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<editorsnote> Hi, I'm Jen Friel, and we here at TNTML examine the lives of nerds outside of the basements and into the social media, and dating world.  We have over 75 peeps that write about their life in real time. (Real nerds, real time, real deal.) Sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the stories!! </editorsnote>

 

 

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Entries in photography (6)

Tuesday
Nov292011

#NerdsUnite: Confessions of a ginger

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Layne. I forget how we first started talking ... I think it was on twitter, and then we totes became besties on Facebook, and then we started reading each other's blogs and like commenting and like and like and like ... this chick is RAD annndd she's a ginger. No, seriously. Welcome to the world of Layne and the thoughts that are inside of her head. HIT IT GIRL! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Layne Tanley

One of the goals I recently set for myself was to spend more quality time with my camera, just feeling my way back through the daily habit of recording my world. Recording means I generally take images of things as they are, rather than manipulating a scene or subject to fit in with my own desires. Not that there's anything wrong with that, there are different ways that artists express themselves through photography. Generally, I tend to stay in the "observe and record" mode.

On Tumblr, I stumbled across a "30-Day Photography Challenge" that one of the people I was following was participating in for the month of September.  The challenge also has a Flickr group, so once I decided to take up this challenge, I joined the group on Flickr as well. I started out strong, but at that particular time I was working for a start-up and I ended up getting distracted (majorly) by all of the things I "needed" to do or "had" to do and forgot a lot of what I "wanted" to do, too.
 
Well, I lost that job in early October, through no fault of my own, just a simple funding issue that led to my being let go, since as the lowest hanging fruit, I was the most expendable. It was a bummer, but I knew I had an opportunity to really dive into some soul-searching and figure out exactly what the hell I was doing with my life. When I look back at the girl I was graduating High School (an eternity11 years ago), I have to laugh at her. Not in a condescending way, though the gods know I can beat that dead horse, but in a way of "Oh... you're so naive. You have no clue what's ahead of you as an Artist. None. But don't you DARE give up." As a nerd then (and now), the one thing I did not lack were social skills. This is one thing about me that anyone who knows me will tell you: I will talk to anyone. Strangers, pets, children, inanimate objects, etc.

So, during my freshman year at college, I joined the photography club, known as Photo Society. Being a photography major actually introduced me to many amazing people, and I am still very close to two in particular, so when I started out in college, photography was often a social experience as well as a private one. When I saw the opportunity to challenge myself daily, through social media, I jumped at it. After becoming FUNemployed, I decided to pick the challenge back up for November.

Immediately, I saw a difference in my work. My interest in the project and my connection to the moment of creation was much more intense this go-round than the first. Part of me wondered if it was due to the fact that I had more freedom to pursue the things that I wanted. Was it that I could focus all of my creative energy into one medium? One thing Jen has said before and I'll say it again for her: Timing is everything.

It dawned on me that I had changed so much as an artist in the last 11 years, it's astounding. I've been taking pictures for 18 years, since I got my first camera at 11-years-old. There is something different inside of me, now. Experience. Life. Mistakes and choices made. Ups and downs and inside-outs. I haven't done truly serious or significant (to me) work in a long time. While that may sound like I am complaining, I am not. I'm coming to grips with how my voice has changed, and what I really want out of this practice.

So, in taking the time, every day, to explore a subject and put my time (money) where my mouth is, I've re-kindled the flame. I have started creating lists and inspiration logs in Evernote with ideas and tiny moments in my head where I can see an image I want to create. I'm no longer passive in my art, but active. That is a HUGE deal for me. I haven't felt like this in years.

Each day I complete a subject, I post it on Tumblr. I also post it on my blog and upload it to my photostream on Flickr. Through the Flickr group, I am getting feedback from other people participating in the challenge, and can do the same for them. I also get some feedback through my blog and Tumblr, and some of my contacts also help keep me accountable for completing the challenge. If they see I haven't posted a subject in a couple of days, they're there to encourage me and keep me honest.

Now, I'm looking forward to spending that time with my camera each day, enjoying the buzz I get from the snap of the shutter. I'm extremely thankful that via social media, I got some of my joy and pleasure back with regard to photography. It started with a goal, but the execution is what has really lead to discovering something new about myself.

What have you discovered today?

Saturday
Jan082011

#ProjectThreeSixFive: Day 8

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

Today's #ProjectThreeSixFive is the awesome Tycho (this dog is totally named after Tycho Brahe, my favorite astronomer).  I did a photo shoot of an adorable little baby today, and Tycho is the resident tough guy - and I love love love love him.  How could you not love this guy?

Take a peek at some of my other work on my site or on my blog.  Or tweet me up! @JenSquard

Wednesday
Jan052011

#ProjectThreeSixFive: Day Five

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

This is Anika's "popcorn".  It's a pinecone that she made into a bird feeder by smearing peanut butter all over it and sprinkling on some bird seed.  It's been picked clean by now, but she loves her popcorn, so it will continue to hang in the back yard.  It look pretty under all that snow, though! 

There you have it folks, the frickin cold of Colorado actually turns out pretty in the camera.  Not so much in real life, not a fan.  I can barely type right now because my fingers are freezing their bunskies off.  Yikes.  I hope you are having a warm night!

Hit me up on Twitter, I would love to hear your feedback! @JenSquard

Sunday
Jan022011

#ProjectThreeSixFive: Day Two

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

Day two of Project ThreeSixFive is done and done! 

So today was a pretty good Sunday.  I folded laundry.  That's pretty much it.  The hubbard and I have a deal - he washes, I fold, and we both put it away.  He's been keeping up on his end of the bargain and I soooo totally have not.  Our poor loveseat hasn't been seen for three weeks.  It just kept getting more and more clothes piled up on there, and with five of us it gets pretty wild pretty quick.  The pile was literally as tall as me.  It only took me three hours to fold it all.  I spent the time watching Scott Pilgrim vs The World, which is hands down one of the best movies ever made.  New favorite for sure.  And now I'm off to dinner with a friend and our daughters.  Good good and good.

Bored? Hit me up on Twitter! @JenSquard

Saturday
Jan012011

#ProjectThreeSixFive: Day One

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

This year I am going to try to take on a 365 photo project, meaning I am going to attempt to take at least one photo every day, and post it to my photo blog.  But seeing as how Talk Nerdy To Me, Lover has made me a more accountable person in general, I'll share it here, too.  Here is Day One:

My actual photoblog: blog.jenswedhinphotography.com

And my Twitterific self is: @JenSquard