Another reboot. I tried to do this theme several years ago, right after my colors project. I was way too restrictive with my parameters at the time, and I let it go after just ninety days or so.

This time, I knew I wanted to shoot Polaroids for a year. I opened the project with no set agenda, but very quickly I decided I wanted a specific subject matter. I went with typography because I thought it would make for interesting photos considering the media.

The focal length on the vintage cameras I'm using is set at 4-6 feet, the camera doesn't do low contrast well, there are only 3 options for exposure, and the film is extremely finicky. In short, there's not a lot of nuance shooting with this camera. There's also color discrepancy with the photos and frames secondary to the the available light when scanning them with my phone app. I'm not going to kill myself to make those align.

The cameras: Polaroid One Step, USA Constitution Bicentennial edition (600 film) Polaroid One Step, SX-70 film, or 600 with filter.

The parameters: Only typography. The camera forced me to shoot only large lettering, so all photos are public instructions or large advertising.

A reboot on my Faces theme, I wanted to do another project that featured people coupled with a conversation every day. I allowed myself the freedom to compose each photo differently and I gave my subjects an out if they were willing to play along, but didn't want to show their face in the photo.

I asked another question again, as I learned last time this was a great way to make a connection and start conversations. This is part of what I wanted out of the project: connections and conversations. We're so divided now and so addicted to dopamine hits from all kinds of sources, especially our phones. We all know on some level something is profoundly wrong. Conversations are a small but effective way to slowly begin righting the wrong.

The camera: Pentax k1-i

The parameters: 16x9 again, all color, fisheye lens for some arty fun and a serious challenge for me.

The idea was to shoot a year on film using the same film, camera, lens, developer, and subject matter. I immediately encountered issues, of course. I did a test roll a week before to ensure the camera I chose, a Canon F1, didn't have light leaks. However, I used a new developer and had the ratio incorrect when I mixed it. (It turns out HC110 has TWO ratios floating around on the web, a European ratio and an American ratio.) I overcooked a few rolls of film before figuring this out. And then I discovered I had light leaks in the F1 anyway. So a week into the project, I started over using a different camera.

This is to say nothing of my film conundrum. I wanted to shoot Kodak Tri-X, my absolute favorite. But it's been a while since I shot film regularly, and the cost of it had risen dramatically, something I didn't realize until I went to order my first stash. For everyday shooting for a year, I couldn't justify the expense of Tri-X, so I decided to switch to Ilford HP5+. It's not my favorite, but we learned to get along.

The camera: Canon T70 with 20-35mm lens

My tenth (!) project, and the first one in which I used another person's suggestion for a theme. A friend mentioned it could also serve as a creative metaphor: do I continue doing them past this year, or do my projects take on a different flavor? I'm leaning towards the former, as I know I still have the emotional stamina to continue. For now, anyway. (I do think taking a good break between projects helps enormously.)

The camera: Pentaxk1, any glass.

The parameters: all digital but no phone photos, 5:7 aspect ratio, color, and only doorways in buildings.

2020 was wretched. At the end of it, my self-esteem was in the toilet for reasons that aren't important, and I wanted a project that would force me out of my comfort zone. Plus after lockdowns and masks and a general feeling of malaise, I felt like making a connection with other people would be good. So I chose "faces" as my theme with the personal challenge to approach strangers and talk to them.

In the beginning, I thought I may change up the question every quarter or so, but as the pandemic lingered and Delta and then Omicron hit the scene, my original question remained relevant throughout. I asked almost everyone (with one or two exceptions) "What 3 words would you use to describe 2020?" The answers ran the gamut from tragic to uplifting. Some had difficulty answering, some were pretty quick with their responses, everyone seemed a bit taken aback by the inquiry, but no one refused to play. It was a good project for me despite it taking a long time to hit my stride with it, and I had some great conversations with people along the way.

The cameras: Pentax k1-ii, various lenses, but almost exclusively 50mm in the second half of the project with iPhone supplement.

The parameters: 9x16 aspect ratio, some kind of face in each photo.

I began this project on March 1, 2020, right before the plague dominos began falling. It is interesting looking back on those early COVID days now that we're a few years away from it; the pandemic of course inspired my project choice the following year. I carried mirrors with me throughout the project, as I couldn't depend on puddles every day of the year. I also took metaphorical and literal "reflection" photos.

The camera: Pentax K1-ii

The parameters: all digital, all color, 4:5 ratio

One year of shooting with film. I originally planned on including Polaroids in this series, but I discovered early on my SX-70 was broken and I never repaired it. I was all over the map with this project. I ended up using 4 different cameras, 8 different kinds of film, 4 different lenses (this being said, I shot the vast majority with a 50mm prime) and implemented no structure on the subject matter, photo ratios, or color vs. monochrome (see tags for this info.) About halfway through, I started developing the black-and-white film myself, which was quite satisfying. This was the only area of consistency I had, as I only used D76 developer. Finally, I ended up having a high casualty count over the year as well. I lost or broke 3 cameras (not including the already busted SX-70) and my right ankle during this project. I'll do an analog year again but with many more constraints in place the next time around.

This was a huge project, and like Project No. 11, much more about process than other projects. I did my standard take-a-photo-a-day for a year, but then I developed and printed each photo using a technique called cyanotype, which dates back to the 1870s. As if that wasn't enough, I also hand crafted a photo book for each month, which meant developing and printing all the shots again for book format, and then binding each book. I used vintage folder dividers I scavenged from an old building for the covers. I ultimately made a baker's dozen: one for every month and a "greatest hits". It was the biggest pain in the ass, and I cursed myself constantly throughout the year for coming up with this aggressively time-consuming project.

My final product did make it into an art show called Fiberworks in 2019, which was my goal going in.

The cameras: Pentax K5-iiS with iPhone supplement

The parameters: anything goes with subject, aspect ratio alternating each month 1:1 and 3:2

This one came off a failed project (I started one and quit 90 days in. Perhaps I'll revive it later) and to date, my least favorite. I played around a lot with Photoshop settings when editing many of the photos, so I guess in that way it was helpful? Visually as a group I don't find the images compelling at all, although there are a few I guess aren't bad. I'm putting them up, because it was a whole year of work. If I had to do it over again, I think I would be a lot more thoughtful about it. I missed a day during this project as well, the second and last time (knock wood) that's happened. Aspect ratio 3:2 for all photos, no phone images.

2015. The only project to date that I started on January 1 and ended on December 31. I took a long time thinking about the order in which to shoot the colors, as I wanted them to look cohesive when the photos were displayed in sequential order. At the time I thought I may print them on a poster or print and display them as a single work, but that never happened. Looking back, it's still one of my favorite projects.

The cameras: Pentaxk 5ii-s with Pentax K-5 and iPhone supplement.

The parameters: A different color each month, aspect ratio 1:1 for all photos.