Parts-n-Pieces' Photoblog (Project 365)

Parts-n-Pieces has Moved
Monday, April 21, 2008

Parts-n-Pieces, and all associated blogs, have moved. Please bookmark these sites:

Main blog: http://partsnpieces.typepad.com

Project 365(+1): http://partsnpieces.typepad.com/project365

December Retrospective
Monday, December 31, 2007

December Retrospective, originally uploaded by PartsnPieces.

This has been a wonderful (yet challenging) year of photography. I have learned so much from consistently taking photos. I might not have posted photos each day, but I did most days. I did, however, take photos just about everyday. Throughout this year I have learned to see differently, and that's been a very good things. Toward the end of the year-- like many people who were part of the 365 posse-- I ran out of subjects for my photos, and that made me work harder to see differently. (You all will remember, we shot photos of shower curtains way too soon!) But because I had to push myself a little harder than I had been to find subjects, many of my photos this month were stronger, more interesting, maybe even more creative.

@ 10:10 PM 5 comments

November, Project 365 Retrospective
Friday, November 30, 2007

November, Project 365 Retrospective, originally uploaded by PartsnPieces.

This has been a hard, hard month for Project 365. Like many other people who are a part of this year-long project, I'm tired of trying to be creative. Nothing around me seemed particularly interesting. So this month, I turned inward and was creative with myself. What's unusual about this month are the seven self-portraits I took. While there is nothing remarkable about the photos, it is remarkable that I took them and posted them online. The vulnerability and exposure that came with those actions has been very uncomfortable, but in an odd way, very freeing. I've felt more connected to this community of Project 365ers, but also to my academic work. (Yes, an odd connection.) As Jayfish noted throughout this month about the self-portraits, I'm hiding behind something in each of them: my hair, glasses, a scarf, photoshop . . . The act of putting myself "out there" in all my reality was tough . . . I wonder how much of myself I hide (or manufacture) in my writing. More than I thought I was, surely. So the act of producing self-portraits opened me to the possibility of writing more authentically.

I took a lot of "on the sly" portraits at Starbucks this month as I spent quite a bit of time there reading and writing. I like these photos and how they demonstrate Starbucks' place in the community as a "literacy sponsor."

Aside from the self portraits and Starbucks, the photo I like the most this month is the one of the bird flying overhead. That was a very tough shot, and I took dozens and dozens trying to get it come out right. The photo itself is presented without post-processing or cropping. It is as it was.

OK, one month left. I'm striving in this last month to be a little more creative and bold with my photographs, to take some creative risks. We'll see where it goes. For your Project 365ers, anyone thinking about continuing through 2008?

@ 2:19 PM 5 comments