12/18/09
Recent participation in some photography forums has piqued an interest in doing a Project 365. Photography has been a hobby on and off for over 40 years and in the last 18 months my interest has intensified. So I've decided to jump in, give it a shot (no pun intended) and see if I can shoot every day for a year.

My expectations for this project are that it will provide motivation to expand my skills both behind the camera and in post-processing and provide a vehicle for experimentation. My photog pal Doug has been a great mentor, so I want to publicly say thanks; this is your fault (kidding of course).

It is going to be a learning experience, so any and all comments, critiques and encouraging words are welcome.

Thanks for viewing.

Jeff

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Project52 is Coming Soon



While Project 365 has come to an end, Project52 is just beginning. I've set-up a separate blog site and would love you to subscribe and follow as you've so faithfully done on P365.

To subscribe, click this link to get to the site and then click the email subscription link on the upper right (see red arrow above). Follow instructions and all new posts will be delivered to your email.

Planning to start shooting again for P52 on January 1st, so subscribe now.

In the meantime, I've been doing a little shooting and posting to a Flickr photostream at:
Check out that site for some interesting shots.

Happy Holidays to all and thank you.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

I Can't Believe It's a Year

12/18/10 - Day 365

Relief. Accomplishment. Emptiness. Pride. Grateful.

These are some of the feelings I am experiencing today as I conclude Project 365.

Relief:  The intensity of this undertaking was beyond what I had expected.  When I committed to do this project and gained a following, it was important to me to not only shoot every day, but also post every day.  With the exception of a handful of days, I did that.  But there were many evenings when the pressure was on and sacrifices were made to get this done.  So after today, at least for a while, that pressure will be relieved and I can engage in some additional activities otherwise forgone.

Accomplishment:  I feel a sense of accomplishment having achieved my objectives for Project 365.  I see things differently and am more creative behind the camera and in the digital darkroom than 365 days ago.  I also realize there is still a long way to go reach the level of work by those I admire.

Emptiness:  As I write this, there is a sense of emptiness in the pit of my stomach as this project has occupied a portion of every single day for a year.  I'm pretty sure it won't last long, but it is here today.

Pride:  I'm proud of the body of work I created this past year and look forward to publishing it for friends and family who have traveled the path with me.  No doubt in my mind that I'm a better photographer now than 365 days ago.

Grateful:  Most importantly, I am grateful for the support I received along the way from friends, family and complete strangers.  From 50 email followers that received the photo every morning to new friends I've met via Flickr, Daily Shoot & MacroMondays, from strangers happening onto the blog to new friends I met on the train because of photography (Doug first, then Frank) - each of you have provided the ingredients of inspiration, ideas, knowledge and camaraderie. And for that, I offer my profound thanks.  And a special thanks goes to Mrs. Wonderful, Lin, for putting up with my obsession.

So what's next?  Giving up photography is not an option.  I'm planning a two week "breather" which means I'll probably shoot & post informally and then launch into a Project52, shooting at least one shot a week (probably more) for a year.  Not sure of the format yet but stay tuned.  Once set-up, I'll provide a link from this site and those that wish to can register for automatic email delivery.  I’ll also have more time to follow the photostreams of my new and very talented Flickr friends.

Hope to see you all on the next leg of this photographic journey. Best wishes for Happy Holidays and a great New Year.

Jeff

Friday, December 17, 2010

Flickstackr

12/17/10 - Day 364
Taken for today's Daily Shoot #397: "Squares and grids surround us in our built environment. Focus in on some squares today and make a photograph."

Pretty good timing for showing a collection of shots taken for my Project 365, which ends tomorrow.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Perforations

12/16/10 - Day 363
Could not help but notice the repeating patterns of these chairback perforations while sitting in my San Diego office conference room.  Shot for today's Daily Shoot #396: "Find a repeating pattern today and make a photograph of it."  You need to step back from this shot to really see the pattern.

JetYellow

12/15/10 - Day 362
Shot for today's Daily Shoot assignment #395: "Yellow is great at grabbing attention. Make a photograph today where the primary subject is yellow in color."  Taken on a flight from San Francisco to Long Beach.  Pretty lame submission, but it's late and I'm tired.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Four Points

12/14/10 - Day 361
SymmetriCam shot of the iconic Transamerica Tower in San Francisco. Taken at 10:30pm on Tuesday night...running out of time for the day's shot.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Pair

12/13/10 - Day 360
Shot for today's Daily Shoot #393: "Make a photo of a pair of subjects today. People or inanimate objects are both fair game!"

Pair of pears...obvious choice. Improvised again with hotel room lighting.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Are You In?

12/12/10 - Day 359
Today's Daily Shoot #392 is: "Sunday challenge! Timing can make or break a photograph. Make a photograph today that has to be timed just right to work."

Since it is near the holidays, the timing of this message is just right!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Foggy Rain

12/11/10 - Day 358
Was a very hectic week, so I slept in today and woke up in kind of a fog. It rained here all day, so the foggy mist and water pouring out of the downspout captured my mood.

Shot for Daily Shoot assignment #391: "What can make a photograph feel moody to you? Illustrate your answer today."

Friday, December 10, 2010

Meter's Running

12/10/10 - Day 357
Practically impossible to get a taxi in downtown Chicago this evening. And then when we did, just sat in traffic. I hate that!

Shot for today's Daily Shoot #390: "What makes you anxious? Illustrate it in a photograph today."

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Bands at the Bay

12/9/10 - Day 356
Leaving my South San Francisco office today, I was struck by the overcast over the bay and the horizontal bands of grass, Bay, horizon and sky, all punctuated by the lone sailboat.

Comfortably Numb

12/8/10 - Day 355
I had the great fortune tonight to see the Roger Waters-The Wall concert at HP Pavilion in San Jose. Being a Pink Floyd fan, it was a rare opportunity.  Amazing music and visuals.  Check out this link for an additional shot.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

4 Corners

12/7/10 - Day 354
O'Hare Airport, holiday decorations, equality --> during the holiday season, joy should be experienced across all 4 corners of the world.  I used the SymmetriCam to capture a 4-way image expressing holiday cheer, using the airport location to represent the global nature of the message.

Shot for today's Daily Shoot assignment #387: "Illustrate the word equality today with a photograph that shows your favorite interpretation."

Monday, December 6, 2010

Ripples on the River

12/6/10 - Day 353
Notwithstanding a very busy day, at 18 degrees F, there wasn't going to be outside shooting during the narrow window of sunshine.  I happened to glance out my office window towards the river and saw bright shadows/reflections of surrounding buildings.  Pulled out my Samsung point and shoot and fired off two shots for today's Daily Shoot #386: "Make a photograph today with strong direct light that casts crisp dark shadows."

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Happy Hanukkah

12/5/10 - Day 352
A photo of our menorah for Daily Shoot #385: "Illustrate or show depth of one kind or another in a photograph today."  I chose to illustrate depth through Depth of Field.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Moose in the Headlights

12/4/10 - Day 351
I startled this guy as he was roaming through our backyard during our first measurable snow.

Taken for Daily Shoot #384: "Find a composition today with a strong line or edge that cuts from one corner of the frame to the other."  Diagonal antlers?

Friday, December 3, 2010

Pics in a Pic

12/3/10 - Day 350
Other than the individual photos I've taken every day during the last year for my Project 365, Daily Shoot, and other photo groups, I've done virtually nothing artistic. The lone exception is the coffee table book I put together from our 2009 trip to Spain. Actually, I'm pretty proud of it.

Shot for Daily Shoot #383: "Double up on your art today. Make a photograph of something else that you've created or crafted."

Thursday, December 2, 2010

16 Candles ÷ 4

12/2/10 - Day 349
While at dinner tonight, I first read today's Daily Shoot assignment #382: "Make a photo today that features a hand in a creative way."  SymmetriCam to the rescue!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

First Flakes

12/1/10 - Day 348
The light snow covering on the deck made it pretty easy to accomplish today's Daily Shoot assignment #381: "Use vignetting in a photograph today. Either add it in post (easier) or do it in camera via lens or lighting (harder)." Did not use the vignetting sliders at all, only a little exposure and recovery to bring out the detail.  And, a little creative placement of the flashlight beam.  Check out my Flickr photostream for the runner-up shot.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Suspension

11/30/10 - Day 347
I don't know if this bridge in Boston, designed by Calatrava, follows the Golden Ratio (Daily Shoot #380), but it is one beautiful piece of architecture and engineering.  Taken this evening on the way to Logan Airport for my flight back to Chicago.

Monday, November 29, 2010

These Aren't Working

11/29/10 - Day 346
Shot for today's Daily Shoot #379: "Illustrate what the word vision means to you. Either be literal or interpret it broadly and artistically." Reminds me that I probably need a prescription check.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Willie Nelson (and Canned Heat)

11/28/10 - Day 345
As our son was readying to head for Columbus after visiting over the Thanksgiving holiday, this song came to mind. I got a shot off as he waved so long.

Guess the song title.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Road's Eye View

11/27/10 - Day 344
Pulled out the fisheye lens for today's Daily Shoot assignment #377: "Go for an unusual point of view and make a photograph that can only be made from that viewpoint."

Friday, November 26, 2010

Productive Day...

11/26/10 - Day 343
..for the boys, less so for me.

Taken for the Daily Shoot #376: "Containers, boxes, and packages.  Make a photo with one or more as a subject and illustrate what they mean to you."

Memories

11/25/10 - Day 342
Thanksgiving is the one day of the year where all the kids are in town and the whole family is together. There is a lot of picture taking going on so we can remember the occasion.

Shot for Daily Shoot #375: "Make a photograph today that documents your family or conveys how you think of your family."

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

What Traffic?

11/24/10 - Day 341
Found a great and free iPad app called Trip Tracker for live flight tracking.  So much for the Thanksgiving travel crowds.  My son's flight from Denver was early this morning.  And I zipped in and out of the airport to pick him up, all with zero delays.

Shot for today's Daily Shoot #374: "Illustrate the process or thought of traveling today, possibly by documenting your own travels."

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Not So White Album

11/23/10 - Day 340
From the time I read today's Daily Shoot assignment #373 (shooting white on white), I knew that my copy of the Beatles White Album was going to be my subject.  Not so happy with the processing of this one, but ran out of time & patience tonight.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Lines of Text

11/22/10 - Day 339
Horizontal lines is the subject of today's Daily Shoot assignment #372.  Thought I would use this opportunity to combine the assignment response with another song title from the Beatles.  I'm not going to judge this as obscure or obvious - I'll let my viewers make that decision.  Now...name that tune.

And if you wish, name this book.  The book title has nothing to do with the song title however.  Answers will be posted on my Flickr Photostream.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Rear Windshield

11/21/10 - Day 338
It rained lightly this morning and I caught this reflection when going out to meet some buddies for coffee.  Fortunately, I had read the Daily Shoot assignment #371: "Find or make a reflection in a window today and shoot through it to create a layered composition."

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Really Obscure Beatles

11/20/10 - Day 337
Today's Daily Shoot assignment #370 was to use tungsten light. I used the opportunity to create another song set image from the Beatles, c. 1963. The sculpture is a replica from the National Archeological Museum in Athens, Greece.

Guess the song title.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Obscure Beatles Tune

11/19/10 - Day 336
I took this shot just after midnight, thinking that another song set image with a self-portrait for my P365 11 month anniversary would be great.  This morning, I read the Daily Shoot assignment #369: "Low contrast in a scene can connote softness, calmness, or mellowness.  Make a photo today that has low contrast."   Perfect - figured I'd process with low contrast to satisfy this assignment.  Another 3fer.

Guess the song title.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Simon & Garfunkel

11/18/10 - Day 335
Today's Daily Shoot assignment was a perfect reason for me to shoot another song title I've been thinking about.   Assignment #368 was: "Make a photograph today that visually communicates a sound.  Your choice of sound, but do your best to make us 'hear' it."

Should be an easy sound and song title to guess.  Also, one day early on the P365 monthly self-portrait.

Not a Chance...

11/17/10 - Day 334
..that I would drive in this traffic every day.  A long commute on public transportation I can handle.  Made my own graffiti on this image for today's Daily Shoot #367: "Graffiti is unwanted by many, but can be visually interesting.  Find visual interest in something you don't like today."

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

CEUs

11/16/10 - Day 333
Working on those last minute CEUs for my license renewal at the end of November. Almost done!

Shot for Daily Shoot assignment #366: "For the 1st assignment of @dailyshoot year 2, create a photo with a single element, no distractions, & lots of contrast."

Monday, November 15, 2010

Another Beatles Tune

11/15/10 - Day 332
Shot for today's Daily Shoot #365 anniversary calendar theme: "Can you believe it's been a year of @dailyshoot?  We can't!  Make a photograph with a calendar theme today."

This should be an easy song to name.  Check out the Flickr Photostream for the answer.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Unshackled

11/14/10 - Day 331
Today's Daily Shoot #364 was: "Illustrate the word free today.  Go with the first thing that pops into your head and make a photograph based on that idea."   First thought that came to mind today when reading this was an open padlock with a bicycle chain.  I couldn't find the bicycle chain but did find two padlocks.  Similar idea - different execution.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Metal River

11/13/10 - Day 330
Today's Daily Shoot #363 was: "What is your favorite material? Make a creative photograph today that emphasizes its characteristics." Not sure if metal is my favorite material but was definitely one that dominated our day since we went car shopping.

Green dominates the color scheme because to buy a car, you need a lot of the green stuff these days. BTW, we didn't take the plunge today.

Friday, November 12, 2010

It Can't Be Far Behind

11/12/10 - Day 329
Once you hit the day after Veteran's Day Half Off sale, Black Friday can't be far behind. Bah Humbug!  Shot for today's Daily Shoot #362: "Create a composition that playfully incorporates text of some sort in it today. Make it meaningful to you if you can."

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Facade in a Facade

11/11/10 - Day 328
There are lots of opportunities to shoot building facades in Chicago that can tell a story. Unfortunately, today I knew there would not be time to capture one with an in depth story. I was presented with this view when walking to my office. The rising sun shining on the elder statesman as reflected in the starkness of the younger generation tells a little about the times each of these structures were built. Shot for today's Daily Shoot #361: "Facades give buildings their public face. Make a photo of a building's facade today that tells its story."

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Which Way to the Ocean?

11/10/10 - Day 327
It's been almost 2 years since I've been diving, after going 11 years in a row.  My dive computer was the first gauge I thought of when reading today's Daily Shoot #360: "Gauges, meters, and turn signals are all indicators. Make a photograph of an indicator that catches your attention today."

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Santana

11/9/10 - Day 326
Although it is early Tuesday morning, thought I'd try to get one more shot in for MacroMondays - theme "Personal Soundtrack".  Check out my Flickr photostream for the name of the song if you don't figure it out.

Also submitting for today's Daily Shoot #359: "Isolate your subject today in a photo you create today. Eliminate every distracting element possible." The vingette helps the isolation.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Sears Radials

11/8/10 - Day 325
Took a few shots today for Daily Shoot assignment #358: "Radiating lines pulls the viewer directly to a center of interest. Take advantage of this in a photo you create today." This one of Sears Tower was the most dramatic.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

3-Fer

11/7/10 - Day 324
It is not often that I get to use one shot for my P365, for Daily Shoot and for MacroMondays.  Today's Daily Shoot #357 is: "Sometimes what’s out of focus can make the shot.  Create a photograph today where some/all of your subject isn't in focus."  The MacroMondays assignment for this week is "Personal Soundtrack".

So the game is on; guess the name of the song.  Check out my Flickr Photostream for the guesses and if no one gets it, I'll post the answer later in the week.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Chlorophyll Superhighway

11/6/10 - Day 323
No traffic on this highway as the leaves turn from green to red. Last vestiges of the red maple in front of our house. Macro shot for today's Daily Shoot #356: "Sometimes, the best advice is to get closer. Today, get really close to your subject. Use a macro lens if you have one."  Also, check out the alternate processing for this image, called "Urban Sprawl".

Friday, November 5, 2010

Giant Swords against the Butterfly

11/5/10 - Day 322
Well, at least that's what it looked like after I shot it with the SymmetriCam.  Taken at the Denver airport.  Stopped in Denver for dinner with my son.

The image was fairly desaturated, but the yellow/gold was pretty ugly, so I used the sliders...no bonus points for the Daily Shoot #355: "Make a photo today with a subject low in color saturation.  Bonus points for not using a software slider!"

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Urbanscape

11/4/10 - Day 321
Driving into San Francisco this evening, I was stuck in traffic so pulled out the trusty SymmetriCam on my cell phone to capture an image for P365.  It wasn't until I got back to my hotel and put it on the computer that I realized the brightness of the tail lights would qualify for today's Daily Shoot #354: "Today, make a photo that emphasizes or even exaggerates brightness in a scene."

As an aside, the high-rise building that dominates the skyline in 4 locations is a residential project for which my firm managed the development from the ground up (One Rincon Hill).

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Oyster Point Marina

11/3/10 - Day 320
Stopped off at the marina on the way to checking into my hotel, looking for a naturally framed shot to submit for today's Daily Shoot #353: "Frames outline the focus of a subject. Make a creative photo with natural framing: windows, doors, trees, borders, etc."

It was so beautiful, I brought out my watercolors and painted the scene rather than photographing it. NOT. Dry brush filter in PSE.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Avoid the Flat

11/2/10 - Day 319
Today's Daily Shoot assignment #352 was: "A fork in the road.  Casting a ballot. Buying bread.  Choices abound.  Illustrate making a choice today with a photo today."  My choice was to drive around the fork in the road.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Tightrope

11/1/10 - Day 318
Today's Daily Shoot #351 was: "The word balance has many meanings, literal and abstract.  Pick one and make a photograph today."  Was trying to use some off-camera flash backlighting while simulating a tightrope walk.  Ran out of time so I went with my best shot of this poorly executed assignment.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Rexall

10/31/10 - Day 317
It was a great 45 mile, 3 county bike ride today on the Fox River Trail and Illinois Prairie Path.  A little (ok, a lot) out of our way due to some trail closures, we found ourselves riding through the town of West Chicago.  For us Chicago natives, the faded Rexall sign brought back lots of memories.  Rexall, back in the day, was a prevalent drug store name.  Haven't seen one of these signs in many, many years.