October Photo Wrap Up
Today is day number 364 out of 365 days! One more day and then this project is technically over. Yet, this year was a leap year, so that means….366 days! I can either end tomorrow and call it a wrap or I can celebrate the leap year and complete the whole. Guess which one I’m doing? Yep, 366 days.
Taking a year to cull through my digital photos gave me a unique opportunity to review and remind me of the photos I have. Many photos elicited a smile while others upset me. Some photos tell a universal story while others are personal. Some photos are actually pretty decent by adhering to photographic/artistic standards, while others are a mess. I chose photos based on what I want to include in a coffee table book, so there are many photos I included that have meaning to me and many photos I excluded because I didn’t want to be reminded of the event.
I started out excited and maintained that for the most part, but then August came along and I just wanted it over. Life became stressful for me in August, and I had to let go of some activities in order to alleviate the stress. I moved this project over to Flickr and modified the process in order to help me complete the goal. I’m sad that it’s almost over. Two more days.
Here’s October’s photos:
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- Day 334, October 01
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- Day 335, October 02
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- Day 336, October 03
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- Day 337, October 04
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- Day 338, October 05
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- Day 339, October 06
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- Day 340, October 07
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- Day 341, October 08
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- Day 342, October 09
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- Day 343, October 10
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- Day 344, October 11
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- Day 345, October 12
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- Day 346, October 13
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- Day 347, October 14
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- Day 348, October 15
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- Day 349, October 16
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- Day 350, October 17
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- Day 351, October 18
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- Day 352, October 19
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- Day 353, October 20
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- Day 354, October 21
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- Day 355, October 22
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- Day 356, October 23
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- Day 357, October 24
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- Day 358, October 25
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- Day 359, October 26
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- Day 360, October 27
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- Day 361, October 28
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- Day 362, October 29
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- Day 363, October 30
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- Day 364, October 31
September Photo Wrap Up
Since joining the tech crew for The Rocky Horror Show, my time has been extremely limited so I haven’t posted like I wanted. I’m way behind on everything! I’m starting to catch up. The kitchen has been cleaned and laundry is being done even as I write this (oh, fresh, clean clothes, how I have missed you).
Here’s September’s photo wrap up. Today is day 334/365 (or 366, since this is a leap year). I can’t believe I only have a month left on this project. Woohoo!
The Ending of One Phase and the Beginning of the Next
It’s halfway through September and I’ve not fully returned to blogging. I took August off in order to regroup and to refocus since I felt like my posts were irrelevant, and I was falling into a comfortable but uninspiring rut that consisted of my past but not my present. As much as I like the 365 Days Journey Through the Past project, I equally don’t like it because it takes up time I would rather spend doing something else with my blog.
That being said, I am still continuing the project, but I’ve taken it over to Flickr. That works for me and frees me up here to pursue other creative endeavors. I will continue to post a monthly photo wrap up, though.
List of what I love but have neglected:
- Words: creative writing, fiction, creative non-fiction and a bit of dabbling in poetry until it embarrasses me and I set it aside.
- Art: book art, collage, acrylics, art journals
- Photography: Yes, I have neglected photography. Most of what I post is from my past, not my present. One of my purposes with taking August off was to figure out what kind of photography excites me. I wrestled all month with it, teasing out the joy from the prosaic until I discovered my photographic raison d’etre. I love photo journalism. I love documenting something, ANYTHING.
- Travel: I’m more at home away from home. Always have been.
- Storytelling: Storytelling in all its forms. Fiction. Non-fiction. Photography. Art. I truly believe we are a storied people, that we live stories and live in stories, and that we yearn for them.
I’m setting into motion a couple of new projects. (I love projects!!! They give me direction and boundaries, and they end so that I can begin the next project!) These projects incorporate all of the above. They’re difficult to describe but includes all the creative things I love to do.
I wanted to include a photo for this post. I chose this one because it represents all that I love: words (graffiti), art, photography, travel—it’s on a platform next to the train tracks, symbolic of travel—and it tells a story, if not in words, in sentiment.
The original photo can be seen on Flickr. By Dezra Despain © All Rights Reserved
August Photo Wrap Up
Even though I took a hiatus from my blog, I did maintain the 365 Days Journey Through the Past on Flickr.
August is a very active month in Indianapolis for me. It’s Indiana State Fair time and although I don’t usually go, this year I went to take photos just for fun.
August is my birthday month…visiting my high school best friend, Laura, in Utah was a birthday present I gave myself one year.
Also, the largest gaming convention in the world, Gen Con, comes to town in August, so there are a number of costume photos. Most of the costume photos here are from 2005. I meet Laura for lunch every year at Gen Con so this year when I went, I took a lot of photos of people in costumes.
Other than those major events, the rest of the photos are pretty standard.
274-275 This is Where I Take The Rest of the Month Off
Sometimes a hiatus is what is needed. Sometimes daily habits become numbing and a shake-up of routine is necessary. That’s where I am right now, so I’m taking the month off from blog posting.
Since I prepped photos through tomorrow, though, I’m sharing them, mainly because I wanted to celebrate a friendship that has lasted for decades. Those kinds of friendships are few and far between.
274/365 In 2009, I returned to my home State, Utah, to visit my best friend from high school. We drove to Alta Ski Resort in the Wasatch Mountains. During the summer months, instead of being covered in snow, the mountains are covered in wildflowers (and Aspens and evergreens and all kinds of beautiful flora. See my Flickr set for more mountain photos.). I love how wildflowers undulate over the ground to create mounds of colorful bouquets.
275/365 Laura and I met in 9th grade. We have been friends ever since. Even though we live far apart, when we get together, it’s as if we haven’t been separated. It’s nice to know some people are forever.
July Photo Wrap Up
Although Indiana experienced an unprecedented drought during the month of July, my photo pool was full to brimming with many days being represented by more than one year. In the past, the summer months and good weather encouraged me to go out and take photos. Not this year, though. It has been so hot, I rarely ventured out into the scorching heat. Must amend that.
Here’s July’s photo wrap up.
371/365 Locked Out
271/365
Few photos advance with me through the years. I take new ones that replace older ones that have lost their mystery over time. But this photo still intrigues me seven years later.
A rusted lock, a corroded gate, and a cemetery. Still a mystery.
264 – 268 More Future Photos of the Past
Last week I pre-posted the photos for 365 Days Journey Through the Past. I discovered it gave me time to do some blog housekeeping. One project I wanted to accomplish was to write an About Me page. I worked hard on it all week, thinking about the angle I wanted to approach it with, how much to say, what not to say, what would be of interest, and what was just hubris. I’m still working on it but thought I’d share what I have so far:
“I…”
It’s screaming potential and has the makings of a movie. I just know it!
Now on to this week’s future posts.
264/365 Monday; at MacNiven’s on Mass Ave.
265/365 Tuesday; Worldwide Photo Walk 2010. Two years later and this is still my favorite capture of the day.
I enjoyed being part of the Worldwide Photo Walk 2009 so much I participated in the 2010 one. We met at the County Fair. It was a hot, hot, hothothothot day. I especially enjoyed the semi-cooled animal barns. I met a turkey who took a liking to me after I got a photo of him. He flashed his tail feathers at me. I oohed. I turned to leave. He gobbled at me. I turned back. He strutted his stuff. I turned to leave. He gobbled vehemently. I turned back. He flashed even more. My friend was laughing. I was being courted by a turkey!!! But what a turkey! Magnificent! Alas, it was not to be. I hope I didn’t break his heart. I should post his photo. You would all be jealous. (I added the above links, if you want to see him.)
266/365 Wednesday; San Antonio, Texas
267/365 Thursday; I was playing with zoom possibilities
268/365 Friday; a Wanderlust drive out into the middle of nowhere.
I took off on a Wanderlust evening, needing to get away but not having the time to go anywhere exciting. Instead, I went south into farm country since I don’t normally go that direction. As I reviewed my photos of that evening, I remembered how ethereal it was. I spent time on a bend in the road taking surreal and abstract photos.
256 — 261 I Made the Rules; I Break The Rules
Once upon a time ago at the university my friend and I were discussing class while leaving the building. He pushed through a set of doors that had an official sign reading Please Use Other Door.
I gasped.
“You’re not supposed to use those doors!” I said while pushing through the sanctioned set of doors.
“Why not? They work.”
After the initial shock of watching him disobey a sign, I thought, He’s right. Why not?
So the next day I did the most rebellious thing I had ever done in my life. (Ok, that’s an exaggeration, but it felt like it.) I went back to the building and willfully WALKED THROUGH THOSE DOORS.
It felt good.
I tell this story because I’ve set up rules regarding my posts for 365 Days Journey Through the Past. The main one being: Post A Photo A Day. It’s like a sign that got posted in my head that I must obey but has no real meaning.
I’m here today to break that rule. I am posting next weeks photos TODAY.
It feels good.
So here is what I photographed in the past all next week. (How’s that for time warp?)
256/365 Sunday (today) Altar Flowers
257/365 Monday. On one of my wanderlust excursions, I ended up in Tennessee visiting a dear friend. We went to a park where live country and jazz music played loudly and people milled about. A lake glimmered behind me and old woods beckoned across the graveled lot. I caught this man walking his dog and dancing.
258/365 Tuesday. I participated in the World Wide Photo Walk for the first time in 2009. We met at Creations Cafe downtown. While waiting for everyone to show up, a few of us took a tour of the renovated Bugs Temple, which housed Creation Cafe and another restaurant called Euphoria. I took my best photos on the walk in this building. I didn’t submit any of them, though, because even though I liked them, I knew they wanted something distinctive, and this aint it.
259/365 Wednesday. Looking up Lady Glory’s skirt. Voyeuristic, I know, but I couldn’t help it. I wandered along the canal, along with everyone else on the photo walk. We were all looking for that distinctive image, that image that would be The One. As I said, I knew I didn’t have it, but I chuckled at taking a peek up the old girl’s skirts.
260/365 Thursday. I have a fascination with plants growing up and through man’s attempt to civilize it. Such perseverance.
261/365 Friday. On one of my many walks to Starbucks back in 2005. HOT HOT HOT. This is a composite of three photos.
254/365 I Lived in Mirrors That Summer
254/365
She considers his words then adds her own. She looks down, then up, a bit perturbed that he doesn’t listen. Or maybe he does, but doesn’t respond. He lifts his locally brewed Osiris Pale Ale and drinks, half turning from her. A sign he won’t respond.
I sit with my back to them and watch the drama through the glass window, their ghostly appearance a testament to their relationship.
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That summer I spent many late afternoons and early evenings in MacNiven’s on Mass Ave. As I’ve said before, they have a beer menu that runs into tomorrow, and windows and mirrors that disorient even before the first frothy gulp. I lived in mirrors that summer.
253/365 More from the Meadow
253/365
I call it My Meadow, but it isn’t mine. It belongs to itself. Nature belongs to itself.
Prairie meadow. Behind the trees are homes. Behind me is the road. Over in the right corner is a platform. I don’t know why it’s there. I climbed it once. Only once. I didn’t like being up there looking out over the meadow. I preferred to be among the grasses and wildflowers.
These seeds from the mother plant wafted all through the meadow. These cling tenaciously to a vine, not wanting to let go but knowing they have to in order to fulfill their purpose.
I’m not patient when it comes to photographing flitting and flying insects, but this bee must have found a saturated wildflower because he stayed still enough for me to get quite a few photos.
I am so used to getting my fruits from a grocery that I don’t know what I could eat in the wilds. It’s a shame that I am so removed from the natural world. I will leave these for the meadow creatures, though.
Black-eyed Susans. So abundant. Some people are tired of seeing them and snub them for their gardens. I can’t help but love them. They are both sun and earth, light and dark, beauty in contrasts.
When the sun hits just right, it skims the tips of these feathered tassels and makes them shimmer.
252/365 Wordless Wednesday
252/365
251/365 Don’t Use a Bodice-Ripper Romance to Make Art. Just Don’t.
251/365
I got it into my head once to create art pieces with cutout sentence fragments from books. They’re everywhere! I took it one step further. I cut out the fragments and attached them to something I wanted to photograph, et voilà! In this case, I attached them to a framed photo.
So I hit a second-hand bookstore and grabbed a bodice-ripper romance because I thought it would have interesting sentences. When I got home, I pored over the book, searching for intriguing sentences.
Oh dear. It was a Christian romance novel. Aaaaack! How did that happen?
I searched anyway. I cut out about nine different sentences, threw them in a little baggie, and tossed the book out. In over 200 pages, I couldn’t find more than nine interesting sentences. Futile. The writing sucked. And…oh dear lord…I read a Christian romance novel. That was the worst part.
Serves me for picking up a trash romance for this project. If I do it again, I’m looking for a Stephen King novel. Now there’s a writer!
248/365 Wouldn’t It Be Interesting If Hubble Sent Back Something Like This?
248/365
Then we would know that the creation of the universe was a big backyard fireworks party with BBQ and kids running everywhere. The teenagers, in charge of lighting the fireworks, dart in and out of the launching area while the adults and children sit back and watch. I’m convinced the creation of the universe was a backyard event.
247/365 He Enters the Bar Already an Illusion
247/365
A man enters behind me but I see him in front of me while I look on in a mirror with a man looking back at me but not seeing me because he faces the other way. Reflections upon reflections upon reflections.
246/365 I Get Called Paparazzi and then am Snubbed by Swans
246/365 “Dammit! Paparazzi.”
“Ignore her Natasha. She’ll go away.” He surreptitiously glances at me.
“She’s not going away, Natasha.”
“Let’s get out of here and hope she doesn’t follow.”
That is exactly what happened. Unlike other paparazzi, I didn’t follow. Visions of an enraged swan attack kept me at a distance. That’s ok. I got my shots.
244/365 50mm Abstractions
244/365
I had my new camera for a couple of weeks before I took it out on its first camera shoot. I chose Indianapolis Museum of Art’s (IMA) 100 Acres as my destination. I only had a 50mm lens so I was limited in what I could do. I considered it a challenge. It’s a beautiful little lens but so frustrating because I saw so many things I couldn’t photograph! However, that was part of the challenge, to work with what I had and find beauty and intrigue within its limitations. I discovered bokeh. Beautiful, soft bokeh.
I dedicate this post to abstracts.
243/365 No You’re Not!
243/365
This is one abandoned building that I know is being renovated. I’ve been there. And even though I’m sad that the beauty of its dereliction is being destroyed, it is better for the neighborhood.
A dear photographer friend and I went there to do a photo shoot back in 2009.
Having fun! Photo by Zach Rosing.
242/365 There’s This Prairie Meadow Hiding In the Suburbs….
242/365
Blink and you’ll miss it. You’ll probably miss it anyway because you are focused on driving. I’m glad. That means I get it all to myself, because you won’t see it to stop, unless you’re looking for it, it’s that inconspicuous.
Daubenspeck Community Nature Park is a gem. It is prairie meadows, wetlands, and forest all hugged together on 22 acres. I go there to walk and to meditate and to enjoy the meadow. It is lovely and secluded even though it is surrounded by roads and cars and houses. But once in the park, you forget everything else.
Mounds of prairie wildflowers cluster together, rolling into the woods beyond.
Every now and then a pocket of color peaks through the green leaves and stalks.
The petals look wild and messy, not smooth like other petals. And, yet, they are structured. I do so love structured chaos!!
Pick ME! A single beauty.
Dotted throughout the landscape are these beautiful, dark, rich stalks. I tried to capture the contrast between their lovely darkness and the vibrant greens surrounding them but fell short. They add a subtle elegance to the wild colors of the rest of the meadow.
Coming in for a Landing! This was the first bee photo I took in the meadow that day. I took many others, but when I got home and saw this little guy coming in for a landing, I knew this was it. The flower is pretty, too.
On hot days, I like going into the woods to cool off until I’m ready to return to the meadow.
Nude Sun Bathers. The late evening sun bathes these nearly spent wildflowers.
I almost missed this. As I left, I looked back at the meadow and saw the late sun kissing the tops of just this patch of wild growth.
June Photo Wrap Up
June was a bumpy ride for me. I’m re-evaluating where I am in life and what I’m doing, where I’m going, and what’s next. I thought a lot about photography and about writing and about jobs and about how I can smooth out the ride a little better…perhaps get shock absorbers????
Anyway, I had an odd relationship with the photos I uploaded to 365 Days Journey Through the Past. I loved many of them, chuckled at a few, was grossed-out by others, didn’t like a number of them, and was embarrassed by at least one. There were photos that inspired determination, photos that tugged at the heart, artistic photos, bizarre photos, and meh photos.
So here’s June’s photo wrap up.
241/365 Beauty in Holliday Park
241/365 Worship
I am surprised I haven’t already featured these photos yet! I searched and searched through my posts, using every keyword I could think of but came up with nothing. I know I’ve posted these somewhere besides on Flickr. Probably on Facebook back in 2010 when I initially took the photos.
I remember the evening. I was restless and had to get away. Usually that means I end up somewhere like Kentucky where I hit the Bourbon Trail, or St. Louis where I attend Mass for the first (and only) time at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Or I go somewhere more local like Oliver Winery located an hour away down south near Bloomington. But this time I went to Holliday Park, just across town. And I pretended to have a Greek vacation. The ruins can do that for you.
At the time I lived in Irvington. Irvington is about 30 minutes away from Holliday Park so it was like a mini-vacation. Now I live just a few blocks away and can walk there whenever I want. So happy!
240/365 MacNivens on Mass Ave
240/365 My favorite bar on Mass Ave. Full of memories. All good.
MacNiven’s, a Scottish bar with a beer menu that runs into tomorrow, has a bank of windows, walls with windows, and mirrors. I go there and find reflections reflecting reflections, a world of illusions. It’s perfect for a bar because you feel disoriented even before the first sip.
239/365 Fluffy White Clouds For a Hot Sweltering Day
239/365
I wasn’t going to post today. I planned an end-of-week posting again but when this photo came up and knowing that today will be well over 100°F here in Indianapolis (they say highs today will be 104°F [40°C] ), I had to post it. Maybe it will cool me down.
I wish it were rain clouds, though, and in today’s sky.
