Day 66: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "...Andrew Bush Drive"

Day 66: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "...Andrew Bush Drive"

March 7, 2013

Part of my education is all about studying and researching the world of art.  Finding artists new to me who somehow inspire me.  Lately in class we've talked a lot about how a photographer documents the world around them as it is...or by taking the familiar and making it unfamiliar or the reverse.  I really enjoy the idea of documention, of keeping some sort of record of the world and its happenings as I see them or as they are shown to me.  To somehow preserve those moments, especially those new to me; even if it is the random face of a stranger, and giving them a voice of their own.  A photograph surely speaks of the artist, but it also has a voice/story of its own that awakens and speaks for itself...for me, perhaps that is the drive/passion behind my work...  Today's artist of interest to me, Andrew Bush and his photos from his collection called Drive...oh the stories this series can tell...AWESOME!

Day 65: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "...networking"

Day 65: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "...networking"

March 6, 2013

When people ask why I facebook, why I blog...it always surprises me because as an artist, of any kind, we all know the importance of networking.  Some time ago, I met a fellow named Roger who is from the UK and plays guitar for a band known as New Messiahs...he also had a show I believe you can still see on Youtube...anyways, today I received his demo CD in the mail...GREAT BAND!  I love the contemporary twist on an old school sound...and I love that I can live in simple ole Ohio and meet such great talents from all over the world!  Thank you Roger!  I'll be wearing this bad boy out!

Day 64: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "...nice save!"

Day 64: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "...nice save!"

March 5, 2013

I fell asleep last night before doing my portrait...this morning when I got up, I found this photo on my facebook page with the header reading Day 64: I've got your back...posted by my beautiful daughter...I love you Bailey!

Day 63: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...a tunnel book"

Day 63: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...a tunnel book"

March 4, 2013

I had to do a couple of tunnel books for class...this one is the one I like best...always cool to do something new!

Day 62: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...disconnected"

Day 62: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...disconnected"

March 3, 2013

Today has just been one of those days where I feel completely disconnected from myself.  My mind is spinning over several things I need to do, my body just wants to lay around and do nothing.  I did attempt to work on my tunnel books today and ended up with a migraine out of frustration when my measurements weren't lining up...grrrrrrr....the books are challenging but not that challenging...a definite disconnect...best to just hold off and do it fresh tomorrow!

Day 61: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...a day late"

Day 61: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...a day late"

March 2, 2013

So...had some friends over yesterday...went out to dinner and had a bit too much fun...This shot is from March 2nd, just something random taken during the visit...but I missed out on posting yesterday thanks to my 'over-indulgence' last night so I feel like even though this may be a day late...the photo is still accurate to the correct day...Darn it!  I made it 60 straight days without missing one...GRRRRR....

Day 60: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "ambiguous"

Day 60: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "ambiguous"

March 1, 2013

Feeling exactly that...ambiguous...about so many things.  Life is such a mix of good & bad...happy & sad...that's just how it is.

Day 59: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "SCORE!"

Day 59: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "SCORE!"

February 28, 2013

This may not make sense to most of you...but for me...a crazy hat or get up is a major score!  I was searching around in the basement today and found this little gem...OMG!  I am so wearing this to class tomorrow!

Day 58: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "pre-emptive strike"

Day 58: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "pre-emptive strike"

February 27, 2013

The swelling in my eye is going down nicely...that icky jelly medicine really works...but now I'm feeling a cold coming on.  Being on campus is like surfing a petrie dish...there's always something lurking...in wait for a victim...this girl is making a pre-emptive strike to battle off whatever is trying to surface in my sinus cavity, lets hope it works!

Day 57: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...time to medicate"

Day 57: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...time to medicate"

February 26, 2013

So...the stye is already out of control...totally swelled my eye shut today.  Yesterday my sociology teacher was afraid of me...acted like I was contagious...so today was a sick day...which really bothers me!  I've resorted to meds in the eye in a hope that this will be better by morning...the kids on the campus bus are already looking at me like I'm abused...for pete's sake...its just a bad stye!

Day 56: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...seriously"

Day 56: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...seriously"

February 25, 2013

So this morning when I wake up...I can't open my eye...yes...the dreaded stye!  I had an exam this morning, a crit in the midmorning on some of my b&w photo work and I still have my night class to attend while my eye continues to swell, blur and seep..."...seriously" ...as if I need to deal with this little gem!  My work is my art...I need my eyes to do what I do...I'd have rather I had smashed my thumb with a hammer again than have only one good eye!

Day 55: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "Land of the Lost"

Day 55: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "Land of the Lost"

February 24, 2013

When my hubby brought this get up home...all I could think about was being a kid, coming home from school and running to watch "The Land of the Lost".  Considering I woke up this morning with a horrid stye in my eye...I was most grateful for a way to hide it!

Day 54: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "A walk in the park..."

Day 54: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "A walk in the park..."

February 23, 2013

This afternoon the sun was shining...and even though its pretty chilly outside, I needed to be out in the sun...to get back to nature a little bit.  Though I enjoy living in the city now...I've spent my life as a country girl and I think there's just a part of me that craves the calm of a running stream, warming myself on a sunny rock and tromping through the mud...in its own way it has refreshed my spirit and relaxed my soul...

Day 53: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "nap hair"

Day 53: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "nap hair"

February 22

After a busy day...I nearly fell asleep and missed my image for the day...so today...nap hair is all I have to offer before I lay down and passout for the evening!

Day 52: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "Baby its cold outside"

Day 52: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "Baby its cold outside"

February 21, 2013

Even though I have lived in Ohio my whole life...I'll never get use to these freezing temps.  Right now we're under a weather advisory for a hit of freezing rain headed this way...I've never liked the cold but the older I get...the worse dealing with this cold gets...one of these days I'll be able to get out of here and move somewhere warm...CAN'T WAIT!

Brrrrrr..."Baby its cold outside!"

Day 51: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "Contemplations"

Day 51: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "Contemplations"

February 20, 2013

All day long I've felt like something is just off...there are plenty of things in my life that are 'off' but today I just felt it.  I've put a lot of pressure on myself, lots of pressure on my family while pursuing my own goals...and even though I've waited 20 years for this...there's always that moment of...am I doing okay...am I doing the right thing...prayers for strength, guidence and success...I think today those thoughts have weighed heavy on my mind.  But I've come so far...and I'm too close to give in or cave in...just knowing that I will someday graduate with my degree...achieve my goal...engage my dream into reality...is it selfish to feel it will all be worth it?  In some ways, I suppose it is...but I don't regret a single moment of it.  I've put value in myself, and have grown into a person I love...finding strength I didn't even know I had...no I'm not sorry I chose me this time...for the first time ever...I can only hope that those around me...who love me...will someday see that its not about putting them aside, but rather making me into the person I've always felt I was inside...I've always supported everyone else...is it so much to ask that they support me as well?

Day 50: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "SUCCESS"

Day 50: 365 portraits by Susan Komer "SUCCESS"

February 19, 2013

Celebrating a little success today!  I had my first completely essay exam a week or two ago in my 500 level art history course which is on the development of sound in narrative film...my first 500 level art history course...which if you're in college/have been to college, than you know these classes are a bit tougher than usual.  I was seriously nervous about this exam, just not knowing what to expect from the teacher or how he graded his written exams...3 questions, 20 minute limits for each and my entire grade rests on 3 of this type of exam...meaning no papers or homework...just exam scores...which in itself can be quite intimidating.  Typically the Professors are known to hand papers back from the highest to lowest scores achieved.  As exams were being handed back...I watched the pile dwindle to a mere 5 test packets...Oh God...I thought I had failed!  When he got to those last five, he announced that though there were other good grades in the class...those last 5 were the only A's!  Yes...one of them was mine!  So I'm celebrating my success tonight....I always work hard at everything I do...feeling like somehow I have more to prove than the others considering I'm old enough to be any one of their Mother's!  Today felt GREAT!  Out of a class of over 60 students, I received one of the top grades in that class...and was asked to read one of my answers aloud so that others could hear what a 'good' essay should sound like!  Holy crap!  Yes...today...no matter what else has or will happen...has been a really good day!

Day 48: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "too tired to care"

Day 48: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "too tired to care"

February 17, 2013

Day 47: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer " a big F you"

Day 47: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer " a big F you"

February 16, 2013

This is a big "F you" day!  F you to the person who has stolen my identity and my images and placed them on a lesbian russian dating site...for your information...I've been married for over 20 years and have worked very hard to establish myself as an artist...so F you for stealing what is rightfully mine, including my privacy and exploiting me as if my children, my husband and my own person have no value!  I've also wasted an entire day on the demands of a teacher, along with a lot of money, trying to satisfy a demand that completely makes the point of an assignment being time and money efficient only to go back to my own original plan....which she didn't think was 'good enough' but completely falls within the boundries of the assignment...NEVER AGAIN...and F you for stealing the time I should have had with my family and to accomplish other things that needed done today...I'm sorry you have no life...but I do....and I resent the fact that my grade has to suffer for it!  Right now...its a big F you to the world...I've struggled for so long...just ONCE I would appreciate it if just one thing could go right for me without a struggle!

Day 46: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer 'what if'

Day 46: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer 'what if'

February 15, 2013

I was reading about the beginnings of photography, the microscope and the idea of capturing a 'spirit' using the camera.  There are many interesting ways to produce a 'ghostly' image, the best of them take some staging which I have done many times and enjoy quite a bit.  Tonight I just wanted to see what I could do in a situation where I couldn't control the lighting or conditions...this image has an interesting double...mainly of my hat...but seemed appropriate to what I had read about H.G. Wells and the Invisible Man.  Nothing particularly exciting I suppose, but for me, I enjoy the what if...and I wonder about photography...this is a subject I intend to work with in many different ways the more I explore the 'what if's' in what I do.