Challenge No. 12 in Print

My photography series book has arrived, marking the end of challenge no 12. There are four mini series included (discARTed, Cats of Istanbul, Kid Stylists, and Creepy Disfigured Street Toys). It turned out pretty well:

Photography Disorder

Challenge no. 12 was to make a conceptual photo series and preferably print it into a book. I ended having too many ideas and went back and forth on a few and started one and then another until, WHAT DO YOU KNOW, the year is almost up. So instead of doing one photo series, I did more than one. And I'm printing them all into one book, which I ordered today via Mixbook.com. I'm calling it MULTIPLE PHOTOGRAPHIC SERIES DISORDER.

So there's my photo series(s). Challenge no. 12 is now done, although I will do another post once my book arrives. Tada!

Self Portrait(s)

Challenge no. 28 was to learn to sew, design my own outfit, make it, and take a self portrait in it. The last step proved to be the most challenging as I prefer to be the one behind the scenes. If someone pulls out a camera, I tend to hit the ground as if it were a loaded gun.

So, with that in mind, here they are (I made the shorts and the shirt). Many thanks to my stylist and photographer, one Kaleigh McBride, who has finally proven herself to be relatively useful:

Reconnaissance Mission

I recently went artist-stalking at Brooklyn Art Space (formerly Brooklyn Artists Gym where I took my watercolor painting class) in order to collect more scraps for my photo series, "Discarted," for challenge no. 12.

Not only did I get to take some pictures, but I met a few artists who welcomed me anytime to their work space to take more pictures of their used paper towels (you can imagine the awkward opening question). And, if you're curious, the overwhelming majority of painters prefer Bounty over any other brand.

Here are some of my favorite images from the visit (this artist preferred old t-shirts over paper towels, and I think it made for some really interesting shots):

Accidental Photo Series

I know I already had challenge no. 12 (create a conceptual photo series) figured out, but this just happened. Presenting the cats of Istanbul:

Pricilla. 

 Neil.

 Agatha.

Sultan.

 Spike.

Jimmy.

 Ikat.

Dotty.

Discarted

No, that's not a typo. Here are four photos to add to my photo series (challenge no. 12), which I haven't officially developed a name for yet (although I have grown fond of "Discarted"). In this series I take pictures of paper towels used (and eventually discarded) in art projects. They are not the things that are meant to be beautiful or meant to be showcased afterward. But they can be beautiful and I wanted to see if I could capture that. The larger they are, the more striking they become, so I urge you to click on each image.

Peacock for the Win

It only took me nine months, but I have officially sold one of my photos (via Etsy).

Slow clap.

A 16x20 Mr. Creep E. Cock (the creepy peacock) will now hang on someone's wall for all eternity.

And with that, I delightfully cross challenge no. 18 off. the. list.

Switching Gears

I've changed my mind.

This was my original idea for a photo series (challenge no. 12). The problem is, I don't know many people with small children, and getting a friend of a friend of a friend to let you into their home, force them into a prom dress from 1995, smear makeup all over their face, and then take pictures of them is proving to be more difficult than anticipated.

Basically, people aren't lining up around the block to have this experience, and the entire idea of a photo SERIES is that I need multiple participants. At this rate the series wouldn't be completed by my thirtieth birthday. Kind of the whole point.

But behind the blog curtain I've been carrying on a second photo series, an idea that I had way before Styled by Child. Here is a little taste:

This series should be completed over the course of the next week or two. Looking forward to crossing another challenge off the list.

I'd like to thank the two mothers who did participate. I still love what came out of those shoots, and now they each have some digital images that their kids can use as blackmail for decades to come.

What $20.14 Gets You

Last week I posted about buying advertising on Etsy in an effort to make my first photograph sale (challenge no. 18). I bought a week's worth of ads, which stop after seven days or $25, whichever comes first. After the seven days, I ended up spending $20.14. And here's what that money got me:

No sale yet, but some page views that came out of 17,236 impressions (this was how many times my ad popped up in someone's search results).

And the winner of the week with the most "favorites" is a tie between Blue Door and Italy by Train:

Advertising Experiment

Yesterday evening I dabbled in some Etsy advertising for my photography shop (challenge no. 18). It's relatively easy, and I appreciate the spending cap they utilize. It's also fun to see how many impressions you're expected to receive. Seems like money well spent, right?

After going live at 8:00 a.m. this morning, my ads have generated a whopping ONE page view (!) and 146 impressions.

So far it has cost me $0.14.

This is a results-oriented side of advertising that I rarely get to see, but I find it interesting to follow along on the website and see what my money is actually getting me:

If anyone else has taken advantage of Etsy advertising, I welcome any advice you may have.

Photo Series Part Two

Happy belated Mother's Day to all of the moms out there (including my own, who has held the no. 1 spot since about 6:00 p.m. on November 26, 1982).

So it was rather appropriate that on this day I completed another session toward my photo series in which small children style their parent(s) for a portrait.

This one I call Abstract Cupcake: 

And it is my great pleasure to introduce the artist behind this masterpiece: