Photo for January 31: BMX rider

BMX rider, BMX Park, Austin, TX. The riders at this park must have had magic pixie dust, because they could fly! My friend Chad and I were on our mountain bikes with full biking regalia: bike shorts, shoes and helmets. I'm sure these guys thought we were major dorks.

Photo for January 30: Pig Car

Pigs on Parade Car, alleyway; Austin, TX. Further evidence for why I love this town! Someone actually took the time to decorate their car with pigs. And they drive around in it! Keep Austin Weird brother (or sister)!

Photo for January 29: Business Party

Laurie & Esmy; Networking Austin party at Chez Zee, Austin, TX. A business group I'm in was throwing a kick off party for the new year. These two lovely ladies are some of the great folks I know through the group. Thanks for your great smiles you two!

Photo for January 28; Icy morning

Icy rosebushes in my yard. It wasn't quite enough ice to let people play hookie from work and school, but it was enough to cover our plants in a thin layer of crystal. Unfortunately I should have gotten out there about an hour earlier. brrrrr....

Photo for January 27

Still life of Mah Jong pieces. I don't consider myself a still life shooter so this was an interesting exercise for me. These are the types of photographs where it's very hard to decide when you're actually "done". There is always another adjustment you can make to light, positioning, etc. And your subject never gets impatient!

Photo for January 26

Foggy morning at Rattan Creek Park close to my house. Don't ask me why but there's something compelling about places that have a sense of desolation and emptiness. The misty damp created just that sense for me; even in a place that is usually full of activity.

Photo for January 25

Sunlit trees, Jollyville & Great Hills Trail, Austin, TX. These trees almost looked like bones to me in the last bit of sunlight, smooth and slightly tapering.

Photo for January 24

40 degrees out on Townlake, 15 mph breeze. Runners still out, in shorts... Hike and Bike trail under Lamar bridge.

Photo for Jan 23

10 foot high pythons, frogs with man hole sized eyes...only in Austin. Exotic pet store, Braker Lane, Austin

Photo for January 22

Well, it only took me until 12:46AM, but I got the photo for Thursday Jan 22 done! You guys better be ready for some snapshots here and there because I'll never sleep if I'm always trying to do stuff with these production values (which aren't even that high!). Anyway, it's time for bed now...finally...

Photo for January 21

Ducks at the Arboretum Duck pond. It gave me a new appreciation for what real wildlife photographers have to go through to get their shots. For me, it was sunny, 70 degrees and I was only 200 yards away from a cappuccino!

Photo for January 20 - Inauguration Party at Schultz Biergarten

Other revelers at the Inauguration Party. Renee and I joined about 250 others to watch history in the making. Of course, the dilemma I face in situations like this is being torn between taking photos and actually watching the event!

Photo for January 19

Wiley the toothless dog. You'll probably be seen lots of shots of him over the next 345 days!

Matt Launches 365 Project and Blog

My new blog coincides with a new project I have undertaken for 2009; the 365 Project. Some quick background: I realized over the last couple of years that the only time I was taking photographs was when someone was paying me to do so. Not a bad situation considering it's my business, but not exactly a recipe for feeding my creative soul.

Hence the 365 Project. My project (and challenge!) is to create and post one photograph per day, everyday through the end of 2009.

Since the purpose was to rediscover my love for photography I have kept project critera simple:

- The image has to be created on the day it is posted for (although the post will be one day behind). i.e. no taking 10 photos in one day and taking the next 10 days off!
- DISCLOSURE: I got this idea on January 13. That means I am having to "back fill" the slots to January 1.

That's it! The subject matter is completely open. It could be a simple snapshot from my point & shoot; it could be an actual portrait for a client; it could be a portfolio image. The idea is to create, at least once a day.

Will you come along this ride with me? I will need the encouragement and interest I'm hoping I get from this project to keep me going.

To see the entire gallery go to the "365 Project" link on my website, http://www.matthewlemke.com/. See below for images from previous days (I'm still working on my "backfilling" before Jan. 13.)

Photo for January 17

My friend Sean, guitar player for the band Lip Service at Cool River Cafe

Photo for January 16

Austin Traffic, 183 at Braker

Photo for January 15

Texas State Cemetery, corner of Navasota and East 7th Streets.

Photo for January 14

Light switch in old stable, ranch near Cameron, Texas

Photo for January 13

Imagine what my backyard could look like.