Self portraits.

Sitting in my room, in the questionable armchair that I covered with a blanket. I just finished taking photos and sending them to Andrew. I asked him to help me keep up with my photo practice, seeing as it’s way too easy for me to let it slip by and be lazy! This morning I told him I didn’t feel like leaving the house and then I wondered aloud what I’d do while he was sleeping. He told me to take pictures and then he gave me assignment parameters: at least four images and no macro. I was like “No macro?! This is bullshit!” and he laughed and told me it’s an assignment. 

So, armed with that information, I looked around my room to see what kind of a scene I could attempt to setup. I decided that I hadn’t spent nearly enough time with the armchair and that the yellow wall behind it actually had potential. My biggest issue continues to be a lack of models. Someday I’ll fix this. For now I have been forced to use myself. I don’t like doing self portraits, they feel so self involved, plus they’re a lot more difficult and time consuming. Those last two points are bogus because they really only serve to continue to push me toward better technique and greater creative control over the camera.

After I got out of the shower I started to brainstorm some more about what I’d do. I spent some of today looking at photo shoots of Katy Perry, so those were still fresh in my mind. I was stuck on her legs and her retro style and therefore decided to do something with my legs. This at least gave my face a break. The other day I took 250 pictures of just my face and it was exhausting. I moved the armchair a bit away from the bed and then scooted my smaller wooden chair into position in front of the armchair. Then I took a stack of books and measured them up as a platform for my camera to sit on. I had a unique issue for this shoot in that I needed vertical images. Fortunately I didn’t have any incidences where my camera toppled off of the stack of books. Also, this would have been a great time to have my remote working, but sadly the battery is dead -_- 

From my self portraits the other night.

Either way I eventually got some OKish photos of my legs sticking up in the air and over the arm of the chair. It was fun enough and good practice in careful framing and patience. 

The pictures felt a little odd to me and while brainstorming positions I was also thinking about what kind of editing I would do to them. The brown of the chair and the yellow of the wall had me thinking ‘old faded film polaroid’ style. Andrew and I were actually just discussing polaroid film and I was telling him that we could save money by just making a template and dropping pictures into it as opposed to buying the real film. The real thing is pretty much always better, but that stuff is way too expensive. Anyway, I set to work making a template and I think it turned out alright. I’d do well to study a real image and try to recreate the feel of it. I’ll add it to the list :)

-MJ

Ireland Day 56 - Too Much Food

Technically this is day 52 in Ireland, seeing as I spent four in Paris, but this is 56 days total that I've been abroad, so I'm just going to go with it.

I didn't take any photos today. I'm probably going to snap one with my webcam. I am in bed with my pajamas on (not even 9:30) and I am not getting up again. I am sleepy and full. So, so very full. Smaller meals would be a good idea. Perhaps I felt so hungry because food was such an epic adventure while in Paris. I just stuffed my face today. Bleaaaaaaaagh.

Not a lot happened. I attempted to make plans with a few people this evening, but they were all busy! So then I decided to watch Amelie, but then I got wrapped up in making/eating dinner and now I'm tired so I'll just go to sleep soon. Sounds kinda lame but I feel fairly fulfilled so I'm calling this a good day!

That's my leg going under the covers.

Work swept me up into it right away! There was a lot to do this morning. Rushrushrush and lots of orders to make! It's nice to be busy :) I keep seeing all of these "staff needed" signs around Galway. Makes me feel itchy and anxious about coming back next year. I'll be able to get a job anywhere that'll hire me, so long as places are hiring. Staying with photography would be ideal, of course, but I will take anything (and I kind of have to if I want to stay for a year, which I do!).

The weather welcomed me today like it did yesterday. Lunch was made all the more enjoyable for me as I sat next to a window and soaked up the rays. I spent time at the Spanish Arch after work, again sitting and soaking up rays. Everything smelled so wonderful outside. I could have sat there for much longer had the clouds not rolled in. Weather has to change sometimes :) I considered walking The Prom but I'm glad I didn't. I'll do it tomorrow instead.

After buying this messenger back a few weeks ago I really thought it'd help facilitate taking more pictures because I could bring my camera around with me without lugging my backpack as well. Laziness has prevailed in me because I take my camera everyday and yet... no photos. At this point I am happy to simply be in and around Galway, admiring buildings and familiar places. They are becoming fabulously commonplace (and I mean that in a very good way) and as a result I am not as compelled to bust out my camera for every single situation. I have some days off coming up soon, I'm hoping to make plans to go somewhere for a photography adventure. We will see!

On my walk to the bus stop this morning I thought again about the fact that today is September 1st. I smiled while thinking about Harry Potter and company getting ready to get on the Hogwarts Express. "The train leaves at exactly eleven o'clock, we've missed it!" is what I heard in my head as I strolled and I smiled to myself.

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11:18 am: photo one: back to the studio, happy September!

2:05 pm: walking: I think I'll have a burger for lunch.

5:54 pm: Spanish Arch: this crow has a white face.

6:30 pm: bus stop: that old dude just peed next to a tree. What the heck.

9:14 pm: in bed: I ate such huge meals for lunch and dinner. I am rolling in bed like a beached whale. I should walk home tomorrow.

-MJ

Paris Day 3 - Amelie Walking Tour and Other Wanderings

Tired. So very tired. Today feels as though it has actually been two days. I am having a difficult time gathering my thoughts to even work on this entry. I want to sleep! I'm ready to go back to Ireland too. Paris has been interesting, that's for sure. Not really my city though. I'd like to come back again sometime and stay closer to the middle of the city, see another part of it. Once I got my bearings in Montemartre I was able to find a few really nice places to walk/shop/eat. Not all was lost.

Do you want to live here? Because that house is awesome.

Elise and I set out for our Amelie walking tour at 9:30 this morning. She had printed off (bad) instructions on how to get from place to place. We got a bit turned around a few times but managed to get through it. We were taken through some very beautiful places and had great weather for it too. It was exciting to suddenly realize that we were at our destination and to recognize things from the movie! Elise was awesome and capable of using my camera, so I have photos of myself from the locations. Yay! We were worried that the Cafe des deux Moulins would be closed (a lot of places are on Monday), but it was open. We went in and had coffee and hot chocolate. Expensive.

Corner of Rue Girardon and Place Dalida.

We ended up in a place that is apparently a tourist trap, but we liked it. Had a nice feel to it if you could look past all of the people milling about. We frolicked around the Sacre-Coeur for a bit before heading back to the hostel. She had plans to go see a few places that I'd already been to, so we parted ways. I proceeded to REST and edit photos. I wasted time and put off leaving the hostel for a few hours. I knew I couldn't sit inside for the rest of the day but believe me it was incredibly tempting. Eventually I dragged myself up and set out to the streets again.

I had a very specific agenda of seeking food and a gift. You know how a lot of things are closed on Mondays? Yeah. It did not make it easy to find this gift. I wandered street after street, some nice and some not, passing closed boutiques and closed souvenir shops that looked as though they'd hold precisely what I was seeking. The shops that were open were really crummy, cheap shops OR disgustingly expensive boot stores.

I am happier than my face is letting on.

Hunger set in fiercely, so I put my epic hunt on pause and stumbled into a promising looking cafe. I ordered a croque monsieur and it came with a salad and fried potato rounds that looked like scalloped potatoes but without the melted stuff. It was tasty and cheese-full. I also had a €4 Coke. I decided I didn't care.

I wish it had been open!

Eventually I ended up back near one of the Amelie locations, Cafe des deux Moulins. That's where I bought this gift for a very special Jenne! After that I ended up back near my hostel, just one street up. There I found a lot of cool shops that were open and had reasonably priced items. I found my necklace at a small shop up the street from those locations though. The woman working there was super nice and helped me decide which one I liked better. I had a big bounce in my step as I picked out a few post cards for Cassidy and then (with great relief) headed back to the hostel again.

When the woman brought me my chocolate chaud it was just syrup and no milk. "I forgot the milk" she says. No kidding.

Unless my bunk mates want to go out for dinner again tonight, I am probably going to stay in. I was absolutely dragging myself around the city earlier. I don't know where all of my energy went!

Oh, last night was a lot of fun. I was originally going to go to dinner with just Tawanda, but then Michelle's date got pushed to later so she decided to come with us. We also invited Elise right when we met her and then Michelle ran into Leigh and invited him. Leigh was acquaintances with a guy named Michael who was bunk mates with a guy named Joe. SO, our humble party of two turned into a rockin' party of seven! It was awesome, and so unexpected! We went down the street a ways to a place that was recommended by the guy working at the hostel. We had a good time with wine and managed to get a few pictures of us all at the table.

Place du Tertre: supposed tourist trap.

Leigh is from Australia, Michael is from England, and Joe is from LA. Another Stater! :P Leigh and Michael walked Michelle to the Metro, Tawanda went to her hostel and Joe, Elise and I went back to our hostel because we were tired. We chatted together for about half an hour or so and then went to bed. It was nice. I said good-bye to Tawanda and Michael in front of the restaurant and on top of a handshake from him, I also received two not air cheek air kisses! That was surprising and cute.

I have no idea what I'm going to do for the rest of the night or tomorrow morning. Check out is 11 am and my flight is at 3:35 pm. I plan on getting there two hours early and I'll need about half an hour for the metro and about 15 minutes to walk there... so what will I do in the morning? Stare at the buildings and landscape one more time, I think.

Elise and the Sacre-Coeur!

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9:34 am: walking: off on an Amelie adventure with Elise!

10:41 am: walking: Amelie locations!! The metro stairs, specifically.

10:56 am: Cafe des deux Moulins: :O!!!

The cafe lacks Georgette's tobacco stand as well as the glass wall that Amelie writes the specials on. The bathroom door is there though xD!!

12:42 pm: hostel: relaxing and editing photos. I may go on a walking tour at 4.

1:47 pm: hostel lobby: I'm getting hungry.

2:23 pm: hostel lobby: Gosh I am feeling lethargic today.

2:58 pm: walking: finally out, wandered to some really ugly streets, bleargh.

3:19 pm: L'Atelier: found somewhere to eat, just had to get off the busy streets!

Sitting outside on a wobbly chair at a table for one. I'm about three feet away from the street. This area is quiet and nice, my waiter speaks English. I can only see buildings around me but they're nice.

3:44 pm: L'Atelier: this croque monsieur has way more cheese than I thought it would.

3:52 pm: L'Atelier: just ran into Michael from last night. What are the chances?

4:18 pm: walking: in my search for a store that isn't obscenely expensive or incredibly cheap I have stumbled upon the Moulin Rouge.

4:25 pm: ????: further exploration has put me in a graveyard.

4:45 pm: Rue Lepic: FINALLY found a decent shop.

5:02 pm: Rue des Abbesses: bought myself the perfect item to always remember my trip here :)

-MJ

Ireland Day 27 - First Shoot!

I did my first shoot at my internship today! All by myself! I feel that it went pretty well. The subject in question was a super cute 10 month old girl. She had the hugest eyes! She was also accustomed to being photographed by her parents, so she wasn't camera shy at all. I couldn't have had an easier "first". I can only guess that all future shoots that I do will be exceedingly complicated xD We did a lot of training today, actually. Catharine (a woman that works for Brad when he needs it) and I are going to be doing a very large family shoot this Sunday. Should be interesting! He set up the studio in a very imaginative way; he really makes every inch count in there. I'm doing two shoots by myself on Saturday as well! Catharine is popping in for the first one to make sure everything goes smoothly. This internship rocks, it's exactly what I wanted it to be.

Today was very long. Work was busy busy busy, the bus was late, didn't get home until 7ish, then I went to the store and bought food (yay). I snacked while my mini pizza cooked, then I burned the pizza so I had to make something else. Sheesh. I made hot dogs, by the way. I found them all the way in Ireland. I had an epic hunt for ketchup and mustard though. The buns were not precut. I was a little flabbergasted there. I sorta tore them because I didn't want to dirty a knife with bread.

I really love it here in Ireland. Specifically Galway. It's special. Amazing. To me, it is perfect.

-MJ

P.S. super lazy photo. I have a bit of a sore throat.

I've had four of these and two of another kind today.

Ireland Day 23 - Lazy

I should just leave this entry blank to demonstrate how little I did today, but that's not my style. I like to talk/type too much.

You know who is great? Florence + The Machine. She has a song on the Eclipse soundtrack that I really like. I hadn't heard of her before then. My first week or so here in Ireland I was at a place eating dinner and they happened to be playing her album. Go forward a week and I'm in the car with Dave and she's on the radio. "She's class" he says. So I finally download her album. A great purchase. Rabbit Heart (raise it up) may be my favorite, other than her Heavy In Your Arms single from Eclipse.

This would be a good space to rattle off some of the information I've been saving up. I'm keeping a list of vocabulary differences and general observations. They're fun to spot and I want to remember them. This is by no means a complete list, just the ones that I've heard/spotted and actually remembered to write down. Here goes! I'm listing these as what I would say and then what they would say:

yell - roar
honk - blare
santa's workshop - santa's grotto
walk around/meander - potter around
bus - coach
bachelorette - hen
bachelor - stag
band aid - plasters
for rent - for let
prom - debs
loading zone - set down area
pacifier - soother
pudding - dessert
open hours - trading times
speed bumps - ramps
liquor store - off license

Here are some general things that I've noted. Cultural differences?

Customer service - When walking into a store, employees don't say hi, ask how you're doing or if you need any help. When you leave they don't say thank you or goodbye. There is no hovering when you're trying to shop, that part is nice. No one is mean and the purchase exchange is pleasant enough, but no one is nicer than they need to be.

Crazy buses - The buses frequently yield to traffic (as opposed to traffic yielding to the buses), and pedestrians don't flinch or even notice when the buses drive up on the curbs in the alley way and they're suddenly a foot away from someone walking.

Shops - They don't open on time. 10 am? Maybe 10:15. Y'know, whenever. Being early is seen as strange. You can count on the buses to arrive, but they'll always be late.

Bars - People will dance and make out but very infrequently does it actually lead to people going home together. It's a very different scene over here.

Tipping - Doesn't happen. It makes me feel super cheap. Tipping bar tenders or waiters is essentially unheard of. There's very little respect for them, apparently? Tipping them is seen as being foolish with your money. If you frequent a pub and have become a regular, you can then occasionally "buy one for the staff" by not taking your change after buying your last pint.

Internet - It isn't all that big here. Most places don't have it and popular spots don't have free wifi.

Phones - Not nearly as many fancy phones or iPhones as I expected. Most people have non-flip/or slide phones with minimal screens. I've seen hardly any QWERTY phones.

Escalators - No one walks on them, they all ride ever so slowly. It makes me crazy.

Ringtones - I'm going to estimate that 9 out of 10 people here have the same ringtone and text sound. It's really obnoxious. Everyone seems to have a Nokia phone as well.

Hats - Women wear fancy hats and headpieces here for special occasions.

So that's what I've observed/heard/remembered so far! Hopefully it's interesting to people other than me.

Everything was going very well today. I woke up at 11, chatted with Jacki until about 1, then sat in bed in my jammies editing photos and poking around on the internet. I finally got dressed and decided to go into town to pick up my camera around 5pm. I wander outside to catch the 5:15 bus. I wait and wait. No bus. They've been off lately because of all the Race traffic, so I thought I'd wait around, it may just be very late. 5:45 inches closer and closer, so I stick around to catch that. No dice. 6:10, 5 minutes shy of a full HOUR, the bus rolls up. I was incredibly irritated, what a damn waste of time.

Dramatic street! Dun dun dunnnn

Grouchy and hungry, I get off the bus and buy fries from McDonald's. They were good but too expensive. While I was eating them and walking, a group of guys passed me and one said, "Hey, McDonald's!" Not sure what that was all about. I grabbed my camera from Geraldine and Owen's place, then went back to the bus stop. A riveting trip into town if I do say so. I walk up in time to catch the 6:45 . Except there is no 6:45. So I wait and wait next to a guy that smells like pee, alcohol and cigarettes. It was awesome.

When the bus rolled up shortly after 7:15 it was packed so I stood right next to the driver. I could see my reflection in his mirror and my face was quite stony. Not a good trip.

I made it back home with my camera though, that's what matters. I took a photo of the clouds and the street. That's all I'll be doing. Too lazy to do anything more. Plus I'd like to get crackin' on the photos from the Cliffs so I can share my (photo) experience with everyone :)

Tonight I had a huge amount of pasta for dinner and a piece of butter toast. Steve was having dinner at the same time, so we chatted a bit at the dinner table. He was on his phone for part of the time and he was speaking Irish. It was fun sitting there eating and listening to him talk. I caught a few words this time, I can't remember how to spell them though -_- I need more discipline. Ta siad, I want to say.

Just a reminder that I will NOT have a blog up tomorrow! I know so many people will be very disappointed ;D I'm going to be in Dublin and without internet! I'll be posting a photo tomorrow morning before I leave and then I'll have a great double blog to share Sunday night after I get back home. Rugby match! I'll just be thinking of Friends the whole time 8B hurhurr It's going to be a bus ride this time, not a train. I wish it were a train. I enjoyed that! Oh well, new experiences!

I only have one post today from my day:

5:14 pm: walking: Lazy day, just now leaving the house. Time to pick up my camera!

Sad, right?

-MJ

Ireland Day 14 - No Pictures

Sort of. Mostly. I took two bad ones.

I was bad today and didn't take any. I brought my camera along with me as per usual, but it was a fairly uneventful day and it rained the whole time and was bitterly cold and windy. Not many chances to bust out the camera. I had every intention of photographing interesting items around the house, but then I started taking quizzes on this quiz site Sporcle. Does everyone remember Spark quizzes? This is worse because they're better and they're timed and they're about things you actually care about. Like Harry Potter and Pokemon.

What do you do when you make a new friend in a different country? I talk about Pokemon, apparently.

So. many. quizzes. Thanks a lot Dave.

The bus was late this morning and then I was late for work a bit, so that sucked. Normally I arrive around 9:40, giving me time to settle in and prepare for the day and clean and see what'll be happening. Today it didn't arrive until almost 9:50. I'm already a totally seasoned bus rider (ahem), so seeing huge groups of people get on and NO ONE has change ready pisses me off now >.> This happened at three stops, I believe, making us fairly late. I was not happy. Stupid unreliable public transportation.

Things exploded at work right when I opened, that's how it goes when you're late though, right? Nothing was unmanageable, but it was still a lot to adjust to. Do you realize how thick Polish accents are? I also got my first earful of true Scottish Burr today and damn was that a challenge. At least all the lights were working. I guess.

The highlights of my day surround my UH-MAZING hot chocolate experience and my baked potato lunch. I wish I had my camera with me when I bought the hot chocolate (too much rain, remember?). It was glorious to behold. It was beautiful in every way, I almost didn't want to drink it for realz. It was like in The Simpsons Movie when Flanders makes that amazing hot chocolate for Bart. This one wasn't quite that extravagant, but you could tell someone put effort in with decorations and embellishments. I drank it happily. I will be buying many more while I'm here. At one point it became too busy for me to drink it so I set it down away from the computers and by the time I came back to it it was cold! Still so very good though, and that is an uncommon trait for hot chocolate. Butlers Chocolate Cafe, I love you.

My delicious baked potato came from a place called Couch Potato(es?). It was all baked potatoes on the menu! Smelled great in there too. I bought myself a cheese and broccoli one and gobbled it right up. Filing and hearty, just what I wanted. I'll probably go back and try a more adventurous one before too long.

Things slowed down quite a bit near the end of the day so I was able to prepare to leave a little early. I wanted to catch the 5:45 bus, I was tired and wanted dinner. After double checking that everything was ship-shape I went off for the bus. I arrived in time for the 5:45 to show up and there was very heavy traffic in the square. I resigned myself to accepting the bus would be late and waited next to some really noisy teenagers.

5:50. 5:55. 6:00. 6:05. 6:10.

TWO, yes that's right, TWO number 33 Knocknacarra buses pull up at 6:10. I can only assume they were the 5:45 and the 6:15 showing up. I sighed and sat down, thinking "That teaches me for trying to hurry". It took us another 14 minutes to get to the opposite end of the square to the other bus stop. It was a torturous ride home.

I suppose I'll say I deserved the camera break, it was nice to relax. I stuffed my face with lasagna, corn on the cob and a very decadent citrus cheesecake that Catherine made at work today. Yum!

So now here I sit, with my pathetic photos and music. I wonder when I'll go to bed?

These are my keys. One goes to my bedroom door and the other goes to the studio! I love these keys. That in the background would be some information about powerful Pokemon moves... >.>

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11:14 am: photo one: rough day so far. The experience here truly is invaluable in helping me decide if I want a studio of my own.

12:27 pm: photo one: on my lunch I have to post something. hehe. (that means mail it!)

2:21 pm: couch potato: at a little restaurant called 'couch potato'. It's an all baked potato place! I'm very excited about this. Oh, and Butlers Chocolate Cafe really does make the absolute best hot chocolate. That place needs to be in the tour books.

3:02 pm: GameStop: The GameStop here sells CDs and DVDs. It also has a horrible organization system. It would be hell to keep this place alphabetized, I'm sure that's why it's not. They do the 'put all the As together' system. Ugh.

6:15 pm: bus: Irony? I hustled to make the 5:45, waited and waited, then at 6:10 two #33s showed up; the 5:45 and the 6:15. Traffic is just atrocious.

(From yesterday, July 20th)

7:11 pm: Joyces (store): nadia's Irish doppleganger!

-MJ

Slow.

Things have been slow. Maybe a more accurate description is that I have been lazy. I've had the last two weekends off and all to myself, the free time has been fabulous and cathartic. I've been able to catch up on sleep, cleaning, friends and video games. I have been severely slacking in the photography department.

Taking photos is more fun for me if there are other people around. Someone to walk and talk with me, someone to hop in the frame so I can snap off a shot of a friendly face once in a while. Having a friend gives me a comfort and confidence boost. Even if they're not taking photos with me, I feel a sense of camaraderie; almost like they're hunting for moments with me.

With that said, even though I've been able to catch up a little with friends, I have not actually been able to go out and take photos with friends! My mom and sister visited me this last Saturday and we went to the Farmers Market. I took some more photos for my documentary project and that was very fulfilling.

On the whole though I have found myself waiting until late at night to take my 365 shot. I'm fairly satisfied with what I've been coming up with, although I'm asking myself why I'm waiting so long to take a photo. I have very little interest in wandering around outside alone looking for a photo. I want to have people with me and an idea in my head and I want us to work together to create something fun and interesting. This is odd because generally I hate group projects. Perhaps I just want everyone to listen to me while I take pictures. Hmm.

I don't have a lot to do today, just a little grocery shopping. It's overcast outside, so if I take my flash I could create an interesting mood for whatever I find to photograph. Inanimate objects are so boring. I wish I knew more people. Every time I venture alone I get attacked by bugs or the wind kicks up so hard I can't keep my hair out of my eyes long enough to take a picture. I feel like the universe is telling me something.

Anyway, here are my photos from the Farmers Market. It was suggested that I should take some portraits of my favorite vendors, so I did! Plus one extra special shot of my nephew enjoying his balloon.

This man sells emu oil and products that contain emu oil. Cass got very excited and bought some. It was a lot of positive healing properties and is also very expensive.

This woman works a booth selling hand-made jewelry. She doesn't make the product herself, just runs the Market table. She's very friendly and the wares that she sells are amazing.

This is the friendliest balloon man in the entire world. There are two balloon men at the Market, one is friendly and one is not. This man is very popular and since it was so close to the Market closing he had to close down his line. I got a balloon for my nephew from the other guy and it became apparent why he wasn't as popular. 

And here is Elijah, loving his balloon with all of his mighty being. I love this child.

-MJ