Today sucked.
It was my first day out on my 365 project and I couldn’t find a picture to save my life. I drove this town for 4 hours and was ready to give up. Here it is, my first day of the 365 project, and I was ready to call it quits. I called Meg at some point to let her know how much I was sucking. I think I was trying too hard. I took a lot of crap pictures today. I thought I would swing through Little Five Points “just to see.” I felt like a failure. It was dark. It was cold. I had nothing to show for my time out with a camera and then I saw this guy playing guitar in front of the Euclid Ave. Yacht Club. It seemed cliche. It seemed too easy. It just didn’t feel right but damn it all, I had to get a photo.
I parked my car, started walking down the street and then I met Craig, the Little Five Point Poet. He asked me for four words and then he would freestyle a poem for me. Hear it here.
I really thought the entire day was going to be a bust. I’m glad I got off my ass. I’m glad I kept at it. I’m glad I kept looking.
This 365 project of mine isn’t all about photography. In addition to creating work to see I’m also looking for experiences to live and to share. I’m confident that as I progress in this project new ideas and projects will flow out of these types of encounters.
As for the guy playing guitar? That would be Ralph.
Cheers,
Zack
8 Comments
I’m not gonna say get used to it… I’m not.
I think Day 1 really opens your eyes to what this projects all about. Have fun as I’m currently doing the same.
i’ve been struggling with my 365 already, too. lack of inspiration. lack of an inspiring environment [to be rectified]. but i will continue and keep trying to make a better picture each time :-)
They say day 1 is the hardest. It might be day 1, it might be day 234. The 365 seems a bit light a photogs marathon. At some point or another, everyone hits that wall. It’s those with enough vision, enough guts, and enough moxy to make a mistake and still let that count as the picture for the day. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not learning.
cheers zack, luck
rock
craig is great. he has such an awesome spirit and great sense of humor. i got a portrait of him a few weeks ago and try to stop by and say hey to him as much as i can. ralph is so freakin’ talented! i took his shot, put it up to his face, and then he moved to check it out…it was cool getting to chat with him and i emailed him his shot
looking forward to chat soon and hear more of this new direction
much respect for you my friend
ok zack, my 365 commitment is to follow this blog everyday and leave a comment about what i think of the pictures! {insert winky smiley face thingy here}
good start! GO GO GO!
Man, it was so funny to read this. As a veteran of 365 (i’m in my 2nd), i know exactly how you feel. The first year of mine was self-portraits, and it nearly broke me. I’ve since decided that putting less pressure on myself is where it’s at, and i’m shooting anything I want. And it doesn’t even have to be good, haha…
glad to see you doing this…i’ll be around for sure.
i put my flickr page as the “website” listed, but some of my better work is by itself at http://tdmphotography.daportfolio.com
you are the only person i’ve shared that link with yet also :)
good luck zack.
i really love your ability to bring out the passion in people and capture it. mad documentary skills man