January - Self-Portrait [Nick]

Hello! Haven't we met before? I'm Nick. Remember? Yes, I am now back on track with my photographs, in case you were wondering. Let me share a little about my odd and sometimes rather clueless self for this month's project.

So here's me. Basically.

I like to take pictures. It's kinda cool, I guess (obviously I am sarcastic. It is very cool. Try it.).

I also like to draw. Sketch. Shade. Smudge. Erase. Repeat. 

Also, still on the topic of drawing, I sometimes doodle on myself. My left hand is the perfect canvas! I guess you could say that these doodles on my hand represent my strange and confused mind. (Don't worry. It all washed off the next day. Most of it. And no, I in fact did not get ink poisoning.)

Everyone stop. Yes, I sometimes take selfies with my mom. (This is back when I had shorter hair, ladies and gentlemen.) The only problem is I am the only one who really knows when we're taking a selfie. Hence this candid shot. Enjoy.

When I was a kid, Calvin and Hobbes was my favorite thing to read. I would spend hours reading (but rarely ever understanding) the jokes and punch lines of the famous strip. I still do love Calvin and Hobbes, and it will remain my favorite until the day I die. 

Another thing about me is that I love art. 

Shapes. Design. Shading. Color. Art is amazing. Art is God's creation. Color is God's creation. God is so incredibly amazing.

I took quite some time to finish these. It turned out nicer than I thought it would, though. At least I hope. 

A New Visualization

Hello, friends!

We are excited to let you know that The Visualization Project is getting a few new changes for the new year!

Perhaps one of the most exciting changes is that we are adding another member, Madeleine Drees! Maddie is a talented artist with a unique eye, but as the realm of photographic art is new to her, we're all excited to see how The Visualization Project grows her strength in this area. Welcome to the blog, Maddie!

The next change in The Visualization Project is that we will only be posting once a month. Before you howl in dismay, let us explain. Last year, while we started out strong, we got bogged down by the weekly assignments, as you can see by the lack of posts in November and December. This year, we will be doing one project, not word, a month. These projects vary, but they will be like the Summer Movie Visualization that Rebekah did last year. One project is a movie; another is replicating a famous work of art. They will require a bit more thought and effort, but since there is only one a month, we will have more time to prepare. And, not being bogged down by missing previous weeks, we will have more energy for completing our tasks well and with creativity instead of scrambling to find pictures that only slightly work for the word, simply so we can be done with it.

In addition to the monthly project, each photographer may post individual projects throughout the month. These projects are whatever the photographers wish. We might post some pictures that perfectly portray a certain word, similar to last year. We might post about the colors of spring, or a new concept in photography we've been working at, or anything at all on which we've been inspired. Thus, there will be more going on at The Visualization Project than just the monthly projects.

We hope that these new changes here at the blog will encourage us to persevere by giving us a little more freedom. We also hope you find much enjoyment in our productions. If they are something that you enjoy, let us know! Visit each month and comment to tell us which is your favorite photo, or what you would have done for that project, or how surprised you were by someone's take on it. Tell us what we could have improved. Share our work with others. Post it on your Facebook page. Knowing that people are enjoying our work is a great encouragement to us to continue and to do our best!

We're looking forward to this new year, 2014!

The Photographers at The Visualization Project

Week 16 - Saturation [Nick]

Hmm. Saturation. I'm not exactly sure what this makes me think of, but mostly things to do with color and change. So here goes. I hope you enjoy!

Week 14 - Solitude [Nick]

Solitude.
Alone.
Loneliness.

Week 13 - Foolery [Nick]

Foolery.

This makes me think of someone doing something stupid.

Or maybe something funny.

Week 12 - Serenity [Nick]

Serenity.

Calmness.

Breathing easily.

Week 10 - Splendor [Nick]

Splendor.

This word makes me think of something big, bright, beautiful.

Or sunglasses, maybe.

Hm.

Week 9 - Innocent [Nick]

Innocent.

This word makes me think of something that is small or helpless.

Or maybe something that is... not guilty? Hehe.

Week 8 - Confusion [Nick]

Alright, so. I told my fellow visualization friends that I would be posting pictures last Wednesday. But, I didn't. And that is because I decided to post everything (well, almost everything) that I am missing all at once tonight, since I didn't have any plans. So, scroll down, there are more posts from me than just confusion.

Again, I apologize for being so late. I am still working on innocent and splendor. Thank you for being patient with me, especially my friends who gave me the opportunity to do this.

And now, my pictures.

Confusion.

Nothing really comes to mind. Except for these photographs.

Enjoy!

Week 7 - Romantic [Nick]

Romantic.

Unfortunately, I was never able to get ahold of some roses. Oh well.

Romantic to me is... A love letter. Or, a ring. Or, a proposal, or a flower, or... Anything that makes someone feel loved or admired. It's that "aww" feeling we get when we're at a wedding and the bride and groom just said their vows as they stared in each other's eyes. It's beautiful. It's heart-warming. It's romantic.

Week 6 - Glad [Nick]

Glad.

Glad makes me think of someone who is happy. Or, someone who has a smile on their face. A child with an ice cream cone. A 100 on a test. Glad is happy. Glad is inspirational. Glad is good.

My first photo is of a table my Nana and sisters made. The table has several pictures of me, my siblings, and my cousins on the trips we took in the summer. And yes, that yellow polo, glasses-wearing, gap toothed, long haired little fellow down towards the right is me. Ah, memories. Best they stay memories. Anyway, enjoy!

Week 5 - Lines [Nick]

Lines.

They're everywhere.

Week 4 - Mystery [Nick]

 First off, I would like to apologize for not getting my pictures in for over 3 weeks. But, I do have a reasonable excuse. I was moving, and I didn't have my computer set up with internet access up until Friday. Again, I am sorry.

Anyway, the word "mystery" I found very intriguing. There are a number of different things you could use for this, but these are just my ideas of the word as a picture. A silhouette, a fog, a light.

I will get the rest of my pictures in as soon as possible.

I hope you enjoy them!

Week 3 - Countenance [Nick]

This weeks word I found pretty easy. Not much to say about these pictures overall, other than I hope you enjoy them.

This first one I took on Christmas Day. My cousin, Alyssa, was having a nice chat with one of my relatives when I captured her facial expression in the middle of the conversing.
I thought it portrayed "countenance" pretty well, so I decided to use it.

These next photos makes me laugh. While my mom was talking to my sister, the below photo is one of the expressions she made. The picture below that is my dad, also on Christmas.

Countenance at it's finest.

Week 2 - Silence [Nick]

First off, I'd like to apologize for getting my photos in a little late. I procrastinated and did not get my pictures in on time, but, nonetheless, they are here.

Silence. Hmm... Makes me think of an angry principle in an auditorium full of students. "Silence!" he yells. And then, the whole place is in, well, silence.

Now, coming up with a picture that described "silence" was the tricky part. I don't think I'd be able to get my whole school in an auditorium for just one picture, so, I had to improvise. The second thing that came to my mind was someone holding their hands over their mouth, blocking all sound coming from their throat. So, here ya go.

Special thanks to my little sis, Abi, for being my prop.

My third idea of silence, to piggyback off of what Bryce said, is the eyes. My apologies if it seems like my other sister, Paige, is peering into your soul.
Special thanks to her as well.

More pictures might come, I don't know for sure though.
Thanks!

Week 1 - Shimmer [Nick]

When Rebekah asked me to participate in this project with them, I was very excited. It's great to have a chance to let others see art the way I see it, not just dull and gray, but colorful and filled with life. God's creation is full of glory and wonder, and taking pictures of His creativity is just one way to show it. Now, don't get me wrong, photography is not one of my mastered skills, but I'm positive I can take a good photo.

This weeks word was "shimmer". When I think of the word, I think of soft light being reflected off of water or glass, or maybe a sunset off in the distance. A glow, a beam, a "shimmer".

My first few photos made me think of the word immediately. It may not for you, the reader, but hey, who's judging? Anyway, these pictures came about when I had some fun with a wine glass, a jar, and my desk lamp. Hope you like 'em.