Have you ever googled yourself?

But really... have you? I honestly hadn't until this afternoon. I was looking for pictures from last night's game that had circulated to multiple sites and I was actually surprised at what came up. Obviously my facebook, twitter, whatever, but a lot of my photography accomplishments surfaced. All of the times I've put pictures in the Scarlet, the Worcester Consortium show, the UMASS show, hometown newspapers that ran my Clark pictures, my blurb book I made sophomore year, it's just interesting. Even some awards from high school and clubs I'm involved in at Clark showed up.

Anyways, moving on. I decided it had been too long since I'd posted. So let's talk about life. But first...

http://www.telegram.com/article/20120216/NEWS/102169973/1009/sports

http://d3hoops.com/notables/2012/02/wrapup-feb15-men

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68OZ4jxvDAQ&feature=youtu.be

Those are from the game last night, yay! And everyone is blowing up my notifications on those pictures, haha. It's always nice to know that people actually care though. Because it's one thing to do it because I love it and all that. But it's another to know that other people also appreciate it. I'm actually really upset I wasn't at the whole thing. But luckily I went after dance because Mom and Dad just happened to be watching the live streaming online and told me they were going into overtime, haha. It's funny how life happens that way. This semester is pretty much a string of those occurrences, it's kind of been surreal.

Prime example:

http://clarknews.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/tennis-royalty-comes-to-worcester/

The Fed Cup came to Worcester and I got to sit on the sideline and take pictures!!! I was literally 2 feet away from Serena Williams and she smiled at me :) :) :) yup, I'm still a bit star struck. But while there, a T&G photographer said I should submit a portfolio and freelance for them. It makes me think that maybe, just maybe, I can actually do this. I just need to start believing that. Because the most recent bit of news in my life, this event http://www.2012synchro.org/ is coming to the DCU in a few weeks and someone asked Kevin if he knew any good photographers to shoot it, he recommended me and she called and left me a message asking me to shoot it! AHHHH! Surreal. Yup, surreal. I've also been doing photos for a few guys who are making a workout app for smart phones. That's been interesting. We've done one photo shoot and we still have a few more but I'm getting paid to do it! And it's actually pretty fun. It's pretty wonderful to get paid for something I love doing.

A bit more usual... haha, I have a picture in the ARTSWorcester Consortium show again this year and 3 pictures in a photo contest at the library back home. I'm actually going home for the opening tomorrow for that one. I also need to submit to the Goddard House show, the theme is Nature and the City. I just haven't figured out what yet. And taking over my life, literally, is my thesis project. I'm back to doing sportraits again but I'm going to combine them with everything I've done in the past to make a magazine. Crazy? Yup, I'm aware. The final show is April 25th which means I have just over 2 months to pull this all together. I've already done 2 photo shoots this semester plus everything I have from last spring, and then I have one scheduled for tomorrow, another for Saturday, and one next Friday as well. And then a bunch of others that are going to be after spring break so I don't feel bad making them go outside in just shorts and a jersey, haha. Hopefully it'll be a bit warmer by then. But then, somehow, I'm going to take all of my sportraits, action shots, Midnight Mayhem, Fed Cup, apparently Synchronized Swimming now, some articles/interviews and maybe my thesis paper - put that all together and make a magazine. It's a bit more complicated than I anticipated. Not even that part. Just how I actually want to display everything at the exhibition. Because 3 lucky athletes are going to be printed 24x36ish and hung on the wall, mounted on foam core I believe. But then I don't know if I want the magazines on a table, or in a rack mounted on the wall - then do I want a plastic magazine rack or a metal one spray painted white or a wood shelf mounted to the wall ... the possibilities are pretty much endless. I don't like options. I'm an indecisive person when I have too many options. But I'm going to do some tests and go from there I guess. It'll be fine. And after it's done, I'm going to feel so accomplished and proud, it'll all be worth it. ...Right? I just keep telling myself that. And even though this is "normal" life, it feels a bit surreal sometimes because every athlete I've worked up the nerve to ask to pose for me has agreed. They've all actually been excited about it. I love it :) I could so do this all forever and be happy. I wish.

So now that I've fully updated you on my photography life and bored you to death, provided you actually took the time to read it all :P I'm going to go. I was trying to upload pictures of my latest printmaking projects to end on a lighter note but it doesn't seem to be working, so I give up. It's been a long day and as we all know, I talk too much. So on that note, goodbye for now :)