December 21st, 2006:

I could use a little advice here.

Self Portraits are hard. Daily Self Portraits are even harder. Here’s the dilemma I’m running into.

There just isn’t enough time in most any 24 hour period to think of a personally valid or appropriate idea, determine how to photograph that idea, set up that shot, photograph it, edit it, and post it. So, I have two options.

1) Post less often.

That’s what I’m doing now, by default. As often as I come up with an idea, I’ll photograph it and post it. If that’s once a week instead of once a day, then so be it. This is what I’m doing now, by default.

Posting less often means that I’ll put more attention on creating interesting images, instead of just any old image. IN the past 19 days I’ve posted at least eight self portraits that I consider to be valid, purposeful, and interesting. That’s not too bad. Of course, new ideas are harder and harder to come by with each new day. But, more than likely, this means a good, well planned, well thought image once a week. Maybe more often than that. Quantity will be way down, but the quality will be greater.

2) Post less interesting images.

The focus will be on taking a portrait of myself. Period. Sure, it’ll be well lit, cleanly produced, and photographically valid, but it’ll just be a portrait. If all else fails, it’ll be on a black or white backdrop. If I happen to have a good day, it’ll be an environmental portrait in my house somewhere. If I have a really good day, it might even be an environmental portrait outside of my house. Of course I’d still work on interesting ideas too. I’d give them time to develop, photograph them when I have a bit of extra free time, and give them extra production attention.

Posting less interesting images means there will be a new self portrait nearly every single day. This means that I’ll be forcing myself to work every day and try something every day, even if it’s the same basic something I did the day before. This means quantity. However, posting every day also means that I’ll be less inclined to experiment and develop more interesting ideas.

*So which do you think, overall, is the more interesting result? Which do you think will help me grow more as a person and as a photographer?* Your input is greatly appreciated.

Christmas is near. Very near. Like, 4 days from now.

Every year I get so excited that it’s Christmas again. I start out playing Christmas music WAY before Thanksgiving to the boos and hisses of most of my friends and family. I just really get into the spirit of giving and sharing.

But, inevitably, the closer Christmas comes the more I begin to loathe it. I start thinking about all the people that may have bought me gifts and all the people I should have bought gifts for. I think about how I wish I could do more for so-and-so, or how I wish I could have gotten that perfect whatever for whats-her-name. I think about how I should have sent out Christmas cards this year and how I’ve said that every year since I I graduated high school and yet have never actually ever sent out Christmas cards.

Then, with the gifts that I’ve gotten for others that I do like, I want to give them away right then and there — I don’t want to wait until Christmas. Often, by the time Christmas day comes, anyone I see on a nearly regular basis has gotten their gifts. I don’t know if I’ve ever given Jess a gift on Christmas day. I just break too easily.

By the time Christmas day has arrived I’m just happy that it’s over and hopeful that next year will be easier. This year, however, has been better than before. A few changes made that possible.

First, I decided that it’s okay to give Jess all of her gifts before Christmas Day and that, if I do, that doesn’t mean I have to run out and find something else to give her on the 25th to make up for giving her everything early.

I also decided that, just because someone buys me something doesn’t mean I have to buy them something. I also decided that I’m not going to worry that giving a gift to someone who didn’t get me one might make them feel bad. If I want to give a gift, I will.

And last, but most importantly, I realized that many people already have everything they want that I can afford to give them. There’s no point in stressing out trying to find them something they’ll actually use. Just a simple gift or something handmade to let them know I thought of them along with my companionship should be enough — and it is.

I’ve also decided that I am NOT sending out Christmas cards this year. But I am sending out Happy New Year cards. Some of you are getting them whether you like it or not. Some of you I don’t have an address for, though. So, if you want one, be sure to email me your mailing address.