Well, it’s been a while…

5 months to be exact!

I’ve certainly been a little rubbish in the upkeep of this blog! I think it became one of those things where it had been so long since I wrote something, that I found it a little too easy to keep putting it off as it had already been so long anyway.

So, sorry about that, dear readers. I will certainly be making a much better effort to be updating this regularly- I miss blogging!

Well, since I last wrote a post, quite a lot has happened! In the time I’ve been gone, I’ve completed my degree, graduated and moved out of my student house and into Manchester. So, in my very weak defence, I have been busy!

I think this post is lacking in some colour, so let’s throw in some photos of the above events. Let’s start with mine and my boyfriend’s graduation!

Dom’s graduation!

My graduation with my nutcase of a sister and brother in law!

My graduation! (This isn’t my ‘final’ professional photo by the way- just one my boyfriend took as I was posing!

So, that was a pretty big thing! A few other big things happened in the time that I’ve not blogged for (turning 22, meeting one of my best friends for the first time in seven years!) but I think I will leave some of that for the next post! (Let’s not dry up all my subjects too quickly!)

Oh, and for anyone who may be wondering, I graduated with a very high 2:1 (as in, a few points from a 1st) in Photography and Creative Writing. 🙂

Well, that’s it for now! Just a quick little update! It’s good to be back!

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My Life in Letters: W.

Writing.

It’s the other half of my degree, it’s the thing that kick-started any creativity I’ve ever possessed.

I first starting writing when I was 9 years old. One Saturday morning I was bored while my mum had a lie in. Back then, the internet wasn’t really something a nine year old was interested it, so the computer for me consisted of Paint. And that’s about it.
However, on this particular morning the Word Processor attracted my attention for some reason. 
So I decided there and then that I would write a story. Being a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan even at that age, my first paragraph was essentially regurgitated Whedon script, and as a nine year old thinking it was totally cool and not knowing the word ‘plaigarism’ then. 😉
So, what started as a bored nine year old wanting to pass a few hours, turned into my first novel. Which then spawned a sequel and eventually transformed into a trilogy, which I completed when I was 13. 
These early novels were terribly written, but the plot showed potential. I am currently trying to dig through it to find some gems for the basis of an adult rewrite.

From the second I started writing that first book, I decided (and told anyone who’d listen) that I wanted to be an author when I grew up. 
I continued writing through my teen years, starting a handful of projects that I never saw through to completion, but at least continuing to stretch my writing brain.
When I found the course at Bolton University, I decided it was ideal for me. At that point writing had taken a back seat to photography in terms of a career path, but was still a passion of mine and one I wanted to pursue. The course offered me the chance to study both photography and writing together, which was perfect for me.

Since coming to university I’ve steered more into poetry, as the fiction tutor wasn’t inspiring me to try my best, while my poetry tutor was. Strangely, before coming here I hated poetry. I hated how it was taught, I didn’t like the typical overly dramatised representations of it I’d been exposed to and the archaic language I’d experienced with poets such as Shakespeare- which let’s face it, is all you’re ever really taught in high school. 
Since learning it in university however I’ve fallen in love with it. I’ve built myself a good body of work, and I may even pursue getting it published.

In the meantime my fiction has been put on a back burner, but it’s all still there, and I have several ideas to work on in the future. 

Although my career path has changed course a little, I still want to pursue writing, and I still want to eventually get those books published that I so long ago sat down and started writing, thinking to myself “wow this is awesome, I can do anything I want here!”

Eventually, I want to make that girl’s hopeful dream of “when I grow up I want to be an author” a reality. Until then, poetry me up baby. 🙂

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Motivation.

Normally by this point in the year I’m still completely immersed in projects, New Year’s Resolutions and completely overcome with drive and motivation.

This year, for some reason this just isn’t the case. 

I’ve been really struggling to find any motivation to get done the things I know I must. This is my final ever semester at University before I graduate, and the work load is disappointingly light in comparison to last semester.
At the end of last year I put on my first exhibition of my work for that semester- that was a huge module. It consumed my every waking moment. In comparison, the work load for my final term is just not enough to keep me motivated.

I’m someone who loves to be busy, to be out and about all of the time. And yet, within the last few weeks mostly I’ve been watching TV, putting off tasks that would take minimal time and effort and playing video games in my pyjamas. 
I’m sure that the reason for this lack of motivation is down to the workload- for some reason the lack of has induced a sense of non-urgency in me. Last semester I hardly had a free moment to myself. This time around I’m procrastinating the days away without so much as looking at my assignments.
I’m up to date (for the most part) on my workload- it’s not building up or anything. But maybe that’s the problem- I’m doing nothing with my time and yet I’m on top of my work. That to me seems a little wrong and weird. The fact that these are the modules that will determine my graduating grade seems just off to me. 

The good thing about having free time though, is that I’ve starting shooting for myself again. I did my first self portrait in months yesterday and uploaded it, which was good! ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryonyharwood/12617987223/ ) 

This is my super excited to be shooting again face from yesterday. 🙂

I think the fact that I am graduating soon is becoming a little difficult to swallow. For the last three years of my life I’ve had my own home, my own time, my own money and my own work to do.

After graduation we will be having to move back in with parents before we can afford our own place. That is something that deeply depresses me. As much as I enjoy the company of those I will be living with, I’m used to my own space and my own way of handling a household now. I don’t want to be in someone else’s home. I want to be in my own.

That is a motivation thought in a way- I want to get a job ASAP and save up enough to move out. But until then, I have to do assignments that feel well below my intellectual level and continue to have not enough of it to keep my time occupied.

Has anyone else gone through something like this? Total lack of inspiration and motivation? Any tips on how to overcome it? 
Anyone who also has been to university- did this happen to you when you were on the brink of finishing? Or was your motivation stronger than ever? Let me know, I’d like to hear from you.

New glasses, though. 🙂

 

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2013: A Recap.

This is the last photo I published to my blog in 2012.
A lot has happened in the months since then, and many moments were captured.

So… here’s my recap of 2013 in pictures…

January

I took my first 50 Week Photo, named “Steaming Mug Of Ice”.

Grant came to visit and we frolicked in the snow…

And I used a 5×4 camera for the first time.

*

February

We celebrated our 1 year anniversary…

And Dom got me some lovely presents…

… and the sun shone for the first time in months.

*

March

We played chess…

Pulled stupid faces…

And spent time with my little girl.

*

April

Grant and I went to see and met Derren Brown.

And sipped free champagne for his 21st!

Oh… and I turned myself into a puppet.

*

May

I dyed my hair orange…

Sweep wore a coat…

We laughed… ❤

Spent time with friends…

And I watched a lot of Dexter… 🙂

*

June

I started rereading all of Harry Potter… (In the bath… ahem)

Summertime started peaking out of hibernation…

I went to Download Festival for the first time…

Finally saw Slipknot live…

Plus Rammstein! (Among others)

And turned myself into an Elf!

*

July

We went to Oxford for my 21st!

Celebrated with Misty…

Tried Jason’s amazing cocktails…

Drank yet more free champagne with these rascals!

Jason, Tav and Grant. 🙂

We saw Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria in London…

I made my first piece of pottery!

And we sunbathed the month away!

*

August

I dyed my hair back to its natural colour for the first time in 5 years!

Dom and I went on our first holiday, and my first one in 7 years!

We went to Venice!

And we had an amazing time!

*

September

We went to Yorkshire and spent time with my “little” brother…

Plus Vladimir the Impaler!

My sister came to stay…

My laptop died right before term restarted…

So I got my first Mac!

Some friends came to Manchester…

And my precious little baby girl sadly lost her fight with cancer…

*

October

I got my new winter coat.

Found the first conkers of the season…

Developed a little obsession with them…

Got dressed up for the Manchester Zombie Walk…

And made brookies!

*

November

I got a surprise present from Dom!

Shot my photographs for the exhibition…

Got the seal of approval for my images from my tutor…

Went to bonfire night at the Alma…

Visited Alton Towers with friends and saw the fireworks!

*

December

I got my business cards…

Spent most of my time getting the exhibition together…

Put up my first Christmas tree in my own home…

Watched Elf with my friends…

Opened my first exhibition of my work…

Went drinking after the exhibition with my fellow photographers…

We had our first Christmas spent together!

And I got Christmas bow ties for all the animals!

I finally got Starbucks to call me “Gandalf”…

And we saw in the New Year in Reading with my lovely sister and her boyfriend.

*

2013 was an absolute whirlwind. Some incredible memories created, new friends made, and sadly some goodbyes too.

I want to wish all my beautiful followers a Happy New Year, and I sincerely hope you all have a great 2014.

❤

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Christmas 2013!

Well, that’s Christmas day over for another year! Still got New Year’s Eve coming up, which I will be spending with my boyfriend at my sister’s new house. So we’ve still got some celebrations to be had!

This year I spent Christmas with my boyfriend for the first time- we’ve been together for almost two years now and have been living together for over a year, so it was awesome to spend Christmas day with him and his family. 

Exposure13 was a massive success- we had our opening night on the 12th December and we had such a good turn out, and many of the artists got a lot of attention and interest in their work- maybe even some print sales!

I’m relieved that the exhibition is now done, but there’s still a lot to get done before I graduate- only a few months left now. I will be working next year primarily on a magazine I am launching for the university, along with two dissertations. Next year will be a little crazy! I also need to start preparing for leaving uni- getting job applications out, CVs written and where I’m gonna live sorted. 

I will do a more comprehensive post before the New Year I think. I felt like I just needed to write a little something on here as I’ve been neglecting pretty much everything other than the exhibition for the last few months- which means my blog has gotten a little dusty, along with my Flickr page and my personal photography… which I need to sort out and pick back up as soon as I can. I want to finish my 52 week project but I feel it’s hardly worth it now that I’ve gone so long without posting… but hey I can just consider it a …. very long holiday? 😛

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and have something awesome planned for the New Year!

xoxo

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2013: Half-Way.

 

Well, now that it is a little over the half-way point in this year, I thought it was a good idea to maybe do a little life update and ‘review’ of the year so far, haha.
At the beginning of the year, I had a few resolutions. One of them was to be healthier. This has both worked and… not. 😛 I have been eating pretty well, but I’ve been slacking exercise wise. However, in September I plan on buying an exercise bike for the spare room. The reason for this is because it works out cheaper than going to the gym and paying a membership fee. Plus, I can work out anytime I want, three times a day if I wish. I will have the motivation necessary knowing I don’t have to put any effort in to get to my exercise location, haha.

Another resolution was to have a night a week where I had a technology free night, with no phone, no laptop and no TV. This has not worked in the slightest. I haven’t had even one of these nights. 😛
However, the aim of this night a week was to force me into doing something creative more often, like spending time just me and my camera, or a notepad for poetry or crafts, or even just reading; and I’ve done these things.
Even without the aid of an evening a week, I’ve managed to do all these things anyway. Since out of university for summer I’ve written a bunch of poems in my spare time (something I never do unless it’s for my course), and I’ve been doing my weekly photo project, which has had me working on my photography regularly too. I’ve also been reading a lot more. I absolutely love reading; it’s one of my favourite things to do, but I found that in the last year or two at university, I’ve just not been making time for it. Any spare time I had, I wasn’t spending it reading. I’ve really changed that. Since the beginning of the year I’ve read seven or eight books in total. Which, considering in the whole of last year I read maybe half of three separate books, and none the whole way through, I thought was pretty good going.
I’ve also been doing crafty things, and really enjoying them! I finally finished customising a denim jacket I started on last year and then forgot about, and now it looks awesome! I also went to Art in Action this month, which is an art festival with workshops down south. There I made a clay Green Man mask and it looks amazing. I’m really proud of it as I’ve never really done any clay molding before then!

My final resolution was to DO things more. Last summer, I spent most of it doing… nothing. We had so many plans and so many things we wanted to do, but we found that money limitations and weather really restricted what we could do. This summer, I wanted to do ALL of the things I had planned. And I’ve definitely been busy!
We kicked off the summer by redecorating our house. Its just a student house, but it’s also somewhere we have to live in for two years, and I wanted it to be somewhere I enjoyed being. So we completely revamped everything, and now it looks awesome!
After that, we went to Download Festival! And boy, can I tell you… it was INCREDIBLE. I finally got to see Slipknot play live after wanting to for over ten years, so that was a dream come true. Plus all the other bands I saw were amazing. It was such an incredible experience, despite the torrential rain and the very unreliable tent. I met awesome people and generally had an awesome time!

These last two weeks I’ve spent with my family down south for my 21^st, which was really awesome. We went to see Cirque du Soliel: Allergria in London, something else I’ve been wanting to do for over a decade and I finally did! I also got to spend some time with my nieces who are adorable and I don’t get to see often now that I’m living so far away.
It was lovely to spend time with everyone and I had such a blast the whole time.

Next week we are going to Venice for a few days courtesy of Dom’s parents for his 21^st, which is incredible and I am so excited for! This will be the first time I’ve been out of the country in seven years, so I am really really looking forward to it! Plus I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Venice. We’re going for three days which will be really awesome! I may even manage to get a tan for once!

We are also planning a trip to Wales at some point in August for a long weekend to see Dom’s old hometown and his friends and stuff- something else we wanted to do last summer but couldn’t in the end. So that should be awesome if we can sort that out! I also plan on going to see my friends and family in Yorkshire in August and have a belated celebration for my little brother’s 16^th birthday which is tomorrow!
To finish off the summer, we are planning a big house party right before we start back at uni for our final year, which should be amazing if we can pull it all together in time!

Overall, I think I’ve done really well in my maintaining of resolutions! And I’ve had the best summer so far! I passed my second year with a 2:1 and I’m looking forward to my final year as a student! I think it may be the best yet!

Overall, this year has been great so far! I feel like a lot of stresses and toxic negativity has been lifted from our lives from last year, and that this year has overall just been better! Here’s hoping the second half is just as good! ❤

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My Life in Letters: U.

University.

If I had never gone to university, I would never have had the courage to move to Manchester and find my true home.
If I had never gone to university, I would never have discovered an interest, and hopefully a talent in poetry.
If I had never gone to university, I would never have become informed and involved in various aspects of activism.
If I had never gone to university, I would never have learned how to use a 5×4 format camera, or how to use studio lighting.
If I had never gone to university, I would never have started, and stuck to, my 52 week project.
If I had never gone to university, I would never have met some amazing new friends.
If I had never gone to university, I would never have met my boyfriend.
If I had never gone to university, I would never have learned how to be self-sufficient.

If I had never gone to university, I would never have gotten a degree in the fields I love.

For these reasons, and many others, University is my topic for the letter U in my life in letters.

 

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My Life in Letters: T.

Well, I’ve finally finished my second year at university. I say ‘finally’, but it feels like I only just started it… either time is flying by, or I’m paying four grand to be in Uni for 3 lectures a week and for only 6 months a year. Or both.

The summer is now stretched out before me, with Download Festival fast approaching, a trip to Venice not far behind and then finishing off with my 21st birthday. When the hell did a quarter of my life disappear? Wowzers.

Over the summer I’m also planning on doing a few personal projects, one of which is starting to really dedicate my time to my 52 Week Project. I’ve neglected it so badly within the last few weeks of semester, with it turning more into a 52 Week Project Over The Space Of (Undisclosed Amount Of Time.) That’s going to change over summer- I have a lot of photo opportunities coming my way, plus the time to really focus on it.
I also aim to do some writing projects, including getting back into blogging frequently again. Maybe even start a YouTube channel finally. We’ll see on that one… (I’m shy).

ANYWAY, onto the letter ‘T’. (I’m taking so long to do this series- I swear I started this over a year ago now).
The obvious person to talk about for the letter ‘T’ is my oldest friend Tom.
I’ve known Tom since I was four years old, and he was only two. (aww).
We’ve consistently been BBFL and never once had a falling out.
We don’t get to see each other often now that I’ve moved to the other end of the country for uni, but when we do see each other, our friendship just falls back into place like no time has passed, which is something that I think is a very rare thing to happen in a friendship. I’m very thankful to still have this guy in my life, even though he’s an unreliable bell-end. 🙂
He is like my brother, and I love him to death.

 

Tom and I- 2006. (HAHA).

Tom and I, 2011. (Look how much we’ve grown! *cough*)

Love ya, buddeh. ❤

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Resolutions Update!

I’ve done pretty good with my resolutions so far this year. I’ve not thrown in the towel on any of them yet and it’s already been a month! 😀

So, first off, I’ve started my 52 Weeks Project. I had a bit of a delayed start thanks to illness, location, lack of camera etc… but I’ve started it now, and I just published week 2 the other night.
Please go check out my Flickr stream, where each photo will be uploaded, plus a few others here and there outside of the project. Please help get my views up and leave me criticism. Help me get better!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryonyharwood/

As for healthier lifestyle, I’ve been half good half bad… I’ve found a gym I will be joining very soon and mostly been eating pretty damn well. A few Dominos slip ups is fine for only the first month, right? 😛

The technology free night a week hasn’t happened yet. Frankly, I forgot about that resolution until I re-read my post… whoops… I will be starting that soon though!

As for having fun? Well I’ve got a lot planned coming up!
This weekend marks mine and Dom’s one year anniversary! Exciting!
He’s planned out a whole weekend too, and won’t tell me what any of the plans are. I’m excited! 😀
I’ve also got a lot of other things in the works… if money allows. 😛

So far, so good!!

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University is hard.

It’s come to my attention that I have now not written a blog for well over a month. Whoops.

The main reason for this is the amount of work I’ve had on with my degree. I’m studying a joint honours BA in Photography and Creative Writing. This semester, I’ve had two photography modules and one poetry module.
For one of my photography modules I was expected to create an entire book of 18 individual concepts within a time frame of approximately nine weeks. Pretty tall order, as I had another two modules to find time for too.
However, I’ve done it! I’ve sent my book to be bound now, and I’ve finished shooting for my other module too! So now, I can finally focus on my journal works and essays. Those, for me, are easier to do as they are less time consuming.
I sent my book to be bound last night, and I breathed a massive sigh of relief. However, it won’t be delivered until the 18th… which kind of sucks as I need to hand it in before then. I’m hoping I won’t be down-marked for that though; my tutor said that as long as we all have receipts to show we ordered it before the deadline then it is fine.
The theme I chose was to transform each poem I have written into a photo. It actually worked out pretty well to be honest. My photos translated really well.

I have about two weeks left of this semester now before we break up for Christmas; that means two weeks of trying to find the money to pay for presents and travel and all sorts of things- that’s another thing that makes university a pain in the ass; the amount you have to spend! I’m paying almost 4,000 a year for my degree, another 50 a week in rent, plus bills etc… all without a job or any kind of government help. Plus as a photography student I have a lot of supplies needing to be bought- the book alone cost me 30 and my other final piece will cost another 20 minimum. Then there’s 40 each time my printer runs out of ink- which is does very often as I have to print out every single thing I shoot… Sigh.
Next semester I will be working though. I wanted to work two jobs but my boyfriend has more of less forbidden me to do that as he thinks I will run myself into the ground with the stress of it. To be honest he may be right- a joint honour degree means I have twice the work load most have anyway, and I get the least financial help.

Next semester should be easier- the work load won’t be as intense, and having a job will help with financial problems.
2012 has been a really hard year for various reasons; it’s also been an awesome year, thanks to spending it with Dom.

Here’s hoping 2013 has some cool shit to offer me too. 😉

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