And as I sit at the computer to do my psychology homework, I find myself writing this. It’s as if I’m putting off doing my homework. Weird.
I have a knack for delaying my school work. I always get it done, absolutely, but usually I have caroused through Facebook for a while, maybe taken a new photo of myself and worked on it in photoshop, before I get around to reading those final 20 pages or writing that assignment. Such as this one from yesterday:
The past year has involved an intense amount of self-pictures and photoshopping work. After a summer of traveling about Europe, I returned to Bellingham to no job and no desire to stay in one place for longer than 3 days. There was constant movement between Bellingham, the Seattle area, and Spokane. A constant movement that drained my bank account. In an effort to stabilize my life, I moved home, got a job at Michaels and hunkered down a bit. But by the beginning of January, the pre-Christmas blitz was over and I was working minimal hours. I think they liked me enough to keep me on, despite not seeming to have the budget for me… so my weeks varied from 20 to, oh, 4hrs. So, in my boredom (and with the new camera I got last Christmas) I began an, unbeknownst to me at the time, year-long project of taking photos of the most readily accessible object: myself.
My camera was soon attached to my hip. Well… my pocket. And it wasn’t literally attached. But you get the metaphor. Anyway, my camera tracked my life. If I spent the entire day at home, the picture for that day was usually me at the computer, or laying in bed, or something similar. If I did anything fun I made a particular effort to get a picture of it, so that later when I look back through my photos (and for those on Facebook) it looks like my life had a lot going on.
The only of the pictures taken by someone else: January 5, 2009
The project, which included 363 self-taken photos, 1 taken by my girlfriend, and 1 day that I forgot to get a picture, captured my transition from near-unemployment at Michaels, to full time work with the Forest Service, to true unemployment.
Cleaning shop at Michaels: February 18
Driving along a FS road in Idaho or Oregon: May 29
Hey look, no job! Nov. 14
From living in the Seattle area, to living in the Spokane area. From a trim haircut, to a huge shaggy mop, to a shaved head, to the subsequent re-growth. My numerous trips back and forth across the state.
Shag, but not the shaggiest it got: March 18
Calling the girl from Montana, two days after head-shave: June 24
Beginning to re-grow- it was most exciting once I could shape a little faux-hawk again: August 26
And it is amazing because I can look at the photo and remember that day, remember taking the photo- even those I took a year ago. I’m excited to look back at the photos after 5, 10, 20 years. It will be interesting to see what my life was like in 2009 and how much of it I remember.
I like to think my eye for a good shot and my ability to work with the photos afterward both improved. As I figured out more settings on my camera, played around more, they became more interesting.
The first picture of the year- I have never liked this one, but it's the first: January 1, 2009
When it kept going on- I kept on doing it- I decided to make it into a 365/year-long project. In the beginning, I was going to go for as long as I could, which I figured would be a couple months. When it started nearing winter, I realized that I would have to stop it on Dec 31, or else I would feel the pressure of doing a complete second year. If I finished on Dec 31, it was a complete project. If I ended Jan 23, it would be incomplete. Somehow that makes sense to me.
So I finished it off with a simple, quiet ‘the end’:
So I finished it off with a simple, quiet ‘the end’:
The End: December 31, 2009
It has been quite the project, and although I'm taking a break from it this year who's knows if I'll attempts it again in the future. All I can say is that I am surprised that I made it an entire year without giving up- I guess I really am that egocentric!
6 comments:
Damn, I had a nice comment but didn't notice the word verification/it didn't actually post thing.
I just said how even though I watched the project unfold all year long, it is sooo cool to see it in review like that. Awesome to be able to see where you were throughout the year and how you changed. I'm thinking that I'm going to have to do a similar project the year after I get a new camera!!
I was thinking too that another option besides Jan 1st - Dec 31st could be June 29th - June 28th/29th : Amy's 21st year, or something like that! Gives me the option of not having to wait a whole year if I do decide to do the project!
That's a good idea too! If, come June, I'm already ready to re-start the project, I'll steal that idea.
stealing is wrong!
I liked this project! I'd like to do it, but I know I'd only last, um, like a week at most... ;) Go Lausa!! And I'm so not stalking you I just saw a post on Amy's blog. And this is a question/comment for both of you, when's a good time to go to E WA? Cause Amy and I definitely need to take a trip down before I leave for China!
down??
I think that any time is a good time to come over here. It has been a very mild winter, and even Steven's Pass has been largely clear. I don't have anything going on right now... hopefully a job sometime soon, and school next quarter. So, to me, anytime is good. Diana and I are trying to figure out how to use one of her Christmas gifts to have an anniversary trip to Hawaii in June.. so if it would be around then, then we should talk first. Otherwise I think you and Amy need to hop in a car/on a bus/on a train and come over- I will show you a lovely Spokane time!
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