View from my window

Day 5: 4/21/10
First Avenue

When I took on this project, I didn't really consider that I might not like some of the pictures I post. But here I am on Day 5, and this is the best I got today. I realize that this project may be more about consistent practice than getting an amazing picture every time. I almost posted a picture from another day that I like better, but I thought that would be cheating. (You would not know the difference, but I would). Here's that picture:



I would like to practice some portraits and was wondering if anyone wanted to volunteer and let me take their picture. I actually like taking pictures of people but I am often too shy to take pictures of strangers. And whenever I ask Dan to be my model, he always acts like it's a waste of time, and I should be outside taking "real" pictures.

"Portraits are easy," Dan says. "Anyone can do portraits." He once picked up a photo book filled with portraits and said, "Even I can do this."

I haven't seen him do anything yet that looks close to Richard Avedon's level, but I still would like to see how "easy" it is for myself.

Angel Statue

Day 4: 4/20/10
St. Joseph's Church, Yorkville

I walked around my neighborhood for a good hour with my camera and nothing popped at me. Seeking inspiration, I stumbled inside this empty church and saw this statue. Something about the spotlights and the random flowers makes me think she's on stage, behind a podium, delivering a speech or something.

E 78th St and FDR

Day 3: 4/19/10

Socks!

On Sunday, my friend Heather gathered up little Drake and a gaggle of girlfriends (Collette, Jessica, Olivia and me) for an afternoon at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. At this time of year, the cherry blossoms go into full effect for only a few weeks, so even though it was a bit chilly, we bundled up to go see the pink blooms before it was too late.


Drake wasn't particularly impressed by the cherry blossoms. So in order to get him to smile in the pictures, we would say "SOCKS!" For some reason, that word makes him laugh.


Heather yelled SOCKS when she took this picture, so I guess it works on me, too.

In addition to catching up with the girls, I spent most of the time taking pictures and trying to remember how to use my camera again. Spring flowers are so pretty, aren't they?


There were lilacs...


and tulips...



and of course, loads of cherry blossoms.


Socks or no socks, there was definitely a lot of giggles along the way.


hee. hee.

Tulips in Bloom

Day 2: 4/18/10 Brooklyn Botanic Garden

I didn't PhotoShop this picture at all. The colors were that gorgeous.

Hello, old friend.

You may have noticed, but I haven't been taking many pictures lately. In fact, I haven't updated my Flickr since November.

I am not sure why though I would guess it is a combination of A) My computer broke down last fall so uploading pictures isn't as easy as it used to be B) my lack of creative inspiration/motivation/drive, which seems to have gotten worse and C) my super-fancy camera still makes me feel like this.

My friend Nell is a beginner photographer like me, and recently she came up with the brilliant idea to take one picture, every day for one year, in order to force her to practice photography on a daily basis. Then my other friend Emily said, that's a cool idea, I want to do it, too. And when I heard that both of them were doing it, of course, I wanted to join in the fun. Plus this just might be the kick I need to get my creativity in gear.

So for the next year, inspired by my friends, I will take one picture a day, and post them here and here. My main goal is that after one year of practice, I will have some good pictures and eventually feel more like this.


Day 1: 4/17/10, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

It was Record Store Day on Saturday, so I joined Dan on a jaunt to Brooklyn. He flipped through records and I walked around and took pictures. It was a repeat of what we did last year--minus the cupcakes. Though afterwards, I had cupcakes at my friend Julie's new apartment so it all worked out in the end.

Cat calls

I don't get a ton of attention from the opposite sex because I have a 6 foot four inch man standing next to me most of the time. But it never fails that I will be walking home from the gym or a run in the park and a man on the street will look me up and down and say something like, "Hey sexy, how's it going?"

I could understand such as question, if I were in fact dressed up sexy...like maybe if I was wearing a dress or heels or I actually combed my hair. But no, these interactions always seem to happen when I am wearing sweaty workout clothes, hair pulled back into a messy pony tail--pieces sticking out--no make-up. Basically, in a condition where I hope no one will take notice of me.

I would like to know what these men are thinking. Are they making fun of me, or do they genuinely think that grubby sweaty stinky look is sexy--and for some reason, feel the need to express it right then and there?



I usually ignore them, but how do these men expect I should respond to such a question? "Good?" "I am doing good because I am sweaty and sexy?" There has got to be a better way.