Time to call it? Not so sure...

I think it's clear I've failed on this blog attempt.

So, the question is, Do I close it down, or change the 'time-limit'?  I've been told I should just not make it happen in only one year.  I guess I'll do that.

-Sean

Project #2 - "The Everyone-Who-Comes-to-Visit-Me Photo Wall"

Difficulty: Long Term 2/7

In the first section of the Photojojo! book, Do More with Your Photos, is this little gem.  I already started this project at the beginning of the year, but waited to write about it so that I would have something to show you.  It is actually quite simple to set up.  The original idea worked best with a Polaroid, but since those days are behind us, all you need now are a cheap, or extra, digital camera and a printer, plus a wall to decorate.

I realized that since I am one of two main contacts for IT help in my company, and since both of us share the same office, it makes sense that there would be far more visits at work than at home.  Work is also the best place for this because most of our visitors at home are family, and if you knew my family, you would agree that you DON'T want a lot of pictures of them hanging around on the web.  :-)  (Now I just have to hope they are just pretending when they tell me they want to read my blahg.)

If you are following along, this is a one-pager (page 33, in fact) with very simple instructions, including the most important: put the camera near the spot you will take the pictures, and leave it there!  This will eliminate your excuses for not taking pictures.  One of my suggestions is: be very persuasive.  Many people are not going to want their picture taken 'today', or 'in this outfit', or 'ever'.  You have to take every opportunity if you want to be successful, so you have to get that shot now!  Tell them you'll replace it if they come back when they 'look better'.  It will also help if you have a bunch of other people up on the wall already, so make sure you print the photos as soon as you can, and hang them.

Here's my gear. I am using an old Kodak dx3600 that I got free off http://www.freecycle.org/.  It is not perfect.  Sometimes the lens doesn't extend when you turn it on, and sometimes when it does it won't focus.

I can almost always make it get in line though, so it's good for this project.  The on-camera flash is terrible, but aren't they all?  I use HP Everyday 4x6 Photo Paper and load it in to a HP OfficeJet 4215 All-in-One Printer.  Then I take the prints and hang them on the wall using Lomography Fotoclips (also available at The Photojojo Store!)  In an attempt to get the photoclips lined up perfectly, I use a piece of scrap paper as a template for where to put the photoclips. 

 

Finally, since that Kodak camera is soooo bad, I run each picture through some actions in Photoshop to remove a lot of noise and adjust the contrast.  It only helps a little, but every little bit helps!

 

Get your camera out and get started!

-Sean

Blogojojo! Progress

So, clearly I had hoped to be further along with this blog, but the month of January is pretty busy this year. I have a daughter auditioning at colleges,

a son with a birthday,

and each year my company has a week-long summit for the entire company. Each of these in some way has eaten into the time I can spend on this blog.

However, there is still hope! The way I organized the projects gives me a handful of weeks that do not require a sit-down-and-make-it level of dedication. I started the blog with one, in fact - Project 365 - and there are 6 others. I wanted to get to a simple project that I could start and finish quickly, perhaps have the kids join me, not annoy the wife overmuch. That is not to be, so I will turn to another of the long term projects for my next project post, one that I have already started and have been maintaining: The Everyone Who Comes to Visit Me Photo Wall.

I also have another couple guest posters lined up to jump in with photography-related posts, and hopefully I can rope them into doing a project or two from the book!

Stay tuned,

-Sean

Project #1 - "Project 365"

Difficulty: Long Term 1/7


The Photojojo! book is divided into 2 parts: #1 Do More with Your Photos, and #2 Have More Fun with a Camera.  This project is from Part #2.  This is not the first time I've heard of Project 365.  Indeed it isn't even the first time I've tried it.  I believe the last two years saw me failing within the 1st week!  But no photographer interested in doing a 365 ever stops trying.  I suppose it's possible that's not true - there could be one or two that have stopped, but not me!  I'm trying again, hoping the 3rd time's a charm.  I had a pretty good growth year in 2009 in terms of photography and editing skills, so I think I can 'save' a lot more photos.  That should help fight off the feelings of disappointment that usually lead to failure.

So, Photojojo! has several key steps to help you be a success in your 365, from being prepared, to sharing your results.  It also includes extra ideas to help you stretch your creative muscle and grow in your photography.  One of the most important, I feel, is to follow others who are walking the journey of a 365 and learn from their triumphs and failures.  To that end, I hope you will follow my journey this year which I will be documenting on Flickr: kqrpnb's 365 in 2010

Happy photocrafting!
-Sean

Welcome to Blogojojo!*

(* Not sure about the name.  Maybe a new name will be found soon...)

Blogojojo = Blogging + Photocrafting with the book, Photojojo!

Christmas 2009 found me opening an awesome present from my wife: the book from photojojo.com called Photojojo! insanely great photo projects and DIY ideas. At about the same time, my wife opened an awesome present from me (if I may say so), wrapped in an insanely great manner (if I may also say so): the movie Julie & Julia. During the ensuing Christmas break, after flipping through Photojojo! and watching Julie and Julia on DVD, I was inspired to create Blogojojo - though I was clearly NOT inspired to invent a cool name. Like my good friend Julie Powell did, I'm going to cook my way through the Photojojo! 'cookbook' in one year, and document my experience. Ok, I don't actually know Julie Powell, but I do know Amy Adams, who played her in the movie! Ok, that's also a lie, but I do own Enchanted, so I feel like I know her. Actually, the kids own it. Moving on...

So here's what I'm looking at:

• 52 weeks (The Deadline)
• 49 Projects & 4 Tips (The Book)
• 5 helpers, when I can force them to assist (The Fam)
• 1 short stack of bills (The Budget)

I will be attempting roughly a project a week. I will document as much of each week's project as I can, from finding and purchasing the materials, to modifying the projects if necessary, to difficulties overcome or succumbed to. I might even come up with a project or two that I've created myself. You will have to get a hold of the book yourself if you want all the details though. You can purchase it from the Photojojo store, or use the Amazon link that I include throughout, which is an affiliate link.

I have gone through and rated the projects based on projected time and/or planning requirements. The rating system is as follows:

• 1. Quick and Easy - Mere hours (28 Projects)
• 2. Average - 1 to several days (10 Projects)
• 3. Special/Difficult Planning - Hard-to-get/schedule materials and personnel (4 Projects)
• 4. Long Term - Several weeks to the entire year (7 Projects)
• 5. Not-Quite a Project - Really a photography tip (4 Tips)

I'll adjust as necessary. Hopefully I'm not too far off on any of them.

I also have other plans for the blog, from contests to win one of the projects once completed, to reader participation for when a project calls for many photos or traveling cameras and the like. I'll try to have a firm plan on how to participate in the coming weeks.

This week will feature one of the Level 4 projects - Project 365. This project will take the entire year, and is actually already started. I'll discuss my plans (and contingencies!) and how I hope to force myself to complete the project, as well as where and how to share with others.

Here's to the new year, to the new blog, and to fun, fun photocrafting!

-Sean