I was avoiding my letter this week because I didn’t feel like I had anything particularly interesting to say or share. Butttt rather than put it off until tomorrow, I’m encouraging myself to send it out today with whatever I’ve got. Although it feels good to write something cohesive and “finished”, that’s not the purpose of this creative outlet for me. I’m just here to force myself to make and share something once a week. And the week ! is ! up !
Lately I’ve been less in a writing mood and more in a shooting mood. While I was able to organize a few “real” shoots, the “need to photograph” energy typically works its way through my system on walks. Eight times out of ten I leave my camera at home when walking - its presence garners a certain uncomfortable wariness in passers-by, even when holstered with the safety on - but these sporadic February cloud breaks have been irresistible.
You may have seen the images I took on a walk for Willamette Week after I shared them last Wednesday, so here are some additional photos from a different walk I took a few days prior, at sunrise. This was mostly a camera test, playing with my parents’ recently exhumed Nikon and the twenty year old film it was buried with.
I was pleasantly surprised with the color I was able to finesse out of this expired roll, but couldn’t be bothered to try and correct the weird curling that left the oil-spill-textured line through the center of many of my scans. With these, I’ll let the scratches and dust and grainy shadows and curling exist as part of their charm. As grungy as Portland likes to claim it is, I think the little city would support that decision.
In other life news, I went to the movie theater twice this week (Women Talking and Decision To Leave - both excellent) and I can now play two whole songs on the piano. The latest one I learned is Blue Vein, by Lael Neale, which I often practice in the evenings over a chorus of twenty or thirty crows who like to gather on a tree across the street. Check back in with me in a few decades - this could go down as my favorite song ever for lyrics alone.
Also this week I went for a hike, deep(ish) cleaned my apartment, assisted four days, and spent my extra time at the gym to pretend I was too busy to answer emails. Today I ran a breezy four miles and tonight I hope to finish crocheting a grey beanie I’ve been chipping away at the last few days. I’m essentially doing everything I can to avoid sitting still.
Hope you enjoyed your Saturday :)
Jordan