Project 366

I told myself that with the start of the new year I would update this blog on a regular schedule.  I meant to post consistently last year and that didn't happen.  So, this year will be different!  Right?  Well, it's February 11th and this will be my first post of the year.  Oh well.  Better late than never. 

One thing I have been keeping up with so far this year is the 366, photo-a-day project I started on the first of January.  One photo every day.  I put no restrictions on the subject matter or the style of these photos.  The only thing keeping these photos consistent is that every one of them will be shot on instant film, or Polaroid.  This will add a bit of cost to this project, but I like the idea of creating something tangible.  Not just by the end of the project, but every single day.  I easily grow bored of looking at images on a screen all of the time.  It's much nicer to see them on paper.  Something I can touch.  Something I can pass along to my children someday. 

The Wife(my favorite model)

The Wife(my favorite model)

Rainy Day (channeling Saul Leiter)

Rainy Day (channeling Saul Leiter)

The only other restriction I put upon myself for this project is that I can only shoot one a day.  No retakes.  If the photo sucks, too bad.  At around a dollar a photo, I can't afford to keep taking pictures until I get it just right.  The only exception to this would be if I forgot to take the dark slide out of the camera before taking the picture.  I've only done that twice so far. 

This one is a bit underexposed.  It's the cat.

This one is a bit underexposed.  It's the cat.

I'm using mostly Fujifilm FP-100C color instant film.  For those not familiar with what that is, it's the instant film that you have to pull out of the camera after you snap the photo, then you wait two minutes and pull it apart.  That leaves you with a print and a negative.  I've read about how the negative can be bleached so that it can actually be used to print from, or scanned into the computer.  If I get around to trying that, I will put up the results here. 

Dining Room.

Dining Room.

So besides the FP-100C, I have a few packs of very old black and white Polaroid film that have been sitting in a cabinet for years.  I tried one last month with mixed results.  Also, Fuji used to make a B&W instant film, FP-3000B, but it was discontinued a few years ago.  The price of the remaining stock is steadily rising, but I managed to obtain a few packs at a "reasonable" price.  So there will be some B&W shots in the mix, too. 

The Wife (again) Fuji FP-3000B B&W instant film

The Wife (again) Fuji FP-3000B B&W instant film

I'm enjoying this project so far, but sometimes it's difficult to come up with ideas on what to shoot.  There have been a couple of days where the photo ended up being something I would have made in high school photo class.  I'm going to keep going with this, though.  I've got a few more packs of film on order, and with spring approaching, I will hopefully find some more inspiration outside. 

Thanks!

These Two

These Two

Working

Working


Prints!

I just received a package today that I was anxiously awaiting.  

 

 I can take all the photos I want, and post the best of them to Instagram, Flickr, 500px, facebook, etc... But none of that compares to holding a print of that image in your hands. I received a box full of prints of my recent work, and they look great!  

Got these in the mail today. 8x10s, 11x14s, 16x20s.  

Got these in the mail today. 8x10s, 11x14s, 16x20s.  

There are more photographs being made now than in any other time in history, but people aren't printing nearly as much as they did before digital. ​Will you be able to access all of those files you have of life's important moments 20, 30, 40 or more years from now?  

PRINT!  You'll be happy you did. ​

Updates to the website

I have updated the website!  I've added a few new photos, and deleted a few.  Nothing too exciting, but I thought I'd let you all know.  I did some portraits for my employer and posted the best of them on the website. 

Photo by Steve Krave

Photo by Steve Krave

I haven't been able to get out and shoot the last two weekends due to other obligations and projects, but I've got enough images in the queue to keep up with my goal of posting a photograph a day all year.  I'm also trying to use a camera every day as well, and except for this weekend, I've been sticking to that too.  The weather is supposed to be warmer this weekend, so maybe I can be inspired to get out and shoot. 

Until next time...

▶ 4 Seasons in Our Backyard (Timelapse 2014) - YouTube

Happy New Year!

 

I've been working on a Photo-a-day project for the past year.  A 365 kind of thing, but this one is more like 350 or so.  I took a photo of our backyard almost every day between 4PM & 5PM in 2014 from an upstairs window.  All photos were taken with an iPhone using the Hipstamatic app.  Here is the end result.  Enjoy!

Updated the website

Just a quick note.  I've updated the website, added a few new photos, and moved a few things around. 

I'd like to say I'm going to blog more regularly, but I don't want to lie to you.  Maybe with the cold weather approaching I can find more time to share my thoughts and photos with you.  I'm hoping to do a post about my "new" camera soon. 

Anyway, enjoy. 

John