Filed under: Arizona, Blogging, Home, Phoenix, Photography | Tags: 52, Arizona, Blogging, Flora, Home, Learning, Midwest, Phoenix, Photoblogging, Photography, Travels
This is my mother’s yard in northern Indiana less than 2 weeks ago.
This is my yard last Friday.
I used both of these for my 52 Project, which I am happy to say, only has 5 weeks remaining. I’ve been reading on some other blogs I follow, as well as from some of my Flickr contacts, that they are excited to have their 365 projects almost over, too. When I decided to do a 52 last January 1st (with all of them being multiple images), it was because I didn’t want to commit to a 365 but I thought it might lead up to a 365. Nope. I know a lot of you take photos everyday and post everyday even without considering it a 365 but I just can’t. I pretty much only like outdoor photography and, with work lasting until 5 everyday, it makes it difficult to shoot daily…especially in the winter when it gets dark before 6pm. I found that the added pressure (I know, not a very big pressure) of feeling I had to get an image for my 52 was a deterrent rather than an incentive.
I have learned that I can find my own projects to shoot so I don’t need to have the stimulus of a 52 or 365 to force me to do so. And I’ve found a lot of interesting online photo workshops or classes that could provide that impetus if I need it. Not to mention, there are countless Flickr groups that provide themes if one needs that little extra encouragement to shoot now and then (Bench Monday, Fence Friday, 64 Colors, etc.). I found several that appealed to me that I will probably participate in more actively in 2011.
This coming year, I am going to continue with my mural project in central Phoenix as well as a project documenting historic churches in the downtown area. Having photos for my blog is the major force that will drive me to photograph, I think.
What about you? Do you have any new projects you want to pursue in the upcoming year? Or did you learn anything from what you photographed in 2010 that will change what you do in 2011? Does your blog force you to photograph when you might not do so otherwise? Can you really shoot everyday?
Filed under: Art, Phoenix | Tags: Art, Downtown Phoenix, Murals, Phoenix
Every time I think I’m getting close to the end of my downtown Phoenix mural photography project, I see or hear about another one (or several). Originally I thought today’s post was going to be one of the last ones for awhile but now I know where there are at least 5 more. Part of the reason is that murals are now a big thing in downtown Phoenix and someone is constantly working on a new one. There is even a fledgling mural organization program called Mural Match, organized by Roosevelt Row, the location of many downtown galleries and current murals.
But the murals in today’s post all have one thing in common. I don’t know anything about them nor who painted them.
According to one of the shop owners that I spoke to in this strip of galleries, this mural is slated to be painted over with a new one soon.
There is a controversy brewing now where some street artists have been tagging murals that other artists were commissioned to do. The street artists feel that murals should have a message, basically their message, and that they have a right to vandalize commissioned murals. Of course, the business owners and muralists whose works are defaced do not agree.
So this may be the project that never ends and that is a good thing because it means downtown Phoenix will just keep getting more colorful and more animated.
Yay, I’m happy to be back home in an urban environment and one that’s sunny to boot. I was able to borrow a wifi signal while in Indiana but I didn’t get any good photos because it was so dreary every single day!
This is MonOrchid, a beautiful gallery and event space on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix.
Kinda reminds me of Twitter. The painter is local artist Brian Boner. You can see the painting that inspired the mural on his website.
This is what he said the birds represent to him, “It is something about the instinctual way they rely on each other, working together making constant progress. The migration of the flock and the unison, not of one bird but the entire group.” It reminds him of the growing community of artists in downtown Phoenix who have been working together. You can see the progress and it is not based on one individual, but the collection of many (from blendercreative, where you can also see some photos of Brian painting the mural if you scroll down to the February 2, 2009 post).
Wouldn’t it have been totally cool if there had been birds sitting on those wires reflected in the windows or even some flying by? I never seem to get a photo break like that but I’m probably not patient enough.
I’m off on a flight myself for just a few days. If I luck out like last year, I’ll be able to “borrow” someone’s wi-fi. If not, I’ll be on dial-up so may not be able to post or look at your blogs for a few days but I’ll catch up when I get back. I’m hoping I won’t get any photos of snow!
