Week 6

Motivation and 5 ways to get closer in 15 minutes.

It's that thing that keeps up going, it's the fire that burns under our feet and pushes us forward. For some of it's it's easy to find, it's as simple as the first two-seconds of a solid rock song or it's that five minute conversation with a stranger that makes the world a brighter place and turns the daunting future into something tamer.

But for everyone, there are moments where motivation is just out of reach. Motivation to finish that assignment, to do that thing your mom asked you to do, to clean your kitchen, to write that short story, to get ahead in that class, to use that calendar you started keeping three months ago and they completely forgot about. We all feel the drudge of lacking motivation at one time or another especially when dealing with our own hobbies.

I can't really speak for the plane enthusiast or the cheese afficianados out there in the world but I can speak for the artists who are waiting for that sign to come up. The sign that says “yes, today is the day you create that masterpiece you think about in that stupid history class. Today is that day and tomorrow is the day you revel in having finished that thing today.”

Well, today probably isn't the day you do that and if you're waiting around for that bolt of motivation and inspiration to strike you blind you'll die before you ever have the chance to make it live. However, this is the sign that you should be doing something else.

In fact, here are five things that you could be photographing in the next fifteen minutes. (I'm not holding you to anything though because I don't know where you live and I also don't know what your weather is like and I don't want to make you do something dangerous).

1. Look at that window. There is definitely a tree out there and it definitely has branches and maybe some leaves. Either way, that's a damn unique tree and it would make for some good practice with editing. In fact there's a stranger just standing by it. Maybe that stranger will let me photograph them.
2. If you're still looking at that window, look at the way the light is falling in. Isn't it interesting the way it casts shadows? Now you should wonder what happens if you put a glass in the middle of it? What about some water in that glass? What if you dropped food coloring in that glass and tried to get pictures of it?
3. Walk down a street you haven't walked down in a long time. Photograph everything. Maybe you like two pictures and maybe you don't like any but at least you're trying.
4. You're the kind of person that probably has a houseplant. Take pictures of your houseplant because it's not going to be around forever. In fact, take 200 photos of that houseplant and make every single one a little different than the last. Create a photo album that will reassure people your only friends photosynthesize.
5. Set down your camera and look at what others are creating. Poke around on Flickr, on Tumblr, anywhere really. Immerse yourself in the creations of others and somewhere in it you'll find motivation to add to the piles of self-expression.

I'm just gonna share some of my photos from this week that inspired the post. Just went out and took some portraits of my friend Giuliana in the fading glow of fall just outside of my apartment building.

Navigating Photo Editing Apps and Software

If you're a causal editor of photos there are several free resources available from the uncomplicated to the nearly-as-complex-as-photoshop-but-still-free options. And, in 2014, editing apps range in the thousands for casual users and professionals alike.

The list begins with the renowned Instagram and on any given day it probably ends with some panorama making app that you haven't heard of and probably won't (at least not for a while). It's a tough and expansive field to navigate as phone photography is on the rise right along with camera tech and social media all which make finding the perfect app nearly impossible.

But, there are two simple things to consider when app shopping:

1. What are you editing? Pictures from your phone? RAW files your DSLR? Maybe photocopies from the office scanner?
2. And on what device are you editing? Your hone? A tablet? A desktop computer?

These are important to consider before you pick an editing tool because there are advantages and disadvantages to each. But don't be afraid of editing photos. Here's the difference one minutes and a curve set make:

I can't cover everything in a single blog post but  can redirect you to a handful of lists that I always refer to. I'm also a pretty limited user because I rarely edit photos away from my laptop, I don't own a tablet, and I almost never use my phone for photography but I'm hoping to use next weeks post to change that or see if it can be changed.

Here is a list of 15, this one for photographers, and this one from the Creative Bloq.

For now, here are the top three editing apps I use and a little why

• PicMonkey - Similiar to what Picnik was in 2010, this is still what I prefer for quick editing. It has a convenient uploader. It has some filters but it still maintains itself as the powerful editing tool it was back in 2010 when it was still called Picnik and when everyone used the “Cowboy” font on their facebook profile pictures.
• Instagram – I like instagram a lot for digital photography because it's quick, easy, and social. Filters can be applied without a second thought, they can be adjusted, and the photo can be posted, tagged, and shared all within the span of minutes. It made phone photography into what it is today and it continues to enhance and expand alongside it.
• GIMP – This GNU Manipulation program is what ever causal photographer who won't invest in photoshop needs. It's Open Source Software, it's consistently updated and the open licenses is constantly being refined and improved for maximum efficiency. It allows the editor to work with layers and masks and it grants pretty full control of a photo and I use it daily and have been for well over five years now and I don't have any real complaints, as a casual photographer, about the program. 

Don't let feel intimidated by photo editing because with a few minutes of research you'll find an app that applies to every level of skill beginning at zero and continuing well into the professional level.

Week 4

Ten Tips for Adventure

Feeling a little desperate for something different and fall-esque I decided to take a brief jaunt around central Iowa and do a little exploring. I had a place in mind that I found in the paper a few weeks ago in an article recommending peaceful nature parks in the area.

Now, when an article talks about a place in Iowa being "peaceful" and "remote" this is best translated into "you are never going to find it" and "I hope your two-wheel drive vehicle isn't afraid of several miles of gravel and some vertical roads" because that was my first experience with Ackworth, Iowa on that bright, Wednesday afternoon.

Basically the terrain I was driving around for a solid two hours to find this place.

Here's the online version of the article which actually has valuable information compared to the blurbs I read in the morning paper a few weeks ago. Always check both sources, kids. 

Anyway, I'm going to take this opportunity to offer ten tips about adventuring alone in the wilderness alone.

1. Have your phone fully charged.
Please have your phone fully charged. And if you plan on being somewhere remote with less than adequate reception, turn it on airplane mode and conserve your battery. (It also doesn't hurt to make sure that your GPS is on because "Find my iPhone" saved this woman's life a few days ago.)

2. Don't listen to music, listen to the nature.
You'll get more out of the experience and you'll be hyper aware of your surroundings.

3. Walking into a spider web on the trail is a good thing.
Spiders usually spin their webs in the morning and you're in a state park and having run-ins with them, it's a pretty good indicator that no one has been that way for a while. Proceed with caution but also with a little ease because you shouldn't run into anyone.

4. If it's your first time in an area, don't stray too far from the path.
Not only is it technically illegal but it can be dangerous. Trails usually avoid impossible terrain; it's just a thing. (Seriously, do not stand on the edge of the cliff especially if you are alone. This is also misleading,a s there are no cliffs in Iowa but still.)

5. If you don't know what poison ivy looks like, don't risk finding out the hard way. 
Same goes for anything that might be poisonous so don't eat berries, taste leaves, try mushrooms, or lick the moss on the north side of that really big tree. You won't even get a good story out of that, just a lot of shame and regret.

6. Bring pepper spray.
In a pinch, it will slow down most malicious mammals. (Effectivity on the supernatural and mythological beings is still unknown.)

7. Be aware of the land you're on.
I can now say, from personal experience, that standing on an Indian burial ground does feel very unlike standing in most other places.

8. Travel lightly but do bring a change of clothes or two. 

You never know what inspiration might dare you try and you don't want to sit in the car covered in dry much or creek water because it is exactly as uncomfortable as it sounds. (I always bring a flowy skirt because if you're in forest there is never an inappropriate time to bring one out.)

9. Shoot during midday. 

It isn't ideal, stylistically, but if you're alone and in a location that you're new to, it's the best decision you can make. Nothing sucks more than realizing it's getting dark and you have no idea how to get back. (Also another good reason to conserve your battery and make use of GPS.)

10. Lastly, do not trespass. 

The law is complicated but it's also finite so just avoid dealing with it and only shoot on public property. If you're not sure whether it is or isn't public property then ask someone or find somewhere else. (Here's a little briefing on laws around photography in the U.S.)

Here's that skirt, I actually picked it up from Goodwill earlier that day because I thought it would fit well.

These are my tips for solo adventuring through the wilderness but, honestly, the best way is to take all of these to heart as well and adventure with a friend. You'll save your parents a heart attack as well as some of your  own sanity because no one actually wants to be headline.

Click through for this week's Flickr photo.

Week 3

Wake up.

First I took that morning, ignore how rigid I am, it was a cold morning and it took a little warming up to. (By warming up I meant lying in smoldering ashes because the owners of the property had burned brush the night before. Also don't do that. Please don't actually do that.)

I said this blog was gonna be about tips and tricks and this is my tip for the week. It's fall in the Midwest (I'm sure it's Fall in other places too with the advent of the pumpkin spice latte but I haven't been anywhere so I can't verify) but, anyway, that means changing colors and fog with the sunrise.

Natural fog isn't something that comes easily. You have to wait for it happen, you have to know where it's gonna be, and you have to wake up to find it. Maybe you set an alarm for four in the morning, maybe six or seven. Either way, challenge yourself to take advantage of that.

You won't be disappointed in your efforts.

In fact, you'll be exhilarated by them.

 

This was taken a few years ago early in the morning and I like to think it summarizes my feelings towards morning shooting and fog.

There is never anything quite like being the only soul awake to take in the biting breath of morning and watch the sunrise fill the field, the sleeping city, or any other view you've found. Honestly, my favorite times are the ones where everyone else is asleep because the beauty is so rare and exacerbated by that rarity. I mean just go for a drive after midnight or a walk at 6 a.m. in July.

I know I said I was trying to stray from self portraits but I couldn't get my little brother to wake up at six on a weekend and much less wake up at 6 on a weekend and stand around in a skirt (don't think I didn't try).

Make sure to check the weather the night before and look out for a fog advisory. Also, I'm not a meteorologist but fog usually rolls into fields, forests, or areas with a higher level of moisture (dew). So make sure to plan for that.

Anyway, wake up and be rewarded with the crispness of morning photos but if you're looking to catch fog (early mornings will be the best time) and you don't find any there are plenty of alternatives. Check out smoke bombs, fog machines, and even flour (done correctly) can capture the effect you're looking for.

And just letting yourself to create in the early hours the morning, when the day hasn't settled in, will actually help you connect with the camera, the landscape, and your subject whether it be yourself, the world, or someone else.

And feel free to ask me anything:

allison@trebacz.com

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Notes on a Return

I did say that I was actively going to try not to take self-portraits throughout this project. However, this week I think circumstances allow.

This weekend I came home to Illinois for the first time since the summer because my family is moving across the country to Arizona. The house is for sale and this is very likely the last time I'll be here as "home" because soon it will just be the "hometown" I visit when I can, not because it's a holiday.

For anyone who knows me, I identify pretty strongly with my woods. And it's September which means the leaves are changing, the goldenrod is blooming, and the mornings kick off with solid fog so it's basically my idea heaven.

I'll have new photos coming up later tonight and I'll be sharing some tips and stories for shooting outside, I just wanted to make a little PSA until that happens hold this space for a reflection that won't detract from my tips.

Woodland selfie from 3 years ago.

Week 2

Week number two and Fall has arrived in Iowa. It seems irrelevant because my photos ended up inside again but every window in the apartment was open and I'm burning a blackberry candle while editing so it feels like it. The leaves have only just started to change, so expect some outdoor work this coming week and a little nostalgia set to old OneRepublic songs.

Today I'll be talking about the rule of thirds and why it's not really a rule but first I want to talk about the inspiration for today's photo. On occasion things trend among photographers on Flickr from tin foil crowns, portraits during golden hour, and balloons. It doesn't happen all the time or very often but for the last month the use of black paint seen some sort of popularity. It's been used by Rob Woodcox, David Uzochukwu, and Rachel Baran (Seriously, check them out).

I don't always jump on with trends but this one seemed like fun and a good place to sort of jump off from with a little extra direction because now there are three shots I can't take. I'll think about them, of course, but, using my good friend Rachel, I'm gonna put my own spin on it.

We used more string lights, my great grandmother's curtains, some string, and some black tempura paint ($5 at Micheal's; $2.50 with a coupon—Pro-tip: Micheal's will always have a coupon) and this is what the set looked like (and I still haven't pulled those curtains down).

So, what is the rule of thirds? This: Divide your image into a 3x3 grid. The four intersecting points are points of interest and often where they eye goes first. Essentially what it means is don't place your subject in the very center because the most interesting shots usually have more to offer than centered ones.

My own attempt at an example:

This is the original shot (edited though) and the subject is lined up in the very center of the frame

This is that same shot, cropped to fulfill the rule of thirds in an effort to be more interesting.

A trick I've picked up: Center your shot then bump it to the left or right (with a little bit of consideration of course) but that's an easy habit to pick up and it will improve your photography.

Furthermore, go ahead and break that rule. Break it today or tomorrow or a year from now. If you're aware that you're consciously breaking then you've already considered the composition of your shot and with that intention, by some definition, you're a photographer.

And feel free to ask me anything:

allison@trebacz.com

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Week 1

Self portraiture allows for the photographer to begin to understand the lighting, their equipment, and themselves away from the eyes of others. This makes it the perfect place to begin, in a space that allows for risks and mistakes.

It's a medium where popular photographers like Brooke Shaden, Joel Robison, and Lauren Withrow, first, made their names and discovered their passion. The beautiful thing is that it's possible for you to make that leap if you're willing to try.

The best way to begin is with a camera, an empty room, and lights that work.

Set your camera on something sturdy. Point it somewhere in the room that you think could be mildly interesting and set your ten second timer. If you don't have enough light, add some more. Go down to the basement and drag some Christmas lights out of storage.

Run back and forth as many times as you like. Play around with your settings, move things in and out of the frame, change up the focus. You cannot make a mistake when you're only shooting yourself for yourself.

For this first week I kept it simple. I used the light in my living room, dragged over a kitchen chair (which doubled as a good trick to focus my camera without me in the frame) and draped a green sheet around the set that I eventually ended up wearing.

This is where I started with my camera. It also moved to the doorway, the kitchen, the floor, and six inches from the ceiling. I tried probably ten different things and I'm still not sure what worked best.

If you're not happy with your photography, especially in the beginning, don't get discouraged. Try something else. Close the blinds, move the lights, put on a crazy outfit, take pictures of your dog and come back later. Beginning isn't about creating something that transcends time, it's about the journey. Trust me, you'll find your own voice along the way.

Note: These have been lightly edited (I just adjusted the contrast and made the green more prominent).  

And photography isn't entirely about the camera but I do shoot with a DSLR but there isn't any rule that says you can't get similar results with an iPhone.

I also tripped over this sheet and almost sprained my ankle but that's just a part of the process. 

This project will not be entirely self-portraiture (in fact my goal is to move beyond it) but I love starting projects with selfs because it makes them personal and serves as a good marker of growth from year to year and week to week (even day to day if you're crazy).

And feel free to ask me anything:

allison@trebacz.com

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The Value of Art (A Personal Reflection)

And some photos because I don't like blocks of text either.

also, like, there's some more on Facebook.

I don't know where to start. It's been so long so since I've tried to post anything and it's taken me hours to compose this. I'm not going to tell the winding and harrowing story of the past year of my life (it's not actually. I mean I'm still pretty self aware that I'm white female in America going to college so it really can't be that revelatory.). But I will say I've learned a lot about myself and more about others this past year and those lessons and memories won't leave me anytime soon which is for the better.

But this blog is basically my art journals so, most importantly, it's been five years since I first started my 365 at 15 years old, and I'm still awed, at 20, by the power of photography in my life. Living day to day life provides substance but art and creating enriches the experience. At least that's how I see it.

Moving on, I didn't realize how wrapped up I became in my own life until I took a step back and looked at exactly how little content I produced in this last year and a half. I've been distracted, I've been distant, and I've been trying to get by with what comes naturally which is so wrong. I've let myself get too caught up in real life.

My second attempt at photography over the summer. Click through to see the piece I put on Flickr.

I thought I was fine, I thought I was “doing me” until I logged back onto Flickr for the first time in few months and saw that so many, from my favorite online community, were living through their work and not missing a beat of life. It wasn't until I started watching what they produced, reading the stories, and the reflections on their real adventures, that I started thinking. I started thinking about what's been missing for so long and I've reflected on it before but this time was different. I was jolted and I knew that I had to make a change and a thousand things in my life right now are pointing to that notion.

Presently, photography feels like a memory when it should be more familiar to me than anything. I know that I need to get back and start living, again, through my photos because I'm missing so many things.

So, today, I [gently]threw my equipment in my car, drove to the nearest park I could think of, and took the most mediocre self-portraits I've taken since 2010 but I'm okay with it because it's a start and it feels liberating.

And as for that 52 weeks I was convinced I could start last year--I was kind of just an idiot. Like, I definitely still am and I definitely think I can do it this year but that's because now I'm an idiot with a car and a roommate who'd take up the challenge with me which would be ideal. Idiotic, of course, but in the most ideal of ways.

About Me

and a new mission

In August of 2009, inspired by a community that would eventually become an old friend, I set out on a project that would completely change how I perceived the world. I took one self-portrait for everyday of that year with only one goal: to end somewhere farther from where I started. Long story short, persistence/insanity paid off and I got more out of that project than I could ever put words to and my casual interest in photography turned into full-blown passion that I still carry with me today.

Both photos were taken in the same place: my bedroom with the blinds pulled and any light I could throw together. Also taken with the same equipment, down to the 10-second timer, because going full-circle is fun.

Anyway,

I'm here to share that passion with you as I embark on another project. I'll be taking photos once a week for a year and my goal this time is to rediscover my voice. I'll start and end this project in front of the lens, but I'm hoping to spend the rest of the time behind it.

There is a unique accessibility to photography if you open your mind a little wider and this blog is my invitation to you. I'll be posting how-to's, amateur tips and tricks, behind the scenes, and probably enough anecdotes of doing strange things in public to keep you entertained for at least an hour and hopefully inspired for two.




With sincerity,
Allison Trebacz

New Promises and Past Reflections

 Here comes a long overdue reflectionwith a much needed promise.

The world has a funny way of unfolding and that's as much as I want to say because there is something else I want to talk about today; the vital importance of looking forward.

As anyone could probably tell you, I have a tendency to dwell in the past. I find sad amusement in looking at the things I have an haven't done and some satisfaction in comparing who I was to who I am today (Sometimes I imagine different versions of myself meeting but it makes me extremely uncomfortable so I try not to do that).

I mean, I'm certainly far from the girl who started the 365-day photo project (4 years ago, now) and made smiley faces with brackets (ex. :]). But I'm still nothing like the one who ended it, on the eve of my junior year of high-school and constantly made elaborate allusions to life being like a book. 

Like everyone else, I guess I'm some weird amalgamation of who I was and I have to be okay with that because another few months from now I'll probably be someone else.

But no matter where I am, I feel paralyzing instability when I can't perceive myself moving forward. And these bouts of instability leave me feeling trapped, lost, and endlessly introspective (which seems to be the only time I blog) however for the first time in a little over four years (holy hell) I am going to do something about it.

I'm making a decision. I'm diving behind the lens and promising myself another year long project of dedication and progression because creating is my passion and photography is my medium.

I'm starting a 52 week photo project to focus on quality and consistency.

My goal is to move away from self portraiture and throw my self at creating art with more tangible substance and much less “well, it looks pretty” because I've made peace with myself but not yet with my art.

I'm doing this because I need to see my own improvement and I am going to do everything I can to ensure that every photo will be an improvement on the last and an improvement on everything I have done. For once, I don't want every photo to be a part of a greater whole, I want every capture to be able to stand on it's own.

Maybe it's ridiculous to think that every week will live up to this expectation, but nothing says that I can't try.

(on another note: if you catch me not trying please yell or throw something at me because I am publishing this post for a reason.)