the tangled web

So it was time to update the website(s).

This is not one of my favorite photographic activities, but I don’t underestimate it’s importance. And now I have an idea of why it takes forever to do, and why I constantly put it off. I have too many damn websites, more social networking than I can keep up with and if you add in the phone, texting and email, it’s very much an out of control situation.

Behold. This is a diagram I drew of some of the things that I’ve got going on here.

As you can see it’s kind of confusing. And I understand why. I’ve had Facebook forever. One day I decided that I should separate my business from my personal and made a business fan page on FB. But that kinda sucked because FB didn’t give you notifications when people would interact with it. That page has amassed quite an impressive following, but I have no idea what to do with it.  I’ve had twitter since 2008 (though I just really started using it this year).  Tumblr is new, but I started using it as an alternate fine art portfolio. Then I realized how cool it is, so it’s now like a collection of lots of random creative things both made by me and other people.

Before the new year, I felt it necessary to separate my actual photo portfolios to make it easier for clients to see what I shoot, and get to what they’re looking for faster. That was actually a project I was proud of, because I did all myself – and I’m horrible with web stuff. So I’m not changing that. (but a mobile version of the portrait site would be awesome, LOL)

And then I’ve still got this blog, my vimeo page, and a linkdin page that I’ve long forgotten the password to.

So how do I manage all this? I have no clue. While I’d like to segment the things that I create because I know that not everyone is into everything, the struggle is still keeping up with all of it, while still making it interesting enough to visit again.

So today I set out to slay this monster of mine, and here’s how:

-JulianRace.com is the main site. it comes up in all the search engines, so I redesigned it, and linked the portfolios and the social stuff here. simple and clean.

-I’m thinking of doing away with the Facebook fan page… But I’m hesitating because there are a ton of people on there, that I have no other way to connect with, and I’m not sure I want to send out all those friend requests…

-This blog may see a change in content, to focus more on industry things for the time being. Though I considered doing away with this too, but likely will keep it around just because I’ve had it for a few years now. Plus I have so much to say about photography that I don’t because I know it’ll ruffle some feathers. No more tongue-biting.

-I’m almost done with my re-branding too. This basically just means picking logo designs and making sure its consistent across the board. (the new Race Card is on the way too!)

I’ve starting coming to terms with the fact that Ive let this get out of control, and taming it will take time. Today was a good strong step in that direction. Go me. Now we’ll see if any of this yields results…

so if you’re reading this, please go look at my stuff.

An Uninspired Effort

As I sit here at the end of a failed project, I wonder how much longer will this continue… I’m sure this is one of those dreaded “artist moments” where things just don’t come out right, or the inner perfectionist shows up and corrupts all positive creative efforts.  I can’t remember a time where I was this unfocused, and it’s been going on for a while.

My first thought is I’m on the verge of a transition. Something that I think is long overdue. The issue is the other side of the transition doesn’t exist. There have been no efforts to take things in a new direction. One thing with this is certain – mental fatigue has been in full effect for far too long.

This mythical transition has posed some interesting dilemmas because so far I have been unable to determine its cause. I’ve had plenty of these types of transitions where the next thing seems to pop up, and integrate itself seamlessly into the mix. Not the case here though.

What I’m seeing now is some rather uninspiring work going on and I think I’ve had some of the same things on my to do list for weeks now. My usual approach of continuing to stab at it until it works so far hasn’t worked. So I took a break. An extended one, and that did nothing but frustrate me more and here I am now with no creative energy and even less will to try to recover it.

Welcome to the creative process. I’ve learned over time that it cant be forced. This is one of those times where I’ll just have to sit and wait. I don’t know exactly what I’m waiting for, but hopefully I won’t be sleeping when it comes.

For those of you creatives out there, I know you go through this from time to time. How do you cope?

Time. wasted.

TIme is our most valuable resource. We all know this. It goes by uncontrollably and it is finite.  Yet there are times in life when people, places and things will consume this time for the worse, and unfortunately there will be little you can do about it.

Quick Disclaimer: This isn’t a read about time management, efficiency, using post it notes and calendars, or sorting your emails. It’s about the perceived value of time in general and how we use it.

Safeguards

These are the “walls” that we put up to protect us from that which we don’t want. The plus side of having walls is it does allow you, to some degree, control what you let in and filter what you keep out. Sadly, we all fall into this trap at one time or another and in the end the walls are an illusion.

Why is this? Because undesirable things still happen to you. Your walls don’t work 100% of the time, so you get frustrated and try to build bigger tougher walls only to find that a bigger and tougher foe comes along to kick them down. This is the result of being too reactionary, and not clearly defining what you want early enough in the process.  So if you are a gated community, ask yourself if the gate was put up to keep crime out or keep you locked in (10 points if you know where that quote came from).

Mind Control 1: personnel

Lack of control is the hardest thing to deal with and we all hate when we feel we’ve been taken for something important to us. TIme and money being at the top of the list for many. Any time you engage in an interaction with another human being you run the risk of wasting time (or what you perceive to be a waste of time).

When something hurts us or takes something away, we adapt and commit to not doing the same things that led us to that again. While this is a valid approach most of the time, I find it to be increasingly counterproductive to go into each situation with the baggage of the previous in tow. It keeps me from seeing things clearly. It keeps me from being objective, and it makes me charge the next person for what the previous one did.

So how do you go about maneuvering each situation to your benefit while minimizing the risk and maximizing the chances of a favorable outcome? You don’t really. Because you can’t control any other person other than yourself. Yes, it’s not fair or fun, but really your only other choice is to never interact with other humans.

But what you can do is get smart and adapt. Self-evaluate and realize that you are always the common denominator. So if you’re seeing trends you don’t like, spot those and then modify your behavior accordingly. Yes some people do crappy things, and there are some genuinely bad people out there, but don’t blame other people for everything. No one likes whiners or self-proclaimed victims, so hold yourself accountable and remember you create your own reality with your thoughts and actions.

All people, as individuals or as a collective are placed in your life for a reason. Even some of the most insignificant interactions can influence you or your course.  Most (if not all) of these things, good or bad, are meant to make you better. The people in your life that come and go are a reflection of you at that moment. The ones that stay longer are meant to accompany you on a part of your journey and be influenced by you in some way (and vise versa). Longterm relationships that fade away happen because you’ve essentially fulfilled each other’s needs and the dynamic changes.

Mind control (until I think of a catchier name for it) as I see it is the awareness and subsequent ability to affect change in your life. Through basic understanding and manipulation of our universe’s laws, one can essentially alter his circumstances and create a favorable existence.

You want results in life, this is how it’s done. If you don’t believe me or think I’m crazy, chances are you work for someone who understands this concept.

the 2010 highlight reel

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2426166&id=23923789&l=067b81ab37

now posted on my facebook page is a pretty sizable album featuring a comprehensive look at my photography work in 2010. Of course not everything made it in because i shot a lot of stuff, but some of your favorite images are there. So have a look at the year that was. I guess my vacation will be over soon.. sad face… And it will be time to start thinking about what to shoot in 2011…

Drench Fitness

Boot camps seem to be picking up steam here in the fitness world. Although they may not be new in general, they are new to me! Here at the forefront of this movement is Maria and Crystal of Drench fitness. (They’re going to help me retrieve my long lost 6-pack from 10th grade)
We actually shot this quite sometime ago, but they were shot for their new website and I wanted to wait for it to be completed. So I just found out that it was, and it’s pretty awesome, so check it out here: drenchfitness.com

and here’s a word from 1/2 of the duo, Ms. Crystal Pollard:

We offer 6 workouts a week— AM and PM on Mon/Wed and AM only on Fri/Sat. You can come to as many (or as few) as you’d like. As far as the type of workouts, we’ll be doing all kinds of stuff— plyometrics, SAQ (speed, quickness, agility), cardio, strength, stabilization, resistance, sports drills, etc with many of those elements incorporated into games and friendly competitions. And of course if you have any special conditions or injuries, we’ll take care of you and be sure to give you proper modifications! At the end of the day, from a program perspective while every camp is different, there is so much overlap in exercises. The difference lies in the style and personality of the instructor(s). We’re coaches, motivators and very attentive. It’s important for us to know your injuries, your goals, and make sure you’re doing exercises properly, maximizing your time, and working with people on your same conditioning level, etc.

Website overhaul 1

OK, so I’m pleased to report that the new Julian Race Photography website overhaul initiative is on schedule for the most part. I’ve updated the porttrait and wedding site’s image galleries so now it is the official home of all things related to family, kid, portrait & wedding photography.

BEHOLD!!!! JulianRacePhoto.com

My artist statement – 2 years later.

Never wrote one of these really. I tried back in the day, but it took until now to get it together. it’s constantly evolving, but so is everything…  So here it is, copied from my new art blog: http://julianraceart.wordpress.com/ Check it out! I’m back to painting!

The desire to create thought-provoking work has always been prevalent. But the work that it takes to get to that point can be daunting at times. Even if I actually do reach that level, I’m not certain I would even know it. Abstract is one of those things that’s always open for interpretation, so while I do leave some of that up to the viewer, I would like to guide them along the journey. On the surface, abstract as a subject matter can seem to have it’s limitations, but there is such a huge spectrum of emotion and energy to explore. For me it goes well beyond just something to decorate with. It’s a way to express an idea, thought, or concept that should last well beyond the existence of the artist.

In the beginning, inspiration came at random times and was spontaneous and unpredictable. Now, the path towards developing my own visual style has begun to take shape and I have come enjoy a much more deliberate and focused approach to art making. Because of that, I am now ready to begin to merge the physical technique with the intangible guide thus allowing me to communicate each message with purpose.

Each painting, collection, or exhibition has multiple layers to it. Metaphorically, it’s like the sum of several layers of paint strategically placed on top of each other to create an image.  But not all the layers are visible.  It is this sort of depth that I use to draw the viewer closer into the creative process. I do not claim to be a prophet or philosopher; rather I see myself as more of an apostle. In the end it is my intent to deliver a message, share a life experience,  or a simple story.  However you interpret what you see, I want you to take something out of the experience.

Imagine Forever: Explained

Words contributed by the artist, J taylor:

The process for coming up with the name for this series totally depended on the outcome of the art itself.  Often times when collaborating with another artist a project can be over analyzed and the natural flow of creativity is compromised.  To ensure that this did not happen, Julian and I agreed not to worry so much about what to call our work because it would eventually come to us.

This series encompasses the strength and beauty of the woman’s body as well as the reality and ideas that art reveal.  The contrast between the hard textured paint strokes and the smooth curves of the body are parallel to how one’s exterior doesn’t sum up what they are made of on the inside.  When you put the two contrast together they create an incredible image.  Before I began to paint each one of my subjects I imagined how they would look once I finished painting them.

I also allowed their energy to influence the direction of my painting so the art would be honest.  Once their entire bodies were covered in abstract art, I noticed a change in the confidence and comfort of each model.  They began to own their new look as if all insecurities never existed.  They wore the abstract art like body armor.  This caused me to imagine how wonderful it would be if creating abstract art on an individuals body would shield them from all insecurities, low self esteem, and discriminations.  Imagine poverty, imagine domestic abuse, imagine breast cancer, imagine diabetes, imagine hunger gone forever.  IMAGINE FOREVER…

“In order for me to create, I have to imagine.  And when you capture an image, it’s forever.”

- J. Taylor

Imagine Forever: introduction

Welcome to Imagine Forever.   This is a special art project we’ve been working on for a while and there’s so much to share about it so we’ll cover it in installments. For now, here are the cliff notes:

We begin with a conversation between fellow artist and friend  J Taylor. For years we had been talking about doing a show of some sort together, but it never came together. But this time would be different. We came up with the idea of combining our talents to create a new and original body of work that we would then exhibit and distribute together. So Imagine Forever (which started with a different name) was born.

This is really a collaborative project that you rarely see in the art world and that is one of the things that’s special about this for me.  We started with a test shoot not really knowing what it would look like. But it was immediately apparent that there was going to be some game changing evolution going on here right from the beginning.

Thousands of images later and many many many hours of proofing, sorting, discussing and strategizing, we have finally come to a point where we can show something. The collection will consist of 12 fine art (abstract) images. They are limited additions of 5 and will be available in 3 sizes. Each piece is signed by both artists and will have the certificate of authenticity. When you think of fine art photography, you usually think of a print in a frame, but this will be different… I’ll explain how in the next installment, so stay tuned for that.

We have a ton of great material to share so if we’re friends on Facebook or you follow me on twitter you’ll start seeing a few images pop up here and there, and the featured models will have their favorites posted as well. These are not the actual pieces that are part of the collection. Those will be presented on it’s own site which is currently in production.

Next up: where the name came from, maybe an interview with a model, and a glimpse of some of the finished work.

The Paralysis of Analysis

I’ve been hungry for over an hour now. I can’t decide what to eat. This is a problem, because the longer I take to decide the more desperate I get, and the less likely I will be truly fulfilled in what ever I choose to eat. As the hunger grows, my patience declines and I begin to settle. F*cK it. Another sandwich…

Sound familiar? You took so long trying to decide on what to do; analyzing every possible option that you ended up just doing nothing. That is the paralysis of analysis. This isn’t a post about effective decision making or good judgement. I think that comes with experience, sometimes age and general common sense.  This is for those that generally have those qualities but still suffer from paralysis. Many of us can relate to this in one way or another and this is especially true for you right-brained artists and entrepreneurs out there.  Paralysis can wreak havoc on your life and your business, and most importantly it’s costing you your most precious resource – time.

Sometimes (and more often lately) I can’t seem to help it though. It wasn’t until recently that I was able to  articulate what was actually going on.  I’m making plans for next year, and I just can’t come to a decision on how things should go. All I know at this point is things have to change. To what degree is uncertain, and because of that, I’m paralyzed. I’ve sifted through so many blogs, articles, and books and have been flooded with so much conflicting information I don’t even know left from right anymore. I’ve reviewed every philosophy, concept, and idea in detail that I can get my hands on. Still nothing. I still feel like I did when I started this process. Lost.

And I’m still hungry damnit.

At some point, I’ll have to make a decision and stick with it. I’ve got all the facts that I need. All the information is there. At this point, there isn’t really a wrong answer. But I’m looking for the BEST and most PERFECT-EST answer there is. The one that will solve all my problems and take me to the promised land.  Dangerous ground to be on because  that’s what plummets me further into the depths of uncertainty.

My big picture takeaway for today is you won’t know whether or not you made the right call until after the fact anyway, so whatever it is that is troubling you, just pick one and try it. If it doesn’t work make an adjustment one way or the other, but either way you decide to go,  just don’t decide to do nothing.

Sometimes some action, even if it’s wrong, is better than inaction.

Return of the Jayden

Today we have an update on one of my favorite kids from 2009. Mr. Jayden has returned for more mayhem and now he’s a year older. Can you tell?

Jayden's 2009 Look

Last year, he wasn’t really walking, but was still getting around. This year, he’s totally mobile and actually wanted to help (in his own way).  So here he is now, all grown up!

she loves me, she loves me not