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Paul Walters | all galleries >> Picture a Day FOR A YEAR >> January, 2004 > Nothing Left
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06-JAN-2004

Nothing Left

I spent three hours today trying to come up with SOMETHING to photograph, and I think I've finally hit a brick wall. There's nothing left! I really can't think of what to photograph anymore. I have another 136 photos to finish off this project, but I really don't think I have that many ideas left! This daylight savings time here with the sun being down before I get off of work is REALLY limiting what I can photograph! It's either in the house, at work, or driving to work in the morning, or in the dark outside. I think anyone that views my gallery can expect some pretty drab stuff coming up! Sorry, but I'm TRYING, I just am running out of ideas. I think I need to come up with something totally new with lots of possibilities... but I haven't come up with anything yet, especially that can be done at night, or on my way to work in the morning. Oh well. I just thought I'd warn you.

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Guest 17-Jan-2004 11:10
Pual,
I tinhk you mghit be lkooing isnide the box or pbrobalby jsut up angisat an iomvalbe
ojbcet, so jsut bcak up and sooht the ohter driceiotn . . "Life's no fun if you're not having a good time." . . . It could be "Mad Camera Disease", but I doubt it.

Thank you for your comments on my images . . . coming from you . . it made my day! I plan to expand my pbase galleries . . it's alot of fun sharing.

I have the utmost confidence that you will continue to find "Dynamic Digital Projects"
... and continue to teach us photography. You have reached a plateau (one million hits)
that all of us admire, and wish to achieve.

Today, I am going to shoot portfolio shots of my first model . . I'm expecting to have fun . . and use some of the things you have done for inspiration. Thanks for sharing . . . again, and best regards.
Sincerely,
John Connor
Guest 09-Jan-2004 16:31
Oh patooey! I can't believe I just typed "patooey". You never can run out of things to photograph, but I can understand how it can get a little stale after a while. I'm only on day 10 and I can relate. But although I've only been going for a few days, I'm finding I'm getting more into the project each day. It's fun to watch the galleries build.

You do great work, and it's a pleasure romping through your gallery.

Jim
www.pbase.com/jfuglestad/366
Guest 09-Jan-2004 04:34
Hang in there buddy ... you have the biggest fan club on the planet! You have a gift here and an ability to make the simple look extraordinary ... don't stress ... anything will do. And I have no doubt that your anything will more often than not be better than my extraordinary. :-)
Guest 08-Jan-2004 04:34
Paul, my friend - there is one thing I know for certain. YOU may feel as though you cannot possibly come up with another single picture, but all of the rest of us KNOW you can! To help illustrate the point, please take a leisurely stroll through your 24 galleries and browse through your 1,135 pictures that you have ALREADY taken. As you do that, take a moment to reflect on the THOUSANDS of pictures you took during those days, but didn't post - simply because you could only choose ONE of them! You, more than any other single person in this project, has already taken enough creatively beautiful photos to fill at least 5 YEARS of daily shots!! LOL Not to worry, buddy - you're the POTD Master - and you have a gift for finding the "extraordinary," cleverly hidden in the "ordinary." You haven't lost your "Jo," Paul - and we haven't lost our faith in you, either. :)

To the Conquest of the Project! *clink* I'll drink to that! :p
Guest 08-Jan-2004 02:51
This reminds me of the commercial of the guy who reaches the end of the Internet... I don't believe it can happen.

Rob
Faye White07-Jan-2004 21:58
Paul, I was thinking the exact same thing today.... but I can't imagine that YOU are out of ideas! You've inspired so many people, I know you'll make it.
Cagie 07-Jan-2004 18:16
No need to photograph anything else, Paul! The Fruit Loops did the job! :)
Paul Walters07-Jan-2004 16:18
Talking about Inspiration, you guys are full of it! I mean, full of inspiration. :) I have never considered ending my project prematurely, I just an concerned that I've taken my last decent photo. But with all the input I received from each of you, I promise to do my very best today! If time permits I'll try being a tourist, or finding a tattoo shop, or photographing my toe, or SOMETHING! Food was suggested, so I took pictures of my Froot Loops this morning... Definitely not INSPIRATIONAL, but at least it's something! I'll post a couple of my Froot Loop pictures, then try to get something better today or tonight. THANKS EVERYONE!!!
Guest 07-Jan-2004 15:52
Doh!!! I hate it when that happens! Speaking from experience (and I completed a whole year recently), it is HORRIBLE to have that sinking feeling of not having any inspiration.
But think about it: you live in CALIFORNIA!!!!! Even if you are at work during the day, and it's dark on your trips to and from work, there are still night shots, there is the sea, there is a full moon coming up...tattoo bars, bikini's, rhinoplasty, bikes, sun, blah blah blah...! What about doing the tourist thing in your home town? Would that work?!
Try living in my area: concrete and bricks, and sad faces!
It's up to you if you want to call this project a day, but I suspect that the frustration of having not completed this will outweigh a few days where you've dried up!
Nikki
BTW: ooh, new toy? Lemme see!! ;)
Mark Koeppen07-Jan-2004 15:46
Hey Paul,
This is like 'hitting the wall' at mile 18 in the marathon or staring at the blank canvas as an artist...nothing comes together. Now its time to look back at all the great images you have captured and shared with all of us. You've been an inspiration to so many. There are so many photographers out there who would love to be able to do PAD like you but just don't have the time or creativity to get it going.
Maybe use this as encouragement to get you started again. I know that doesn't put an image in your viewfinder..... but, hey, night time photos are great for after work. Interior photos are great too. Remember subject matter is not all that critical. Cosmo Cramer (Seinfeld) did a book on 'coffeetables' ....

Anyway, stay focused and .....take a photo of you taking a photo....
Chris Brooker07-Jan-2004 10:23
Dear Paul

First congratulations on reaching the million, a great achievement.
I can see that it must be very difficult to produce photographs of your very high quality on a daily basis. Any reduction in quality would not be acceptable to you.
There are no hard and fast rules about what we do, apart from honesty. I, for one see nothing wrong with putting up a photo when you can. We all know in what great esteem you and your work are held by people fortunate enough to find your galleries.
Take the pressure off and perhaps inspiration will follow.
You do us all good and we have so much to thank you for.

I think I will take a photo of my big toe today!!!!

Chris
Paul Walters07-Jan-2004 06:26
What do I have up my sleeve A Reid? Just an arm with a little bit of hair on it. Thanks for the idea suggestions Jeanne! Hmmm... Toys? My little rubber duckies? Floating in the tub? Nah... I don't want people to know I have rubber duckies, they may laugh at me and point and I hate it when people do that! Food. That's funny. :) I don't really eat much food. I have canned diet drinks in the fridge and some milk and some cold cereal. Nothing very photogenic! Closeups of weird things often works. A person can get by with pictures of things like that in a pinch. The cute chicks work. I always do that every now and then. Wanna come over? I'm only 401 miles away! Oh yeah... I'm getting a new toy on Thursday! I'll do a picture of that for Thursday. :) It's a cool toy! Oh well... we'll see what I can come up with for tomorrow, then the next day... and so on.
Guest 07-Jan-2004 06:19
Yea, see you are about 4 months further in to this, so I can't even imaginewhat that will be like. Toys, sock monkies, food, extreme closeups of weird things.... invite over more of those cute chicks....I have faith in you Paul! Don't give up, dude! You are the master!
Paul Walters07-Jan-2004 06:08
Hi Jeanne! Yeah, your address and phone number was nice to get! :) But the problem is, I think I'm burnt out! Really. At least on my Monday through Friday. I can come up with some things on the weekends when I have time to drive some place DURING THE DAY TIME. But these weekdays are just not working well. When I started this whole thing I had lots of things I figured I could do... but I've done them all. Now what?!? Drive to San Francisco? Maybe that would work! ;)
A Reid07-Jan-2004 06:07
So what's next? Gotta be something up your sleeve.
Guest 07-Jan-2004 06:06
SHUT UP! I gave you my address (and phone number!!) What's the problem???

Seriously, congratulations Paul, this is a very wonderful thing, so many people inspired by you!! You have to be stoked!