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Shimelle Laine’s mysterious accomplice, Glitter Girl, posted another great video this week, this time about scrapping larger photos, which was pretty perfect considering I have some larger prints I’ve been dying to use. My friend Sara got married ten, correction, TWELVE years ago and I was the bridesmaid. It was such an honour to be asked, and I have so many great memories from that day! Like hoe we met early to do the hair and make-up, and the photo shoot before the wedding, and how I found myself crying so much during the ceremony so much that I think my sniffles was echoing in the church, and how all the guests held a joint speech for the couple during dinner, and dancing so much I had to take off my shoes.
We were so young then, and now suddenly it’s been ten years and Sara and her husband Tor (Thor! How cool a name is that?) have two beautiful children and a house that was once small but keeps getting bigger every now and then (they are a super handy family!). They are a happy bunch and that makes me happy.
The photographer they hired for the wedding had also taken a lot of photos for our theatre group. There are so many great shots from the photo shoot before the wedding, and not only of the gorgeous couple on their special day, but luck had it that we had a few minutes extra for a few photos of Sara and I. Among them this one is my favourite, because I know that the happy smiles are completely spontaneous.
So this is how the layout turned out:
Thank you for stopping by! Stay safe!
I spent an entire week taking everyday pictures and writing down notes about my day to day life, and now I’m left with the task of putting it all together in some sort of comprehensive collection, like an album. This has got me thinking. I haven’t done many layouts for me. I’ve made a travel album for my mother from our big trip to Italy last year. I did a friendship mini album for a friend a while ago. I have made very few layouts for myself, and certainly nothing close to an album. I think mainly because it’s felt kind of scary. The Week in the Life project is a big change for me.
Why scary?
Well, let’s get through the general stigmas, here we go:
It’s selfish and egocentrical. It’s just me, it’s not interesting to anybody else. It’s not realistic to spend so much time and money on something just for me. It’s just a silly little hobby, it’s not that important. And of course, the never ending self-consciousness: I don’t dare be so personal, what if anybody were to actually see it, what would they think?
Those are all bullshit reasons, of course, but certainly real from time to time, and probably reasons as to why I have hundreds of beautiful photos sitting on my hard drive that I would like to use to tell a story and use to document my memories, but somehow stopped me from doing and album about my own life and experiences, even though I’ve been scrapbooking and purposefully crafting for almost 5 years now.
But one reason that I think might have stopped me is this: I want to tell a story. It’s not just by pure coincidence that I’ve been an avid reader and creative writer all my life, that I’ve studied languages and literature at university, and that I keep participating in NanoWriMo year after year even though I’ve ever “succeeded” once. Neither is it a coincidence I struggle as much with this issue in my photography as I do in my crafting. I love story. I need story. Story is my crack.
I want to have a reason for drowning myself in pretty paper and shiny decorations and glitter and fun tools and vintage ribbons. Yes, a picture is worth more than a thousand words, there are definitely photos that speak volumes by themselves, they only need the one simple word in the title and it doesn’t matter that it’s just straight and descriptive. Those emotional money shots, that one photo that sums up an entire event or trip. A little story, just by their lonesome.
But some photos are just… what they are. Like: “This is a picture of a birthday cake”. That is pretty interesting, really. Think about it: Someone chose the picture, because it’s a part of someone’s memory. This is where the problem hits me. I don’t just want the typical descriptive “who, when and what” with a big and clear title. I want the “why”, too. And this is where it get’s personal and narrative. This is a fantastic reason for pretty paper and shiny decorations and glitter and fun tools and vintage ribbons.
Which brings me back to feeling egocentrical and self-conscious. It’s actually something that needs to be overcome. It’s a bit of a leap. Something to overcome. A little bit like writer’s block. Scrapbooker’s block?
But now I’ve gone and done this project, see? It really was an eye-opener on so many levels, and shame on me if I let it fall flat. There is a reason I took those pictures of my everyday life, and a reason I felt that impulse to take a photo of, say, the rails at the train station or my coffee cup or the self-portraits in the lift every morning. By choice. And of course I have a story, and being human, of course I want to express it.
I wholeheartedly recommend anybody and everyone to try it out, even if you’re not a scrapbooker. Take photos of your life everyday for a week, with your camera, with your phone, whatever. Make notes about what’s going on during the day, even if it’s just keeping tabs on what you have for breakfast, lunch and dinner and how many cups of coffee you drink. But take photos. Of yourself, of your surroundings, of mundane items in your home. Collect it somewhere so you see it all laid out before you. Collect it somewhere so you can go back to it. Blog, make a folder on your computer, paste it into a word document, make it into a digital photo book at some online photo store. Whatever, it doesn’t matter.
Because, how often do you take a step back and just look at your story? It’s not just for scrapbookers, you know.
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!
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