I apologize to all of you who've stuck with me so far...but I need to end this project now.

When I started this project, I really thought it would make me a better photographer to go through the experience.  But honestly, I've found just the opposite to be the case.  Instead of working on producing an image each day that is the result of planning, previsualization, and execution, I find that I don't have the time to do things that way.  Many evenings, I sit here sifting through a bunch of hastily taken images and try to find one that works-- that can be processed at least to the point of being postable.

Even on the days when I have time to really plan and execute an image, the drag of the daily grind eats into it and I don't seem to have the energy to work at making an image the way I want to.  I know I've produced some images that people like, but I've produced few that I am proud to have made.  And I just can't continue, settling for mediocrity just to get it done.  That wasn't what I set out to do, and it isn't something that I can keep doing.  It takes too much effort and that effort is being directed at expediency and not at creating the kind of photos I want to make.

So I am going to shut this project down, go back to shooting the way I used to...trying to work at my craft and make good images.  Trying to improve as a photographer. 

I appreciate all the support I've gotten from so many of you.  And I am sorry I am not able to continue.  But I'd rather have people reading my main blog, where I post only images I want to share...not just the best of a mediocre roundup each day.  The link to the main blog is below.  I don't post there daily, but will post at least once a week.  Please subscribe there and stay with me.

Thanks.  Brian

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Eight: What a difference 68 days makes

Way back on Day 10 I took a picture (The Intepids) of some golfers at Hope Valley who were out on a bitterly cold day...in wool hats and jackets.  Today, along that same stretch of golf course, I saw this gentleman in shorts playing a run up from about 20 yards short of the green. 

Spring is here. Even if the flowers don't seem to want to cooperate just yet.  Apparently they don't have half the cabin fever all the rest of us did as the weather finally broke to the good.  They are on the way though.

That's it for today. 


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Seven: Bridge

It was warm and spring like today and I got some time to head off to Duke Gardens, a fvorite spot of mine to take pictures.  Unfortunately, my desire for Spring to be fully here after a long cold Winter is a bit ahead of mother nature and there was little in bloom at the gardens.  There are buds everywhere, and even a week from now, the rich pallete of pinks and purples, whites and reds will be spread out in all their magnificent glory.  But today, I had to settle for a picture of one of the many bridges that criss cross the gardens.

Still, you can get a sense of sping the grass now turned back from brown to green.  So, a bridge to Spring for today...and flowers not far behind.
Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Six: Worn and Weathered

The textures dominate here as the various woods from which this log outbuilding and its small shuttered window have all been made monochromatic from long years of weathering. 

And, like the subject of today's photo, I am a bit worn right now.  My abnormally busy schedule, coupled with the loss of an hour of sleep, have me exhausted.  Short post today so I can catch up on the backlog that's been steadily building behind me.  I need to clear the decks so that I can spend more time on my blog photos.  It's been more than a week since I've found more than 45 minutes to shoot on any day.  That just isn't enough time to really work on an image.  These days I've found myself shooting a lot of photos in a short period of time and then making something work back at the computer.  That isn't the way I like to work, but sometimes it's just the only way I can get the project photo of the day done.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Five: Wore my Green a Day Early

I had a number of commitments yesterday-- which barely gave me time to shoot for the project, and no time to post last night.  I love forsythia, and growing up in NJ, they were the first strong sign of spring to me each year.  Here in Durham, NC lots of stuff gets budding and blooming early, and the forsythia, which always was a favorite of mine growing up are now often lost among all the early blooming trees and early spring daffodils that are everywhere now.

I wore this green shirt yesterday (March 16) without thinking about the holiday today (and I'm 1/4 Irish) and left myself with no green to wear today on St. Pat's.  This is getting confusing.  This picture is for yesterday...which was not St. Pat's but was the day I wore green.  Ok...enough babble.  I am having more trouble than usual adjusting to the time change and being more busy than usual to boot is making me punchy and I still have today's post, and two client jobs I need to get out the door. 

Til...well...a little later this evening this time.


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Four: Spring

While I was away for the weekend, the trees in the Triangle bloomed.  To me, that's the real start of Spring here.  The redbuds, dogwoods and bradford pears are all blooming now.  Didn't see any blossoms (just buds) last week and now the colors are everywhere.  And things in Greensboro were barely budding it seemed. 

It seems only fair to get Spring for real now that we've all lost an hour's sleep after Springing foward.  Can't wait for the cone flowers and camelias, big dogwood blooms, magnolias...the magic time is just ahead here.  In just a few weeks wildflowers will be everywhere.  My favorite time of year for photography...and doubly so this year as finding photos for the blog will be easy for the next month or two.

Til tomorrow...

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Three: Garland of Gumballs

Photographically, I am fascinated by guumballs.  Their intricate shapes and pointy tips always seem such a strong natural statement.  I've tried to take macros of them...to capture the intricacy and interest I see in them, but as yet have not made an image that accomplishes that.

I noticed this string of gumballs hanging out over a small lake not far from home.  I liked the way they seemed to form a garland on the branches of the tree and the way the light was playing on the lake behind them.  Not the picture of gumballs I want to make, but one I was happy to discover today.

It's been a very busy couple of weeks and it's been more of a challenge than usual to take pictures for this project.  And there's another fairly busy week ahead.  But I've made 73 straight days and that's 1/5th of the way.  Not that much of a milestone, but I can only achieve them as they come.  For today, I'm happy with this image and with getting this far with an unblemished record (andonly a couple of near misses).

Til tomorrow...

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/