There are times where taking photos appears completely natural and other times when you can make yourself feel extremely self-conscious. On the beaches of Costa Rica, there were dozens of people wandering around with cameras in hand. Taking an afternoon stroll alone through the residential streets of Chicago, you tend to get scrutinized more often. I have definitely walked past something that piqued my curiosity more than once, because someone was walking near me. In my head, I'm telling myself that if I stop and take a picture of the flower by that front stoop...the person behind me is going to think I'm some kind of criminal or creeper.
In reality, nine out of ten people are probably just as curious as me. They want to know what I see that's so interesting. Last week I stopped, squatted, and contorted myself to get an angle I liked on an expanse of white tulips in front of a row house. There was a woman walking toward me, but I decided to disregard her. As she walked by, she simply said, "They certainly are beautiful, aren't they." She could not have cared less. Maybe she would've even liked a copy of the photo that I took.
This is a psychological war I've always fought, not just in photographing the streets of Chicago. I tend to be a play by the rules kind of girl. Beyond that, I don't like to call attention to myself. In doing so, I often miss out on opportunity. So, in a roundabout way, this blog is helping me realize how illogical of a wall I've constructed. Hopefully, I continue to make progress in knocking it down. Although, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself from analyzing whether it looks like a I'm casing someone's home before I take a photo.
textural complements \04.07\
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Labels:
abstract,
texture
In reality, nine out of ten people are probably just as curious as me. They want to know what I see that's so interesting. Last week I stopped, squatted, and contorted myself to get an angle I liked on an expanse of white tulips in front of a row house. There was a woman walking toward me, but I decided to disregard her. As she walked by, she simply said, "They certainly are beautiful, aren't they." She could not have cared less. Maybe she would've even liked a copy of the photo that I took.
This is a psychological war I've always fought, not just in photographing the streets of Chicago. I tend to be a play by the rules kind of girl. Beyond that, I don't like to call attention to myself. In doing so, I often miss out on opportunity. So, in a roundabout way, this blog is helping me realize how illogical of a wall I've constructed. Hopefully, I continue to make progress in knocking it down. Although, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself from analyzing whether it looks like a I'm casing someone's home before I take a photo.
Easter weekend and, much to my mom's chagrin, I am not making my way home. She tried to tempt me with the promise of steak dinner on Sunday, which was a card well-played. Fortunately, there's that whole heightened sense of willpower to support me. I can't qualify spending $60 on gas for a steak dinner; especially when I could spend the entire weekend in Chicago and buy myself a steak dinner for less. Every day is becoming a constant reminder of my lacking income. It's not because I can't pay the bills, but because I feel guilty spending on anything beyond the bills.
On the up side, I'm about to put a few exploratory sticks in the fire...whether any of them end up being the source I want to look to for my future income, we shall see. Decisions, decisions.
petal pile \04.06\
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Labels:
chicago,
urban outdoors
On the up side, I'm about to put a few exploratory sticks in the fire...whether any of them end up being the source I want to look to for my future income, we shall see. Decisions, decisions.
It may look like spring still, but it certainly feels more like winter again. I'm rather grateful for this daily obligation to photograph my world, because it forces me out of the confines of my apartment. When you have no job and, hence, no income...it becomes routine to not stray into temptation. Essentially, that encompasses anywhere that would allow you to purchase things that you don't actually need.
I have always been relatively strong willed and able to resist unnecessary purchasing, but this little exercise in unemployment has brought it to a whole new level. Not only am I cutting off all spending on clothes, shoes, decorative items, etc., but I'm very cognizant of my food choices. Maybe it'll become so ingrained that once I do return to the world of the earning, I'll be able to shovel money into retirement savings and bid the working world adios before I'm 40. Optimistic? Maybe. Impossible? No.
around the block \04.05\
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Labels:
chicago,
flowers,
neighborhood,
urban outdoors
I have always been relatively strong willed and able to resist unnecessary purchasing, but this little exercise in unemployment has brought it to a whole new level. Not only am I cutting off all spending on clothes, shoes, decorative items, etc., but I'm very cognizant of my food choices. Maybe it'll become so ingrained that once I do return to the world of the earning, I'll be able to shovel money into retirement savings and bid the working world adios before I'm 40. Optimistic? Maybe. Impossible? No.
Another day, another photo filter app. This time is the eponymous Instagram...for Android. Although so many non-iPhone users were anxiously awaiting the ability to join the club, I was ambivalent (to being part of the "cool" crowd) with a tinge of curious (thanks to a slight tech-geek streak). My consensus: their filters are polished and superior to several other apps I've used. On the flip side, you can't fine tune exposure and EVERY photo has to be cropped to square. Sometimes I just want a rectangular photo. Actually, most times.
On a completely unrelated note, my brother sent me an article about a website called Fiverr. The premise is interesting and has my wheels turning. "What would you be willing to do for $5?" You can create a profile and post anything you'd be willing to say, do, create, perform, etc. - just ensure that you're content with a $5 payout. From there, it's a marketplace like any other. There are some pretty standard services offered, like proofreading a paper or recording a birthday message in a celebrity soundalike voice. And then there's the not so common, such as sending a jpg image of a custom-made blackmail note. Yeah, you know the kind, the magazine letters glued to paper type of stalker note. Although I could clearly post up some helpful writing or marketing skills, I'm actually trying to brainstorm a quirkier set of skills. If no one responds, it's no loss to me. Otherwise, maybe I could be putting a few Lincolns in my pocket.
gated entry \04.04\
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Labels:
tennis
On a completely unrelated note, my brother sent me an article about a website called Fiverr. The premise is interesting and has my wheels turning. "What would you be willing to do for $5?" You can create a profile and post anything you'd be willing to say, do, create, perform, etc. - just ensure that you're content with a $5 payout. From there, it's a marketplace like any other. There are some pretty standard services offered, like proofreading a paper or recording a birthday message in a celebrity soundalike voice. And then there's the not so common, such as sending a jpg image of a custom-made blackmail note. Yeah, you know the kind, the magazine letters glued to paper type of stalker note. Although I could clearly post up some helpful writing or marketing skills, I'm actually trying to brainstorm a quirkier set of skills. If no one responds, it's no loss to me. Otherwise, maybe I could be putting a few Lincolns in my pocket.
It's difficult for me to believe that this is my 93rd entry. More than that, I've managed to find at least 93 things that inspired me enough to take a photo of them. That was much easier in Costa Rica, where nearly everything seemed novel and amazing. Somehow, I've managed to revitalize how I view my own neighborhood, too.
On the other hand, I'm getting restless. Today's test drive didn't cost me anything; I just downloaded an app that allows me to play with filters and tinker with image settings. What I'd really like is 1) a DSLR camera with all the fixins' and 2) some new environments to inspire me. Not that Chicago doesn't have hidden gems scattered throughout the diverse neighborhoods, many of which I haven't visited. If we really want to get straight to the point, I'm craving international travel again...already. I suppose we'll see how long I can drag out my fascination with photo filters instead.
test driving \04.03\
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Labels:
bench,
flowers,
outdoors,
spring
On the other hand, I'm getting restless. Today's test drive didn't cost me anything; I just downloaded an app that allows me to play with filters and tinker with image settings. What I'd really like is 1) a DSLR camera with all the fixins' and 2) some new environments to inspire me. Not that Chicago doesn't have hidden gems scattered throughout the diverse neighborhoods, many of which I haven't visited. If we really want to get straight to the point, I'm craving international travel again...already. I suppose we'll see how long I can drag out my fascination with photo filters instead.
Your eyes do not deceive you; that tree bark is blue. The trunk and the branches of that tree are also blue. And next to it, there is an orange tree, followed by a handful of additional blue or orange trees. I suppose it's unusual that I would've only noticed this manmade alteration to nature today, since they're in a park that I frequently walk through. Oh, and they're pretty obvious. Somehow it's just one of those things that my eyes passed over, but my brain never processed. It's amazing what types of obvious things become apparent to you when you slow down for a minute. Beyond blue trees, there's a lot of cues we overlook during a standard day in our life. I've been working on slowing down and taking notice of life, instead of just letting it pass me.
On a lighter note, the NCAA Championship game is on and I don't particularly care who wins. I just can't get into it this year. So, I pulled a total chick move and watched The Voice instead. Adam Levine > UK/KU basketball.
feeling blue \04.02\
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Labels:
color,
spring,
urban outdoors
Your eyes do not deceive you; that tree bark is blue. The trunk and the branches of that tree are also blue. And next to it, there is an orange tree, followed by a handful of additional blue or orange trees. I suppose it's unusual that I would've only noticed this manmade alteration to nature today, since they're in a park that I frequently walk through. Oh, and they're pretty obvious. Somehow it's just one of those things that my eyes passed over, but my brain never processed. It's amazing what types of obvious things become apparent to you when you slow down for a minute. Beyond blue trees, there's a lot of cues we overlook during a standard day in our life. I've been working on slowing down and taking notice of life, instead of just letting it pass me.
On a lighter note, the NCAA Championship game is on and I don't particularly care who wins. I just can't get into it this year. So, I pulled a total chick move and watched The Voice instead. Adam Levine > UK/KU basketball.
When I woke up this morning, I hoped in vain that the gray skies and cold air were Mother Nature's interpretation of an April Fool's joke. Now that we've surpassed the hour of the evening allotted for a sunset, and I never saw a ray of sun, I suppose I have my answer. Clearly I shouldn't have any grounds for disgruntlement after that glorious, yet aberrant, week of March "summer". Unfortunately, that juxtaposition only makes these consecutive days of cold gloom that much less bearable. I just want to frolic outdoors...without a jacket.
It's also possible that I'm getting antsy without an overarching purpose in my day or life. Perhaps I've mentioned that before. I'm working on it.
green space \04.01\
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Labels:
chicago,
urban outdoors
When I woke up this morning, I hoped in vain that the gray skies and cold air were Mother Nature's interpretation of an April Fool's joke. Now that we've surpassed the hour of the evening allotted for a sunset, and I never saw a ray of sun, I suppose I have my answer. Clearly I shouldn't have any grounds for disgruntlement after that glorious, yet aberrant, week of March "summer". Unfortunately, that juxtaposition only makes these consecutive days of cold gloom that much less bearable. I just want to frolic outdoors...without a jacket.
It's also possible that I'm getting antsy without an overarching purpose in my day or life. Perhaps I've mentioned that before. I'm working on it.