This assignment was to take three sets of a series of 10 exposures.
One hour upon waking up and the hour before going to bed.
Documentary is what (and how) you see a particular subject.
--A side note. I did Assignment #1 completely on film. This one I did with a digital camera.--
Ok, again, this was challenging.
The first morning and evening series, I took photographs of what I saw, from my eyes -- Views as I went through my morning and then evening from my eye sockets. The second 10 shots of each, I took photos of my hands in activity through each of those hours. Then, I got a little stuck creatively, but I began playing around with the lenses that I have and realized (BAM! moment) that my zoom lense has all along also been a macro lense! SO! I did the last 10 shots of each morning and evening hour as macro shots.

NOW, the number ONE most promising lesson and lasting feeling I learned from this exercise IS THAT I CAN MOVE STUFF AROUND FOR MY OWN COMPOSITION.
I know, I have read this a thousand times in the many books on photography...but I did not get it until I FELT IT. It occurred to me as an inspiration feeling, "OH! I can move this here or that there and it will look much better for this photo in the exercise!" Great. Learning. Great.

Next, I realized through all this thinking, composing, shooting in a particular area on a certain subject, and messing around MORE with my own equipment -- that I own a macro lense. YES! My zoom lense is also a macro lense. Fantastic. I love it. I learn more all the time. Some of the smallest lessons can have the biggest impact on output.

Below I am listing the top 10 of each "Hour upon Awaking" and "Hour before Going to Bed."
-and then the top two I chose from each--

The assignment:  To take 36 exposures of Worm's Eye perspective and 36 exposures of Bird's Eye perspective. Then whittle down to best 10 of each. Then best 1 of each. Here I will show you a gallery of my best 10 of each and the two I picked for the top 2 choices from the assignment. Whew! This was more difficult that I expected. Bird's Eye was THE MOST DIFFICULT. (To climb on something to take a photo - without getting yelled at - is an art form in itself.

First Gallery: Worm's Eye

2nd Gallery: Bird's Eye

Top two - One of Each:

The new term has begun and with it - a new challenge.
My mentor will be giving me 30 assignments in photography.
And I've agreed to commit!

I will not be doing these every day as I did in my 30-day self-portrait challenge.
I will be taking a short length of days to complete each one.
And this time, I'm going to try and do every assignment on film - if possible.

MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT:
#1 - Worm's Eye / Bird's Eye

I must take 36 exposures of both Worm's Eye/Bird's Eye perspectives. It cannot be the same subject over and over, of course.
For Worm's Eye, it MUST be taken from the ground. It cannot include just clouds and sky.
For Bird's Eye, it MUST be taken from above the ground. I simply cannot take it from my own height! I must get "UP" somewhere to take these photos. I cannot have my legs or feet in the photos either.

Once 36 exposures have been shot and developed for each, I am to whittle it down to the 10 best of each category. This will be 1 in 3 shots - getting good shots - and this is very hard to do.

Them's the rules. I don't make them up. Mike does.
So I'm getting out to shoot today and will post a gallery of each, once developed.
I'm giving myself until Jan. 22nd to complete this assignment, but will probably have it done sooner.

I'm excited. My game reached a new level after my last self-portrait challenge, even though it seemed silly at times. And now, I'll be pursuing assignments under guidance that are meant to challenge me. (!)
Let's DO IT!

Below are a few of my favorite street photography shots I shot and developed over break.
This is my real work:

These two film photographs (with 35mm bw Ilford 400) are my latest favorites.
I developed and printed these in darkroom before the holiday break.
This logger was swearing up a holy hell at me, but I stayed steady, like his anger and swearing were weather-wind and were simply buffeting my camera with a little bit of resistance.

Haha! He might have thought I was one of many Portland activists taking shots for protest or the news. But really, he was only taking down a small, dying tree behind our condos -- And well, I thought he made a great subject. His anger MADE the second photograph all it is.

More darkroom printing coming up beginning Jan. 16th.
AND! Please note... my great mentor, Mike Riches, also the darkroom instructor, will be giving me photography assignments every day for MY NEXT 30-DAY CHALLENGE.
I will once again, be posting daily! AUGH!
May the photo FORCE be with me.

Enjoy!