Found this little image on my computer this afternoon.
I took it about a month or two ago, when some students were sleeping outside in boxes to recreate what its like to not have a home.
It's snowing outside, damn near blizzard. I guess I just thought its important to be thankful for our warm beds tonight.

Stick that in your back pocket.



As always. More to come.
J

From the National Noose Rally this past Friday (December 7, 2007)

It took a lot for me to drag my butt out of bed on a Friday, my only day off, and stand outside in the freezing, wet, cold snow with no gloves for three hours but I must say I am proud of myself. I got some cool images and I feel like I proved something to myself. It's just about enterprising. You gotta want it.
Tons more images, I just randomly picked these few.

As always, more to come.

Photo Illustration for my studio class.
"Picture Perfect Relationships" -- Get it?

Exams. All nighters.
It's been a hella of week.
I've only got around 7 hours of sleep for the past three days but the goods news is I think I have a decent portfolio ready to go and the slight bit of confidence I've been searching for this semester.
I have to say I'm sad to see my class end. It started out as a nightmare but now, now its something more. I learned more in that class than I have in any other course.
Thank you for that.

Another random photo.
I know the point of this class is to make us better photographers, better people.
But his policy of breaking us down so we can build ourselves back up, well, I don't know.
Because apparently he hasn't met me.
I was already pretty low.
And now.
Well now. I don't know how much more I can build up what isn't there.



He got inside my head and now I can't get it his thoughts out.

Someone wrote this on both the elevator walls in Moore Hall. I found it after a particularly long stressful day and I have to admit, it made me chuckle.
Life is funny that way.

Messages seem to find you right when you need them.
Or maybe you just need to learn to open your eyes.

Because its been awhile.
This is for my still-life assignment.
Its not really champagne, but ginger ale.
Little photo secret. You become clever in finding cheap alternatives.

I wish I could have posted my painting with life assignment for Halloween...
but that was not a good time for me.
Things are still crazy but I'm trying to keep my head above water.

New story.
This one scares me.
Its time to sink or swim Jessica.

Long time, no blog.
Photo story on teacher.
The fun little crayon image, is well, just fun.
The second one, although not the one I used in my story but very similar, my teacher loved.
Especially given the context.
It's a great mood setter.

All and all, another story down.
Time for sports.
Urgh. Pressure's on.

Another images from far too long ago and from much happier times.
Random roadtrips.
Driving.
New places.

What happened to fun?

Horrible day.
Miserable night.

I don't even have time for a shower, myself or happiness anymore.
I can't do anything right.

My first spot news of the year.
This guys and his crew were on campus today, yelling about how everyone's going to hell.
It was quite interesting.
Most of the time these people don't bother me because I understand what they're trying to do...
but these people. These people were nut jobs.
Everyone's a sinner. God hates sinners. We're going to hell.
If you're gay, you're going to hell. If you're had sex, you're going to hell.
Smoke? Hell. Own a computer? Hell.
Yeah I know, that last one threw me too.

They'll be back tomorrow. I hope to get more.
I wasn't really impressed with what I got.
I hoping to get someone all up in his face, yelling and screaming.
Ah. The money shot.

Now I'm going to hell.

Dreamers

I took this yesterday.
I have a new little game I play after my professor gave one of my fellow students advice that I just happened to over hear. I try to take a picture every day.
This was Wednesday's photo.
Standing at the end of Moore Hall, fourth floor, my new home, I caught Matt daydreaming.
I love these kinds of moments.
The ones where people forget you're even there.
Ah. Magic.

I signed for an internship interview today.
On a whim.
Monday, I'll meet with Grand Rapids Press.
I don't even have a portfolio.
I've been debating back and forth all day whether to take my name off that list.

Maybe I'm just daydreaming.

Where to begin. Today was hell.
That seems about right.
Everything went wrong at work and even worse at school. Honestly, I'm so focused on photography and improving my skills that I couldn't give anything to care about these other pointless subjects. I feel like I'm wasting my time and yet I'll never be done.

The good news? Yes. There is good news.
This is another image from my farm family story. Which went over very well in class.
My professor was utterly impressed and for once, I was proud.

Time for a new story.

Another photo taken far too long ago. This time this summer.
It makes me miss home. Like I always do.

Work is crazy and school isn't much better.
I find myself wondering off on thoughts of internships and employment possilities.
Oh the places you'll go.

Except.
I don't know where I'll end up.

Down on the Farm

I spent another day at the farm. Odd. It's October and its the hottest October I can ever remember. There were flies were everywhere. Smells to be had.

This image is from the first day, around 6am. Earliest I've seen the sun since high school.

My camera smells like farm?!

Past

I miss friends. I miss the days of endless nights, laughter. I miss the time. I feel like all I own anymore are old photographs. Like past relationships, they stack up and gather dust, often being nothing more than a distant memory, a lesson learned. A mission accomplished.
I want to photograph. I miss the days of pretend photo shoots and experiments. My dearest friends becoming my models, my muses. My days are now spent coveting others mastery work. I miss it all. Road trips with my canon counterpart.
This one's to you, old photographs. You hold the memories I hold so dear.
We'll be together soon.

One year ago I took this photograph.