grrlTravels

ISO one gazillion causes marital strife

You know those times when you decide to do something which you know is going to turn out to be a huge PITA at some point and may make your spouse hate you just a little more but you can't stop yourself because you're feeling really compulsive and so you just do it anyway? I thought you might.

That would be me, K. and 365. I would never have known about 365 if it wasn't for Flickr. [Flickr has informed and shaped my photography habits rather more than I think is actually healthy or good for me and sometimes I think I must give it up or step away for a bit but I love it so much that I can't.] Ok, so on Flickr there are hordes of people who undertake a project to take a photo every day for a year, and these projects are commonly referred to as "365s". So far, so good. The idea behind the project is to improve your photography skillz by having your camera in your hand, day in, day out, noticing light, seeking out photos, thinking photography. Reasonable, right? Makes sense?

In 2009 I decided to try 365. On day 197 I fell asleep before I took my photo and the air went out of it for me. I tried to keep going, I tried to start over, but what I actually did was leave Flickr for almost 6 months. If I was the type who could let things go I would have just finished the thing last year, missing days and all. I am decidedly not that type. In fact I drove myself and poor K. crazy over my daily shots which had to be good and beautiful and thoughtful and liked by others and a whole other list of criteria which cumulatively certifies me as insane.

Sadly the idea popped up again this December because I can't find any online classes that I want to take and I can't spend my weekends traveling to workshops and I have neither the time nor the money to go to grad school. I chewed on it for a bit and then I said something to K. like "Soooooo... [longish pause during which K. thought I fell asleep] I was thinking I might think about doing 365 again," that last part whispered to make it less...stupid. K. immediately recoiled in horror and spat at me, "I'm going to need to start a support group!" I think the next thing he said was "Are you crazy?"

K. is a much lovelier person than I and the next day he said to me, "I think you should do it. I think it's good for you," and even though he rolled his eyes I knew he had given me his blessing. I love him for that, because I know that I'm going to whine at him, throw my usual meltdowns in his general vicinity, and fling my neuroses in his face at awkward moments. He knows it too.

Thank you, K. I appreciate the support and the kindness and even the eye rolling. And I apologize for my wild-eyed rant about how we live in a cave with zero good light and how it's too wintery here and I'm especially ashamed about that last little bit about ISO one gazillion.

Posted by grrlTravels at February 22, 2010 11:33 AM