Kind readers,
Before we get into this month's story, I have a question to ask.
I'm thinking about making little Zines of my recent work. Just simple, maybe 12 or so pages, Zines that I both print and bind at my own home. Nothing professional, just simple heavy-weight paper with unstructured sequenced images, some basic binding (though I gotta learn how to do that). Like nice little, what's the word for it... artisanal artifacts to collect. If you're into that stuff.
I don't want to sell these. I prefer giving them away. Though only to paid members. I need a little commitment from your side as well to make spending time on this feasible too. Plus I'll physically have to mail them to you, which has some cost involved as well. Would that be something you'd be interested in, current paid members? Would that be something you would consider turning into a paid member for, current free members? Please reply to this email directly and let me know! I need to know I'm not wasting my efforts putting this all together when there's no interest. If you don't care and have a specific reason for that too, please let me know too! My inbox is open.
I most certainly am him
"Hey, you're one of Thijs's mates, aren't you? Yeah, I recognize you, you made that book with him!" I take my eyes from my camera's viewfinder and meet the ones of the guy I had just incorporated in my previous photo. "I most certainly am him!" I respond, and because I have learned the importance of a strong elevator pitch I immediately add: "I'm actually working on a new photo project, where I walk every street of this city, while documenting it along the way". The guy responds politely enthusiastic but I can sense his interest in this conversation waning rapidly. I think he just wanted to acknowledge that we've met before but was also focused on going about his day as well. "Anyway", I continue, "I have about eight thousand more steps to take today so I best be on my way!".
Hey, you!
This starts to happen more and more these days. Quite often there's an "Hey, you're that guy" being slung in my direction. Sometimes they also know my name. Most times they know me from some project I did with someone else. It's mostly the other person they are familiar with. Me? They know me only by extension. I'm totally fine with that. I'm not in it for the fame (or the equivalent of whatever fame is in a city of 160.000 people in a country where most people are too pragmatic to care about your follower count). But I am trying my best to do cool projects and for that, an audience is certainly nice. Having just been in the local newspaper a couple of weeks ago certainly helps too.
In fact, that article in the paper was kinda transformative, in a way. Because, as far as I can remember right now, this was the first time a piece of this size (full page baby!) was written about an idea that sprouted solely from my mind. I'm not bragging, I'm sharing this because I'm proud. It's reaffirming that these seemingly crazy ideas (like, who voluntarily walks the entirety of a city to photograph it..?), and not being afraid to pursue them as well, are also ultimately the ones that shape your life in meaningful ways. And that's all thanks to keeping a simple video log of whatever happens along the way.
Custom preplanning
But anyway, it's good to be outside doing these walks again man. It's been a little difficult finding the right time and headspace to prioritize these outings but each time I find it, I realize the importance of them. I've said it before, expeditions like these, however brief they may be, are almost a form of therapy for me. Having preplanned today's route using the new Custom Routes function in the iOS 18 beta version of Apple Maps (I always run these betas, I just can't help myself, though I do not recommend it), I simply follow along with the gentle taps on my wrist from the Apple Watch on each turn. I love incorporating technology into my life like this because it makes navigation frictionless. Trying to check every street of a list can be a bit of a puzzle, especially when I'm already outside having to make it up as a go. I try to avoid going through the same streets over and over again and preplanning my route like this makes this a breeze.
'Tap, tap', the Watch goes. It's a left here and then a quick right into the park. "Wonderful", I think to myself. I might've even said it out loud. At least the approaching couple walking their dog looks in my direction. They don't say anything though. I'm looking forward to the quietness of the park. Meandering through the shopping area on a Saturday was far from peaceful, so far. After this last section through the park I end up back at the starting point, where I parked my bike. I take my phone out of my pocket and inspect the GPS recording in the GaiaGPS app. Zooming in on the area I've just walked, inspecting all the streets and their colorful overlays, I look for areas I might've missed. I don't think I did. Does that... does that mean I finally completed this downtown area? I think it does! I look at the time and see it's only noon. Cycling back home for lunch seems to be my best bet for now.
After lunch I sit down at my computer to import the images and the GPS recording. I match the two up in the Lightroom Classic app and sit back to look at my work of the morning. It's a good score, much more than I've managed the past couple of weeks, but there's also still so much time left in the day. Why don't I just... go out again? I check the batteries for my camera to make sure they have the same amount of energy left as I do. 65-ish percent, I estimate. I guess we're in alignment here. Well then, editing images can be done at any time. Continuing these explorations is something I can only do now.
Off we go again.
M
