The adventure continues...

Over 248 days have passed.
And my backlog is still atrocious though I've not missed a day. And as of this weekend, I can call Edward Lucas of the Economist by the preferred nickname of Laser Brain.

And the number of CF cards in my pile to upload keeps increasing as every time I run out of memory while continuing to lack time, I buy another 4gb and keep shooting. As a result the photos seen on my other blog are almost entirely film as those aren't as effected by the backlog. Though my computer is running out of space, my shelf still has room- though lets be honest it also needs to be organized.

I just returned from the World Affairs Council conference at Asilomar and as a result I'm no longer preparing for it. Which means more time- and hopefully this will translate into greater productivity. We shall see though.

The joy of this project is even if there's a backlog here, so long as I'm actively meeting people and shooting photos during the daily interaction the spice is not lost on my side.
Thus as always the adventure continues...

Song(s) of the Week:
Coyotes by Jason Mraz
Make it Mine by Jason Mraz
(both of which have not been released yet but I've been listening to them on his myspace - and if you've got time I'd urge you to hear them too.)

Following Your Advice

I was recently told:
"Worry is pain suffered for something which hasn't happened yet"

And on that note, I'm not going to worry about the lag. I'm going to continue to do things on a daily basis with meeting, interviewing and photographing people. That was the project statement and I've stuck with it. After all nighters, during finals week, when busy with work, when socially awkard... I’ve kept going with the daily commitment. And I don't want to ruin the results by rushing the post processing. Every time I stress about the backlog, and then try to do edits I find the results are atrocious, and I'd rather do it right. I feel like every person I’ve interviewed has trusted me to do my best, and to half ass a portrait is a disservice to them as well as myself. So I’m going to take the advice offered to me and not worry. The next month will be insanely busy as I’m going to do some traveling to figure out where I’ll be for the next two years while simultaneously taking a full course load, TAing a course, and working on a side project (which while it takes time away from this project, aids me in keeping myself visually aware so I don’t go into auto pilot). I will be trying to organize the files so when I have time to properly post I have everything laid out in order, but I’m not going to worry. Thanks for your patience.

Song of the Week:
I’m Yours - Jason Mraz
or
Childlike Wildlife - Jason Mraz

The Backburner

The backburner is the name I have given the folder of photos that been uploaded to my computer but have yet to be color corrected, cropped, backed up in their edited form, uploaded to the web and posted on the blog. And it is huge folder... October 26th - December 15th and I’ve still got to add everything from mid-December til now. I spent most of yesterday organizing the interviews which had been sitting in my camera bag. Which although that sounds like very little, double checking the photos with the interviews to make sure I put the right names and faces in the correct order takes a fair bit of time. For every photo I’ve not uploaded that means figuring out which of 9 CF cards to look at, and where in that 14.5gb is the single image of the person I’m looking for. The logical solution would to be of course, upload the photos. However until I organize everything in the backburner, there is no space on my computer because I’ve acquired a sizable backlog. Somewhat of a catch 22 here: If I want to get ride of the huge back log I need to catch up on uploading. In order to have space to upload I need to be rid of the backlog. And in order to have enough free memory to run photoshop and do the postprocessing necessary to get through the backlog, I need space - which can only be found by getting rid of the backlog. So as it stands I have barely 1% free on my computer to process things, I have 9 CF cards waiting to be uploaded, I have 161 interviews to type and I still have limited free time. I beginning to think this project will not finish in the 365 days, but rather that plus a few weeks to sort through all the files. Anyways, I just wanted to inform you all that I’m still alive, still shooting portraits and interviewing people daily and hopefully will have updates here in the not so distant future.

Song of the Week:
Jenny Don’t be Hasty - Paulo Nutini

Back in Inaction

You’d think things would change? Or you would if you were me and an optimistic pessimist. I hope things get better, expect they’ll get worse, and am shocked at either result. It’s been nearly a week and a half. Since then, not much new has happened as far as the backlog is concerned. But on my side things have gotten a bit worse. My sleep debt has gotten dangerously bad, to the point I’ve had to ask a coworker to drive me home. After 13 hours of sleep total last week, I assumed, “It’ll get better. I’ll pass out the moment I get a chance to and things will improve. I’ll have time to do everything that was neglected, and things shall resume.” But alas, a bout with insomnia is winning, my classes have not happily vanished, and deadlines still loom on the horizon.

Additionally little things irk me, like the fact that every time I open the document where I’ve save the interviews, it changes the margins. Somewhere a few days in, generally around Day 6, the inch at the top becomes three or four, and the bottom margin increases to five or six inches. Thus every time I open the document to begin typing, I find myself cursing the computer as I reset everything so each day fits neatly on one page. This problem is a rather silly thing to be irked over, however the time it takes would be enough to type an interview or two, and often that’s all the time I have when I come to the computer. Or by the time I reformat I’m distracted by another item on the never ending to do list, and I end up not typing anything of relevance. Like this post.
Alas. I’ll hope for change, but first I’ll hope for sleep.

I just finished day 188. And I’ve not yet missed a day (knock on wood)

Song of the week:
I’m a Loser - the Beatles

An apology to those taking the time to read this.

There is no photo post today. And there wasn’t one yesterday or the day before. And I’m absurdly far behind on the posting part of this project. I’ve thus far interview 176 people. And posted ... not enough. My laptop is cluttered and my workflow method obviously needs to be modified because I’ve got 6 full CF cards to upload, a binder full of interviews to type, and I just started a second binder earlier this month.

I keep thinking, as soon as I finish (insert school/work/social activity on my agenda), I will upload and post. But inevitably what came in the parentheses involved a computer, and after hours on end staring at a screen I feel that I cannot do any digital photo work because my eyes are tired. And I feel like to do the work in that state would be an insult to those who’s photos I’d halfheartedly churn out in order to post sooner. While waiting for a time when my eyes aren’t drained, when my head is in the game, and when I can do this project justice, I’ve ended up letting the presentation part wait on the back burner.

So time passes. And my sleep debt gets worse, the backlog increases, the exams never stop and therefore the potential excuses never end. Which needs to stop. Many people advise: Enjoy life. (Specifically my day 55 and 56 ... both people on the page my binder is open to) and I do, or I try to. But perhaps enjoyment at the cost of productivity should be warned about. Because eventually you’ll end up over 120 days behind with a pile of photos, interviews to type, and people to contact with apologies for the wait.

I am sorry. Not for any specific delay because I do have my reasons. But rather for letting the delay get this bad. For the fact that the majority of posts recently have been my rambling comments rather than the images you’d expect to see. I know my schedule is ridiculously busy so I can’t promise it will change soon, but I will try to get some more stuff posted in a more timely manner. Thanks for your patience and for still being here to read this.

My songs of the week:
I’m Happy Just to Dance With You - The Beatles
Take My Hand - Dido

Day 55 - Alex

Day 55 - October 25th 2007
Location: Air above Europe between Madrid and London
Setting: BA flight 465

1. Preferred nickname?
Alex
2. Birthplace?
The UK, in Chester
3. Paper or plastic?
Plastic
4. Favorite childhood toy?
A teddy bear
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
The belfry, which is a golf course in the UK
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Enjoy Life
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Out riding horses
8. Song of the week?
Let me think... It was really annoying. April Showers

10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
The sign of the cross
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
I’d like to say Oprah, but I suspect it’s gonna be Rosie.

Day 54 - Jay

Day 54 - October 24th 2007
Location: Gelato Shop
Setting: Madrid, Spain

1. Preferred nickname?
Uh my god... uh.. they call me Jay sometimes
2. Birthplace?
Belgium
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
Lego
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
I was sick at home. (In Belgium)
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Oh my god. Just do what you like to do.
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Somewhere in a park, quiet, just sitting, relaxing, preferably in the sun.
8. Song of the week?
I haven’t heard music in a while. Probably the Lord of the Rings theme song

10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Silmarillion
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
Oh definitely Oprah