The Future of my Project365

On Monday 06.21 we found for certain we are expecting. Of course, there's the excitement, happiness, anticipation, etc., that comes with that news. You begin to figure out how to adapt your life, your thinking is altered, your view on life becomes different. Amidst all this I’m thinking photography. I’m excited in all the ways a person can be about this journey to come, but I have the warped perspective of a photographer. I’ve learned about myself that I not only want to be behind a camera, but feel I have to. So with that in your mind, one of my first thoughts was of how incredible this is going to be to document photographicly. I have a twitchy shutter finger already. As all the thoughts began to spin in my head, it occurred to me that this will all happen during my 365 days. Wasn’t that timing great. My project has completely and suddenly changed. It already was this insider look into my thoughts during each day, but now... I am going to be able to not only show me growing and changing throughout a years time, but now I’m going to be able to show that growing and changing from being a husband to being a husband and a father. There’s going to be almost a month from that moment until the end of of the year. I’m not only going to have the 40 or so weeks, but I’m going to be able to also show the transition for that first month. How amazing is that. I’m going to be able to show the complete transition from it not even being a thought, life as normal, through what our lives will become after the new year. All of it in the medium of photography. The first of what is to come...

A Ghost in the Mirror

This is and older image, but one that’s still exciting for me. In September 2006 my family took a ghost tour in Savannah, GA. The tour company we chose was Hauntings Tour and it was worth it. The guide was very interesting and did a great job talking about some of the haunted history of the city. The route takes you past the 17 Hundred 90 Inn and Restaurant. As the guide was talking, we watched the staff leave and the manager lock the doors. I walked over to one of the windows where I could see the night lights left on and dim, the tables set and atmosphere provided by the brick and wood architecture. I just pointed the camera through the glass, not even looking through the viewfinder and ‘click’...walked away and didn’t think anymore about it. While reviewing the images from that night, it was realized there was something in the mirror. I’ll leave it for you to decide what it is to you. There is a lot of paranormal activity at the Inn and it’s been investigated by some of the most notable ghost hunters in the world. I’ve provided a copy of the image to both the restaurant and Hauntings Tour. The tour had to request a new copy because the first was so worn out from people handling it. Evidently it’s become a centre piece of the tour from what he told me. When talking with the owner of the restaurant, they confirmed at the time of the photo, no one would have remained inside. When we saw the doors locked, that would have been the last person out. If you want to read more about the 17 Hundred 90 you can visit their site or the multitude to be found in a Google search. There several others on the tour that had orbs in there photo. I’m just excited to have captured something completely unusual. Whether a believer or not, the images are for you to enjoy and ponder about.

 

My First Post - project365

I thought what could be a better way to start a blog than with something I've decided to dedicate a year on my life doing. On March 4th, I took my first of 365 self portraits. Being the photographer I have few photographs of myself. I've always tried to take a photo of myself when I'm out somewhere, but that usually doesn't get done. So when I decided to do this project I knew it could only be self portraits. To say the least, I've had a great time doing it. It has been a great way to push my creativity to another level. It keeps me thinking. I have to admit most of my shots are not planned out days or usually hours in advanced, but shot on a whim at that moment. That's probably why I usually find myself thinking "I need to take my portrait today" at 9, 10 and even 11 at night. One thing I've learned about myself is how my creativity comes from the most simple things. Something I see laying around the house, or like the image above, my t-shirt. It's proven to me beyond a doubt an idea can form out or almost nothing and result in something you're amazed it came out of your head.
The think that has been the most incredible to me is the response I've received from people about what I'm doing. Family and friends have given me the best compliments for going on this adventure. As a member of a photography club (Cherokee Photography Club) I'm surrounded by very good photographers all the time. When I receive their praise and encouragement, it blows me away because many of them have been shooting almost as long as I've been alive. It means a lot to me to hear them to say what they do. It makes me try harder and harder to come up with the next, often crazy, but good idea. It is so amazing to have someone tell me they just can't wait to see what I'll come up with next. When one photographer told me when they look at my work it makes them feel inadequate, I realized I have people looking up to me for inspiration. I had been doing the looking for so long, I've never realized what it was like to be on the receiving end. I hope through this project I can only keep encouraging others to strive for better images, be more creative and just keep shooting.