Just been trying to make at least one photo a day considering I stare at a computer nearly 10 hours a day. So I've been using my phone to capture aspects of creative freedom. The phone is limiting but it is also great being forced to make the best of the situation. Don't know why, but the square crop has really been a new way of thinking. Shooting and editing so much 16x9 video, it takes a minute to compose in a different aspect. Besides, it's fun.
Trying to get all of the content done for my thesis project. It's close, then I have to start building the portal. It may just wear me out. T-minus three weeks and counting....
Been playing with several different camera applications for my phone lately. It's been funny to see all the different digital apps trying to emulate traditional film processes. There are a few that get close, but as we all know it rarely gets close to the original ways of visual making. That all being said, the three apps that I've found the most fun on my Moto Droid are Vignette, FxCamera and PicSay Pro. There's advantages and disadvantages to them all, but in the end it's all about having some fun. Besides, lately my phone as been the only still camera I've been using. And it might be that way for another month or so as the thesis project and new classes combine with the rest of life's busy schedule.
In my hunting for storylines for my thesis project I found this small shop in Breckenridge after roaming around for a few days. Pup and his circle of ski bums from the late 1970s and early 80s figured out a way to find work and ski as many days as possible every season all while trying not to get posted on the police blotter having as much fun as they can. I wish the richness of these characters was more evident in the video, but every time I pulled out the mic, the vibe wasn't as strong. I also did not get nearly enough photos. This was nearly a daily assignment approach. Go in and collect content for a few hours and produce it. Would have been much better had I had the opportunity to go back a few more times. But those are all typical excuses, and we all know about excuses.
The topic of skiing lifestyle for the thesis project has ultimately, been temporarily been abandoned in favor of another unique and rather fun sport lifestyle. I was struggling to find stories of interest and themes for the piece and burning up precious time. I still have to learn to build the interface and interactive aspect of the project, all while producing the content for the portal. With time passing me by faster than Pup skis the Horseshoe Bowl, I had to make a pivot. The new project will fundamentally be the same in my argument that a true interwoven multiple-media piece is better storytelling than the siloed approach of most traditional media portals. The topic of lifestyles is about the only change, other than collaborating with another photographer, with an excellent personal visio, who has lots of ground work already done to get everything going. It will be pretty fun and hopefully really good when the time comes for the launch sometime in late April. Until then, enjoy Pup and his crew.
