He Who Keeps Me Company – 54/365, BlackBerry Shots, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, February 2010, photo © 2010 by QuoinMonkey. All rights
reserved.
It’s March 1st, 2010. Sixty days and nights have passed since I began the BlackBerry 365 Project. Day 54 landed on this shot of Mr. Stripeypants keeping me company on a less than perfect day. I was reading Mary Karr’s memoir, Lit. He was taking a nap beside me, simply being himself. I felt like I really saw him.
At first glance, it doesn’t seem like a big commitment — taking a new photo each day and posting it in a public forum. I had been exploring taking photographs with the BlackBerry since last October. It was so much fun, I decided to turn it into a practice. That’s when the work began.
Pushing through days when I am under the weather, low energy, or uninspired are the hardest. But once I get the shot posted, I feel like I’ve accomplished a great deal. I know from past practices of writing, mandalas, and haiku, that yearly dedication to a craft can take you a long way. It can also drive you crazy! I thought I’d check in at the 60 day mark and let you know how things are progressing. Here’s what I’ve learned so far from the BlackBerry 365 Project:
- As soon as I make something a practice, resistance kicks in. It’s all Monkey Mind. The trick is to not think too much, to simply keep going. Don’t force the shot, let the image appear.
- Using the camera phone takes the pressure off to snap the perfect photo. It fits in the palm of my hand. I can have fun with it, photograph and post images I might not let myself publish with my Canon.
- Themes appear and reappear in the photographs, just like in my writing. I keep coming back to what I love and have passion about.
- Knowing I have to post a photo at the end of the day changes the way I look at the world. I am awake to all the possibilities. Everything I see is an opportunity.
- Taking BlackBerry photos reminds me of the old days of 60-second Polaroids. I take snapshots of my day, glean ideas for new projects, visit places I want to go back and shoot with the Canon.
There are many photographers and artists who have embarked on yearly projects of daily images. And writers who have daily practices that keep them going through the lean times. I’d love to hear insights from others who are willing to share their experiences. And I’ll check in again along the way.
Going forward, I’ve decided not to post daily images in the red Ravine comments. But I’ll continue to check in on the original post once or twice a month. If you’d like to continue to follow the yearly practice, I’ll still be posting each day in my BlackBerry 365 set on Flickr. And in the Twitter widget on our sidebar. Just click on BlackBerry 365 to take you to Flickr.
-posted on red Ravine, Day 60, Monday, March 1st, 2010
Really nice shot of Mr. S.P. His paw and nose look soft and huggable.
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I love this shot, too. Seeing it in the full size–it would make a great photo-card. It says so much about love and care and affection.
QM, congratulations on reaching the two-month mark. I can attest to how hard a daily practice is. I started the new year with the intention of doing a doodle-a-day, but I gave it up while in Vietnam in mid-January. It got to be too hard, and I realized it was taking away from my time to do just normal ol’ doodles (versus the quick one-a-day ones).
I know of a blogging friend (Leslie) who is doing a drawing a day. I see her pieces on Facebook, and I’m in awe of the fact that she makes the time.
All the reasons that you lay out for doing the practice–they make sense. Sounds like it continues to be fun, and although there is the pressure of a daily shot, it’s balanced with the low pressure of having that shot come from the Blackberry versus the Canon.
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QM, trying to do something everyday (other than eating of course) can be daunting…even if it’s something you love. Kinda makes the fun stuff feel like “a job” or worse, working math equations. Yikes!
Some things (like creating) can only come from that special place in your brain (when the inspiration button is on) and you’re in the groove and your happy and healthy. I like to keep it simple so I don’t have to look over my shoulder before I ask myself “I did that?” eeeewwww!!!!. Bottom line is, when you don’t feel good, or there’s stuff buggin your brain, all that creative stuff gets stuffed up like bad sinus’s.
Girl, you be creative on your own terms, in your own time. I plain love to see whatever you come up with, whenever it flows from your brain. If it doesn’t come, eat something.
PS. That is one damn good lookin cat… and being at cat, you can bet he knows! (Don’t tell him I said so) 😉 H
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Sinclair, thank you. I let Mr. Stripeypants know. He’s surprisingly humble. 8)
yb, thanks. It’s fun and work at the same time. But, so far, mostly fun. I’ve already given myself permission to skip a day if I need to or just not post if I have to. In that sense, I feel free. Something else I notice as I look back over the photos, they are pretty ordinary. My day to day life. As opposed to having to be clever or artsy or take the perfect photograph. Without that, it sure would be hard to continue.
I remember a book by a Minnesota photographer (I apologize but the name is escaping me as I’m commenting here) where he took a photo a day — one single photo, for 90 days. He would walk the woods by his home in Northern Minnesota, looking for that perfect shot. And take that shot and that shot only that day. That feels like real pressure to me. He ended up publishing a book of magnificent shots. I don’t know if I have a practice like that in me. But I sure was in awe of his work.
Oh, I just remembered his name — Jim Brandenburg. I just looked him up after his name came to me. You can listen on NPR.
Chased By The Light by Jim Brandenburg (LINK) — a photographer who decided to shoot only one photograph a day for the 90 days between autumnal equinox and winter solstice. He published the results in a book called, Chased By The Light.
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Heather, thanks for your wise words and your belief in me. It means a lot. I know what you mean about getting all stuffed up. I’ll remember your words if this practice falls away or gets to be just too much. I get to let it go if I need to. Oh, and that Mr. Stripeypants, he’s the most relaxed and lovable cat I’ve ever met. He’s got all the good traits of a dog while still holding the joy of being a cat. He’s 12 years old, too, and you’d never know it from the way he acts. In this shot, I especially like the texture of the fur on his stomach. There is something about that juxtaposed with his long arm and paw that hold the moment. I appreciate your comment. Thank you!
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QM: Beautiful photo and I am so enjoying following your 365 practice. It is an everyday mindfulness practice. You have to slow down enough to really look and see the shot for the day.
It reminds me of Clark Strands suggestion to take a haiku walk, not thinking of the haiku, but just looking. Mary Oliver also takes a lot of walks in the woods, or just sitting by a pond or in a field, waiting for a poem. Thanks for sharing your practice.
I look forward to checking out the Brandenburg link, too.
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I’m impressed by the dedication of a daily practice of any kind. The picture you got with your phone is wonderful. Love the sweet kitty.
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I like that you have given yourself permission not to do a photo everyday because I think that would free you from the pressure of “I HAVE TO TAKE A PHOTO” and allows you to take daily photos because it is something you like to do. Amazing photos so far.
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I am so enjoying your photos.
This is a particularly lovely one. Makes me want to reach through the screen and pat that sweet tummy.
I’ve been having cat dreams a lot lately. (don’t tell my dogs). If I wasn’t allergic to them, I think I’d have at least two.
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Or is it his tail that’s creating all that delicious fuzziness under his paw?
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breathepeace, thank you. I really appreciate those who are following the photo practice. It gives me encouragement and, well, it’s just nice to know my friends are following. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you are right — it is a mindfulness practice. Waiting for a photo to appear. Or maybe watching for that moment. Thanks again!
J, thank you! Mr. Stripeypants is a one of a kind cat. Never met one like him. He’s so relaxed around humans. Cats are not usually like that. They are cautious with the humanoids.
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Bob, thanks for the support. Some days the practice is fun, some days I dread it. But mostly it keeps me connected to my art in a tangible, day-to-day kind of way.
Jude, what kind of cat dreams? That sounds like a story waiting to be written. Sir Pantsalot has the softest stomach. I was talking to Liz this morning when we were lounging around before we got up. The cats were visiting and we were talking about the difference between the fur of Pants and Kiev. Kiev’s is fine and soft. Pants is soft in a different way. It’s hard to explain degrees of softness in words!
BTW, that’s Mr. Stripeypants’ stomach in most of the photo to the right of his paw and it’s his tail to the left of his paw in the bottom left corner of the shot. It’s amazing how different the textures of the fur are on his tail, stomach, and body. Thanks for asking and commenting! Much appreciated.
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I sometimes worry that I am being too ambitious with my daily project (week daily, actually), but so far so good. Mr. Stripeypants brought me a smile… it’s a nickname that would suit birdbee!
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