February, the Month of iPhone Photography

The first 2 weeks of February, I did Miss Indie's #14DaysofLove instagram challenge. It was a lot of fun sticking to these themes, and I think I ended up getting a couple of fairly interesting photos out of it, as well as getting to spend some time every day thinking about things I love and how to photograph it. How amazing is that for positive thinking! 

The rest of the month, I've bee sticking with iPhone photography. It started out as something out of convenience, because I was used to it, and then I thought I might as well keep doing it through the whole month, making a concept out of it. Or something like that. Admittedly, I've had days when I absolutely did not feel like making the effort to get an interesting photo, and ended up photographing a random object that happened to be in front of me at the time. Actually that's been most of the 2nd half of this month. However, some of the images did turn out quite nice (in my opinion anyway!)

The bicycle wheel, for example, is one I like mainly because of the lines, colours and textures. I took it to get the numbers off the side of the bike, thinking I was going to buy a new set of tyres (I ended up dropping it of to get it done, paying for the price of the tyres plus a £10 checkover, which is fine to know it's safe) 

This one was taken around 9am on a really cold, rather foggy day. This road can be quite busy, but at times it is pretty quiet, so it looks quite deserted in this picture. I like that it is mostly greyscale, but with the yellow lines still looking yellow. This is without any editing. I thought it had a certain atmosphere.

So here I am coming across all tourist-y. This was taken in Covent Garden last Thursday, in the evening, so we've got all these lights looking all nice and pretty. And of course the red telephone boxes. This is England people! 

So, that's February, next month I'm planning to get my SLR out again. I don't have any particular themes or challenges in mind for March, so I guess it's either back to random whatever-comes-to-mind photography, or I'll look around to find something.

New Old Hair

Today, I decided it's time to tidy up that mop I've been keeping on my head. It doesn't seem like such a long time since my last haircut, but I couldn't see anymore so it was time for an update!

I went to the same salon as before, since I was happy with the look then, and I wasn't disappointed. There was a new trainee there today, so the cut only cost me £10. Things really are going my way right now. 

A Nice Day

See the colour of the sky? It's not grey! It really isn't grey! OMG! 

Out in the afternoon for once, cold morning but quite nice later on. And sheep :D 

Apples

Seeeeriously out of ideas. Been spending the day doing laundry, tidying, and checking my bank account because i was supposed to get some money. nope. 

Break Time

It's boring. Really boring.

Tea & Biscuits

Because. Just because. Funny day, one guy asked me out for a drink, another walked into the door because he was too busy looking at me, and my colleague kept dropping pens on the floor. 

Project

(posted a bit late, sorry) Almost finished the front piece of my knitting project, it's looking massive... Should get all my yarns in there no problem when it's done!

More Gaming

So basically, today's been the first day all week I haven't been super busy, and since my boyfriend is working the night shift, I've had a totally lazy all day - stayed in bed with him until half 11, picked the bike up, then played mass effect 3 for a bit, wasted time on the internet, and had a shower. And that's my day. I also realised I need a really good night out at the Half Moon, so I guess I'll be saving up for a weekend in London. 

London Daytrip

Long day today, got up for a blood test then got a train into London to see my dad and sister. On the train back now, will be home late. Looking forward to a good night's sleep... Been a good day though.

To Write or Not To Write

Again, not an awful lot to photograph and I'm too tired to look for anything interesting. So here's my keyboard. It's been an interesting and quite eventful day. Long though. Left at 11am, came back around 10pm. Time to blog, check facebook, watch the last episode of Heroes, and get ready for blood test and meeting family tomorrow. That's going to be a ridiculously long day, too. I've been rather tired today, but enjoying my job very much so far. Some of the customers are such flirts, and I swear I saw one of the usually stone-faced ones smile at me today! Honest! And since I'm no longer completely useless at the technical bits, I can focus more on interactions and keeping my smile up, which is what makes the job enjoyable. 

The Road Ahead

Goooood morning everyone, this is me getting up early to take my bike for repair, getting it back on Friday with 2 new tyres, tubes and a checkover, totalling £40. It's been cold, frosty and foggy this morning, and while pretty... brrrrrrr.... getting out of bed at half past 8 was hard. Still, it's good to know the bike will be ready and safe in a couple of days, and a morning walk never killed anyone. Quite nice really. 

Bikes bikes bikes

Currently facing some frustration with flat bike tyres. Was going to get a new set, went to the bike shop, the bloke said to bring it in. This was really just to make a note of the numbers on my bike, but I thought the picture turned out quite interesting.

Fruits

This fruit bowl just wanted to be photographed. Not in the mood for any huge photography projects right now, sorry... Boyfriend asleep upstairs, everyone else doing their own thing, I'm watching Heroes and knitting. 

Xbox All Day

So I've got another long weekend off. Been playing xbox all day. Yup, turning into a bloke. Well not quite, this Mass Effect marathon has lasted a couple of weeks because I don't play every day, and occasionally do other stuff, too. 

This Is Love

Apologies; I've been busy today, so you'll have to make do with a bad iphone snapshot of the cat! He is adorable though. 

Edited colours & reduced noise (slightly) in Photoshop.

#14 Yourself

I'm sure you'll be familiar with my face by now. Yeah, this is meeeee. None my makeup and dressed up all flirty in my River Island dress that I absolutely love, with my special ring and a necklace my boyfriend got me for christmas. 

So that's it, my #14DaysofLove instagram challenge is finished, and I'll be back to posting pictures of whatever tomorrow ;)

#13 Quote

Quote. This kind of had to be Oscar Wilde on art, simply because no-one seems to 'get' art like he did. I picked this one in particular because I, for one, struggle to appreciate all art equally. In art school, there is a certain feeling that you should be flexible, open-minded and artistically explore and appreciate everything, and that kind of attitude makes me slightly miserable because I can't. A lot of art is just... not for me. Turning to Wilde, though, just reassures me that it's ok; nothing wrong with me, nothing wrong with the art I don't like. 

#12 Movie

This is my all time favourite movie - Pink Floyd The Wall. As a teenager, I'd watch this film several times a week. I just love how they managed to tell this story without any dialogue explaining what's going on. Also awesome music, great filming and animations, and symbolism to discover making it deeper and more meaningful every time I watch it. Just a brilliant work of art. 

Drew a brick wall on a piece of paper and cut out two squares of it, photographing the screen through that. Then instagrammed result. 

#11 Clothing

Must admit this was a rather tricky one to photograph - had some trouble getting the angles right! ANYWAYS, clothing. This is a miniskirt my boyfriend gave me for christmas 2 years ago. I love skirts, they make me feel very pretty and feminine. I need that sometimes. 

#10 Collection

I love my shoe collection. It's always growing, because I always find something new and exciting. This is just a small selection of the shoes I've got at the moment, all from different places. Iron Fist shoes from the Southgate charity shop. White shoes from Modcloth, all the way from America a few years back. Pink from a shop in Copenhagen. Red and floral from New Look. 

#9 Pet

Technically not my cat, but we live in the same house and I love him so he totally counts. Anyways, MY pet (boyfriend) is the one holding him, which is why Paddy the cat looks so annoyed here. 

#8 Hobby

Well then, my favourite hobby. It's drawing and painting I guess. I consider that a hobby now, rather than a possible career, because that way I enjoy it more because it's less serious and I don't need to think about the whole "art world" nonsense. Also, quoting Psycho, a hobby should pass the time, not fill it. It's more enjoyable when it's not the only thing I think about, and something I should be doing 24/7.

Heart is just to go with the whole love-theme of the challenge. A bit of fun. Enjoy. 

#7 Possession

Today's theme, favourite possession.I had to think long and hard about this one, until I realised the answer is obvious. It's this ring, made from my grandfather's egg spoon.

My granddad died when I was young, before my sister was born. We had a very good relationship. I was the only one of his grandkids who was born before he died, so I suppose that's kind of special. Anyway, for my confirmation, my grandmother had this ring made out of an egg spoon he got as a christening present. It has his name engraved on the inside. The boy and goat are from a traditional Norwegian song, Blåmann, Blåmann bukken min.

#6 Food

so-called... I love domino's cookies. 'nuff said.

#5 Memory

or memories. 

This is a display cabinet I got from my dad and sister for my birthday a couple of years ago. It has some personal item in it. Photographs, cards, the blank piece of paper tat posed as a diploma on my graduation, a miniature Versace Crystal Noir bottle my mum gave me a few years back, and a perfume, scarab and phial my boyfriend sent me when he got back from holiday in Egypt, before we officially started dating so it was all very surprising and exciting. I only ever used that perfume for special occasions though; it's too precious to me. 

#4 Time of Day

Nighttime is my time. I've always been somewhat nocturnal. I like the night, that's when I'm inspired to do stuff and usually feel quite awake. There is rarely any pressure for me to do things at night. And when I finally go to sleep, I get to escape from reality and dream. 

#3 Music

My favourite band and my favourite gadget - the iPod. 

#2 Book

2nd day of the instagram challenge. Topic of today: book.

I love my copy of H.P Lovecraft's Complete Fiction, it's a lovely leather bound book and some pretty good stories, too. 

#1 Colour

First day of the 14 Days of Love Instagram Challenge, Colour

My favourite colour is red, because it's bold and inspired confidence. Also, my favourite shoes are red. I love the bright red lip, though I'm not always confident enough to wear it...

iPhone photo, edited with instagram. 

My January Favourites

Looking back, these are my 4 favourite photographs from January. 

Frozen pond, as it is just that much more magical with snow.

Frosty fence, because it's cold and hard. 

Chocolates, because it's chocolate. Also lovely warm colours, what remained of Xmas.

Me, in red. Total narcissist of course. But I do like this picture.

I did miss one day of photography, which was disappointing but a result of a busy day and a night out drinking. For February, I'm thinking I might do Miss Indie's 14 Days of Love Instagram Challenge, so the first two weeks will probably be instagrammed iPhone images!