I don't remember when time seemed so abundant to me as it is today. I'm somewhat of an philosopher without words. What I mean by that is i think and overthink a lot without ever voicing my opinions, thoughts and ideas. Although i don't voice them as much as i should. I do show them through my images. Photography as an art form is more powerful than any words i could ever speak. The recent change in my life has given me even more time to think and reflect. While i was in philosopher mode I fell into a project of some kind. It sort of started as a challenge to myself, the challenge was to photograph just inside my grandparents house. Obviously i am still making photographs around the orchard when I am out there, but for the sake of the challenge any free time I had was spent finding things in the house that I could photograph in a more interesting composition.
I started something like this awhile ago while i was still in Chicago. Nothing came of it, Mainly because i didn't put a lot of effort into it. I also had a lot more activities and commitments through out the day. That's the excuse i gave myself so that i could procrastinate as much as i could. Better late than never i suppose.
Projects like this are interesting to me cause of how they only come to about from the process, at least thats how i see it. You can try to pre-conceptualize it as much as you want but i think it loses its authenticty. there's a time and a place to set a photograph up and actually make a big production out of it. Thats never been something i was very good at and i try know and understand my weaknesses and play to my strengths.
I've only been at this for a day or two and I'm really enjoying doing this challenge. It's definitely giving me a lot of perspective on my feelings and emotions about living in this area. It can be very dull and lonely, but only if you make it to be that way. Although the current set of photographs in this blog does portray a sense of the sloth like pace of life, I keep myself busy as much as possible. I've never really liked the "stay at home life" and i always seek out stuff to do, whether its photographing something new, cooking something i've never cooked before, anything! I very rarely like to stay still.
The benefits of that is i try a lot of things. i've done a lot things. I've rounded myself out so to speak. It also really helps me master my craft as much as i can. if I'm not photographing. I reading something about either art or photography. I also spend a lot of time on youtube watchings some of my favorite artists or photographers on their respective channels. Which i can now hesitantly admit i consume way to much of, but its for beneficial reasons i suppose.
I'm sure something like this has been done before but the beauty of photography is that no one photograph is like the other. Unless you are literally plagiarizing someones work. So for anyone who does read this blog, I'd like you to challenge yourself as well. Now realistically this doesn't have to only apply to photography. You can paint a picture, make a video of something around the house, Write, make a song, cook a meal thats inspired by your own environment. Learn something new about something old.