the 366 project.
Why a 366 project? Well, as I stated previously:
Pretty self explanatory. I take a picture every day, post it to Tumblr, and the rest, as they say, is history. I get better at photography, Internet users may get a glimpse into my life.
That’s the simple (and perhaps pretentious) answer.
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There’s an ambitious and underlying drive to prove myself as a more multitalented person. Growing up, it always seemed that successful people (or at least those that little Brian was aware of/admired) were chameleons in the sense that they were capable in a variety of arenas. I used to wish that I could be a polymath and make groundbreaking contributions in a number of fields in the mold of a Ben Franklin, da Vinci, or Leibniz – then I realized it was a lot easier to be a polymath back when the standard of knowledge was considerably lower. Even still, the modern-day equivalents have a bunch of things going for them. You know the people I’m talking about. One favorite example: Vernon Davis is the best tight end in the NFL, but majored in studio art in college and runs his own fine arts and interior design company.
So “I get better at photography” is my boilerplate way of saying I’m trying to develop another talent. An unfortunately expensive talent. My current walkaround set-up consists of this, this, and this. Sure, there’s the point-and-shoot route, which is cheaper than any one of those components. However, if I’m going to make it a goal of mine to get good at photography, a P&S camera is a bit limiting. And make no mistake – I’m not good yet and will certainly not be anytime in the near future. But diligence is a good thing, yes? Like taking-at-least-one-picture-a-day diligence.
I suppose it’s a bit of an open question whether talent begets success or whether the basis of success is more intrinsic. But I have to believe that I’ve got the bones to be successful either way, otherwise it’d never happen.
All of this is regardless of whether or not people actually think of me as a single-track kind of person. I would hope that’s not the image I project. Within certain circles, no doubt, I’m “that science-y guy.” And truth be told, I am indeed science-y, with double science majors, plenty of research experience, and future plans to go to grad school in neuroscience. But it doesn’t hurt to have more tools in the toolbox, as they say. Balance is good. So is getting in touch with one’s artistic side.
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P.S. Have you ever realized how amazing taking pictures is? Philosophically speaking, it’s capturing a slice of time. People talk all the time about how advanced we are relative to other species - we’ve “mastered” our environment, formed complex societies, conquered diseases that regularly felled our ancestors, etc. But to record moments of life, to look at any number of years down the line? That’s pretty cool.
P.P.S. Since I regularly take pictures of the food that I cook, I’m going to try to avoid the easy route and keep this a separate project. 366 pictures of just food is a bit ridiculous.
