Sacrifices We All Have To Make

            We have made sacrifice to get where we are in life whether the sacrifices to be personal or financial something had to be given up.  If you go in school you're sacrificing your time to attend classes, doing homework and possible debt to pay for school.  If you're in the creative arts you give up your time to perfect your craft and again possibly income that could produce in other fields.  For something to be gained something has to sacrifice that is one universal law that no one can argue.

            Right now I'm reflecting on what I will have to sacrifice to succeed my goals.  It seems one of the greatest we have to sacrifice is our own free time. Managing my time has been something I've always struggled with and I think it's going to be one of the greatest challenges to carry out my goals.  Now I have a great deal more free time since now I'm unemployed but once I find new employment managing my time will be more difficult.  You have to balance both my future job, my present course load, some social commitments and setting aside time to work on my project.  Now I still want to set aside time to return to the gym and I think anyone would agree with each of the set time aside to destress.

            Proper time management will be the key to my success in carrying out my goals.  Now I know I failed in this in the past but it is something I will strive to improve.  I hope my idea of using Outlook calendar to improve my managing of time.  It still will be difficult to sacrifice my personal and social life but is something that I will have to do if I want to succeed. Even though some my project will involve some of my friends I will unfortunately have to neglect some of them in the process.  I will have to properly communicate to why I'll be missing some social events and spending less time with them.  I hope that they will be sympathetic with what I'm trying to achieve.

            I'm still trying to wrap my head around with everything you wanted to and what will be my final objective.  Once I determined what my result will be I can start scheduling what I'll be doing and when to do each task.  For the next few days I'll be focusing on my school assignments and using my creative projects as well taking breaks. The next few days will be busy ones for me especially with some large assignments coming due.  It seems time is something that I will have to balance to carry out my goals.  

Where Does One Start?

           Where does someone start always seems to be the question someone asks themselves when beginning a new project.  I know I've asked myself that question multiple times and yet I don't will be answer.  In the past have asked this question over and over with every project I think of and yet I don't start.  Sometimes I start the project only to leave it alone for several months at time.  For example look at this blog, I've originally intended to do at least a weekly update but it's been some time since I’ve done consistent updates.  I've gone months between doing photography projects now having started researching for the various videos and writing projects I want to start.  I have to ask myself where I want to start also a password on one end.

            I think my constant failure to give project going is because I don't have a clear picture of what I want my result to be.  Sure I go about saying I want to have a short story or novel or he will learn new software's but that's only a vague idea what I want to carry out.  I think for all of these projects are one start I have to start setting goals for each project even possibly setting up the timeline with milestones that I wish to succeed in each stage. By having milestones gives me some form of structure I can follow and keep me on track.  Now I'm using this blog as a way of keeping myself honest on my progression.  

            As I explore each project I want to keep track of and get this blog is way recording my progress.  This what I could possibly we see some feedback on how I am doing as well as make myself reflect on progression I made.  Now this won't be easy since I wish to keep this blog formal.  I will be keeping a more personal journal again as a way of keeping a private record of my own thoughts and feelings throughout this journey.  The blog post will be more of official record of what I'm doing and how each project is progressing.  Right now I'm only at the stage of devising what milestones I want to create and what time intervals I want to perform each one.  Luckily for me I use Outlook calendar as a way of keeping track of my daily schedule so I intent keep track of my milestones by using the same calendar.  This will prevent confusion between my milestones and my school assignments that I do have to complete the class.  In following my career and creative goals I don't want to forget about my school assignments.  I can easily overlook my school assignments while performing my other goals. 

            Another tool I plan to use is up and discovered you listening to podcasts.  Podcasts am referring to is “I should be writing” where the podcast mentioned the magic spreadsheet.  The magic spreadsheet is a tool to keep track of word count a writer writes and assigns a point system to how many words they write with any given day.  It also tracks if you write daily and give bonus points for added word counts as well as keeping the writing streak going.  I hope the magic spreadsheet will help encourage me to continue blogging as well is getting onto my other writing projects.  It may also encourage me to start writing for my school assignments as well since I do plan to include the writing I do for me reports as part of my daily word count.  This way I'm also killing two birds with one stone.  I keep myself motivated to write and keep myself on track for my school assignments.

            Each project will have their own starting point in milestones.  For my YouTube series project I have to start researching the first Canadian movie to be produced. Have to see if I can find a copy of it available either through video rental or online.  After finding out the first Canadian produced movie all have to start doing some research on the movie itself.  Some the research will include with the screenwriter was, some the key cast members and possibly some history on its production.   From there I have to write a script possibly and even some storyboarding for potential shooting.  Finally I will have to make a shooting schedule that my friends I can follow.  This will be my first time doing such project so have to allow some time for trial and error.  This will also lead into learning how to do video editing for the first time which will have its own set of challenges.

For some my photography projects I will have a little bit more work ahead of me.  I first have to picture what types of shots I want to try and what I can carry out with the gear I have. I have to choose whatever portraits I wanted to, who I can have a model for me and possible locations to do the shooting.  For any portrait work I will have to coordinate with model to see where our schedules line up and where would it be easier for each of us to take the shots.  This will also involve me researching more how to do proper model releases and licensing of the photos.  Ever ready started researching how to do proper model releases and have some basic templates I can use.  I may get in contact with a photographer to I know that have some experience in writing model releases to help me along the way.

I am already finding out which event I want shoot in which lenses I want to use for each event.  I'm going to use my 50 mm as my primary lens and avoid from renting any lenses unnecessarily. I also think I will stick with my 18 – 135 mm lens since it does have built-in image stabilization.  I may want to consider bringing my monopod with me for some of the events I was to document as a way of steadying the camera and prevent camera shake.  This may be effective for indoor events where I know the people performing it to make agreements with them that allow me to shoot they get a copy of the images after I'm done process.  For some other events I may have to get creative.

I don't have any ideas for location for different types of shots just yet but I'm in the middle of building my tabletop studio which I hope to start setting up soon.  All I need for now is some L brackets and some clamps.  The clamps I'm sure I can borrow from my father but the L brackets I can to go to Home Depot or Canadian tire to buy.  Even if that have to go out and buy the L brackets will be a slight cost so I am not too worried about that.  Once I have my tabletop studio set up I can start learning more about macro photography and possibly even product photography.  There's a lot I read that you can do with the simple home tabletop studio so have a great deal to explore there. 

For my writing projects will be a little bit more difficult.  I'm still in the process of world building my various worlds and still have to figure out the best approach in researching for them.  For these world building projects I do have to space at the milestones for them.  I have to make sure I have the world solidified enough in my mind before I start writing but not be so focused on world building that I don't do any other writing. This is where I’ll rely on the writing group that joined with deviant art and some other associate writers I know in person.  I do believe my writing projects will be some of the tougher ones to perform since they are the more long-term project I have going on.  I'm even thinking about starting up my own writing group locally to help keep these projects on track. 

So I think I have a good idea where I want to start but as I said before I have to get a better idea what I want my results to be.  In the next coming weeks I hope to be blogging about my final goal and the results I want to see for each project.  This won't be simple or easy at all it may need me to change my lifestyle or how I've been approaching different tasks before.  For this to work I have to keep an open mind and be willing to constantly experiment.  I will also have to be willing to constantly reflect on the progress I’ve made and be willing to change my approach whenever necessary.  But for the first time in a long-time I think I have a good starting point and better yet I believe have a better idea what I want carried out. 

I think it's time for me to stop writing and start getting to work.  As one of my professors like to say it's about what legacy do I want to leave behind and what do I want to be remembered for.  I no longer believe my legacy should be only about my professional career and its goals.  I now believe that my legacy should include my creative efforts as well and how I carry out those goals.  It's time to redefine my life and redefine myself at the same time.  Let's see what I can accomplish with the plan I am starting to create and now with proper motivation as well.

A New Year, New Possibilities and New Troubles

            This is the first real post for the 2014-year.  The previous ones were ones I started in 2013 but only recently completed them.  I am still trying to post these in order sadly editing a post is taking longer than I originally predicted.  I still have to get into the habit of writing these posts more often so I can continue to conical my journey into a more creative live.  Writing these blog is but one part of how I plan to become more creative with my lives.  I hope it also helps me display my progression in the arts and my own journey in the creative life style. 

            It’s two months into a new years and a new year of possibilities but it is also a year of new unknowns.  I have no way of predicting what will happen this year or what will happen in a few weeks.  It has been hard to stay positive over the last few weeks with starting a new job and continue classes.  I keep trying to figure out this new direction I want to take with my life and how to begin it.  Over the past year I have felt lost and directionless with my own life.  Somewhere I lost my path and haven’t figured out a way back yet.  I still lost even now. 

            I took a job that I thought would leave to some stability to my life only to be laid off in before completing my second month.  Now I find myself in the same position as I found myself last year only for the job market to dive on me.  Luckily for me I have schoolwork to focus on and good friends to help keep my mind off my troubles.  Now I am reflecting on my life and what I want to do with it.  Do I want to return to my original field of work or change careers and start all over again?  It is a great deal to think about.

             What I have been occupying my time has been working on processing two of my photography projects.  Strangely simply processing these photos have given me great pleasure.  I’ve received some positive feedback when I posted them to Deviant Art and even received some invitation to some photography group on Deviant Art.  I hope joining these extra photography groups will inspire me to create even more awe inspiring photos.   I have explored the idea of taking my photography to a more professional level but know that I need to improve my skills more.  Soon I am deciding future photography projects to improve my skills.  Luckily I have a friend willing to model and know a local stand-up comedian willing to allow me to shoot his shows.  I still have to find other events and other people to shoot to improve my skills.  I also plan to set up a tabletop studio here at home to improve my macro photography and I hope begin some stock photography. 

            While keeping my self-occupied while searching for new employment I plan to improve some of my skills.  My trade was originally as a drafter so I want to learn extra drafting program as well as further my knowledge in the ones I have used before.  I have bought extra “Mastering” book to learn the programs.  I also have gain access to online tutorials provided from the developer of one of the drafting programs I wish to learn.  With the combination of the books and the online tutorials I hope to master various drafter programs.  Mastering all these programs will I hope improve my job search.  I may try designing some of my own designs so I can post them on my professional page and Deviant Art. 

            Other skills I wish to learn is 3D modeling as well as mastering the entire Adobe Creative Suit.  I’ve had these programs for years and only scratched the surface of only a few of them.  I have the books and I believe it is time to explore what they can do and what my creativity can produce.  Also some companies wish their potential employees to know these programs and so it may also help with the job search.  I need to find ways of explore different forms of creativity and different art forms.  May be I should use my spare time to study different art as well as completing my assignments. 

            Other projects I want to undertake is producing a YouTube series about reviewing Canadian media and start work on a Podcast about Defining Geekdom with some friends.  I don’t know if they will come to realization but it is something to strive for.  I need to keep moving forward and examining different paths that I did not consider before.  This is a new year and if I am to find new possibilities I have to be open to new experience and go beyond my own comfort zone. 

            Here is to a new year, I hope new opportunities and I hope rediscovering the path I lost in the previous years.

Learning About Your Medium

            Okay when I say medium I am not talking about one of those people that tell you your future or speak with the dead but I am referring to the medium an artist decided to work in.  It’s important that any artist take the time to learn about the medium he or she decides to work in.  It’s all part of the self-teaching we each have to go through to master our craft.  For some of us that mean knowing what people have done before and how they got the results that they did.

            For me it started with photography.  I took book after book about photography out of the library so often the libraries knew me if not by name than by how I looked.  I scrounged around the Internet for blog and other tutorials information I could that would enlighten me more about how photographers got some of the awesome shots I see in magazines or online.  Occasionally they were just master of the post processing their images till it's look the way they wanted or the photographer just new how their equipment worked at the time.  It forced me to learn a lot more how to work with the equipment I had and made me learn how to process a photo correctly. 

            Because of my diving into photography and learning as much as I could about it I stopped just shooting in JPEG and in time stopped shooting in JPEG plus RAW.  Now just shoot in RAW.  Once upon a time I would shoot and not bother with post processing. Now I wouldn’t even think about posting an image without doing some post processing work on it.  Luckily Lightroom is a great program for photographers and not as hard to learn as Photoshop is.  I see myself getting to the point where I would need Photoshop for some of the images I want to do but for now Lightroom does majority of the things I need to do. 

            I expect there will be a great deal more for me to learn but so is whatever type of art one undertakes.