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Early springtime is hitting Sweden as of now; it’s still a bit chilly but if you find the right spots, you can still take of your coat and sit for a while in the sunshine and enjoy the moment. This means that suddenly there’s actual daylight! Beautiful, sunny daylight! That means more hours per day of possible photography.
I really love to photograph people. I can not stress that enough. But I am always terrified of missing the moment, not being able enough, and loosing the shots. So, I’m in desperate need of practice, so that I start feel comfortable with it, you know, to get rid of the nerves.
So this weekend I had the fantastic opportunity to take a few shots of my friend Cecilia, an opportunity for which I am very grateful (Most people I know, while not very shy at all, do not want to have their picture taken).
Just being out in the sunshine was great, a big burst of energy, but also, it was a lot of fun just walking around finding new spot to shoot in, and I really got a lot of time to mess about with the settings on my SLR.
Below are two of my absolute favourite shots. I feel rather proud of them, and this is the reason: I have known Cecilia for ten years. She is a beautiful girl. And I feel that I have a caught a moment when she is feeling happy and beautiful herself. And that’s my favourite part of photographing people.
This post is cross posted at phobicgamer.com
I can’t believe how fast this week has flown by, it’s weird to think that I wouldn’t just keep doing the same thing tomorrow. Bring my camera everywhere, take notes, take loads of pictures. It’s a fun thought: what if I just keep going and do the same thing tomorrow, and see how long I can do this? But then, there’s the point with ending it. I did this for a week, I’m proud of myself, and now I can lower my camera for a couple of days and dig into all those other projects and ideas and plans I have.
Today we had a lazy day at home, not really leaving the apartment at all. We haven’t had one of those days in forever, not since March I think, so I’m not really feeling guilty about it at all. Well needed, well deserved. We tried making Eggs Benedict for the first time ever. First time I had that dish was on our vacation in Scotland last year, and that particular trip is so packed with good memories that just thinking about it make me happy. Anyway, we actually managed to cook it! Other than that we mostly hung out and cuddled the cat and had a nice lunch on the balcony. Cat was very happy for all the attention.
I Managed to sort out my scrapbook area and started on a layout for the project. Yepp, I’m making it by hand. In paper. With scissors and glue. I just really need to allow myself some time to sit down and craft for a while, so I thought this would be the perfect project for that. It’ll be the first ever album I’m making just for myself. Not to give away. I don’t even care if anybody else ever sees it or read it. It’s my story, after all.
This is the seventh and last day in Ali Edwards’ project Week in the Life, be sure to read more about it here. I feel very proud of myself! I’m really thankful that I took part of this project, and for the other participants that cheered me up and cheered me on. Totally awesome.
Other posts from this week:
I took way more photos today than I thought I would! About twice as many as any other day during the week. I didn’t really realise it until I got home, though. Funny thing. It felt like I’d taken about 10 shots, not 250.
Anyway, this has been an awesome day. A bit of a sleep in, then off on a little outing to our favourite photo store to get some prints done. I had my new shoes on. I felt pretty and in love. The sun was shining, and we had cake (which I almost forgot to photograph… you guys only get the crumbs). We went to two crafting stores. Pretty great, if you ask me. We had lunch at the sushi place we used to go to a lot when we’d just started dating. I have some really cute shot of Jed from today, but I doubt he’d let me spam this entire blog with them.
No rush today. No stress. And definitely feeling lighter at heart and more creative. Had a go at sorting out my crafting supplies. Made smoothies. Kissed my beau. Kissed my cat. Overall I can also note that I like a lot more of the photos I’ve been taking today. I just can’t put words to as to why, what about them I like. They’re not that much different from the other days.
I know this much: I’m a much happier person during weekends.
This is day six in Ali Edwards’ project Week in the Life, be sure to read more about it here. One more to go! I can hardly believe it. Other posts from this week:
It’s Friday and day five in Ali Edward’s project Week in the Life. As the day developed I felt I didn’t take nearly as many photos as Wednesday through Thursday, when I came home with about 120 pics at the end of the day (which I’ve narrowed down to around 10-15 pics per day).
But as it turned out I took around as many exposures as the other days today, but I ended up liking the end result more. I wanted to keep a higher amount of the photos. Not a HUGE amount more, but still. And I think I know the reason for that.
My main theme today was the act of photography itself. However, as the days have passed by this project has become a sort of looking glass. I’m acutely aware now how this process of taking random snap shots and documenting my every day life subconsciously produces photos of a lot of crap that is going on in my head. This project has made me think about what art is, about my own process and a lot of questions: “What do I accomplish? What do I WANT to accomplish? Why this need to create and make and produce and reach Out?”
Today I found myself taking a lot of pictures of locks and padlocks. Green signs verses red signs. Are you in or out? Can you take your life and what’s around you and MAKE something of it? Get in the game. For the win.
This is day five in Ali Edwards’ project Week in the Life, be sure to read more about it here. This is the last stretch, two more days to go. Then it’s the small mater of… merging all the photos and words into some sort of comprehensive mix. Yeah…
Don’t miss Ali Edward’s Friday post!
Other posts from this week:
It’s weird and great at the same time that when I check my Twitter feed in the morning some people are just going to bed the night before and charging their batteries and some are almost done with the same day as I’m just beginning. This project really has people all over the globe tagging along. That’s kind of a cool thing to be a part of.
Today I had a plan to depict text and creative writing, and took photos of all our books and my typewriter. I even wrote a little one-page story to put in my album. But I’ve realised by now that this project don’t necessarily turn out how I’ve planned it, and that’s just fine.
This morning was cloudy, but with a fantastic light. It was going to turn in to a very sunny day, most of which I’d spend in the office of course. On my way to the train I always pass through a little park, that was once very well tended. There are a wide range of blossoming bushes, some not so common, and a small fountain. For some reason these past summer mornings have been crisp and cool with just a hint of autumn in the air. I for one can’t wait. The autumn is a time for transformation and plans and new projects. Friends and family return home from their vacations. I have a lot to look forward to.
Jed texted me with the message “I have a craving for that special sushi place”, meaning the place we used to go to before we moved houses a month ago. So we met up after work and had a stroll in our old neighbourhood, had some delicious sushi (and cookies, yay!) and took a short walk down one of the lanes before heading off home again. This neighbourhood is wonderfully arty in many ways, but sometimes you just come across some weird things.
Like the Camlek. Half camel, half elk. It’s infamous by now.
This is day four in Ali Edwards’ project Week in the Life, be sure to read more about it here. Also, don’t forget to check out Ali’s post for Day 4. Just three days left now! Can’t believe I made it this far. And then… there’s just the question of compiling it all into an album. Hm. Guess I’ll be rather busy next week as well.
Other posts from this week:
You know, it felt much tougher to take photos today than the two previous days. I can’t explain why. I’m thinking a lot about this project and how I’m documenting my days, or specifically what I’m documenting, and about the combination of photos and words. I’ve had a plan for each day as it begins, but it always turns into something else in the end. I guess one thought leads to the other and it all sort of morphs. Who knew? I’m beginning to see myself as an experiment now.
Anyway, I try to do some things continually. For instance I’ve promised myself to take at least one self portrait per day. It’s my story about a week in my life my life after, I have to be present somewhere. It’s not easy though. How does one see oneself? And how does one take oneself serious?
What began on the theme “Art” changed more into journeys and life and questions during the day. I certainly didn’t take as many photos today as yesterday, maybe about half, and today was a day when it was way easier to snap some pics with my phone rather than throw myself out there in public with my DSLR. I’m feeling rather alone and blue at work at the moment (the mates are on holiday), it seemed to reflect in the photos. Here are some from today’s crop.
Other posts from this week:
Also, check out Ali’s Wednesday post here!
Day two!
Today I started out with one theme in mind, and took a lot of pics having to do with security (in life, at work, in society…). It all got me thinking about what I spend most of my time on: my job. My day job. That felt a bit depressing, really, and I also ended up with a lot of pictures of office supplies and stacks of paper. In the end my theme got a bit scattered, but I jotted down a lot of thoughts, and these are some of the photos I really liked from the ones I took today:
This is day two in Ali Edwards’ project Week in the Life, be sure to read more about it here. I’ll be doing this for a week, and hopefully during the next week I’ll be able to put together a notebook with pictures and words I’ve collected. My post from day one can be found here.
Also, don’t miss Ali’s Tuesday post!
Today Ali Edwards is kicking off the Week in a Life project! I’ve been reading her blog for a couple of years now and always been itching to do one of her projects. It took a while but now it’s time!Following the twitter stream, it’s a bit mind boggling and fantastic how many people are participating ans just throwing themselves into this. And I guess now I’m one of them! I was not sure I even had the energy to start this thing, but this morning I found myself sneaking the camera into my handbag nonetheless. I’m always nervous when I bring out my camera in public, I mean, will people mind, will they get curious, will someone TALK to me? (It’s happened more than once, but then curiosity is a very strong human trait).
 All the pics today were either a bit urban and everyday, or photos of a cup of coffee or tea. Guess that’s a typical Monday for me. So today’s theme will be “Ordinary”, and I’ll incorporate that in my journalling and thoughts about the day. I haven’t decided on a format yet, but you know… once I have the glue and papers out that will all sort itself out just fine. Speaking of, don’t forget to check out this post with helpful advise for this week!
My crafting supplies has been packed in boxes since the end of March. This is a sad, sad fact. A very happy fact is that I have been moving houses (read more about this here) and moved in with the man I love. This is completely awesome; it feels like a rare treat to get to live with someone who is supporting, encouraging, loving and inspiring. Sure, he makes jokes about glitter being the plague of crafting, but he’s encouraging none the less! He is, for instance, the reason I got more courage and motivation to practice on my camera skills.
In the last year I’ve taken more photographs than I have in the last five all together. I’ve taken a lot of chances to practice and by now I feel I know my camera pretty well and actually know how to use it to get closer to the results I envisioned. Also, I’ve kept it handy during the move and have been able to sneak in a project or two with Tricks. It’s been a lot of fun! I needed her to wear some antennae for one of them, and she crafted some really cute ones with wire and patterned papers.
I’ll do a post later on with more details of the crafted antennae, but meanwhile you can find the photo post on my other blog, here. I just have to share this little picture, I love it!
Looking through the photos I’ve taken the last year I realise I’ve started to build up quite a pile of photos I want to scrapbook or put in an album. While it’s great when one happens to capture a specific moment by chance, you know one of those lucky snap shots, actually creating photo ops are just as fun, and it’s really something else when you start to get them printed on actual nice photo paper, and not just see them on a screen. And once you lay them out before you on a table you can’t help getting new ideas. Now I just need to get my crafting supplies from the storage and set them up. That is a project all on its own.
The end of January is drawing nearer and that is good news in more ways than one.
First off, when we have our crafty days some of the girls travel a long way on dark and snowy roads to get here with all their tools and materials, and when the day is over we end up trying to dig out their car again before they can go home. Last time it took us 20 minutes to get the car free from all the snow!
So, safer roads and the promise of less snow is a very welcome factor.
Moreover, we need some light! We need spring! More light means more energy to follow through with creative projects, better working conditions and better photos. I for one can’t wait to get out and walk and bring my camera, but when the day only consists of 5 very grey and grainy daylight hours and snow blowing up your nose and camera) it’s not very tempting.
Although, me and Tricks actually went out in a small blizzard the other week to take some photos of the dress she’s made. There are some photos up at my other blog, go see!
/Jen
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