Archive for July, 2009
My Final Picture of the Day #365 “Chai Cupcakes!”
I DID IT!! 365 Pictures… 365 Days.
One year ago, I realized that I wasn’t taking as many pictures as I should, and I needed something to motivate me to get out and shoot. On the way home from work, I decided that I would start posting a picture each night. I have somehow managed to keep it up and not miss a SINGLE day.
For my final Picture of the Day, I wanted to give all of you a treat! I already planned to do a shoot for a product demo I am doing this weekend at our photo clubs annual photo show. I was just going to put some fruit in a bowl, but I figured that it was too cliché not to mention boring. My lovely pregnant wife loves to bake and has been talking about taking some Culinary Arts classes and possibly opening a bakery one day. I gave her a project: Yummy & Pretty Cupcakes: decorated with blue white and brown fondant. Even though she had NEVER used fondant before, she went for it and here is the result. The cupcakes are Chai with marshmallow fondant decoration, and everything is made from scratch. (Oh and they are DELICIOUS!!!)
Thanks to EVERYONE who has come back each day to view my pictures. I consider my PotD project a total success as I have taken over 26,000 pictures in the last year. When I first started the project, I averaged about 15-20 views on my Flickr stream each day. Now I average about 300 to 400 and sometimes I get more than 700 views. If I had the time, I would definitely continue with my PotD, but the next year will be particularly busy, so I will be taking an indefinite hiatus from posting a picture every day. We are planning on moving into a new house (hopefully with a studio) and also are expecting another baby. This doesn’t mean I will stop taking pictures. After a short break, I will start a less time intensive project of posting a Picture of the Week. While my PotD project was designed to motivate me to take MORE pictures, my Picture of the Week project will be more geared toward quality and exploring new techniques. Also I have not ruled out the possibility of starting the PotD project back up again if the time comes available.
I hope that you all will keep coming back to see some of the new projects that I will be working on in the near future. Also if anyone is interested, I will be designing a photobook that will include all of the pictures I have posted for my PotD project which you will be able to buy a copy of . I will also be setting up a gallery where you can purchase prints of my favorite Pictures of the Day. All of the proceeds will go to help me buy more photo gear so I can continue taking more and better pictures! Leave a comment and let me know if you are interested. I am also for hire if you need a photographer and like my style.
Thanks again and I hope that you enjoyed my daily picture over the past year.
PotD #364 “A Little Snail I Found”
I saw this little guy on the front porch tonight when I was getting the leftovers from dinner tonight out of Jessi’s car. I tried to get a good shot outside, but the heat and the mosquitos convinced me otherwise. I put him on a rock and brought him to my desk where I have a bit more light. He made a few laps around my desk before I had the picture I needed. I released him back outside to enjoy the tropical heat.
PotD #363 “Finger Painting with my Girl”
Tonight after dinner, Aubrey and I were finger painting. This is a shot of the one that she made. She loves art, and I am going to keep encouraging it as much as possible. I once heard someone say that it isn’t when you started becoming an artist, its when you stopped being an artist. Kids tend to see the world in their own unique way and they always seem to have that art educated out of them. I will not let that happen to Aubrey.
PotD #362 “More Fireworks”
Even though I didn’t get too many shots, I got a couple decent ones. I really like the colors in this shot.
PotD #361 “Sertoma 4th of July Fireworks”
We went downtown to see the Independence Day firework show. It was a very eventful night. Aubrey got sick and had an accident all over Jessi, so I only got to shoot for about 5 mins before packing everything up and heading back to the car. Traffic was horrible, took 45 mins to drive 1/4 mile. Jessi and Aubrey had to change into some of my clothes. And yet Aubrey was still saying that the fireworks were really fun and she had a good time. It amazes me how Aubrey always finds the positive in the midst of bad things. She sure is something special.
PotD #360 “The Downtown Champions First Show”
Here is my good buddy John of The Downtown Champions, playing their first gig at Sluggos tonight. It was hot. I mean REALLY hot. I was dripping with sweat, I am surprised that I didn’t short out my camera with all of sweat that was on it!
PotD #359 “Heart Cake for the Wife”
Yesterday was a bad day for Jessi. Aubrey has been really pushing her limits lately and yesterday was one of her worst. Jessi, being pregnant and all, had a craving for a cake. So I did the good husband thing and made her a cake. I even went a little “Ace of Cakes” on it. I gave it to her while she was folding laundry. I think I did a pretty good job.
PotD #358 “Dead Flowers”
Aubrey got these flowers 3 1/2 weeks ago at her dance recital. They lasted for quite a while but they are no longer “pretty”. I love taking pics of dead flowers like this, expensive and beautiful, but only for a moment in time. Then they wither away and get thrown out.
