t minus 0: the countdown stops!

10.13.10 - first off, thanks to all that have followed my little photoblog through the course of this 365 project. i appreciate it and am truly humbled that you were interested in my photography and my journey to capture my life this year.

the countdown has officially stopped. at exactly 1:48 pm, i turned 33! woohoo.

as for my last entry for this blog, i wanted to end with some closing thoughts and answer a few questions i've received.

closing thoughts...

as a child, i've always kept journals but at some point i stopped writing about my daily experiences when i grew older. i can't recall exactly when this happened but it just did. fast forward years later i moved to nyc. i remember one day thinking to myself that all these significant moments that happened were never captured because i didn't have a camera with me. so many feelings and thoughts lost because they weren't documented.

perhaps that nagging feeling was the impetus for my growing interest in photography. something that didn't blossom until 2007 during my honeymoon to london and paris. it was the first time that i ever felt inspired to record the sounds, sights, and raw emotions i felt being in these new cities/countries. i wanted to earnestly capture a story of my moment there. i believe this was the first time i came to appreciate the power that pictures can have and that a photographer holds as a story teller.

what we know of the past is often passed down through oral tradition or what is written in our history books. history had always been my favorite subject when i was student. but, one thing always bugged me. i had always wondered who was writing or telling these narratives. whose perspectives did we now see as "truth"? i think there is much to be said about being able to tell your own story, with your own words, and from your own perspective of what is important to you.

so maybe, this is all to say these are the reasons why i wanted to start this project 365... 1) to document my life (as mundane as some days would be), 2) to remember how i felt, people i encountered and loved, and places/things i've seen, and 3) to be the "teller" of my own story. i didn't want to reach another birthday saying,"wow, where has the year gone?" we can all celebrate the big events as well as the small ones. each is significant and shapes who we are.

lastly, when there were times this project became another task on my enormous to-do list for each day, i had to remind myself of james livingston. a photographer who took a photo a day, every day from march 31, 1979 until his death on october 25, 1997. as i mentioned in a previous post, there is something beautiful and profound in someone exclaiming, "yes, i existed!" in whatever form he or she knows how to do. thank you james for being my inspiration.

frequently asked questions (faqs)...

1. what cameras did you use to take your photos?

• i used a total of 4 cameras for my photos. in order of most photos taken on this blog: iphone, canon eos rebel xsi, nikon coolpix, canon 7d. 

2. did you intend to use your iphone as the primary camera for this photoblog?

• no, but it was the most convenient since i always had it with me. it also allowed me to take unobtrusive shots. through this project, i discovered a whole world of iphoneography which blew my mind! it challenged me to be more creative and forced me to better understand its mechanics. i'm a firm believer that any camera can take an amazing picture... but, you must know how to use your equipment well.

3. did you really take a picture everyday? did you "fudge" any days?

• yes, i took a picture everyday for 362 days. i missed 3 days total (days 191, 287, 290). i also decided to post a photo montage of old photos i took for my 9/11 post (day 334). despite having taken a photo that day, i didn't feel it depicted the true essence of what that day meant to me
• no, i didn't "fudge" any days. despite not being satisfied with many photos i posted on this blog, i wanted to stay true to the original concept of project 365. 

4. how many photos did you take per day?

• it all depends. some days i took hundreds. other days i only took one and that's the one that went up. there were times when i couldn't decide between certain photos so i put all my favorite ones up and it became a photo essay. what can i say? i'm a libra and we are indecisive sometimes.

5. what would you do differently?

• my biggest regret was not being able to keep up with posting daily. while i shot a photo a day, my work and other personal commitments often prevented me from processing the photos and writing up blog entries on a daily basis. but, what can you do? life happens.

6. would you do another project 365?

• yes, but probably not in the near future. the demands and commitment it takes to do a 365 are a lot. i don't know if i have the stamina and discipline to take on another one just yet. 

7. will you continue to post any more photos?

• i won't be posting any more photos on this blog. however, i will be starting up a new photo project beginning on november 13th. you can also see my other photos by connecting with me on flickr. 

until next time, happy shooting! 

day 365: and then it was done

10.12.10 - looks like this is it folks. the last photo of my project 365. thanks for following my journey this year. i'll be the first one to admit that i'm surprised i made it; but, i never say no to something that will challenge me. tomorrow the countdown stops and i turn 33. a new year and new opportunities. i'll be posting my closing thoughts and answering some frequently asked questions for my last official post on this blog.

day 364: what awaits me around the corner

10.11.10 - i spent my holiday day off in beacon, new york with my dear friend, m. although i was still feeling under the weather, i thought some fresh air and a change of scenery would do me some good. we hopped on to the 9:56 am metro north train from the harlem station and about an hour later we were surrounded by the lush greenery and views of the hudson river. a far cry from the noise and concrete of nyc.

we spent the morning checking out dia:beacon. it was nice to enjoy the art work free of crowds. perhaps my favorite installation was the drawing series-composite by artist, sol lewitt. i was brought right back to my geometry class. add a dash of what could only be a slight case of ocd to the artist's affinity for lines and shapes... and, you get some amazing and intricate work of art. brilliant!

i also enjoyed seeing richard serra's torqued ellipse series. i saw his work for the first time in seattle and it was nice to be able to experience it up close at dia. here's a shot i took of my friend, m, and we walked the narrow entrance to one of his pieces. 

after the museum, we enjoyed a nice lunch along dia's main street. i couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. beautiful, sunny weather and a chance to rejuvenate both the body and soul. 

i'm now just one more day until the close of this project. i anxiously await it. 

day 363: once in a century

10.10.10 (posted 10.11.10) - happy 10.10.10! so much for it being an auspicious day. i've been stuck in bed nursing this cold. hope it was much more lucky for others. 

day 362: walk for families, community, and health

10.09.10 (posted 10.10.10) - despite having a stuffy head and feeling the first signs of a cold, i got bright and early this morning to participate in 2-mile walk in doraville, georgia. the walk was sponsored by the center for pan asian community services. in its' 6th year, "the empowering asian americans, native hawaiians, and pacific islanders' walk" celebrates the contributions of these communities in georgia. while the focus was on these communities, the crowd was diverse and in many respects reflected the  multicultural communities in the area. there was live entertainment and community booths. i was most impressed by the wonderful community spirit from all the participants there. it was southern hospitality at its finest. here's a few of my favorite the shots from the day.

day 361: stay within the lines

10.08.10 (posted 10.10.10) - wow. am i spent! after two long days in training. i am ready to get some fresh air and relax. but first, let me decompress. here's a shot i took while of the sheers in my hotel room while i was waiting for my colleagues to get ready for dinner.

day 360: takes me back

10.07.10 (posted 10.10.10) - i don't have much of a sweet tooth. i'd say i am much more of a savory, salty snacker. i much prefer chips, pretzels, and pork rinds over a cake or cookie. however, i couldn't resist grabbing this bag of cracker jack. it brought right back to my childhood. this was one of my favorite snacks. i don't know what i liked more... the caramel coated popcorn or the prize in side. too bad this version didn't come in the traditional box.

day 359: not sleeping in my own bed

10.06.10 (posted 10.10.10) - hello, hot-lanta! wow. folks weren't kidding this place is warm. it's the fall for crying out loud. why is it still 80+ degrees? i left nyc where everyone is wearing boots and scarfs. not ready for this change in temps.

oh well. i'll be stuck in conference rooms anyhow while in atlanta for the next few days. hopefully, i'll be able to get some decent rest tonight. it's always hard to get used to sleeping in another place besides your own bed. i start up at 8:00 am tomorrow. wish me luck.

day 358: out on a school night

10.05.10 (posted 10.10.10) - it's the middle of the week and the day before i head out to atlanta for work. that didn't stop me from hanging out with friends tonight to celebrate my buddy, jdk's birthday. after work get-togethers are always a great way to break up the monotony of the work week. besides, who says you have to wait until the weekend to have a good time with friends. so here's to you, j! 

day 357: break a leg!

10.04.10 (posted 10.07.10) - this evening i was the "official" photog for my company's charity event. it was an evening of song and a celebration of asian american theater artists. here's a few of my favorite shots.

day 356: livin' the "suite" life

10.03.10 (posted 10.06.10) - my buddy, e, scored tickets for a suite for the last mets game of the season. of course, i couldn't pass up this opportunity. the suites are on a private level. you get unlimited food and drinks. the box seats were cushioned and with heat lamps (those came in handy. it was freezing!). totally worth the price! all these luxuries sure helped out. the game went to the 14th inning. yikes! the only thing that would have topped it off was if the mets had won...

day 355: the secret shopper

10.02.10 (posted 10.06.10) - i was beat from the fun-filled partying during last night's fundraising event. famished this morning... hubby and i dragged ourselves out of bed. first stop, the grocery store. feed meeeeee.... said my stomach.

day 354: rain, rain, go away!

10.01.10 (posted 10.06.10) - another crazy rainstorm passed through nyc late last night. it was torrential. at one point of the night, it sounded like someone took a large hose and just left it to run next to my bedroom window. add thunder and lighting and i was a cranky mess in the morning. oh, sleep, i longed for it. 

unfortunately, i didn't get a chance to try to salvage some more shut eye. i had get up early to run a bunch of errands before the fundraising benefit tonight. 

here i am stuck in traffic in midtown manhattan. oh well, at least it gave me a chance to take a few shots while sitting in the car. looks like rain or shine, tourists will be tourists. 

day 353: i'm a pack rat

09.30.10 (posted 10.06.10) - one thing is true living in nyc. you have your job job (the one that pays the bills) and then there's your "other job". the other job can be a number of things. say your side-jig or your true passion or your hobby or your volunteer work or a book... cooking... running... you-name-it-club you belong to. the list goes on and on. everyone i know is involved in multiple activities at any given time. where we all find the time to do this i have no clue.

as for me, my "other job" is serving on the board of directors for a nonprofit organization i helped co-found.

even in the midst of everything that has happened this past week, i was still involved in helping to plan our nonprofit organization's annual fundraising benefit. as soon as i got back to nyc, i returned to working on logistics for the big event tomorrow. this evening, i spent it wrapping and logging in all the silent auction items. here's the pic of some of the items all wrapped up and ready for transport.

day 352: topsy turvy

09.29.10 (posted 10.06.10) - what happens when you take a glass filled with water, rings on the side of your desk, and an iphone camera turned upside down? this...

day 351: strength of an ant

09.28.10 (posted 10.06.10) - there is no rhyme or reason as to why i took this photo. i wanted to try out a new iphone app and thought it would be kind of neat to see how a photo of ants would turn out. i started googling images of ants and came across this. sometimes, i do things just because...

day 350: everyone needs a break

09.27.10 (posted 10.06.10) - fearing i would have a repeat of that dreadful flight going to l.a., i took a dramamine and quickly dozed off to sleep. about 5 and 1/2 hours later i was on the northeast feeling pretty rested. thank goodness! now only if i could stay up for this 2 hour layover in boston...

day 349: another day, another world

09.26.10 (posted 10.06.10) - farewell, l.a. hubby and i are headed back to nyc. it's been a week of catharsis and closure. i'm glad we got to go home to be with my family during this difficult time. i don't know how we would have been if we didn't get a chance to grieve with them. letting go and remembering the good times is truly liberating. 

just before we checked into our flight. i snapped this quick picture of the LAX theme building at the airport. in a few hours, we go back to our lives in nyc. moving on but not forgetting...

day 348: symbol of love

09.25.10 (posted 10.06.10) - this evening was my grandma's memorial service. it would be an opportunity for family and friends living in the u.s. to pay their last respects to her. tomorrow my mom and her siblings will be flying to the philippines to prepare for funeral arrangements for my grandma's burial there.

i struggled with what picture i would take today or even if i should take one.

at the end of the night, my family all gathered at my parents' house. we brought back the large flower arrangement that lay on top of grandma's casket. it was filled with yellow and red roses.

roses are symbolic of many things such as honor, beauty, wisdom, devotion, passion, and timelessness. perhaps the most common meaning is that roses are equated with love. i found something online that said roses are symbolic of a union that will never fade - even through time or death.

i guess it was fitting that i ended up taking a photo of these roses then.

although we are so saddened that grandma is no longer here with us today, we know that she lived a full life surrounded by so many that loved her. (she would have been 93 this coming october 22nd). her family and friends celebrate this and how much she meant to all of us.  

day 347: how will you remember me?

09.24.10 (posted 10.06.10) - hubby and i decided one way we could contribute to my grandmother's memorial service was to gather pictures of her with her loved ones to use for a collage. t spent hours scanning and configuring it. here's a picture i took of one portion of it. the collage will be hung in the mortuary during visiting hours and for the service.

it was a comforting exercise for us. going through the multitude of pictures helped us remember the happy times with grandma. those memories are the ones i want to cherish and hold to when i think of her.

day 346: to everything, turn, turn, turn

to everything (turn, turn, turn)

there is a season (turn, turn, turn)

and a time to every purpose, under heaven

a time to be born, a time to die

a time to plant, a time to reap

a time to kill, a time to heal

a time to laugh, a time to weep

~ pete seeger

09.23.10 (posted 10.03.10) - my hubby and i are back in california to attend my grandmother's memorial service. it's been a trying few days. however, i'm glad to be surrounded by family at this time.

i found this asian pear in my parents' backyard. i thought it was pretty telling of just how life is. there's a time for everything...

day 345: air control

09.22.10 (posted 10.03.10) - hubby and i were stuck for over an hour on the runway at jfk... the reason, air force one was getting ready to fly to dc. potus' crew takes priority.

had i known this would be the worst flight i would ever encounter, i would have much rather stayed on the ground for a longer time. there was so much turbulence due to heavy storms in the midwest. it was like being a ball in a pinball machine. i was extremely nauseous for at least half of the trip.

i probably shouldn't be surprised. it's been a rough week.

day 344: watching the world go by

09.21.10 (posted 10.03.10) - after years of living in nyc, my tolerance for waiting for things has increasingly lessened. it's been an anxious couple of days. today, i realized that i have to just let some things take their course. that no matter how much i try to push for a faster timeline, it's out of my hands. valuable lesson on my part. let it go... everything will work itself out in the end.

day 343: camera shy

09.20.10 (posted 10.03.10) - the days until i finish my 365 project are close but today my "muse" doesn't feel like being the subject.

day 342: seeing double

09.19.10 (posted 10.03.10) - it's late and it's been a dizzying day. i received some sad news from home this evening. my mind is in a whirl much like this photo.

day 341: in the spotlight

09.18.10 (posted 10.03.10) - after many weeks of searching for a new light fixture that was both affordable and suited our taste, we finally found one. we were also pretty nervous because it would be our first time installing one on our own. hubby scoured the internet for tutorials. luckily, it worked. after putting it up in the home office/studio, i had some fun taking photos of hubby after all his hard work.

day 340: plucked and prodded

09.17.10 (posted 10.03.10) - i'm at the threading salon watching and waiting as others get their eyebrows shaped... pluck and prodded. beauty is not easy...  

day 339: play me a song

09.16.10 (posted 10.03.10) - today was a strange day. it started off as a normal work day but by 6:00 pm that night several tornadoes had touched down in brooklyn and queens. the storm was short... probably only 10 minutes but the aftermath was insane. fallen trees. debris everywhere. train lines stopped working. traffic and accidents. it took my co-worker 5 hours to get home because the entire long island railroad was shut down.

i was lucky. i was indoors attending a conference during the tornado and my train line wasn't affected outside of waiting a little longer to catch one.

that evening, my friends and i decided to go to a local pub in the neighborhood to unwind. a jazz band was playing that night. at least my day ended with soothing music to calm the jittery nerves. 

day 338: the world is your canvas

dreams are like paints of a great artist.

your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas.

believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.

~ author unknown

09.15.10 (09.21.10) - here's a photo i took of a silkscreen print hanging in my bedroom. 

day 337: moments before home

09.14.10 (posted 09.21.10) - sometimes i lose myself in the hurry of others... especially after a tiresome work day. my mind wanders on the long subway ride home... only to be brought back seconds before my stop. 

day 336: cigarettes and rain

09.13.10 (posted 09.19.10) - "cigarettes and rain, every day's the same..." photo taken at the bowling green subway entrance during rush hour.

day 335: where creativity happens

09.12.10 (posted 09.19.10) - the third time is a charm. hopefully, this is the last time we rearrange our studio/office space. now only if we can wave a magic wand and our clutter would disappear. ah, that task is for another weekend. it's the end of the day and... we're pooped.

day 334: in remembrance

09.11.10 (posted 09.19.10) - i'm feeling a bit conflicted about this post. i've been going back and forth about whether to post the photo i took today or not. after much reflection, i've decided my feelings about the significance of this day is best shown through a mosaic of pictures i took days after the tragic events of 9.11.01 of various vigils and tributes in nyc. 

today, i think about the lives lost and those left behind. let us rise above the anger and hatred, show respect to all people, and work towards peace and reconciliation in our country and throughout the world

day 333: follow me

09.10.10 (posted 09.19.10) - if i had to conceive an album cover in my mind... this is exactly how it would look. photo taken at union square.

day 332: palm... made

09.09.10 (posted 09.19.10) - do the 'do... the hubby's go-to tool and product for his "oh-so-fabulous" hair.

day 331: why so smug?

09.08.10 (posted 09.19.10) - pearls, black dress, and huge sunglasses... classic. smirk... typical new york. photo taken at the j, m, z platform on the canal street stop.

day 330: i tawt i taw a puddy tat

09.07.10 (posted 09.19.10) - i'm super behind (once again) with the blog posts. in attempt to catch up, i'll be posting the photos with a brief description only. sorry... longer commentary is just not going to happen  today.

here's a shot taken at the newly open red mango frozen yogurt shop in my 'hood. 

day 329: a feast for the eyes

09.06.10 (posted 09.13.10) - happy labor day, everyone! so how did i spend mine? i checked out the asian feastival in flushing, queens. it's a "one-day culinary festival and tasting event celebrating local, authentic asian cuisines in queens, nyc. feastival goers will have the chance to see, taste and appreciate the diverse culinary landscape of queens all in one place." all i can say is YUMMMMM! here's a shot i snapped of one of the cooking demonstrations -- dumpling making. 

day 328: lazy summer days

09.05.10 (posted 09.13.10) - after a night out of partying into the wee hours of the early morning, hubby, our friends, and i decided that we should have an laid back day. we boarded a water taxi to brooklyn bridge park and enjoyed a nice picnic. nothing beats having the manhattan skyline and the brooklyn and manhattan bridges as a backdrop. oh, what a lovely day.

day 327: a night out on the town

09.04.10 (posted 09.13.10) - it's the weekend... but not just any weekend. it's labor day weekend and hubby's birthday. here's to the next several days of celebrations filled with lots of fantastic food, great company, plenty of lounging, and hopefully plenty of awesome weather.

i snapped this picture as we were walking from dinner to our next gathering spot, a speakeasy called madam geneva. the streets and restaurants were bustling with people. all with the same idea we had... having a good time and savoring the last bit of summer.

day 326: the long wait

09.03.10 (posted 09.13.10) - she's waiting for someone that may never come... 

day 325: so close, yet so far away

09.02.10 (posted 09.13.10) - manhattan is a distant dream for those that live in the outer boroughs...

day 324: my name is ema hesire, but you can call me emmy

09.01.10 (posted 09.13.10) - it's the end of the work day. i snapped this shot just as a street vendor that sells women's clothing was packing up his stand.

day 323: drop me a line

08.31.10 (posted 09.01.10) - i snapped this pic during my afternoon break. it's from the hermès window display at their financial district location. i hadn't intended that the reflection of the building across the way would be so pronounced when i first composed the shot. but, after i processed the photo i thought it added a nice touch and helped to better emphasize the neon sign. 

day 322: (wo)man's best friend

08.30.10 (posted 09.01.10) - this sweet thing was hanging out next to the entrance of the post office. i could swear this doggie posed a little when it saw me bust out my iphone.