Day 20- Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Day 20:

So here's the second half of the Panoramic. It's really the first half if you're looking from left to right. Again, sorry that it's so skinny. I WANTED it to fill the screen vertically, forcing you to scroll way the hell over to see the whole thing. Well, you'll have to take my word that it's pretty damn detailed all the way across. I'm thinking about getting the whole thing printed!!! WOOO

Edit: After some review, I realize that the left side gets pretty dark. It's somewhat natural as the light really does fall off the further it gets from the sun. However, it is a big excessive. When I have some time, I'll try and lighten it up and fix the contrast a bit. 

On a side note, I sat and watched a movie about soccer hooligans while doing all this. This movie shall remain nameless, but Elijah Wood is in it. Soccer hooligan movies.... wow, where to begin? Total, senseless, pointless, hilariously brutish violence. I don't know any soccer hooligans, and I don't know if this movie is an accurate depiction of that demographic but I really hope not. Christ... the media has already scared me off of Africa, the Middle East, communist countries, Mexico, South America, Oz.... WHAT NEXT!???

So yeah, I'll keep trying to figure out all this panoramic stuff.

Cheers everyone!

Love Love Love

Day 19- Monday, March 30, 2009

Day 19:

FIRST OFF: I'm pissed. In photoshop, I sized this photo so that it SHOULD fill the screen vertically, and force you to scroll waaaaay over to see the whole thing. But, it's appearing a lot smaller. I think the Blogger website must automatically resize images once they exceed a certain dimension. To this I say BALLS! I will also try my best to figure it out and present it in its sexy-detailed righteousness. Anyways...

Here you have it: The View! Or rather, "A View"....

I was inspired to shoot a panoramic after my portrait teacher Neil Fox showed us a 10 foot x3 foot (approx.) print of the grand canyon. He shot it recently on his trip to Vegas, however, he had the joy of shooting on a 40 megapixel Hasselblad whereas I was just using my trusty D300. If only I were so lucky. 

Anyways, it took about 12-13 photos to get this all put together, and I actually shot it a few days ago because I figured it was going to take an extra amount of effort to get it posted.

So, here it is. In the end, it's only about half of the skyline that I shot but I figured for my first one, I didn't want to mortally wound my computer's processor. Maybe in a few days I'll stitch the rest of the scene together and post it. 

Enjoy!

Day 18- Sunday, March 29, 2009

Day 18:

May I present to you, Dominic Braund. Tonight I went to see Ulysses and The Siren, the half reincarnation of Cain and Abel - the remaining members being Peter Van Helvoort and my good friend Christian Turner. Sadly, I didn't have time to stick around for Lifestory Monologue and I Am Committing a Sin, a band with the two other members (Paul and Kelly) from Cain and Abel. 

So anyways, I definitely feel like band photography has thus far been a weak point for me. I feel pretty solid about what I shot tonight but we shall see. I'll be so much happier when I can get my hands on a nice FAST wide lens. Shooting bands at max f3.5 sucks hard.... real hard. 

So yeah, that was cool, I got pretty into the music and into the shooting and I had a great time. This shot of Dom was just a spur of the moment snapshot just after Thunderhawks stopped playing. I haven't seen Dom in forever seeing as the guy is constantly on the move - Australia, Paris, Holland.... Where to next man?

Also, I got to meet Brooks Reynolds (http://brooksreynolds.com) tonight which was super awesome. For a young guy with no formal education in photography as far as I know, he's pretty damn talented. It was kind of intimidating and I'll have to keep checking his site for photos from tonight to see just how poorly I did. Ha! So anyways, I'm writing a novel and you're all here for the photos, not my life story. 

Have a good night y'all!

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Day 17- Saturday, March 28, 2009

Day 17:

Okay so I'm pretty sure the new thing is gonna be "late night posts on weekends"....

It's 2:56 am, now officially Sunday, but here is the Saturday post. I did SHOOT it at 10 pm tonight/last night [depending on how technical you get about it] so it's all kosher. 

I wasn't super stoked on how the shots came out overall (I still have a lot to learn about getting the most out of long exposure + low light situations). I drove out to the clay hills around 10, having all these cool ideas in my head. However, things hardly ever turn out the way you see them right? So it was cold and creepy, and rather than plan out the flash to ambient exposure ratios like a smart photographer would do, I just sorta jumped in and messed around. One thing I have to say is this: I AM SICK OF 30 second exposures! I don't want to mess with the bulb or 250x settings or whatever it's called because I don't want to have to keep my finger on the shutter release for 5 minutes. I want a damn shutter cable REALLY badly. Being constrained by a max of 30 seconds is starting to drive me batty!

All that being said, I think I'm happy with this. When I complain about not being satisfied etc etc, it's often just with the effort involved and mostly my level of preparedness. I feel that if I had just that extra bit of experience and that one tool I'm missing to do something the right way, I'd come away with much more satisfying results. However, I'm learning a ton and having a good time, and I'm definitely learning constantly how to make do with what I've got. 

Anyways, here you are, really late, Saturday's shot. 

Be cool!

Day 16- Friday, March 27, 2009

Day 16:

Okay! So for anyone who checked in with this post before 3:21 am, I apologize for my original post of "hjkh". I was in a rush to get out the door and just needed to fill the text field with something (long story).

Anyways, today's shot is definitely more risky. I just really wanted to explore some 'flash+slow shutter speed+varying degrees/kinds of motion blur' effects, and of course, the lovely Emilie Martin was up (or down?) for posing for me. It was pretty 'on the fly', just a ten minute ruckus during our break from class.

Other than that, I had an amazing, amaaazing night; it was like finally getting to talk to the therapist I've always wanted!!! ..... Cryptic, non? Well, I won't get into it, except to share this:

Imagining The Tenth Dimension:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkxieS-6WuA&feature=PlayList&p=8CB712227D56F49E&index=0&playnext=1

With the help of a patient and brilliant soul, I think I was able to finally see.....

I know this was totally off topic but whatever...

I hope you're all well!

Love, Chris

Day 15- Thursday, March 26, 2009

Day 15:

Wooo! Week 3! I've been kinda tired lately, feeling low on energy, you know how it is...

This is my lunch from today; a cucumber, cheese and mayo sandwich with raw green beans. And in case you're interested, I had yogurt and a navel orange after that. I bet learning that was the highlight of your day! So yeah, feeling like a big bowl of cold oatmeal, I figure maybe focusing on healthy diet will somehow make me feel a bit better.... Or something. 

.... I need a vacation.

Day 14- Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Day 14:

So tonight, I shot Connor for my Annie Leibovitz assignment. It was pretty gall dern awesome but he won't let me post the photos - he thinks the shots are too gay. I on the other hand think that any dude who's willing to wear a "shirt" made of pink, heart shaped post it notes, and look as badass as he did, is NOT gay. And anyway, what's wrong with being gay? ...

So, it was late by the time I came to do my daily photo, and I was pretty empty in the ideas department. After running frantically around my place looking for interesting stuff to shoot, I decided to find a way to shoot my own eyeball. So yeah, that's me, my eyeball, self portrait # 2. In the process I actually discovered a 100 % reliable technique for autofocusing on your own eyeball. It was a simple but neat discovery. Eureka! 

Notice the hands holding the camera...

Enjoy, love love love.

Day 13- Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Day 13:

This one is dedicated to my number one fan...

Good day!

EDIT - MUCH LATER IN THE DAY:       

HEAR YE, HEAR YE!!!

For the first time in Project 365's short history, (and short history considered, is this really a big deal?) I'm going to upload a second photo for the day.
I just spent about an hour and a half shooting this for our "high speed flash" assignment - we have to use flash in order to freeze motion. It took just under 200 exposures to get a splash I was happy with. Score.

So here you go:

Cristina Rizzo, this photo is dedicated to you. If you're like me, maybe you see patterns of the Universe, stars and planets, and get vague impressions of string theory and quantum mechanics. Actually, I think of Einstein's illustration of gravity, and not just because of the obvious falling drops. Thinking of you, maybe I'll do this twice more, once in some blisteringly cold room and again in sadistic heat...

 

Anyway, you're all beautiful people.

Day 12- Monday, March 23, 2009

Day 12:

So today was a strange but good day. There're not many active assignments on the go right now. Well, that's sort of a lie; there are some but I don't think there's ANYTHING else due this week except for our silly group collage project tomorrow. I'll definitely post the results of that acid trip for all to see. So anyways, with nothing to print, and nothing due, I think there's a weird, confused tension in the ether, as everyone just sits around tensely, incredulous to the idea that "REALLY, there is nothing to do!" But it won't last long. As the week progresses, we will receive many more-than-generous helpings of work. So, back to b.a.u. 

So anyways, today was cool, I bought my tickets for NIN's last tour before retirement - I'm hella stoked for that. So much so, that I said hella. Oui?

Anyways. Here is your daily serving of life through the eyes of Chris. Hope it's a good one.

Day 11- Sunday, March 22, 2009

Day 11:

So this idea was really sudden. I was looking through the photos I shot today with my sister and my nephew and this just jumped out at me. My least worked on/quickest to finish image to date!.... and it's good too because I'm feeling pretty awful after last night's affectionately dubbed Texas Mickey Massacre.

Not much else to say here, other than the usual; I hope you're all doing amazingly well!

Namaste

Day 10- Saturday, March 21, 2009

Day 10:

Not much to say today I think; I've got to bust a move and get some cleaning done around the apartment. Then, birthday celebrations tonight, best friends in the old stomping ground, love love love.

I've been wanting to shoot my wall for a while, and while this isn't exactly what I had in mind, I think it fits. I was wondering how long it'd take me to post a self portrait too...

So, there you have it. Enjoy!

Edit: March 23, two days later - In retrospect, this is a really "basic", "snapshotty" photo. I like it but I'll try to steer clear of too many of these. Transversely, I'll definitely be posting these from time to time when I am running short on, yes, you guessed it, Time.  

I also see a "Version # II" of this coming into existence eventually. The stars in the sky showed me.

Day 9- Friday, March 20, 2009

Day 9:

Phew - so it's late! I didn't know if I was gonna make the deadline. Becaaaause, I went out tonight, downtown for dinner and drinks. It was real nice. So, I hereby suggest that everyone go out and try Nirvana at College and Bathurst, right across from Sneaky Dee's. Just don't ask for Jenna to serve you - she's a little clutsy. And really, I don't know if her name was Jenna. I think she was more of a Rachel or a Nicole.... And maybe avoid the pad thai; it was a really gingery!!!

Anyways, here I am, here's the shot, it's like 2am and I'm still here making good on my commitment. I hope you guys all had a sweet Friday night!

Love!

Day 8- Thursday, March 19, 2009

Day 8:

So Week 2 eh? Wicked! I'm so tired though. Today was pretty busy - class, printing, tutoring in the Writing Center, more printing... It's 7:30pm I think I've eaten like, a bagel, an orange, some yogurt and some chips today.... Healthy, non? 

Anyways, here it is. Day 8! Week 2! Now I'm off t-!*face smashes keyboard* ZZZZzzzzzz..........

PS - For the person who can tell me what book that is [without Googling, you sneaky technosapiens], I'll do something totally wonderful. I know that's vague but I'm sure it will involve a super cool photograph; maybe I'll make you a print of something you hold close to your heart. Maybe a relative? No dead ones though. The whole graveyard, dark-of-the-moon digging scene really skeeves me out. 

 

So are we like a couple of Fonzees then?

Day 7- Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Day 7:

Well, well, it's been one week. Seven entirely new and exciting days. The idea of doing daily photos has really sunk in, and I'm feeling consistently creatively alive for the first time in a while!

So, to cap off a succesful week, I'm happy to inform you that today's photo is a cheat! I actually shot this two days ago (Monday), and yes, I am relying on it to save my butt. Today was just way too hectic a day to shoot anything FOR the project. 

So anyways, I promise I won't cheat too often. I went through my shots from the event I shot tonight and nothing jumped out at me. 

A little bit about this image: This shot says dissonance and abstraction to me. Don't worry about exactly what it is you're looking at. Just, let your eyes wander through the shapes, the colours, and the chaos. Explore!

 That being said, let's kick back and celebrate one week of exploration and rekindled curiosity.

Thanks friends.

Day 6- Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Day 6:

Wow, so I have a million things to say about "Today" but instead, I'll opt for "Here it is."

Enjoy. Or not. But don't tell me.... Okay, you can tell me.

Day 5- Monday, March 16, 2009

Day 5:

Well, I was having kind of a rough day, but no excuses right? I had to work today in the Writing Center over in the Guelph-Humber building, and I've been wanting to shoot in this building for a while. There's some really incredible design going on; it's a real nice break from the cold, dreary industrial feel of the Humber side. So even though I've got a late assignment needing attention, here it is.... Now I'm off to work on a mega exciting comparative sharpening diagnostic.

Day 4 - Sunday, March 15, 2009

Day 4:

I fully believe that to be a really successful photographer in either the commercial or fine art world, OR just in terms of exploration of the art, you need to have access to a lot of "stuff". Just stuff, random stuff, tons of stuff, stuff, stuff, stuff!

That being said, I love going to other people's houses where their stuff is new and exciting to me. And THAT being said, I'm sorry to anyone whose house I come to in the next year; I'll probably start perusing your stuff.

Day 3 - Saturday, March 14, 2009

Day 3:

I was over at my aunt's house today photographing my grandfather for our Karsh assignment. At first I thought I might share that shot but I'm going to save it for The Picture Book (which you should definitely go check out if you haven't, mkay?). So I walked around Wendy's for a bit looking for stuff to shoot and I found this beautiful armoire in the dining room. I loved the detailing so, here it is.

Day 2 -Friday, March 13, 2009

Day 2:

I got on this one pretty early today. As in, right after I woke up. The smoke stacks were spewing a ton of steam and I thought it looked pretty groovy. I missed the first ten minutes of class to shoot this. 

Also, sorry that I'm a few minutes late to make it a March 13th post - I spent the evening chilling with my grandparents - I feel like I'd never really chilled with them on this level before... It was pretty rad.

Day 1 - Thursday, March 12, 2009

Day 1:

I've decided that this project isn't going to be about perfectly spit shined images. I mean, I don't have the time for one of those each day. SO, I just want to focus on seeing. I've never felt like the most creative person in the world, so the philosophy here is to force myself to look around and try to see interesting composition in the everyday banal.

Also, I just want to note, I feel shady about doing this. I've been feeling really creatively mushy in general for a while. Part of it is that I just haven't been shooting for myself much in the last....oh, a YEAR? I've just been sitting around whining and complaining to myself, spending too much time on Facebook or watching TV on my computer, and generally NOT being focused on photography.

The other night I stumbled upon an old friend's flickr and noticed that she was starting this same project; basically, I'm stealing this idea from her. I mean, the project itself isn't really an original idea that "can be stolen" but I feel a little shady about it.

So, Larissa, I know you won't read this but I'm sorry if you feel I'm cramping your style. However, I think we can all benefit from something like this.

Anyway, here it is, my first photo. It's nothing astounding but I spent a while with the chess set looking at it and trying to find some nice shapes and composition. That's really what this is all about... I hope to have a lot of fun with this and I think it'll really help me grow.

More tomorrow!