Michael Shane's geekery, photography, and shenanigans » Musings

365:2009 – The Year in Pictures, One Day at a Time

Michael — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:56:35 +0000

I’ll be honest. I’m nervous.

2009 was an interesting year. A lot happened (I’m sure your year was similar). A lot changed. And my 365 project evolved with me. Although I set some basic parameters to guide the project, I had no preconceived notions about where it would go in the end. I got onto the highway and then I just quietly and purposefully took my hands off of the wheel. When it started, I had moderately grand visions of crafting a new photo each day. Fortunately though, my life is not that boring or predictable. My 365 project was at times a piece of art, a diary, a study of my face, an admittedly narcissistic treatise, a record of my daily journey. But I think most of all, it ~~was~~ is an affirmation.

Will you know me after examining 365 photos from last year? No, I think not. Granted, the photos are an absolutely authentic, merciless look at Michael Shane. Many photos capture moments of intense solitude. On days when the shot wasn’t planned, I simply waited until I felt the photo had to be taken, that it couldn’t not be taken, until something inside me stated simply, “Now.” But the photos are, in the end, only moments; they represent infinitely small portions of moments of my ongoing story. There’s no right or wrong way to view the project. See what works for you.

Part of me does not want to publish the project … yet. But I think that no matter how long I wait or how much perspective I gain on the year 2009, it’ll never fear like enough. So now seems like as good a time as any to cowboy up and get it done.

If nothing else, the 365 project is photographic proof that life goes on. Seeing a year of my life distilled into a set of photos is a humbling experience. But as Harvey Pekar elegantly put it, “ordinary life is pretty complex stuff.” So I’m trying to avoid the grandiose and resist the temptation to wax philosophical. I hope the photos will speak for themselves.

Here’s a year of my life in photos. Thanks for stopping by.

Believe it or not, here they come

Michael — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:54:55 +0000

Is this thing on?

Anybody out there?

Believe it or not, I just started uploading the remainder of my 2009 365 projects. 157 photos. Then I need to write titles and blurbs where applicable (the photos are marked as private until I’m completely finished). Clearly I fell off the posting-blogging-publishing bandwagon, but the photos are there, and they’re ready to be sent out into the great unknown. If you followed the project, are slightly curious, or think I’m handsome, you’ll be interested to know that you’ll be able to see the entire collection very soon. I’m not quite sure how I’ll present the final product. Obviously it’s all stored on my Flickr account. but perhaps I’ll do a series of posts here highlighting my favorite portraits. Or maybe I’ll create a special gallery to house the project in its entirety. I’m not quite sure yet.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled browsing.

Sorry for the long absence. Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff. And it’s busy. Where’s a TARDIS when you need one?

If you’re reading this, then thanks. I missed you too. Do come back sometime.

Dvorak, Op. 96

Michael — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:59:59 +0000

For some reason whenever I ride a train I want to hear Dvorak. Today the train is the LIRR and the Dvorak would be his String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96, “American”.

A few different treatments of a few different photos of one very special lady

Michael — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:21:43 +0000

I’m experimenting with some different treatments of one earlier photo and one new photo using some custom presets in Aperture 3. I agree with Scott Bourne that Aperture 3 is definitely slower than its predecessor in some ways. That said, it’s also true that Aperture 3 could marginalize or eliminate Photoshop from many photographers’ workflows. I have shot little to no HDR recently, so I haven’t launched Photoshop in months. And now that Aperture 3 has a curves brick, I may never need Photoshop again.

I’m on a bit of a 16:9 kick tonight. Can you tell? If you’ve got a preference for any of the photos below, please feel free to share it in the comments.

Happy New Year

Michael — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:08:53 +0000

Well, here we are.

The 365 project has concluded…although it is (quite conspicuously) not published yet. I’ll get there.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this blog in 2010. My life got so busy in the last quarter of 2009 that the only pictures I had time to take were for my 365, and that really made me kind of blue. I’m looking forward to pointing my lens at something (anything) else besides my face this year, and I hope you’ll drop in every once in awhile and take a gander.

There will surely be geekery, photography, and shenanigans.

Some images aren’t crap, and therefore get their own post

Michael — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:07:21 +0000

I am really proud of these two photos that I took recently using my iPhone. So I decided to put them in a separate post. That is all.

Hotel Whitcomb, San Francisco

Riverside Park, New York City

The best camera is the one you’ve got time to actually use

Michael — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:04:50 +0000

The past few months have just gotten busier and busier, and I die a little bit inside every time I steal a yearning glance at my camera bag. Okay, so that’s a little melodramatic. I’ve actually had a good time trying to make good pictures using my iPhone 3G S. I’ve even been doing my 365 portraits, believe it or not! [Speaking of which: I will finish that project and publish all of the photos when it's finished. It's hard to believe the year is almost over!]

Anyway, here are some more iPhone photographs, all of which were taken with and processed on my iPhone.

The Best Camera is the One You’ve Got With You

Michael — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:07:05 +0000

In the spirit of the oft-repeated adage above, I humbly present to you the following photos, all of which were taken over the past few months with my iPhone, and processed right on the phone using Chase Jarvis’ Best Camera app. This app has become a mainstay in my ‘mobile workflow,’ and many of my recent 365 portraits have been created using my iPhone and Best Camera (you’ll see them eventually).

I am still shooting and archiving for my 365 project. I’ve just been so busy that I haven’t had time to process and publish the photos recently. Rest assured they’ll all end up here (if not in other mediums as well) in the near future, and certainly after the completion of the project. Sadly, daily photography and blogging are luxuries that I haven’t had recently.

Gone but not forgotten?

Michael — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:06:15 +0000

When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, my blogging slows down. Life is busy right now, but mark my words: I shall return!

If you have an insatiable hankering for geekery, photography, and shenanigans, why don’t you search through the archives and see what satisfies you?

When “real” “life” joyously reminds you – with extreme prejudice – that you are not a blogger

Michael — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:59:34 +0000

As you (all 3 of you…if you’re still out there) may have noticed, I’ve been busy lately. I’ve been so busy that I’ve been processing/publishing portraits in batches. I post them here now – with a zen-like focus and peace – as an affirmation of my commitment to this project and this process. I realize massive posts like this aren’t really representative of high-quality web publishing, good housekeeping, or legitimate blogging, but I don’t exactly give a shit either. Let’s get to it:

Day Two hundred and nine: A busy week.

A few iPhone shots have snuck into my 365 project, but given that the camera on the 3GS represents a drastic improvement over previous generations, I’ve joined the bandwagon calling it a legitimate camera.

After all, the best camera is the one you’ve got with you.

Also: another symptom of a 365 artist short on time (besides toothbrush shots – which are one of my specialities): the mirror shot!

Day Two hundred and eight: Living in a fisheye lens*

*not actually a fisheye lens

Day Two hundred and seven: Wanted: Good lighting

You can’t always get what you want.

True story: I was at a bar mitzvah party in middle school, and a very pretty girl made it known that she fancied me. Lucky for me, I felt the same way, and was not bashful about sharing. I even danced with her middle school style (you know: arms outstretched, finger tips on fire as my hands rested on her waist – her waist!!).

However, after the apparent magic of the party faded into silent memory and we returned the real world (AKA school), the girl was suddenly much less responsive, and my feelings were much less requited. By lunch time, half the school had heard the explanation for her change of heart: bad lighting. That’s a quote, mind you.

Among my close friends from that era, this is an oft-told story, and – for me – the phrase “bad lighting” will forever carry a special, melancholy meaning.

But, the universe has a way of righting itself. I’m pretty sure she ended up a fat chick. And I’m in love.

Day Two hundred and six

Day Two hundred and five

Day Two hundred and four

Day Two hundred and three: At Rest

Day Two hundred and two

Day Two hundred and one

Day Two hundred

Day One hundred and ninety-nine

Day One hundred and ninety-eight: Someone get the lights

Day One hundred and ninety-seven

Day One hundred and ninety-six

Day One hundred and ninety-five

Day One hundred and ninety-four: Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Day One hundred and ninety-three

Day One hundred and ninety-two: The old College Try