Project 365 - A Photo a Day

It's that time of year when many make resolutions and promises for the New Year.

Last year I even managed to keep a couple, lose weight and start a Blog about one of my passions, Outdoor Movies (which you are reading).

This year I will attempt a Photo-a-day project.  That is, to take, and post, a photo every day.

Why?
1. With both my businesses I get to travel around California and Oregon. This project will help me keep track of the people, places and things I have done during the year.
2.  I love taking photos and I hope this will get me to take more and improve my technique.

When I started thinking about this project, I Googled to see what others have done to succeed:

• Making your intention public (like I am) increases the chance that you will follow-through with the project.  Find groups of people who are doing the same thing (project365 on Flickr)
• Choose a platform to post to and make it easy.  If you take all your photo's with a smart phone, choose a service that you like and use it to post your photos.   If you are constantly on Facebook, create a folder with your images there.
• Blog it, even if it just a couple of words to give your photo context.
• Take your camera with you!

I am looking forward to the challenge!  Eager to get started I chose Christmas Day to begin my journey.

Day 1  - Christmas Dinner

I am storing my photos on Flickr and have joined the project365 group (it's inspiring to see what other people are capturing).  From flickr I will Blog to http://paultheoutdoormovieguy.blogspot.com/

Be it an iPhone, Android, DSLR, point and shoot or GoPro, grab your camera and start to tell your story, one photo at a time.

Cheers
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

P.S.  If you are going to attempt the Photo-a-day, let me know how I can follow you.

Documenting Jackie the House Elf - Elf on the Shelf Photo Project

You may have seen the Elf on the Shelf.  Our house has one.  Armed with a vintage Nikon lens (fast lens 1.4), my Canon 60D and a tripod I set myself a photo project for the Holiday.  Document Jackie the House Elf escapades.

I use Lightroom to process the photos, a few images are enhance using HDR Photomatrix Pro.

Here are the first few days.

Enjoy

Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Jackie the House Elf is back! He brought the children advent
calendars and looks so innocent... but we know better.

Jackie the House Elf Photo-bomb's a Charlie Brown Christmas

Jackie the house elf wins the sack race

This morning, Jackie the house elf was acting like Godzilla and scaring the villagers

Jackie the House Elf enjoying his favorite sport of bareback reindeer trick riding

Jackie the house Elf scores a triple word score with MISTLETOE

Looks like Jackie the House Elf and Red had a date last night!

Jackie the House Elf hit the slopes last night

Jackie the House Elf and Red found the mistletoe

Jackie the House Elf taunts the family dog!

Jackie the House Elf gets captured by the dogs Lego hit-men "Don't mess with my bone!"

Jackie the house Elf took a night off from mischief to have a nice relaxing marshmallow bath!

Jackie the House Elf goes Zip-lining, the Angel is not amused!

Jackie the House Elf gets in a quick 9 "Fore!"

Jackie the House Elf was up all night playing "Little Big Planet"

Jackie the House Elf added a decoration to the tree

Jackie the House Elf with a front-side air in the Kitchen Bowl!

Jackie the House Elf "came in like a wrecking ball"

Jackie the House Elf loves a good game of Twister

Jackie the House Elf and friends toasting marshmallows at a camp out

Jackie the House Elf high dives into 2 inches of water

Jackie the House Elf knitting up a Christmas sweater

Jackie the House Elf wrapped the TV remotes

Jackie the House Elf made a huge mess last night with his attempt to bake cookies!

See you next year Jackie!

Winter Movie Night Top Tips

An Outdoor Movie Night in the winter can be great fun.  The nip in the air really adds to the Holiday feeling of your movie.  Wrap up warm and follow these great tips

1. Have your party guests bring sleeping bags, warm jackets and hoodies
2. Have a basket of blankets that guests can grab (personalized blankets make a great gift for corporate events)
3. Place a large tarp on the ground to help guests stay dry
4. Blow up air matressess for kids to lounge on
5. Have a fire-pit or outdoor heater to warm your hands by
6. Put up a pop-up tent for guests to sit under and stay dry
7. Have hand warmers on "hand" HeatMax Hot Hands 2 Handwarmer (40 Pairs)
8. Have a basket full of inexpensive knit gloves
9. Have a basket of scarves.  Fleece scarves can be easily made by purchasing some fleece and cutting it in strips (try movie or sports themed fleece)
10. Plan on warming "comfort foods."  A crock-pot full of Chili, soup or stew, gooey mac and cheese or a baked potato bar with all the fixings.    
11. Skip the ice cream and roast marshmallows 
12. Have plenty of hot chocolate available (and maybe a hot toddy for the adults!)

Happy Holidays
Paul