365project: Day 1
Day one, and we’re off to a bumpy start.
Particularly regarding the unwritten rule I set myself to capture, edit, post, and blog about every day, every day.
I managed most of it, but I did not quite get around to the blog post, but I comforted myself with the idea that I at least posted the intro blog on day one.
To give some context, the idea to do this challenge came to me about mid-day on a Friday. I had to finish some work first and then thought it would be good to get the introductory blog post done before heading to Crossfit aan’t ij. Cycling there, training, cycling back, and having to collect my too good to go order (check them out) the day was running out fast. I decided to incorporate my hunt for the day’s photo with my food collection mission. A good idea to win sometime, but limiting in location.
This immediately drew my attention to some of the challenges of this challenge that I haven’t yet considered. Like, what if I didn’t find something photo-worthy that day? Especially if I’m stuck in my neighbourhood due to running out of time every day? What if I end up taking the same kind of photos every day?
I don’t have the answers to all these questions yet, but once again I realised that the point, at least to some extent, is to look for the beauty in the mundane and try my best to capture it. Even if this ends up being 216 days of water reflections.
I also decided that I will post my favourite one or two photos on social media daily(still to be determined, also don’t need so many rules) and that I will post most of the photos taken each day in the blog along with a little description of it.
Part of me is quite excited to see how the structure of these posts will change over the course of hopefully the next 364 days.
Day one took me from our rental apartment in our quaint little street in Amsterdam North to the “Station Noord” metro station where the Albert Heijn store is located where I had to collect the too good to go order.
It is Amsterdam, so you will almost always cross some water somewhere. Maybe 247 days of water reflections in the end? Anyway, I crossed some water, passed some street art and a community garden. A church, marina and park are also in the vicinity but 365 days are a lot and I would have to stretch my sources of content.
First and last stop was the water crossing. The time between the stops allowed the sun to set just enough to enhance the experience.
I chose this location as a stop primarily for the trees with the low hanging branches along the water (unfortunately not sure what type of trees they are.) I didn’t quite get the effect from the trees that I wanted on my way out, but on the way back there were some birds in the water which changed the scene just enough to make it photo worthy.
This one is quite overexposed due to the slow shutter but that’s the price you pay for rushing an opportunity
ISO 320
f/8
1/50 sec
ISO 320
f/6.3
1/160 sec
This was my personal favourite of the day. Technically not the best when looking at the focus, but I love the overall look and feel of the photo.
ISO 320
f/6.3
1/160 sec
Next stop was at the metro station. This area is quite up and coming and the station is surrounded by relatively modern apartment buildings. The glass façade and partly cloudy skies caught my eye and I thought I might as well try to improve my minimalist architectural photography while I’m at it.
I generally like the somewhat abstract effect created by contrasting apartment buildings to cloudy skies.
ISO 1000
f/8
1/500 sec
The second last stop was on the way back home, just before stopping at the same bridge as before. There is a retirement home along the way, and they have these gorgeous sunflowers in the community garden. Not quite facing the sun though, but one probably can’t go wrong with a sunflower photo no matter what direction they’re facing.
Sunflower in the community garden at the retirement home.
ISO 320
f/2.8
1/2000 sec
All in all, despite the lack of proper planning day one at least delivered some results.
My wife Jodie, and I are planning a “Churches of Amsterdam” type walk during the remainder of the weekend.
Bring on day 2.
