a photo a day keeps the doctor away

while recently fretting... i found two items that stood above the rest:
-the frustration with myself and my motivation (or lackthereof) to take photographs or be otherwise creative on a daily basis

and

-the probability of no health insurance for a while

I came up with a new personal saying to simultaneously clear away my uncreative cobwebs and comfort the prospects of ailing sans-coverage:

a photo a day keeps the doctor away

i figure that if i can convince myself that taking at least one photo a day - be it digital, well composed, entirely random, hasty, or medium format - will keep me in good health, I am not only providing myself with a preemptive, proactive, homemade remedy to ebb my concerns for my lack of health insurance, but am also resolving, or should i say reviving (to stay in line with the health theme), my stale artistic flame, and ultimately expanding my portfolio while out here adventuring in the middle of UT.

i have created a manifesto for this daily photo diary project in order to keep myself in line. if one is to be successful as an artist, there is a severe need for discipline, especially for someone so good at making up excuses and procrastinating as myself.

PHOTO DIARY PROJECT manifesto: b. 27-02-2009;
BASIC:
a) daily photo diary requires, but is not limited to, one photo a day.

b) in the event that it is decided that daily photo diary will include more than one photo in one twenty-four period the following sub-guidelines must be followed:

1. the photos taken must constitute "a series". With the understanding that i will uphold a loose definition of what constitutes a "series", the "series" must either be:
   

i) linked in some self-constructed way. i.e. theme, subject matter, etc.
ii) of the same subject using a variety of apertures and shutter speeds in order to determine best settings for specific conditions. in this case, it is imperative that the aperture and shutter speed be recorded.

b) daily photo diary must involve recording aperture and shutter speed, as well as any other ideas, concepts, techniques, etc. employed in photo-taking process, in a newly constructed/purchased daily photo log as best to my ability. if this is truly an attempt at self-instruction, there must be a means to improvement. log to be reviewed in a few months to see if there is some sort of "progress" in terms of my ability to read the conditions and achieve desired effect.

c) daily photo diary must consciously tackle at least two new themes a month. to be recorded in daily photo log. (i.e. if consciously recorded,"randomness" qualifies as a theme)

1. I must complete and successfully incorporate research of ANY TOPIC, SUBJECT, IDEA into these themes. Inspirations to be posted on blog as well as recorded in log.
   

d) daily photo diary must involve at least three different cameras a month in order to diversify abilities (and possibly develop an inclination towards one in particular?)

e) daily photo diary as a whole must attempt to capture something important or pivotal about the day. this will serve as a means to link entire project under one theme. record meaning in log.

f) daily photo diary must be reviewed in terms of my attempt at being "conceptual" at least once a week. in turn, i must complete one non-photo creative project a week that relates (somehow) to the photos taken over the past week. Complexity is entirely dependent on resources available.

DETAILS:
f) daily photo diary will end at an undetermined date. dependent upon "feeling of completion". definition of "feeling of completion" is totally personal and entirely subjective. (feel free to grab coffee and call on a willing friend to help figure/talk this one out.)

g) it is encouraged, but not required, to develop/upload daily photo diary photographs to blog to keep progress public. in this way i am more likely to stick with it cause im a tool.

h) it is encouraged, but not required, to "fiddle" with photographs. "Fiddling" includes, but is not limited to, the use of digital or manual manipulation.

i) it is encouraged, but not required, to develop film at least once a month, depending on availability of funds. Means to develop should try to support a private/local business or be done by myself at Kimball Art Center. Attempt at least two developing sessions while still in UT.

DISCLAIMER:
j) in the event that i am unable to take a photograph, for whatever reason, i must substitute with a suitable artistic venture - i.e. sketch, painting, poem, etc. Limit to four times a month.

LONGTERM GOALS:

1. stay healthy. no health insurance = no doctors.
2. feel more creative.
3. improve manual and digital photography skills.
4. expand portfolio.
5. ultimately aid in creation and expansion of personal website.

Okay so i know what you are thinking. She's moved to Utah and gone crazy. I assure you, though the romanticized crazy that I just finished reading about in Burrough's Running with Scissors is quite appealing in the "lets paint the kitchen bright red" sort of way (and not in the "Im hungry, make me a toothpaste sandwich, I am god" sort of way) I am not crazy, just kinda bored. Strike that, really bored. Stuck. A new fun job, with creative outlets, has helped me inch closer to "salvation" but I am not there yet. So i decided to do this.

If you walked into our apartment you would find that it is littered with painting supplies, about eight cameras (if not more), jewelry-making supplies, etc. There are about 10+ rolls of film in the fridge and 15+ tubes of paint in a box, just lying there... but I dont feel motivated, inspired. Atop this lack of inspiration, I no longer have classes, homework, or lots of people around all of the time to distract me or give me excuses for my lack of productivity. I work long hours most days, so theres that excuse, but I do have lots of down time where all i crave is un-sobriety, a few episodes of lost, or food...sometimes snow.

I have decided that is not healthy, not only for the potential I would like my "career" (whatever that word means) to possess, but also physically. This daily photo diary project is similar to this blog in that its another distraction and means of communication but its primarily a gutteral yelp from somewhere deep inside myself saying, "GET OUTSIDE MONICA! OR ELSE YOU WILL GET SICK AND YOU DONT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE SO YOU SHOULD PROBABLY STAY WELL, FIT, ALERT! MAKE ART AND LIVE LONG!"

I have created a manifesto of sorts in a fashion truly compatible with that of Dmitri Martin or some other sick fiend obsessed or becoming obsessed with self-improvement, with challenging oneself. Coming up with this first version of the manifesto, I thought to myself, "what a good way to pass the time and simultaneously force myself to stick to something using guidelines I created, guidelines I am free to alter if they dont work out, guidelines that really arent guidelines at all." I figure that failure isnt only an un-option, its impossible because if i stick with it for only a month, or even a week, though it might be embarrassing...I can guarantee that I will have produced something worthwhile, something interesting, something worth laughing at. whatever.

that being said - the flexibility of the manifesto is contigent upon its most recent form. therefore i am not only accepting but encouraging your input. Revise, alter, add to the stipulations I have set for myself. Give me ridiculous independent daily goals. What do you think I can't do? What do you think of what Ive done? Make it harder for me, make it fun. Tell me that I need to include a bird in my next shot. Tell me i have to wear my camera all day and take a picture of the first person that talks to me about the camera. Tell me I have to take a picture with my eyes closed. I can make anything work and it will only be more interesting with more feedback. Inspire me. Critique every click of my shutter, every swatch of color, every brushstroke, every word. It is difficult to offend me.

OR > If you feel so inspired, join me! Adapt the manifesto, challenge yourself. take photos with me or change it so that you are breaking or making another habit for yourself. that way we can be ridiculous together, like people who try to lose weight together. only i will be healthier by means of ART.

On the subject of health, let me briefly justify the other half of this dual purpose mission. a photo a day WILL keep the doctor away. Im convinced. While the creation of art is therapeutic (even recognized by western medicine), I realize that it alone is not a proper substitute to health care. But what if it could be? Moreso, what if I could convince myself that by taking on this project I am making myself healthier and thus preventing future ailments. No health insurance? No worries. All falling-down-a-cliff, getting-impaled-by-a-javelin-thrown-by-a-crazed-olympian, freak accidents aside...I am attempting to knowingly convince myself that I will live longer if I do this. Perhaps?

who knows.
who cares?
because here it begins.
join,
scoff,
challenge,
laugh at/with,
or just watch me.

project commence.