. Whatever. I'm not your creativity cop.
Is this as clear as mud?
Here are the themes. I've added dates until the New Year so you'll get a sense of the time-line. Each week starts on a Monday and the deadline to upload photos for that week is the end of the day on Sunday--you know, unless you're a little bit late.
Week 1: Depth of field: deep (Sept 5-11)
Week 2: Dining out (Sept 12-18)
Week 3: Depth of field: shallow (Sept 19-25)
Week 4: Take a hike (Sept 26-Oct 2)
Week 5: Bokeh (Oct 3-9)
Week 6: Yellow (Oct 10-16)
Week 7: Seen from below (Oct 17-23)
Week 8: Body parts (Oct 24-30)
Week 9: Seen from above (Oct 31-Nov 6)
Week 10: Texture (Nov 7-13)
Week 11: Black and white (Nov 14-20)
Week 12: Blue (Nov 21-27)
Week 13: Portraiture (Nov 28-Dec 4)
Week 14: Beloved (Dec 5-11)
Week 15: Night photography (Dec 12-18)
Week 16: Spice (Dec 19-24)
Week 17: Artificial light (Dec 25-Jan1)
Week 18: Orange
Week 19: Self-portraiture
Week 20: Smiles
Week 21: Overexposure
Week 22: After
Week 23: Post-processing
Week 24: Smell
Week 25: Image Distortion
Week 26: Red
Week 27: Abstract photography
Week 28: Music
Week 29: Looking in
Week 30: Gathering
Week 31: Industrial photography
Week 32: Wind
Week 33: Filtering
Week 34: Green
Week 35: Shutter speed: freeze
Week 36: Warmth
Week 37: Shutter speed: blur
Week 38: Danger
Week 39: Backlight
Week 40: Motherhood or Fatherhood or Childhood
Week 41: Narrative photography
Week 42: A-Z
Week 43: Macro
Week 44: Shoes
Week 45: Time-lapse photography
Week 46: Water
Week 47: Landscape photography
Week 48: Humanity
Week 49: Street photography
Week 50: Purple
Week 51: Flash photography
Week 52: Animal, mineral or vegetable
OK, who's in?
FYI, I will continue to put my pictures up here on this blog for those who just like to look in every now and then.
Here are the details. Dust off your camera and set up a Flickr account. Once you have the Flickr account, let me know and I'll send you an invitation to post to our newly minted P26/52 group. Starting on Monday September 5th, we'll all begin taking pictures to a set list of themes. There will be one theme a week and no requirement whatsoever to take daily photos--thus making it a far less daunting challenge than Project 365. At the end of each week, put your best photo or a handful of photos up on the Flickr group. They'll all sit side by side there in a way that we can learn from each other.
So why 26 or 52? How does that work, you ask? Look at the list of themes below. If you want to tackle all of them, then commit to a P52. If you want to do only those that serve as a camera/photography tutorial, then do only the odd numbered ones and post your photos biweekly at the end of the appropriate week. If you want to tackle only those prompts that focus on subject matter, then jump in at week two and do only the even numbered themes. Or you can be a will-o-the-wisp, jumping in here and there. Whatever. I'm not your creativity cop.
Is this as clear as mud?
Here are the themes. I've added dates until the New Year so you'll get a sense of the time-line. Each week starts on a Monday and the deadline to upload photos for that week is the end of the day on Sunday--you know, unless you're a little bit late.
Week 1: Depth of field: deep (Sept 5-11)
Week 2: Dining out (Sept 12-18)
Week 3: Depth of field: shallow (Sept 19-25)
Week 4: Take a hike (Sept 26-Oct 2)
Week 5: Bokeh (Oct 3-9)
Week 6: Yellow (Oct 10-16)
Week 7: Seen from below (Oct 17-23)
Week 8: Body parts (Oct 24-30)
Week 9: Seen from above (Oct 31-Nov 6)
Week 10: Texture (Nov 7-13)
Week 11: Black and white (Nov 14-20)
Week 12: Blue (Nov 21-27)
Week 13: Portraiture (Nov 28-Dec 4)
Week 14: Beloved (Dec 5-11)
Week 15: Night photography (Dec 12-18)
Week 16: Spice (Dec 19-24)
Week 17: Artificial light (Dec 25-Jan1)
Week 18: Orange
Week 19: Self-portraiture
Week 20: Smiles
Week 21: Overexposure
Week 22: After
Week 23: Post-processing
Week 24: Smell
Week 25: Image Distortion
Week 26: Red
Week 27: Abstract photography
Week 28: Music
Week 29: Looking in
Week 30: Gathering
Week 31: Industrial photography
Week 32: Wind
Week 33: Filtering
Week 34: Green
Week 35: Shutter speed: freeze
Week 36: Warmth
Week 37: Shutter speed: blur
Week 38: Danger
Week 39: Backlight
Week 40: Motherhood or Fatherhood or Childhood
Week 41: Narrative photography
Week 42: A-Z
Week 43: Macro
Week 44: Shoes
Week 45: Time-lapse photography
Week 46: Water
Week 47: Landscape photography
Week 48: Humanity
Week 49: Street photography
Week 50: Purple
Week 51: Flash photography
Week 52: Animal, mineral or vegetable
OK, who's in?
FYI, I will continue to put my pictures up here on this blog for those who just like to look in every now and then.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The fat lady sings
This was my first picture for Project 365, taken a year ago:
This is my last picture for Project 365, taken earlier tonight:
I did it. I completed the behemoth that is Project 365--and I didn't do it alone. Three other people who started this whole rigmarole with me also finished. Mad props to Alejna, Misty and Steve. I feel a bit like celebrating but mostly I feel burnt out. It's an impossibly hectic pace this taking a photo a day gig--especially when you start caring about your results and about actually improving along the way. That's when you end up taking as many as 200-300 pictures in a single day (e.g. droplet shots) in order to learn what you need to and to get the result you were hoping for. And furthermore, taking the pictures isn't nearly so taxing as looking thorough them, deleting the duds and deciding on a single winner for each and every day. Once that is done, there is all the finicky uploading and posting. Aye caramba! I will be so happy to reclaim those hours in my life.
But I am very happy that I not only took it on but also stuck with it 'til the bitter end.
Here are a few things I learned along the way:
1. I take most of my pictures between 6 and 7:30 pm b/c that's the only time my husband is home and this reality creates the illusion that I'll be afforded time and concentration.
2. THIS IS AN ILLUSION. Plus, it means that most of my photos are fuelled by the dinner-hour blood sugar crash.
3. It is very hard to take pictures with a 6 year old next to you at all times.
4. Thankfully, 6 year olds are about the most photogenic objects on earth. (93 of the photos are of her plus 3 or 4 of just her hands)
5. Your family will never stop to let you take photos which means you get a lot of shots of them walking on ahead.
6. White balance is a bitch.
7. Flowers taken with a shallow depth of field are lovely--so lovely in fact that you come to depend on them when time keeps marching hurriedly on.
8. There are more interesting things outside my front and back door than I ever would have guessed a year ago.
9. I fear I am house-bound.
10. Birds are everywhere and are stunning and quirky and, after a while you know exactly which bird is going to be on the feeder by its distinctive call.
I learned so much more but I won't go on about it all here. I did learn to use my camera with skill and intent and that's what I set out to do. I also learned that I have so very much more to learn--things that are impossible to absorb while taking daily pictures, working at a professional job and parenting a 6 year old. What I do know is that I want to continue my education.
Come fall I plan to start a P52 (weekly) or maybe even a P26 (bi-weekly)--wherein, I will set fixed prompts far in advance. Each prompt will force me to treat it as a photography tutorial. For my part, I'm hoping to have enough time to read up on technique and also look at how a handful of professional photographers and/or artist photographers approach the subject of the prompt. I'll post the results of that project here--sometimes a single photo; sometimes a group or series; but never a photo a day. That tank is now empty.
Want to join me? I am always happy for the company. If so, send me an email or leave a comment and we can start planning from there. In the meantime, I'm going on vacation and, yes, I will be taking my camera with me.
Now please allow me to leave you with a handful of my favourite shots from this past year.
007:365
016:365
026:365
035:365
053:365
070:365
096:365
138:365
156:365
160:365
181:365
183:365
189:365
205:365
209:365
226:365
229:365
Not a 365 shot b/c taken the same day as above.
Not a 365 shot b/c taken the same day as the 2 above. March 13th was a very good day.
269:365
273:365
280:365
298:365
303:365
312:365
328:365
333:365
355:365
And my favourite shot of the year:
353:365
This is my last picture for Project 365, taken earlier tonight:
I did it. I completed the behemoth that is Project 365--and I didn't do it alone. Three other people who started this whole rigmarole with me also finished. Mad props to Alejna, Misty and Steve. I feel a bit like celebrating but mostly I feel burnt out. It's an impossibly hectic pace this taking a photo a day gig--especially when you start caring about your results and about actually improving along the way. That's when you end up taking as many as 200-300 pictures in a single day (e.g. droplet shots) in order to learn what you need to and to get the result you were hoping for. And furthermore, taking the pictures isn't nearly so taxing as looking thorough them, deleting the duds and deciding on a single winner for each and every day. Once that is done, there is all the finicky uploading and posting. Aye caramba! I will be so happy to reclaim those hours in my life.
But I am very happy that I not only took it on but also stuck with it 'til the bitter end.
Here are a few things I learned along the way:
1. I take most of my pictures between 6 and 7:30 pm b/c that's the only time my husband is home and this reality creates the illusion that I'll be afforded time and concentration.
2. THIS IS AN ILLUSION. Plus, it means that most of my photos are fuelled by the dinner-hour blood sugar crash.
3. It is very hard to take pictures with a 6 year old next to you at all times.
4. Thankfully, 6 year olds are about the most photogenic objects on earth. (93 of the photos are of her plus 3 or 4 of just her hands)
5. Your family will never stop to let you take photos which means you get a lot of shots of them walking on ahead.
6. White balance is a bitch.
7. Flowers taken with a shallow depth of field are lovely--so lovely in fact that you come to depend on them when time keeps marching hurriedly on.
8. There are more interesting things outside my front and back door than I ever would have guessed a year ago.
9. I fear I am house-bound.
10. Birds are everywhere and are stunning and quirky and, after a while you know exactly which bird is going to be on the feeder by its distinctive call.
I learned so much more but I won't go on about it all here. I did learn to use my camera with skill and intent and that's what I set out to do. I also learned that I have so very much more to learn--things that are impossible to absorb while taking daily pictures, working at a professional job and parenting a 6 year old. What I do know is that I want to continue my education.
Come fall I plan to start a P52 (weekly) or maybe even a P26 (bi-weekly)--wherein, I will set fixed prompts far in advance. Each prompt will force me to treat it as a photography tutorial. For my part, I'm hoping to have enough time to read up on technique and also look at how a handful of professional photographers and/or artist photographers approach the subject of the prompt. I'll post the results of that project here--sometimes a single photo; sometimes a group or series; but never a photo a day. That tank is now empty.
Want to join me? I am always happy for the company. If so, send me an email or leave a comment and we can start planning from there. In the meantime, I'm going on vacation and, yes, I will be taking my camera with me.
Now please allow me to leave you with a handful of my favourite shots from this past year.
007:365
016:365
026:365
035:365
053:365
070:365
096:365
138:365
156:365
160:365
181:365
183:365
189:365
205:365
209:365
226:365
229:365
Not a 365 shot b/c taken the same day as above.
Not a 365 shot b/c taken the same day as the 2 above. March 13th was a very good day.
269:365
273:365
280:365
298:365
303:365
312:365
328:365
333:365
355:365
And my favourite shot of the year:
353:365
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
All but the very last one
358:365 Done
359:365 Bee feet
360:365 This is down the street from me and I've been meaning to shoot it all year long. No time left, I guess.
361:365 At the Mexican restaurant
362:365
363:365 Other things I snap
364:365
________________________________
One more picture to go. I'll take it tomorrow and put it up in a few days with a summary post. It's so close now I can taste it.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Penultimate
The second to last week of Project 365. Holy snapping shutters, Batman.
351:365 Just Mary or turning a negative into a positive
352:365 My own private Provence
353:365 Glory
Saturday was a day of fateful mishaps. I crashed my car. Boo. What's more I left my camera at the camp site and missed the most photogenic group of girls jumping in the ocean at sunset shot ever. Oh well, I did get a portrait of this fine fellow earlier in the day:
354:365 Gull
355:365 Jump
356:365 False sunflowers
357: 365 Hand
____________________________
This was an accidental week on many fronts. But the one happy accident is that I think I took my best picture of the year this past week. I won't tell you which one of the above photos it is, because I think it's kinda obvious. 8 days left: I don't know if I need to set a prompt but I will try to focus on all that I've learned in this past year. Summing it all up.
351:365 Just Mary or turning a negative into a positive
352:365 My own private Provence
353:365 Glory
Saturday was a day of fateful mishaps. I crashed my car. Boo. What's more I left my camera at the camp site and missed the most photogenic group of girls jumping in the ocean at sunset shot ever. Oh well, I did get a portrait of this fine fellow earlier in the day:
354:365 Gull
355:365 Jump
356:365 False sunflowers
357: 365 Hand
____________________________
This was an accidental week on many fronts. But the one happy accident is that I think I took my best picture of the year this past week. I won't tell you which one of the above photos it is, because I think it's kinda obvious. 8 days left: I don't know if I need to set a prompt but I will try to focus on all that I've learned in this past year. Summing it all up.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
And the livin' is easy
I set the prompt as au naturel to get away from last week's drive toward post-processing. The prompt may as well have been just outside the door because so many of these shots were taken within a few dozen feet of my front door.
344:365 The Saint John River
345:365 At dusk
On Friday, we met up with friends at the lake. Tadpole and catfish hunting ensued.
This boy is M's oldest friend. They met in the hospital on the day she was born. He was born the night before. We always relish the time we spend with this family.
346:365 And this is his older brother, a natural tadpole tracker.
Despite my misgivings my husband bought roller blades for M.
347:365 He was right. He usually is.
Belle on wheels.
Right as rain.
Gratuitous bang growing shot.
348:365 BFFs
The practice
349:365
350:365 Natalie and F outside the pool.
__________________________________
15 days to go. Taking these last few pictures will be like pulling teeth. What I need is to get inventive.
344:365 The Saint John River
345:365 At dusk
On Friday, we met up with friends at the lake. Tadpole and catfish hunting ensued.
This boy is M's oldest friend. They met in the hospital on the day she was born. He was born the night before. We always relish the time we spend with this family.
346:365 And this is his older brother, a natural tadpole tracker.
Despite my misgivings my husband bought roller blades for M.
347:365 He was right. He usually is.
Belle on wheels.
Right as rain.
Gratuitous bang growing shot.
348:365 BFFs
The practice
349:365
350:365 Natalie and F outside the pool.
__________________________________
15 days to go. Taking these last few pictures will be like pulling teeth. What I need is to get inventive.
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