February 1, 2015: “Patriot Day”

In honor of the super bowl today between Seattle and New England I want to capture a football image.  My baseball team is Boston and my second favorite QB of all time behind Dan Marino is Tom Brady.  I own his jersey so I put that together with my Boston hat. 

I had an idea to shoot light directly down on me and capture an image from above almost directly down. In setting the shot up I use my Samsung phone to focus on myself as I can tether my camera wirelessly to my phone.  It is an extremely useful technology, the only downfall is the camera will not shoot flash when tethered.  I at that point switch the lens to manual focus and leave it at its proper depth, position myself and shoot a few shots to get the right composition.  It is extremely hard to get the shot I want, even when I have everything placed properly and hop in at the right position I cannot view the composition.  I ended up shooting 3 photos, I believe it was a 15 second exposure with a single flash at the opening of the shutter.  I slid out of the picture to create the ghostly effect towards the back of the photo.

Everyday is a learning experience, I love stretching myself and working on different styles.  I am just glad the Patriots won 28-24 over Seattle.  Everyday find inspiration and wok on developing a skill.

              

January 26, 2015: “Snowstress”

As I get older I despise one thing the stress caused by driving in the snow.  I drive 10 miles to work and 10 miles home up a few hills around a few curves.  When it is not plowed it is treacherous, I drive a little too cautious but I am going to be safe and stat out of accidents.  I hate my car it handles ok but sucks going up the hills.  I worry on my journey through the snow and the ice. 

The beauty fades fast as winter wears on.  Stress increases, I worry about life.  I think we should just shutdown, there is no need to live dangerously to do a job.  It can wait for another day.  We had 8 feet of snow a few months ago, yet so many could not stay away, fought to get to work.  Instead of distressing, relaxing we worried.  This image captures the beauty, the uncertainty, the power of nature.

Capturing snow is an art I have yet to master.  This captures somewhat of what I see, all I know is that snow was flying crazily towards me.  I hope it will stop in a few hours and when I get up at 5 am it will be gone so I have that safe ride to work.  

January 22, 2015: “Let Me OUT!”

I walked into my happy place today, by happy place I mean Barnes and Noble.  I proceeded to purchase one book and one magazine.  The magazine was Cycling Fitness, featuring winter workouts, winter gear etc.  There was one problem it was geared toward getting outside for the workouts.  In the winter here that is not a reasonable nor a safe option.  I looked at the pictures, the workouts and realized I have pretty bad cabin fever.  I have not been out on my bike since last year.

My bike work has been in the box I call my gym.  There is nothing more boring and demotivating than plugging away on a machine going nowhere.  I usually find a reason to cut my session short and move onto something else.  I know building the base for a couple months down the road is important especially if I wish to compete.  I just hate how stuck it makes me feel. 

I would make a good looking pro or atleast pic in a magazine

Todays photo was meant to reinvigorate me or atleast make me see what I am able to become.  I have slowly started to make changes in my diet.  Getting a healthy gym routine which I had before sickness and injury is paramount.  My neck feels about 75% and I think I should be able to start putting up lighter weights. My setbacks seem to last a week or so longer than they should. 

I had a vision to create a dark setup with a strobe to get the idea of motion.  In pedaling on the bike I was moving far too much and as opposed to motion it looked like I had multiple heads.  I could have really added the motion with a backlit strobe but wanted it to remain darker so I used a single flash with an orange filter and a 5 second exposure.  The flash was on the ground aimed upward to create the shadows and look letting myself blend into the black background.  I hope you enjoy and draw a little sliver out of this image.  Be yourself, be great, be dreamy

January 14, 2015: “Counting Sheep”

The first two days of this week I have had long days.  Up at 5:30 am and in bed around 12:45 am.  I get very worried sleeping less than 7 hours a night.  Surviving one night is ok but multiple days in a row can trigger extremely horrible headaches.  I have been hyper sensitive to make sure every part of my life is going to offset the lack of sleep.  Balance is crucial to my heath, I was able to have better nutrition, more snacks and staying hydrated.  My focus was off for sure, memory was a bit fuzzy that is what lack of sleep does for me.  Overall my productivity drops and there was nothing I could do about it. 

Today to regain my life I came home counted some sheep and took a refreshing nap.  I had to force myself to wake up so not to have a sleepless night.  This photo or something similar has been in my mind for a while.  A few years ago I caught I migraine as it was coming on.  This is a similar type photo but much more calm.  I took this photo immediately after waking up, so it is as real as I can get, in state between full consciousness. 

Health is the key to my life and to me that means balance with healthy eating, exercise, sleep, hydration and most importantly work life balance.  Everyday in this fast paced world slowing down is the only the way not miss out on creating that life you want.  It starts with health and to me sleep is the most crucial so I take alot of naps to balance out the stressors.  Namaste

January 11, 2015: “Holding Onto my Soul”

Lacking inspiration, I put my face to my camera and through the eyepiece I felt calm.  No idea for the photo and then I looked at a few of my books.  The books that guide my journey through this world.  When I need calm on a stormy day, I can turn to the Buddhist principles.  I look for kindness and love in this world.  I create my own for those around me. 

My only problem is I do this in waves, I always have one book in my bag but do not always practice.  The ultimate way I find peace is through meditation.  Sitting in peace creating an inner focus I am able to let things go, move forward and put aside fear.   I lack the solid practice to keep the contentment and hope for the future I find within the books.

With guides like thich nhat hanh, the dalai lama, and jack kerouac I know I can straighten my ship and gather my focus.  This peaceful photo came from lack of focus.  My current state in this project is a daily focus.

January 10, 2015: “Not Quite Food Porn”

Breakfast is the most important part of the day, a healthy breakfast starts the day off right and gives you energy.  Today I made an organic steel cut oatmeal with organic blueberries and raspberries.  As always I had a strong Irish Breakfast Tea for a little punch. 

ignore the bad photoshopping in the left corner

That was a good breakfast along with a banana.  This photo came about because I was going to be gone all day and into the evening.  I had no particular thought for a photo and felt that I would be cutting myself short and unable to capture something worthwhile.  Tada todays photo is not quite food porn.  I called it this because I lack plating quality and don’t understand the style to create those catalog type food images. 

My teacup says evolve and grow.  As I work more with smaller things and lighting only good things can come.  I can evolve and grow.  My photography will evolve and grow.  My health will evolve and grow.  It is the only thing in life we can continually do to create a better tomorrow evolve and grow.   

January 9, 2015: “Windblown”

Watching the wind fiercely blow the snow

12 degrees, 20 mile per hour wind gusts, snow shooting everywhere. I begin to chase beauty, using the wind to my advantage, watching nature exert amazing strength on a wintry day.  Watching I slowly succumb to nature while trying to get an amazing shot.  Holed up trying to make it till sunset.  The wind keeps blowing, stopping with no rhyme or reason.  I am wearing 2 layers of pants, 3 layers of shirts, a facemask, wool socks, boots and gloves with fingertip holes.  I have to have complete control of my camera, the ability to change functions and capture the perfect shot.   After about 5 minutes the feeling is gone in my fingers. I look down the blowing snow is on my fingertips and sharp pain pierces though. 

An occasional break in the wind as the sun goes down

I had gotten a few shots but was unable to make it till sunset another 15 minutes.  I covered my fingers walked to my car.  The pain pierced like needles, I sat there the heat on waiting for the pain to go away.   At some point it did, I felt amazingly alive just the one fool to be outside trying to get something done create something for myself. 

Beautiful snow being blown

Capturing a snowfilled image means more to me than just the picture.  It is about this project and creating something new everyday, moving forward and following through.  I was windblown, cold an to some extent frozen yet it was the happiest I was all day.  Being outside is where I need to be whether cold or warm I need to be me.

January 7, 2015: “Those I’ve loved along the way: Loveworn”

"Loveworn"

I never knew my Great grandmother Stadolka.  I was given a great gift years ago after my Grandmother Dean passed away.  It was my great grandmothers engagement ring that along with my Grandfather Deans wedding ring are my most valuable possessions.  They represent love, pure and everlasting love.  I know not how long my great grandmother was married. The ring indicates is was for a lifetime, the band is worn all of the way through while the diamond still shines bright.  How is it possible for a possession to show so much to carry a love story with it? 

Amazing is all I can think of as my heart sits here filled with love, hope and dreams while envisioning a black and white movie playing out this love story.  Family is a beautiful thing, holding this ring close represents the past.  This ring represents the future.  One day I will give this ring in its loveworn condition to a woman I will ask to be my wife.  

January 6, 2015: “What I Love”

Todays photo was very quick.  I worked today and developed a bad headache.  I returned home after slept for about 3 hours.  At that time I woke up and went to volleyball.  Luckily I have a 45 minute ride to volleyball that allowed me enough time to figure out what my project for today would be.  It is called “what I love”.  What I love is simple, I am sure you all could have guessed. 

I love cycling, this time of year though it is 10 degrees snowy and windy causing me to be off of my bike longing for the summer.  Find what you love and commit 100% to it.  Give it all you have and watch your passion and skill grow.

Photoblog January 3, 2015: “Where I Want to Be” HOGWARTS!!!!!!!!

January 3, 2015: “Where I Want to Be”

HOGWARTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am still disappointed I never my received acceptance letter.  Today was supposed to be more of a forward reflection however my head wasn’t having it.  I became excited to work on small photography and make an engaging photograph.  Setting up the shot, lighting, posing and focusing was a test for me.  Making inanimate items interesting is a skill I enjoyed playing with look forward to working more with it.  As much as I want to be spending quality time with Harry, Hermione and Ron building a strong friendship drinking butterbeer and managing mischief, where I want to be is working everyday with my camera growing into a fullfledged professional.  This photo encompasses my love for fantasy, hope to prevail in life and opportunity for growth.  Where do you want to be?