My 365 project was inspired by the creative block I have been experiencing for quite some time now. I pick up my camera but lack the drive I used to have. I have to thank my roommate AmyAmanda for pushing me to start this project with her. My goal is to try to show the world a small piece of my daily life. I have been head-over-heels for photography since I was 16 and I recieved a Canon Rebel G film camera for my birthday. I took so many rolls of film that I am pretty sure there are still some laying around in a drawer at my parents house undeveloped. I went to college and took my first photography class and fell. in. love. with the darkroom. I worked spent hours and hours alone in a haze of developer and fixer and some good music during my years in college. The physical and scientific processes that are a very important part of photography for me, I know that many people are quick to forget the roots of photography in the face of digital photography. For me the best feeling in the world is watching an image appear in the developer (there is always that moment of doubt right before) it is addicting. I am not saying that I dislike digital photography- because I do shoot mostly with a digital camera but I never forget my first love- the darkroom. Anyway, I continued my education at the Hallmark Institute of Photography and graduated in 2009. There I learned to be technically precise, and how to take a professional image. I also met many wonderful people who have become great friends. So, here I am… A photographer in New York City. I work a day job to pay the rent. I feel like I’m losing all of my creativity and part of my mind. But now I have a project to keep me grounded.Tumblr (3.0; @maggiesusse)http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzgg9dPjKF1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Week 6 - I have a thing with birds on wires. I took a photograph once that I wish I had taken with a better camera and to this day I try to re-create it every so often. By doing this I have about 20 different images of birds on wires, birds on branches, pretty much birds in general. So to continue with my unusual obsession with birds, considering I have two cats who at the moment get to make bird calls at my computer screen while I edit my images, I found another bird on a wire. I liked this one because the light was just so nice being that the sun was just beginning to set and this bird stayed on the wire while I approached and took all the pictures my heart desired. Everything came out just the way I wanted it to- happy me! © 2012 Maggie Susse</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/17674844085http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/17674844085Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:10:24 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzgfopC3NU1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><span>Week 5 - I’m really far behind on adding pictures to this project. Sometimes life has a way of getting in the way of things we love the most. I am sincerely going to try to post on time from now on. Anyway, this tree caught my eye because of the neon green fungus(?) growing on it. This is the tree that has always grown in my backyard and has always been dead on one side (however the dead side chan<span class="text_exposed_show">ged each year). For the last five years this tree has been the home to one of my welding projects from college so it is often a place that I visit. This green coloring is not something I noticed until I took this photograph and I think its pretty interesting (at least in a visual sense) and I wanted to document it. © 2012 Maggie Susse</span></span></p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/17674111436http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/17674111436Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:58:01 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyn166rJah1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Week 4- I had a wonderful night with friends this past Saturday night and during the day I had time to catch up with a good friend. I took this picture of her while we chatted. I do have an obsession with people’s hands. I believe that hands are the best portrait of a person. They say a lot about what people do, think and how they feel at any given moment.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/16790443300http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/16790443300Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:54:06 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyflygmnfz1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Week 3 - I’m alittle late posting this weeks pictures but so goes life! I don’t normally like to post pictures of myself but I got new lipstick and it became my obsession! I love red lipstick- I feel sassy! I originally wanted to just post pictures of my lips but I decided that I like it better as a full face image. It felt very old Hollywood to me. I promise to post a picture on time next week! </p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/16549894403http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/16549894403Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:42:16 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxt83z63wg1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Week 2</p> <p>Oh procrastination! I have to get better at planning for this project. I left taking my picture today until this afternoon when I forced myself to go on a walk with my mom. Much to her dismay I stopped every five seconds and made her cross the street about 5 times to get a shot. I was happy when I got home to see the shots had come out really beautifully for an overcast cold day. I chose this photograph because it reminds me of one of my favorite artists, Jackson Pollock. Is a stain art? Is a photograph of a stain art? I guess it depends on who you ask. I was excited when I spotted this stain/mark on the back of a stop sign on my way back home. I had this overwhelming need to stop and photograph it. I need some suggestions for next weeks photograph to get me off my butt and taking an amazing photograph next week!</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/15849525195http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/15849525195Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:35:59 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxg3d8EpKf1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Week 1- I thought I would start this project with my new favorite subject. Today I had to opportunity to take newborn photographs of my new nephew Daniel Oliver. He was such a great sport about being posed and moved. I fell in love with this photograph as soon as I took it! It captures his little personality perfectly. I am so happy to start this project again and I can’t wait to post next weeks photograph!</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/15466430498http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/15466430498Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:24:44 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk140rEaxz1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><span>When I completed my 365 project I hit a lull in my photographic endeavors, mostly due to a nerve problem in my left arm. I needed to do something since typing and holding a camera were out of the picture so I took the time to work on researching, brainstorming and getting ready to begin a new business that really reflects my style and personality as a photographer. </span></p> <p>The research process became an obsession for me. What I found out is that there are some really great books out there and the information is easy and fun to read. Some of my recent favorites are ‘The Purple Cow’ by Seth Godin, ‘Small Business Taxes Made Easy’ by Eva Rosenberg and ‘The Happiness Project’ by Gretchen Rubin. Those books were a support system during a personal time of unrest and really helped to carry me through to where I am now. I also need to thank everyone for the support they gave me and all the amazing phone conversations that turned bad days into good ones. </p> <p><span>The happy outcome of this time is that I now have a well thought out plan for a business that I am truly excited to begin. Perhaps it was the absence of photography that made my heart grow fonder, but I think I’ve finally figured out what my next step is. Three Sparrow Photography is my chance to pursue the career I’ve dreamed of my entire life. I am an antsy person by nature and w</span>orking on my dream was my only way of getting through the frustration of not being able to do anything.</p> <p>Now that I can finally take photographs again I am feeling elated. I never realized how much picking up my camera everyday meant to me. The 365 project really brought back my creativity and passion for the craft and has given me a database of beautiful images at my disposal. I began an etsy.com page to sell some of those images and it has become a fun new project that I work on constantly. In the next few months I am planning on having a couple of contests and discounts every once in a while for my loyal followers and friends! Thank you all again for all of your support!</p> <p>P.S. Check out my fancy new logo! It’s homemade by me.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/4821563033http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/4821563033Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:58:02 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfg5a29uQQ1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 365</p> <p>So this is it, my last photograph of this project. I’ve thought a lot recently about this journey and I am so glad that I challenged myself and finished this project. I started this project as a way to force me to pick up my camera everyday and I’m not going to say that it wasn’t hard because I had my moments but in the end it made me a better photographer. It made me remember the reason I decided I wanted to be a photographer. I’m both excited and a little sad to know this year of images is over. My next challenge is taking the a step and getting my business fully up and running. I will also be updating my etsy page to carry my favorites from this project and making a book of all 365 days so that I can have a record of it. In order to get all of that completed I am taking a month off from this project. I will be beginning another one starting March 1st so keep an eye out (and send me ideas to jazz it up!) So my last picture is of the Triboro Bridge. For the all the days I’ve taken pictures at least a quarter of those were taken in Astoria Park. I decided to take my walk there today and see what caught my eye. I’ve taken pictures of this bridge before but have never been fully happy with them until today, it was something about the overcast sky that made the bridge feel a little somber. Perhaps that is a little bit of how I feel today projected into this image.  </p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2880359350http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2880359350Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:01:14 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfeiqg7SVC1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 364</p> <p>Ah, Friday, you return again. It took a long time to get back here. After this long week it was great to come home to burritos. I am so relaxed now. I had a request to do a kitchen series like the whisk I had photographed a few weeks ago. So, here is my next image in the series. I took one of my knives and set it up to photograph. I love how to metal looks in this photograph and overall contrast of the image. I hope you like it Jaclyn! I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. Look out tomorrow for my last image of this project.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2865482090http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2865482090Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:56:40 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfcr6q2kZS1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 363 I had a super busy day today that started off with the world’s worse commute. I was busy the whole day at work and then ran errands after work. It did all end on a good note. I got La Papa baked potatoes for dinner which were incredibly delicious tonight and then when I got home the pictures I ordered were waiting for me and they look magnificent! I am so excited for some matting and framing. So after all my evening fun I took out my camera and found a bottle of perfume my mom gave me. I was super happy with how this came out. It’s fun shooting glass again without the restraints of a classroom. I guess that always makes things a little more interesting. </p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2851349522http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2851349522Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:04:02 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfaqfq62cf1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 362</p> <p>The end of my day was really amazing! I had a great meeting with a new client! I’m super excited to work with her. After my meeting I stopped into my favorite second hand furniture store called Nook and Crannie on Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria. I picked up a few vintage picture frames that I am super excited about. Here is one of those frame! I love the rough texture of the wood and I am super excited to frame some pictures in these frames! I think something like this might be the next step in my fine art business. Keep a look out for it.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2834242235http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2834242235Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:52:38 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lf8xologNS1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 361</p> <p>What a gross day. The rain/snow/ice was awful on the way to work and on the way home. When I got home I relaxed, cooked dinner and waited for my landlord to come fix our busted bathroom sink. I sat down and took my picture which I love! It’s of a dragonfly that came with one of TIm’s favorite bands’ deluxe cd package. We just hung it up in our living room but I took it down to photograph. Now everything is done for the night and I’m ready to sit back and enjoy the rest of my evening.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2819640960http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2819640960Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:33:57 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lf6ta5wg5h1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 360</p> <p>With five days left of this project I’ve decided to make them five very memorable images. Starting with this photograph which I captured on a walk around the neighborhood today. I have long seen this wall and never quite gotten it to my liking and today I finally captured its essence. I love that the vines move across this wall in a pattern that looks graceful and fluid. It was the start to my day of business planning and researching so this made me relax a bit before I started this difficult task. I do have to say that being productive felt very good.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2800578919http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2800578919Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:03:41 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lf5egufwiB1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 359</p> <p>I had a pretty good Sunday with lots of laundry, an amazing football game and catching up with an old friend. I’m hoping this week ends up being good after the bad day I had yesterday. Come on good karma- where are you? I took my picture today on one of the trips to the laundromat. I fell in love with this one flower still living through the snow. It looked so stark against the snowy backdrop and so beautiful.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2788913174http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2788913174Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:46:05 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lf3lnvmsEr1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 358</p> <p>I am considering today the absolute day from hell. Nothing went right from the moment I woke up this morning and it started more or less with this musical statue. Felix thought it would be fun to eat this Tinkerbell’s wings this morning and each time he attempted to bite them he would set the music off, so this was once every thirty seconds. So I grabbed it and put it next to where I was sleeping so he couldn’t disturb it. Tim was making the bed when we got up and broke Tinkerbell in half. Here are the remains which I love as an image, but this also counts as a reminder of my awful day. I sit here writing this on a cushion on the floor because for the next week I have no couch. What I learned today is never trust a company to do the right thing, check on them fifty times during the process so that things don’t get lost or cancelled without notice. I’ll leave it at that so I don’t get too fired up but I’m hoping that everyone had a better day. Here’s to hoping that tomorrow is a better day!</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2771693949http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2771693949Sat, 15 Jan 2011 23:26:19 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lf3lc5HBTJ1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 357</p> <p>I had a very busy day today but it started out with taking this image. The sun was streaming in the window and it looked incredible. For a moment it felt like it might be a warm day outside but I was clearly mistaken because the air was frigid when I left my apartment for work. After work I went out to drinks with some co-workers. We talked and laughed for hours. Sometimes its important to let loose and enjoy yourself. I think I realized this yesterday after feeling completely out of control for the last week. It felt great to take some of that control back.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2771583222http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2771583222Sat, 15 Jan 2011 23:19:16 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lezv3cDbja1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 356</p> <p>I had a great day today. I got to assist for a friend of mine on a shoot after work today. It felt so good to get back into doing something photography related with other people. I tend to get home and make photography all about what I want for that day but after a while that gets to be not as fun as working with other people. The moral of my day is interacting with other people will make you happy. When I got home I fell back into my routine and took this picture of my amazing couch cushions. I love all the fuzzy texture happening in the image. So fun. Tomorrow is Friday and I have a weekend to look forward to!</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2739442703http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2739442703Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:59:35 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lexxebdIHh1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 355</p> <p>I worked today, which was okay because it felt good to finish up the project I’ve been working on. Then I came home and met up with an old friend to catch up. It was really a nice day. Also, the snow is already shoveled and plowed which means that the only snow left is the pretty snow on grass and in alleys which makes me pretty happy. I took a picture of some on my way to Waltz Astoria. I love the lights at the back of the alley, it looks almost surreal. It’s time for some planning and getting some motivation.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2723203837http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2723203837Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:54:11 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lew4vaFXza1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 354</p> <p>It’s snowing! I looks so pretty out and I had to go take picture of it. I loved my walk home feeling the cold snowflakes hitting my face, it refreshed me after a long day at the office. I was happy for the distraction and still am. I am looking forward to waking up in the morning to a lot of snow. The only downfall is that I have no choice but to goto work tomorrow. No snow day for me. Hopefully my subway line is running.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2708011668http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2708011668Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:40:22 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_leu4gxFhWI1qamnfko1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 353</p> <p>I’ve found that Monday’s are so hard to get through and no matter how hard you work it doesn’t go any faster. I was so happy to walk into my apartment tonight and sit down. I had a great conversation with my best friend and now I feel calm again. Sometimes all it takes to break a bad mood is the caring support of a great friend. I took my picture later in the evening and I ended up liking the reflections in the plastic cover of the record player.</p>http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2691979938http://maggiesusse.tumblr.com/post/2691979938Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:36:32 -0500