Monday 22 September 2014

365

I start this blog post with the same disbelief I started my last one. September is almost over?! The summer is winding down, the rains are back and the undergraduates are flooding the corridors. I'm now into semester 7 of my Master's, trying to finish things up in time for Xmas, all the while TAing, working in the microprobe lab, training for a 5k obstacle race, and trying to do normal human being things (eat, sleep, drink etc.). So this seems like a perfect time to start at 365 project!

A 365 project is a photography project where you take a photo every single day for a year. I tend to take a lot of photos anyway and I'm an avid Instagram user (hopefully not an annoying one though!), but I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be able to manage actually taking a photo everyday. I try to take photos with my snazzy camera at the weekends when I'm out and about, but my weekday life involves school, the gym and Trivia. What am I going to photograph when I'm pulling a late one on a Wednesday night? I also didn't like the idea that I would have to take photos everyday. Surely that would just lead to me forcing a moment? Taking terrible photos because it's got to 10:34 at night and I haven't got that days photo! The more I read about other projects though the more I got excited about trying it.

In theory this whole thing will make me a better photographer. I'll have to take pictures that I wouldn't normally take. I typically go for landscape shots, but now I'm going to have to mix it up with macros and portraits and such. I've signed up to the 365project website, which means I'll be actively sharing my photos are learning from other photographers. And starting it now means that I'll document what is set to be an exciting year. I'm hoping to be leaving St John's around Xmas. A wedding in Serbia is my only definite plan. After that, who knows? This project will be with me the whole way (if I manage to keep it up that is).

It seems about time to show off some of my photos now, so here's my shots from my first 10 days. You can find my photos at http://365project.org/shtacyp/365.

Danger! Keep Out!
We went exploring around Bay Bulls and found a slightly run down lighthouse. 
This was a peek up into the eerie stairwell.
Marking
My first lot of marking to do for this semester's lab class. Red pen at the ready, although I subsequently realised that it had ran out of ink. Quite difficult to deal with the shadows created from the fluorescent lights all over my office.
Red Lizard
I'm cat sitting at a friends house so it gives me the opportunity to find new subjects. This charming lizard adorns the walls along the stairs. To continue the red theme I appear to have started this project with I shot it in Colour Accent mode, highlighting the red/orange colour.
Leaf
The back garden can feel like a rainforest after it's been raining, as the water continues to drip off the leaves. I probably should've searched a bit more for some better lighting, and I accidently shot it at a really high ISO, but I still like the droplets.
A Bug's Life
Exploring the garden before going to school this morning I found this little guy hanging out on the hammock. It's a tough life.
Moody Sky
Didn't have my camera on me at the time so this was taken on my home.
Panorama of the sky catching the red t
inge as the sun was going down, with the ominous clouds closing in.
Stairs
I liked the decoration on the stairs and tried to play with focus.
Supper
Some Scottish oatcakes I bought from the farmers market with 
some smoked cheese and cheddar. Yum.
Seaweed
Got several shots of the waves crashing behind this bit of seaweed on the beach. 
This was my favourite as it captured the swell of the waves and the translucent sea.
Post-It
Have I gone overboard with my sticky notes?
I may decide to periodically post my photos on here if I feel I need to blog about them, but I think I'll keep them off Facebook and keep them on the 365 website. If you have any comments, hints or tips, please let me know! Until next time.