week 8

Someone was watching me while I took this and it was really awkward.

-Alison

This is my boss.

Sincerely,
Matt Smith

Shot lots film this week, it's getting developed right now so I may end up replacing this later in the week. I need to get back to really exploring, I have been looking up abandoned and vacant property around denver lately and will probably start exploring that. I have also been applying for schools this week, it's been exciting and anxiety ridden. But mostly exciting. I also have been reading a lot this week, I  always forget how fun it is to escape into a story.

Ty

This is the beautiful Lauren. 

Danièle

Self portrait in a field of pricker bushes.

Jenn

A video I've been working on for quite some time now. This was shot entirely on the 8mm iPhone app and has taken months to complete.

Joe

Week Five: Night

"Addiction" by Matt Smith

The most congested freeway in the USA is the 405 in Los Angeles. The road seems to always be at a stand still while driving. From the view of an over pass, however, this highway is moving at warpspeed. Skaters are, by nature, adrnaline junkies. I once heard a speech from the pop culture icon Dr. Drew, in which he stated that "extreme" athletes have a much higher chance of developing drug addiction. The desire for danger and risk in this photo proves this statement to me. The image was actually a fluke. The goal was to have my friend stand motionless, but by mistake, he thought I said that the photo was over, thereby liberating him of his rigidity obligations. Even though he was free to do as he pleased, he remained on the ledge, amping on the rush of cars beneath him.




this is my night photo due to the freezing cold weather and my lack of motivation to stand out in it to take my picture. School is killer right now but I am determined to press through and create some better work in the next few weeks. Taking it a day at a time and trying to enjoy this college craziness.

-Chase

When this theme was suggested I knew exactly the kind of photo I'd shoot: Dark, abandoned, desolate. I had the perfect location in mind. It started raining as I headed downstairs to shoot. Although the photos look creepy, I felt so at ease in this park... I spent a part of my childhood living nearby. The sense of familiarity never leaves.

- Danièle

When we decided on the theme night, so many ideas rushed through my head. The one that I really couldn't shake was how much my idea of night has changed over the past year. Almost exactly a year ago I decided to follow my childhood dream and move to California, after about 5 months I developed pretty severe anxiety and began having panic attacks several times a day. After what was probably the most grueling month of my life, I decided it was in my best interest to move home and deal with this. It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made and upon coming home, though my general anxiety weakened I began to panic almost every night at sunset. The beginning of the night terrified me, but I had, and still have no idea why. For months I had to be in a room with no natural light during the golden hour just to avoid the panic, I felt trapped inside of this illogical nightmare of my own mind. I am happily and slowly returning to life as I previously knew it, but I won't ever forget about the little bubble I lived in for so long.

To get this shot, I took the shot you see and overlaid it with a photo of the stars because they looked incredible last night. I also used a fog machine to create the glow.

-Ty

I'm a sucker for long exposures & experimenting so this theme was really fun for me. I went shooting in a huge warehouse on Monday night and it was so nice to just explore in the quiet and dark of the night in this big, old warehouse. For this photo, I used a shot from the warehouse and another from doing long exposures with sparklers. Obviously, there are no sparklers in this photo because I just used the trees.

This week was ridiculously hard. Every night had me in emotional breakdown. I'm just exhausted. So many responsibilities and things to learn. But it was so nice to end the week with my mom coming home, water color painting, developing film and spending a bit of time on learning some new chords. Even though it was a rough week, I am abundantly blessed with so many people that pray for me, love me, encourage me. I made it through this week!

Can't believe next week is week 6...

-Alison

Wow, sorry for this.

The theme for this week was night and I had a really cool photo planned but the weather didn't fully cooperate. Maybe I'll try again in the summer when the nights are warmer and less cloudy. I took this last minute on saturday night before going to an 80's themed roller skate night (which was awesome just in case you were wondering). I don't really like this photo as a whole but I do really like the shadows.

Saturday was the first day all week that I got to sleep in past 8:30am...

Hope you all had a more restful week than mine :)

- Christie

I know I'm posting this a bit late. I took this photo after work last Sunday. Standing under a streetlight in our driveway. Our neighborhood looks so sleepy and homey at night. January in Massachusetts and no snow. I love the nighttime and this photo was a challenge for me because I'm so used to shooting with natural light.

This week was my first full week of classes and I also worked five nights. Still rocking my waitressing uniform in this picture-- black pants, shoes, hair up.
Jenn

Week Four

This is my home wave at its best. I dream of mornings like this. Waking up at 7, grabbing coffee, and seeing this when i get to the beach is my favorite thing ever. This was Sunday morning and i had a sprained wrist. No surfing. Looking at this picture makes me smile at how perfect the wave is and cringe that i wasn't out there. I know, i put the wave in the dead center of the frame which generally is a no no in terms of composition but i really don't care. Its a perfect wave and why should I?

-Matt Smith

-Chase

it's been a really long week. breakfast dates, class, materialism, birthday, surprises, snow storms, remote, worship, serving, weekend services, leading. i turned 19 on friday and it's about time. i'm starting to pick up my guitar again. & i got my remote! so this is my first self-portrait with my remote and i plan on doing a lot more. i guess i just chose this one because of all the bokeh. i love my 50 f/1.4!

till next week...
Alison

This wasn't the photo that I intended to use for this week...
I was still at home in Washington during the first half of the week and we had a huge snowstorm so I took advantage of that and took a selfie in the snow. It didn't turn out how I wanted it to so I decided to reshoot for this week, maybe I'll revisit it later. On tuesday, I flew down to California for my spring semester of university. Classes haven't started yet but I've been super busy catching up with people and getting ready for my sorority's recruitment. All of that on top of the crazy rain we've been getting lately is why you get this less than stellar photo today.

- Christie

I took a lot of pictures this week, not too many of myself though. I returned a christmas present and bought myself some studio lighting. It has been so fun to be able to play with and mess around with lighting in the comfort of my home. I am also getting excited about the rest of my life for some reason this week. This project has really reinvigorated my passion for photography. anyways, i hope everyone has a good week!

-ty

I have not been giving this project the effort it deserves, and I am making a promise to myself to change that. It snowed this week, I worked four nights (as usual), and my semester starts tomorrow. Everything is so transient. Tonight I drove home from the grocery store in thick fog and slushy rain. It was beautiful.

jenn

It rained today.

As much as I like this, I don't really think I'm challenging myself enough or going outside the box with my photographs lately. I want this project to consist a lot of my sister so I can practice, but I think I might try to actually get back into self portraits because those tend to test my abilities more. I don't know, I don't know... But it's 2012 I may as well make some significant effort.

-Joe

Ever get that feeling when you just know that you met somebody for a reason?

- Danièle

Week Three

This picture says a lot about me, primarily because of my hands. My boss once posted a picture of me and titled it Matt "Fingers" Smith. I've been known for having somewhat nervous hands due to previous high levels of anxiety. I find it very interseting that even while shooting photos at the beach (my favorite pastime and location) my fingers still assume an odd position. This photo symbolizes what i feel society demands of me, throw away forms of fun and embrace productivity. I cannot fathom ever giving up skating and surfing. I will always find time for them. One surboard was damaged in the making of this photo.
Sincerly,
Matt "Fingers" Smith

This was taken in the bathroom of one of the buildings at my University. The lighting was coming straight from these big beautiful windows, and I knew I wanted to go there to take this picture as soon as I saw it. I feel like I could have done something more than just a simple portrait but I didn't want to freak anyone out who was coming into the bathroom. haha This first week of school has already brought on a lot of work and stress, so I am hoping to keep up the inspiration despite the lack of time I have to commit to this project.

-Chase

(view on flickr)

The past week has been testing. I'm drained, both physically and emotionally. I've been trying to figure myself out... trying to find what I'm comfortable with and searching for what makes me happy. I realised I have to stop being so close-minded. I have to stop telling other people how to live their lives and actually live my own.

So don't let anything stop you from finding who you are. Find what makes you you, do what you love and do what you enjoy. Life's too short not to dance.

- Danièle

This was mostly a shoot that I did with a model, one of my closest friends from high school, but I wanted to take some selfies too so that I could use it for this project. This week has been rather odd and lonely. Most of my friends have gone back to university so I was stuck at home for an extra week with almost no one to hang out with. It was weird. Luckily, I'll be heading back to uni myself in a few days so I probably won't know what to do with my life because there will be so many people to see :)

- Christie

I've been in my head a lot this week. It was kind of blocking up my creative juices, but driving home today I saw these clouds. The sky is one of my favorite parts about living in Colorado, it is so beautiful everyday. I ran inside grabbed my camera and headed up to the roof. I am so thankful for this project and group, the accountability and camaraderie  it has already provided is incredible, I feel blessed to be a part of it.
Thanks guys!

-Ty

I had a really really hard time deciding what to choose for this week...did a lot of shooting. So...yesterday I got a 50mm f/1.4 and just about died. Early birthday present! It is magnificent. I really wanted to do a self-portrait or portraits of someone this week but instead went for a very long walk in the woods and listen to the frozen [but still flowing] creek for awhile. It was so peaceful. My birthday is on Friday so that should be fun. Hoping to do a self-portrait next week. All of you are wonderful and your work is inspiring.

-Alison

My friend and housemate Alex posed for me today. My photography has been pulling me into the woods more and more lately and I love that. This week has been long, but in a good way. The beginning stages of transformation.  Everything is so transient.

jenn

I'm a procrastinator and I get incredibly lazy too often... I have to get over that or else I'll always post late and settle for night shots. Blah.

Anyway, this is my photo for week three, which was supposed to be last week. I'll have a photo for week four (this week) up tomorrow or tuesday hopefully.

Second semester started this week, I got my final grades back, I started a new class, and I'm basically back into the swing of school again. How great.

-Joe