hiatus

There has been a long hiatus in blogging ... though I have kept the 365project going on Flickr. It has been difficult to see the purpose of the blog. Although Flickr is poor for linking beyond Flickr, it is perfectly ok for the project which is about the photos and linking to other Flickr 365 projects. Unlike food blogging which demands going beyond the restraints of photographic collection (in fact is centred outside), 365 is a purely photographic practice. Yet I should make the effort to look beyond Flickr.

365/73

365/73
Originally uploaded by amc365

I want to get a photo that gives a sense of movement in running. Actually when I set this up, I didnt really have any ideas in mind. Probably should spend more time planning photos.

365/72

365/72
Originally uploaded by amc365

None of my pictures of running have really captured a sense of motion. But then I dont run that fast ;-)

365/71

365/71
Originally uploaded by amc365

W asks in what proportion of the SPs am I smiling. Shows what the expectation is about the portrait.

365/70

365/70
Originally uploaded by amc365

Doing the photos has made me more aware of my clothes being a bit tatty and old!

365/69

365/69
Originally uploaded by amc365

This photograph is quite a good document of my daily life at the moment. But it was taken quite "randomly" (specifically using interval 30 second then selected from about 60 possibles, again "randomly").

365/68

365/68
Originally uploaded by amc365

I wonder what is being done here is the integration of dispersed practices into a new integrative practice or is photography actually still a dispersed practice.

365/67

365/67
Originally uploaded by amc365

Using yet another capture device I had forgotten I had...

365/66

365/66
Originally uploaded by amc365

Running with a camera is awkward, the thing swings about and I have to hold it a lot of the time in one hand. On the other hand, it potentially enhances the running by taking one's mind of the effort and there is potential to take photos of things one sees (obviously).

365/65

365/65
Originally uploaded by amc365

Often seem to take photos at the bus stop, because its a between time and a different place, without the problems of many others around.

365/64

365/64
Originally uploaded by amc365

I had to do some gurning at some point ... better to get it over with in one video!
Posted to the group pool. As its not a photo it may well be chucked out.

365/63

365/63
Originally uploaded by amc365

Spent a bit more time on the photo, trying to get a good photo in the bedroom where the light is good and the backgrounds uncluttered. A bit of editing to put in a bit of light in the face.

365/62

365/62
Originally uploaded by amc365

Perhaps responding to looking at others work, and thinking I have to do the SPs a bit more professionally in style. Not that this succeeds. Posed.

365/61

365/61
Originally uploaded by amc365

One thing about this project, is that its very time consuming to experiment with self-portraits, especially browsing other people's photos for inspiration. Perhaps its partly because I'm a little unclear on the research question...

59,60

The first two months of self-portraits.

56-58

More self portraits...

365/50-55

The latest few images....

I notice that the photos have not become "routine" in any sense.
Sometimes it does serve a purpose of filling time or even prevaracation.

365/49

365/49
Originally uploaded by amc365

The first time I felt moved to copy someone else's work. Not quite sure why this image stuck in my mind.

Definitely the 365 project helps one learn the ins and outs the camera functions.

365/48

365/48
Originally uploaded by amc365

[blogged a day late]

Still struggling to think of what the purpose of my self-portrait really is.

365/47

365/47
Originally uploaded by amc365

This captures an important place of tension in my life: worrying about the bus being late. Sitting there with head swivelled round to see if the bus is coming. Actually, its mostly on time, but it does seem to be something I stress greatly about.

365/46

365/46
Originally uploaded by amc365

It was dark.

365/44

365/44
Originally uploaded by amc365

Another last minute image. A snap!

365/43

365/43
Originally uploaded by amc365

This function of the camera is great, because you can take yourself and context or two details. Difficult to take a good photo of one's legs when running.

365/42a

365/42a
Originally uploaded by amc365

A step further in expanding the scope of my self-portrait project.

365/41

365/41
Originally uploaded by amc365

I am now carrying a camera when running, so I can at least use the timer to capture myself out running. Still somewhat staged.

I wonder if having a photo with comments + a blog is a good structure within which to undertake reflection, because there is a double layer of reflection.

365/40

365/40
Originally uploaded by amc365

I think there is some signs of me escaping the narrower self-portraits, and expanding the context in which I represent myself. But its notable how hard it is: a) its awkward to insert this into the flow of doing things b)its embarrasing and inappropriate to take photos anywhere.

365/39

365/39
Originally uploaded by amc365

Pholo taken on the right day but uploaded a day late ... & blogged 2 days late! Still struggling to work out the role for the blog.

365/38

365/38
Originally uploaded by amc365

I thought I would do a series about rooms... starting with the corridor/hallway. I tried out other ideas that didn't work really. Taking photos is time consuming! I think I am not spending time planning in advance. That could be a key aspect that I haven't thought about.

365/37

365/37
Originally uploaded by amc365

I am learning a lot about photography from this exercise - basic stuff obviously, eg the importance of a background without any extraneous items (unless they are to be a feature). & also learning a lot about what I look like from odd angles. I look old.

365/36

365/36
Originally uploaded by amc365

Reading closely in a way I don't remember doing for a long time. Now on study leave I should be able to spend many more days doing this. Reading and collecting data at the same time should be very productive.

365/35

365/35
Originally uploaded by amc365

As regards the inter-weaving of practices (or activities) is that each has its own rhythm, spatial needs, participants etc so putting them together creates problems as well as new affordances. Photography involves a lot of fiddling with controls, adjusting objects, inspecting results etc. Whereas, for example, cooking and eating is more linear and time sensitive. Combining them creates particular types of problem.
At the moment this "ethnography" is too self focussed and static. If the Internet is now mobile and ubiqutous, virtual ethnography should also be free wheeling, globe trotting.

365/34

365/34
Originally uploaded by amc365

Talking to a colleague from another department, she thought that what distinguished artists was their great documentation of everything. Interesting.

365/33

365/33
Originally uploaded by amc365

A continuing tension between trying to do "artistic" or "expressive" stuff and the documentary intent -at least of the blog. I suppose the photos are mostly attempts (poor attempts) to do something visually interesting. Sometimes the picture gives away some information. Eg here that I look tired and worried. The blog gives some information about the technical aspects of the photo and some random thoughts about the day, in diary form. Still havent worked out what to say in the diary. I could record immediate thoughts (the equivalent of the environment of the photo) or could seriously attempt to reflect on the day's events or plans.

365/32

365/32
Originally uploaded by amc365

I think my time lapse video is a little better, partly because of using a fade transition and careful ordering.

I'm still struggling to think how to use the diary element of the 365 project on Flickr.

365/31

365/31
Originally uploaded by amc365

I am reluctant to edit photos because there was that old fashioned idea of trying to get it right in the camera and also it seems too easy to play with something and make it look startling - but its somehow different from photography. If one is going to edit something, I think one should take the photo with the edit in mind.

365/30

365/30
Originally uploaded by amc365

Photography is interruptive, it takes you out of the current routine to stand back. The food bloggers complained of their food getting cold while they snap away - the way that one wants to lose oneself in the process. I think Sontag sees this removal as wholly bad, but obviously it can be seen as a reflexive move. But when you are out running its a bit of an inconvenience, at least, I expect one could quickly get used to taking a photo each run, so long as the set up is simple.

365/28

365/28
Originally uploaded by amc365

I spent the day travelling to MK and back, even so, the best I could come up with in terms of a sp was a snap in the train. I think this does reflect the strength of inhibition from taking pictures of the self in most contexts + actually the difficulty of setting up anything even a little more sophisticated.

A terrible photo really, with the strip light appearing to stick out of my head, in a distracting way.

365/27

Simply forgot to take a photo ...

365/26

365/26
Originally uploaded by amc365

The first photo that really moves away from pictures of whole body/face/eye, which feel like safe areas.

365/25

365/25
Originally uploaded by amc365

I should comment more on Flickr on the choice of photo. The filtering through of a number of shots is a key part of the activity. I think being able to choose from a number of fairly random shots and edit out mistakes, is substituting for actual skill or knowledge of how to achieve an effect. Also substituting for the need to imagine an effect then try and achieve it. So there is a possibility to let things (meaning) just emerge from a fairly uncontrolled combination of subject/camera/lighting conditions.

365/24

365/24
Originally uploaded by amc365

An interesting article in the Metro today about teachers' careers being threatened by photos they post on facebook. This probably wouldn't apply the a university teacher, but it did make me stop and think - both about the unconscious, unacknowledged limits on what I would post here - as well as the conscious ones.

This theme links to the issues around what one photos in public. There are strong conventions. I've always felt inhibited about what I photo, barriers seem to have fallen, but not very much. So there are strong conventions around what you are allowed to photograph.

365/23

365/23
Originally uploaded by amc365

Another random snap. Finally a part of the body, though the face.

I like the idea of assembling this with some other snaps of the face into a collage.

It would make a lot of difference to use the camera with the screen that revolves through 180 degrees but I find the compact camera so much more convenient. The photos always look better, I wonder if the camera is optimised for taking pictures of people?

365/22.2

365/22.2
Originally uploaded by amc365

I have all along found it difficult to separate out what should be the flickr description and what is the blog. I think I defined the purpose of the blog as to reflect on the project. Perhaps that is why its harder because it is a meta commentary.

I suppose at the moment I feel quite a lot of doubt about whether the project makes sense: the informational aspects of the 365 project seem very obscure. In particular, I return to the pressing question of trying to define what information means.

365/20

365/20
Originally uploaded by amc365

I think I still consider a self-portrait to be of my face - not including the rest of my body or even just part of my body.