My 365 Project is ... COMPLETED!

Photo 365: Today is a special day - the last post for my project... picture #365. I did it - I actually took and posted 365 pictures in one year to the day. A year ago I read about this 365 idea, and thought, hey why not try to take a picture for one day for the entire year? It was exciting, a new challenge, but I never thought how the project would take over and change me as a photographer, an artist and even as a person.

I did a little off roading in Alaska to get that perfect shot of a mist-covered bridge, rode a camel to capture the Pyramids, climbed security fences to shoot graffiti, and learned how to use a tripod and shoot amazing firewors. I saw colors, shapes, people and places through a lens, and everything around me changed with that. You see images and ideas where you never think to look, and learn so much more about your surroundings and the magic that is a city, a field, a beach and even an empty baseball stadium. Speaking of baseball, I was hit by one (twice), braved a snowstorm to find snowmen, and apparently stalked dogs throughout the city - all in the name of photography. I got lost in Lake Tahoe, looking at the water and beautiful scenery as a thunderstorm was rolling in. I walked around an old castle with perfectly groomed gardens and saw my city - NYC - from every angle that you can think of. I look back now and remember chasing down watertowers all over the city, riding a ski lift up and down to get the mountains just right, and learning about the rule of two thirds. I remember shooting my 100th picture, and how amazed I was that I got this far already, and then scared at the same time, because I still had 265 pictures to go, and it seemed so far away. Most important, I am thankful that I had this awe-inspiring, breathtaking, exhausting and fulfilling experience. There were times when I just didn't want to pick up Pedro anymore, because I was pictured-out, and I didn't want to go out and look for another image, but I dragged my sorry butt off the couch, and went outside anyway. Why? Because this project important to me, I had something to prove, and I'm a competitor, and didn't want to fail . I persevered, with some not-so stellar images (i.e. those long, dreary days in January), some great shots that I'm very proud of, and Pedro a little more used and abused but still my steady sidekick. My project is done, and I'm sad, but feel very accomplished. I did it!

Here's a last image (for this project) that I absolutely adore. I hope you like it! And always remember, no matter what the goal is - big or small - embrace the challenges and obstacles, because if you put your mind and heart into it, anything is possible.


P.S. Stay tuned for my new "100 Moments in Photography" project. Project365 inspired me so much (along with the book, Half the Sky), that I decided to do a fundraiser... for what and why you'll have to just wait and see. I'll keep you posted and will sharedetails in the coming days, but needless to say, I'm very excited about this new step for a good cause.

- FIN -

Love in New York City

Photo 359: I've never actually seen this "Love" landmark, but stumbled upon it the other day, so I couldn't resist. It's corny, but I had to. hahaha The hopeless romantic side came out in me, but in my defense, Brandon makes me giggly and mushy... so it's HIS fault. lol It's still pretty cool, and definitely one of the images everyone thinks of when they think NYC iconic images.

Beauty Amidst Ruins

Photo 339 - 341: Hm... Looks a little scary, no? lol But here is the fence I climbed, and the shrubs I escaped. It's amazing how these grounds seem to set themselves apart from the rest of the neighborhood. Birds chirping, leaves blowing around and bees buzzing, but surrounded by these ruins.

"But two miles more, and then we rest!
Well, there is still an hour of day,
And long the brightness of the West
Will light us on our devious way;
Sit then, awhile, here in this wood--
So total is the solitude,
We safely may delay.

These massive roots afford a seat,
Which seems for weary travellers made.
There rest. The air is soft and sweet
In this sequestered forest glade,
And there are scents of flowers around,
The evening dew draws from the ground;
How soothingly they spread!

Yes; I was tired, but not at heart;
No--that beats full of sweet content,
For now I have my natural part
Of action with adventure blent;
Cast forth on the wide world with thee,
And all my once waste energy
To weighty purpose bent."

-- Charlotte Bronte

Looking Back to NOLA

Photo 301 - 303: Here are a few more shots from my NOLA visit. One thing is for certain, I have to go buy a gorilla tripod for my mini trips. That would have helped me out a lot during my last vacation. I even looked at them at B&H Photo (any photographer's gear mecca), but didn't buy one... don't as me why.

Nothing much else to report today, but that I'm planning on some "sexier" photos soon i.e. NYC at night, perhaps a model shoot or even some Miami at night photographs. Now THAT'S a great idea... For now, take a look back at what New Orleans has to offer -- a lot of history.

The Big Easy

Photo 300: I debated, and debated, and debated what my 300th picture should be, and picked this one from my trip to New Orleans a few months ago. I've been wanting to post it, and I wandered around NYC today to get my newest photograph, but nothing struck me quite like this one from the Big Easy. This was the first time I've been back post-Katrina, and it was eye-opening and a bit sad to see that this once gorgeous area hasn't yet recovered fully. The French Quarter has been cleaned up of course, but I remember the surrounding areas to be lush, and beautiful, but after taking a drive to the countryside, it wasn't like that anymore. More to come from this trip, but it's my 300th picture, people!

Blue Skies

Photo 180: I am starting to resent the cold weather, I need some blue sky, some sunshine and some HEAT! I realize it's a pipe-dream for now, we have months of coldness ahead of us, but I can't help but hope. Here's a bit of blue sky to brighten your Monday morning blues...

The Fight for Color

Photo 141-142: Even though the wind is howling outside, and the temperatures are dropping a bit, fall is not yet ready to bow out of the month of November. Here are two shots that shout FALL, and embrace nature's reds and greens.

Murals

Photo 101-103: Here is a collection of murals I've seen all over. The colors, the stories, and the meanings are varied, but what matters really is what each viewer interprets, sees and feels.

Doors

Photo 84-86: So I took a little sidetrip last weekend, and managed to be creative despite the many events, happenings and chapters of life that were prolonged. lol Life is definitely never boring, and is quite colorful as you can see. I just thought these doors were so much fun, and were all over the city.

What is art?

Photo 2: So, it's Tuesday morning, and I'm ambling along Bedford Avenue to my subway stop. All of a sudden some new graffiti art hits me. It's a whole wall filled with someone's imagination, passion, anger or just plain boredom... all created with a few paint cans of color. Graffiti to me is like any "modern" art, depends on how you interpret it and what you interpret it to be. This is what I saw this morning, as the sun was FINALLY trying to break through some very dense, gray clouds, and I was searching for my shot of the day.