Out of the blue

I got a project today to layout an add for Seattle Bride Magazine. It's an insert. It looks really good. I'm proud that I was able to dump time on something so sudden and important. The card will be in 15,000 magazines around the area. It will be featured at the bridal show in January. It was a long day and I hope the project is done...

Plan A's Drop Dead Date

The big project should get a go/nogo on friday. I'll be happy to know either way. Thats for sure. It's a win for me if I get, its a win for me if I don't. I think that means I can't lose.

Baseball is like life; Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains

 
Projects...

So I started working on a project I've been thinking about for a long time. It will either generate short term income or a whole lot of steady long term income. It's really not right to take the long term. I'm just happy its coming together so easily. I got some momentum going today that I'm going to ride into the evening after the kids go to bed. I can't believe how easy it was actually. Just working yesterday and today on it.

I'd like to get this one out of the way and then start on my own photographic project. I can finish this work before my lights arrive. Then I can play...

 
The Second Right Answer

So now we're assuming Plan A is dead. It's not technically dead. I mean the go/no go is up in the air. I had however thought that at least some disucssion would go into this decision. That has not been the case. No questions have my way, no clarificaion, no discussion of concerns. I can't close the deal without a voice...

But hey, I value the fact that I went through the exercise of the work I did for more than one reason.

a. It got me off my posterior.
b. It gave me a new outlook on things (it's always good to broaden)
c. I did the skull sweat and I'm proud of my plan. I truly believe it is the best plan available from all the options I could think of.
d. It showed me exactly how cheaply I could do projects on my own.

So I took the plunge

I bought the stuff I need to do my own seriese either hanging or in a book. I'm going in the book direction first, but I may try and hang some of the work to create some cash flow. I'm back to a marketing hat in some respects, but the rest of this year is just play with toys. I love toys. I value technology. I value good technology and I have a serious knack for making it work for me. I read every in and out there is to know.

Chomping at the bit

I haven't felt like this in ages. I don't want to go to sleep. I can't wait for the day to come so I can work more with this stuff. Tomorrow I put the last of my office and studio spaces in place. I get it finally really clean, no excuses for anything. A superior space is valued for the efficency and focus that it creates.

I feel great.

 
Unexpected Recognition

So my photos on photo.net are getting a fair amount of attention. I'm surprised that the india cups have been rated so much. Its just a random thing I think. I got some really high praise form my chalice chop cup shot. This makes me Internationally Renowed Professional Photographer, but only barely!

You can see them either at: Photo.net

or for larger versions try here: Astrowonders

Plan A slips

I'm thinking that plan A for my still life shots is slipping away. Problem? Not really. I mean ya it would have been nice to cut my teeth on that project. I can rest assured that I presented a win win proposal for both sides, I did my best all the way around on it. If the client doesn't want my services it was still a very valuable lesson. I learned quite a bit. One thing was I learned how cheap it was to get into that business.

Plan B comes forward

Having written a short proposal to a co author for my book project. It's quite an undertaking. It could be way fun. There are a lot of details, but this is a key example of not being shut down by a set back. Just because your path doesn't change, you do not need to lose sight of the goal, even if it's a little silly...

 
Still Life

As I said in my last post I'm working on a second plan to accomplish similar ends. Want to take a look at the ends? Check out my magic stuff portfolio page. This is the general idea.

I like still life of magic props. They look so interesting. I mean who else would put a ball into a small vase? The colors used in some mid 1900's pieces are so primary. Some of the designs of the more "oreintal" (thats what they called it back then) style props leave a little to be desired. They are usually very basic dragons or boats. The writing is very basic. There is a rumor that a certain piece has quite a few Chinese characters on it that read "please do not urinate in the alleyway". Dunno...

I like shooting these pieces as they don't complain about how long it takes to do the lighting. They don't eat. They don't need rest. And best of all they never blink!

 
Goal Searching

It's hard when you focus on one goal for a long time and then that goal gets blocked. So the question then becomes "what do I do now?" I've been hard at work on a goal up to the proposal stage. I've worked my best approach possible. I've thought win win the whole time. So now I'm waiting for the go/nogo decision. This goal has planned 350 hours of work not including the days I've already put into it.

So now I have a choice. I can sit around and wait. um... no. I could continue to push this goal and work on it despite the lack of go/nogo... again no. What I'm going to do today is look at the end of that goal and see if there are other ways to get to it in case of a nogo. It's not like I'm in it for the money. So the nogo just means I have to do it myself.

Here's the bonus part if I get the go and I work out plan 2. I could do BOTH. Think about that. Now compare that to waiting by the phone! No way It's time for some laser thinking to get plan B in place.

Ahhh the smell of proactivity...

 
A Day Doing

I spent most of yesterday in the garage. Its not a place I spend much time, but with the photography going as strong as it is I need space to work on stuff. So not only did I get the space in order, I took some shots. Perhapps I'll post what I've done. I'm using borrowed equpiment right now, but that will change with time.

I looked back on the day and realized I had gotten a ton done because I was doing the important. I had asked myself what is the most important thing I can be doing? Actually doing photography was the answer. So thats what I did. I took a bunch of pictures.