the hearts project
Get in the Valentine’s mood and start spreading the love a little earlier this year with a project that ends in a gift. While this is a photo project, moreover, it’s a way to leave a little heart in some unexpected places.
Shown, are just a sampling of outtakes from my Hearts Project. To get started all you need is brightly colored paper, scissors, tape, a digital camera, and the guts to look ridiculous in front other people for a few moments.
The adventure began by cutting out a purse-full of hot pink hearts, grabbing my camera, some silver duct tape (for lastablitiy) and going about my week as usual. The only difference being that, like cupid, I left a little love everywhere I went… and photographed it!! Sometimes it was not possible or appropriate, but whenever I could I left the heart where it was shot, like tiny pink remanence of joy for whomever might cross its path.
There are oodles of things to do with the pics when you’re done, but if you’re want to really go for it, I suggest transforming your digital collection into a beautifully bound book to present to your Valentine. Both Kodak Gallery and iPhoto are great reasonably priced places to get you going.
I hope to see your hearts around town!!
large scale artwork on a small scale budget
If you sit around like I do, daydreaming of museum-sized photographs filling your walls, then maybe you should try rasterbating!! (no… it’s not dirty, notice the “r”)
Rasterbating, also known as tiled printing, is a way to take a large image and break it down into smaller, page sized pieces, which can later be reassembled into a whole. So, instead of spending thousands on a 30×40 print, you can get an artful effect for the price of a new cartridge of printer ink and some photo paper. (really, you could use any sort of paper that suits your fancy, I just so happen to have boxes of glossy photo paper laying around my house so I went with that)
Here are some easy-to-follow instructions… clicking on the image will allow you to see the full-sized details:
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- Fill an empty wall with large format affortable art.
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- Choose an image or photograph from your collection of personal work. (click on this image for more information about rasterbating)
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- Gather supplies: pins, small hammer, level, ruler, rasterbated images.
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- Use the ruler and level to draw a straight line on the wall, where you want the picture to start (the top).
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- Start hanging your images… click for more detail.
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- Continue assembling the image, piece by piece, row by row.
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- Secure the corners to the wall by hammering straight pins into overlapping sections.
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- Working row by row, continue to assemble your image.
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- Enjoy your rasterbation!! Comment, and show me your finished pieces.
Since I happen to be a bit of a tech-nerd, I did all of the image tiling myself via photoshop & imageready… but for the not so tech-savvy, there is this great website (although it looks like the website is down right now, so I might just have to write up some steps for the photoshop novice) that will help you through the technicalities.
a picture is worth a thousand words… really
A few months ago I started a new photo project: collecting letters. What you see above is only a sampling of the ABC’s I’ve snapped throughout the city.
Like bringing little e.lie with me and photographing his adventures, having a side project with the camera is not only fun, but it opens your mind to seeing the everyday in another way.
Check back in a week or so (update: maybe a little longer than that) to see one of the projects I have planned for my new collection… I just need a little more printer ink first.
In the meanwhile grab your camera and click! click!
start a photo project
This project began when someone accidentally left their KidRobot toy at my house, and I took it on a little adventure…
Toting little E.Lie around NYC and snapping shots was a blast, but even more enjoyable was watching my friends join in on the fun. This little guy was not only photographed by me, but friends from ages 3 to 43.
With the digital revolution in full swing, it is not uncommon for even the youngest of children to enjoy the art of photography. If they’re capable of holding a camera and pushing a button, they’re ready for action!
Before returning E.Lie to its rightful owner, I collected my favorite pics, printed them out at home, and assembled a small photo album highlighting our escapades.
Where did your toys go today?
