Photo for March 3: bulbous eyed dog

Wiley of the big bulbous eyes. Yes, it's Wiley again. Thank god (dog?) for him when it's 9:30pm and I realize I don't have my shot for the day! He so abused isn't he?

Photo for February 25: Nuts, screws, and bolts

Fasteners in a bucket. I was helping a colleague of mine on a shoot for a manufacturing company in Giddings, TX. These are some of the materials they use to build the pieces of furniture they market.

Photo for February 21: Last rays on a dusty shelf

End of the day sunlight falling on one of the shelving units in my house. (I had the photo prepared earlier in the day, but wasn't able to post right then and forgot about it until just now!) I really love what light does when it strikes objects (or people) at extreme angles. I think it can make a mundane part of your everday life pop, shimmer and taken on an interest that doesn't exist at any other time of the day.

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 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...

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 14

Light switch in old stable, ranch near Cameron, Texas

Photo for January 13

Imagine what my backyard could look like.