Bathroom Sink

JAN 1st @ 5:20pm - Kodak Color Film, ISO 200, Shutter Speed: 2 minutes

Already off to a rough start, but sometimes a rocky beginning can pave the way for an exciting adventure...

There was a minor snafu with advancing the film! I managed to get away with only 12 usable shots, but now I get to post some pictures a lot sooner than I was expecting. Also, I got to see what I was doing wrong which allows me to compensate for my mistakes during the next roll. Silver lining!

I was brushing my teeth and as I lean down to rinse, I noticed how the light and water were bouncing off of the chrome sink drain (Yes, I know...it was a total Sam Mendes plastic-bag-caught-in-a-draft moment). Since the pinhole camera requires slow shutter speeds, especially with indoor lighting, I thought it would be perfect to try and use it to capture the image that captured me. The moving water alone would create a cool effect! While I'm setting up for the shot, I realize how challenging it's going to be and I curse myself for a brief moment for not choosing a landscape scene in broad daylight. In an attempt to prevent as much 'camera shake' as possible I hunker down over the side of the sink with my arm braced against the wall, every possible muscle constricted and still - human tripod! It's amazing how long 2 minutes actually is. It was terribly agonizing to sit still for that long, and I was actually on the verge of a cramp by the end of it.

The picture didn't turn out exactly as I had anticipated, but I love how the drops of water created streaks of light as they ricocheted all over the place!

Lessons: Use a tripod, don't be afraid of over exposing, & things are actually further away than they look through the view finder...

So, This is the New Year

INSPIRATION: A divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.

Only a few hours remain before we make way for the new year. Instead of looking back I find myself hurtling forward, enlivened by the possibilities that lie ahead. I'm turning 30 in 2010 and I'm actually pretty excited. I'm using my 3rd decade in this world as a launching pad for the things that will most likely shape the rest of my life. Waiting for that divine influence to tap me on the shoulder has become banal. Sometimes, you have to seek out inspiration to create something thoughtful and beautiful.

This Pinhole Camera Project is one of my many steps towards a more productive existence. I plan on taking one photo per day with this nifty little gadget. It's going to take a lot of discipline and commitment, which frankly, I've been lacking. I foresee the first roll of film being a bit rough since I've never used one of these things, but even if I end up with a black blob it's the creative process that matters most. And hopefully with a bit of practice and experimentation, I can put together a set of images that reveal the beauty in the mundane. My goal is to capture a moment, no matter how commonplace, and transform it into something provocative and worthy of a closer look.

Here goes...