The Twenty-Second Room

On Being Busy

So it seems we have once again come to that crucial point in any blog: When you have things to blog about, you don't have time to blog, and when you have time to blog you have nothing to blog about. This is mostly a case of the former.

It's been rather busy, which is good, and while in the mire of editing, this little gem stood out and said "look at me!" This here is the lovely and talented Meiko. She plays music and is quite good. Check out her website if you don't believe me. I had the opportunity to photograph her during a performance at Red Rocks Amphitheater for Film on the Rocks. You can click on those and check them out for yourself, but it's safe to say it is an awesomely fun time, even if awesomely is not an actual word.  Well, back to it then.

In New Way Bonus Round!

Alternate to Day 25

As you can see, here's a shot that didn’t make the regular cut and I really wanted to share them, not just because I think it is fun and awesome and all LensBaby-y, but because that is the whole point of this year’s photo a day was to see things in a new way. Most if not all of this month’s shots were taken in places that I normally am: my home, the paths I take, the people I see. Well, mostly it was my home and the things that surround me all the time. It’s something I am always trying to do, to see things a little differently than the guy with the camera next to me, so to do it with the things that I see every day made the challenge quite appropriate.

So how well did we do? Well enough. If you look back (back even farther than this past month), certainly you will notice that I look at a lot of repeated colors and shapes. Even though that's a normal thing for me, I do think those shots included in this project were strong enough to stand out. But the ones that I think really accomplished the mission of this year's project are those images that break down the every day into shapes and light and all recognition of the subject is gone.

I mean, did you figure out that Day 6 was a pizzelle press? Or that Day 19 was a duster? Or Day 28 was our favorite plumber hating King Koopa? I'm going to let you figure out the shot above just to get your brain cranking.

I’ve spoken before on how to look at things differently, whether it’s changing your angle, changing your lens or the many other ways to make your images stand out, but it’s not just about photography. Changing the way you look at things applies to everything you do. As we grow and as we settle, the same things surround us, be it place or actions (bowling night, etc). Yes it’s comfortable, but at the same time is that good? What happened to the challenge, the adventure? One day you wake up and you are going to ask yourself what happened to your life. That’s not a bad thing. The thing is you should be asking yourself this everyday, and not only if you are a creative. The world is a big place, and there’s a lot to see and do. Take in as much as you can, see as much as you can. It’ll be good for you, I guarantee. (Oh, and by world, yes I mean it in the literal sense, but just the little world that surrounds you applies too. I bet you’ve never been to that local farmers market, or been to that chalk art fair, or that bluegrass festival that happens down the block. It’s a bet I’d win, because I know I didn’t see you there. So get going.)

In a New Way Day 31

In a New Way Day 30

In a New Way Day 29

You should know by now, because I know you've been following my blog since the beginning, that is no limiter on my imagination, and quite honestly, there shouldn't be on on yours either. Warp Factor Seven!

In a New Way Day 28

In a New Way Day 27

In a New Way Day 26

In a New Way Day 25

Sometimes we all need a little help to fly.

In a New Way Day 24

In a New Way Day 23

I keep notes. In particular, I keep a little Moleskin with gridded paper to keep notes in. Each year I pick up a new one (I've yet to completely fill one within a year) and on the first page, I write down something that was important or resonated with me from the previous year. Last year it was it was a few Russian quotes from my brief adventure abroad, including "Мёд для моей души" though I believe if we wanted to be completely correct, the end quotes should be at the bottom of the letter.

This year, it's from Doctor Who, The Third Doctor to be precise, in Planet of the Daleks.

“Courage isn’t a matter of not being frightened, you know. It’s being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway.”

The quotes at the end are correct, what with it being in English and all, but the words are really the important thing to consider, and yes, the idea isn't new and has been oft repeated. Maybe there's a reason for that.

In a New Way Day 22

In a New Way Day 21

In a New Way Day 20

For those that read the labels at the bottom of each post, you will notice that this is also a part of the Casting Shadows series. Why? Seeing things in a new way can be a simple as focusing only on the shadows cast by an object. You like how I totally explained the label with the label? Yeah, I'm hard core street like that. Not really, but it is a change to the way you see things. Oh, and for those wonder what this is exactly, it is a set of tiny pallets, for lifting tiny 55 gallon drums, which turns out at that scale, they do not actually hold 55 gallons of anything. The lids of the drums don't come off, so I can't tell how many gallons the drums hold, though I am sure it is nowhere near any gallons. Also, cannot make tiny steel drums out of them, in case you were wondering.

In a New Way Day 19

In a New Way Day 18

Do the Robot! I was going to make a joke about dancing to Armored Core, but knowing my audience, it'd be like saying "it's really just bananastep."

In a New Way Day 17

For those curious, this is a memory. A good one.

In a New Way Day 16

In a New Way Day 15

The most important meal of the day. After elevenses. After luncheon. After afternoon tea. After dinner. After supper. Nevermind, they are all rather important.