One Object 365 Days

365/365 02/28/2012 Ring, a photo by olmjohns on Flickr.

So I finally finished my One Object 365 366 Days photo project!  I can't believe I made it an entire year (and a leap day!).  While many of my photos were unexciting, I do feel that I captured some great shots throughout the year.  It can be quite difficult to make a whole year's worth of wedding ring photos stimulating.  I'm not sure what all this project did for me.  I guess I learned that I don't like shooting with my iPhone nearly as much as my Canon DSLR camera.  When I started the project last March, I took many of the photos using an app for the iPhone, instagr.am.  I feel that Instagram helped me get excited about photography as it made a rather uninteresting photo into something appealing using the multitude of filters and special features within the app.
Over the course of the year, I strayed away from this type of shooting as I began to learn more about my camera and photography in general.  All of my photography now is done without any editing (aside from simple cropping).  I feel that editing software like Photoshop and even Instagram can defeat the purpose of artistic photography.  To be able to capture a photo with correct exposure, shutter speed, aperture, lens filters, etc., shows a good understanding of photography.  To take a bad photo and make it look good through editing, while amazing to do, shows very little as to any photographic skills, more so computer and editing skills.
So where does this leave me?  I certainly am not going to start another daily photo challenge.  At least not yet.  In fact, I told myself that I will not take a picture today (March 1st) so my consecutive shots will end.  I plan on continuing to take part in the weekly Gizmodo shooting challenge along with the monthly challenge at Competition Corner.  These contests have helped me learn many new photo techniques and skills over the past year.  Maybe now I will have time to try some new challenges or simply work on new photographic ideas.  Who knows?
Thanks for following my photography and hopefully I will continue to make better shots and maybe make some nice photos along the way.
You can see my entire 365 project here on my website, or at its dedicated site One Object 365 Days or in my Flickr Photoset.
Thanks again!

Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K

So I finished my first race of 2012.  I had one goal for this race: finish in less than 1 hour.  My Nike+ iPhone app said I did but we'll wait for the official results.  Good race.  Tons of people.  I didn't want to pick up my t-shirt and swag bag until after the race (so I wouldn't have to store them somewhere).  Of course, once I was finished, all the swag bags were gone (not much exciting in there anyways) and no large t-shirts.  I settled for a medium but its a tad too small.

Gizmodo Shooting Challenge: Thanksgiving Dish

So I am super happy I got featured this week!  I wasn't too sure about my photo but apparently it was good enough to make the cut.  Hooray!  Click the link to view the other finalists and see my submission; I'm runner-up!
http://gizmodo.com/5863355/reader-recipes-31-dishes-you-always-eat-at-thanksgiving

Gizmodo Shooting Challenge: Vortograph

So I won the contest! Woohoo! My photo was the winner of these week's shooting challenge! There were only 12 entries but I am very proud of my shot. Check out the link to view the other photos, mine is at the top! http://gizmodo.com/5855184/12-vivacious-vortographs

Mary's Promenade on the Peninsula 5K Results

So I got the results back (actually really fast from the timing company).  I did very well.  Almost top 25% overall.  Imagine what I could have done if I were feeling well?!

Gizmodo Shooting Challenge: Complementary Colors

So I am so pleased I got featured this week. I felt I took a good photo and I'm glad the judges thought so too. Hopefully this will help me out of the photography rut I have been in for the past two weeks. Click the link to view all the finalists. I'm the last on the main list. http://gizmodo.com/5839730/74-photos-capturing-the-most-striking-colors-possible

August Running

So I am pleased.  Pretty good month.  Over 90 miles!  Yeah me!  Click the photo for a larger view.

The Hills Are Alive 10K Results

So I didn't finish under an hour but I was close.  If not for the slow start due to skinny course and lots of people, I would have reached that goal.  A good goal for next year's race!  108/231.  Not bad for my first 10K!  I finished better than half.

The Hills Are Alive 10K

So I ran my first 10K race today.  I had a few goals.  First, finish the race!  Second, no walking.  Third, finish under an hour.  I felt good throughout the race and was pleased I was able to run the whole thing.

Gizmodo Shooting Challenge: Coloring

So I was pleased with my submission this week and my photo ended up being featured this week!  Of course, all of the submissions were featured since there were only 15 entries.  Oh well...
Click the link to check it out.  I'm ninth from the top.
http://gizmodo.com/5824833/15-photos-painted-by-hand

Gizmodo Shooting Challenge: Clouds

So I thought my photo totally bombed this week.  Turns out I was featured as runner-up!  I still can't believe it.  Click the link to check it out.  I'm second from the top!
http://gizmodo.com/5822638/143-awesome-photos-of-clouds

Gizmodo Shooting Challenge: Summer Solstice

So I didn't win this week's challenge but I was featured...and this time, there were a lot of entries to compete against.  Pretty exciting!  Click the link to view the submissions and my photo (7th from the top): http://gizmodo.com/5814534/45-different-views-of-the-summer-solstice

Gizmodo Shooting Challenge: Modern Family

So I didn't win this week's challenge but I was featured!  Of course, there were only 5 photos!  But I like to think that I came in second...Click the link to view the submissions and my photo: http://gizmodo.com/5809529/childhood-photos-recreated-as-adults-today

Weekly recap

So I just wanted to show off my awesome running skills from last week.  23 miles!

Weekly Recap

So I wanted to show off my great running week that ended with the Promenade on the Peninsula 5K.  15 miles in one week.  Not too shabby!

Lose It!

So I started using my iPhone and all its great apps one year ago today to help me get fit and lose weight.  With the help of Lose It! (Free app) and Nike+ Running (Free app, but need to purchase a transponder for your shoe) I have lost over 35 pounds!  I feel good and run every other day during the week.  Lose It is essentially a calorie counter with a lot of preloaded foods from restaurants and stores to make it easier to track your meals.  Since I love playing with my iPhone, it was easy enough to keep on top of my eating.  I love the Nike+ app as it keeps track of all my runs, mileage, pace and calories.  Since I am such it geek, it keeps me motivated to track my progress.  So now I guess I'll continue with the fitness regime and maybe I can lose a little more weight and run some more races.

Palos Verdes 5K

So I ran in my third race this morning and I think it went well.  I felt good during the race and I think I ended up with a great time.  The Palos Verdes 5K was a nice run especially since it is so close (although, it is a little deceiving since it is really in San Pedro for the 5K, the marathon and half-marathon make it to Palos Verdes...)  Anyways, it was a little weird running along the Point Fermin bluffs as I used to walk here quite often when I lived in San Pedro and my wife, K, worked late at the library.  I would walk from the house down the HILL and head along the bluffs to the lighthouse (pretty cool) and then head home.  My parents made it out to the race but I had already finished and was walking back to the car.  We met up anyways and I got my picture taken so I will have at least one.  Back to the race - I forgot to stop my Nike+ timer as I crossed the finish line so I am really unsure of where I will be.  Certainly I will be under thirty minutes (my goal for this race).  But, I really don't know especially since there were no timing chips so I think the gun time is the official time.  Well, we will just have to wait for the website updates.

Green Level

So I made it to the Green Level in my Nike+ running yesterday!  That means I have run 250 kilometers.  I would have never thought I could do that in a thousand years.  I have one more training run tomorrow before the Run Through Redlands on Sunday.  I only need 750 more kilometers to make it to the next level.  No problem! ;-p

Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 5K

So I ran my first race this morning, Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 5K.  No idea what to expect and it went fine.  I made it the whole way without walking.  I wish I had not worn my sweatshirt as it got a little baggy as the race went on.  I should have listened to the weird old guy that started to talk to me.  The one draw back was all the down time before the race.  Just sitting around waiting for it to start.  All the booths and costume contest are pretty lame.  There were lots of people and I kind of wish I had known somebody as it was a little confusing.  Oh well, hopefully next time won't be so chaotic.

Websites

So I have been working on my company's social networking sites for a month or so getting them all set up and what not.  I feel I have finally finished the blog page (http://jdfactors.blogspot.com).  I just added some artwork to the sides of the page and it just seems slicker.  I know its not a lot and that an IT guy could have done it in five minutes but it is a little accomplishment for me.  I just hope that we can use this blog, along with our facebook and twitter pages, to do something good.  Right now, they all just say the same thing but it would be nice to get some more information on the sites.  Now I have to convince everyone that our company website needs a face-lift so it looks less like a Microsoft template and more like a professional financial website.  We just got new marketing material that the salesmen will be using and I think that the website should reflect that.  We'll see.