I’m furious.
Today in Picture Story class, we watched a video chronicling photographer Jim Brandenburg’s self-challenge to take one photograph a day for 90 days in his extensive backyard near Ely, Minn. He undertook this project in 1994 — an age predating digital technology and 16GB memory cards, but photographers of his pedigree were unfazed by shooting thousands of frames per day while on assignment. I encourage you to check out the gallery. Each photo is technically and aesthetically wonderful, and the visual variety is stunning.
I’m not sure exactly what prompted him, but David suddenly proposed a challenge: Each of us should post a new photo to our blogs every day for 30 days. We accepted this challenge.
That’s not why I’m furious.
I’m furious because I have to read this book:
"Money-Driven Medicine" by Maggie Mahar
I’m in my final undergraduate semester, and only now am I taking my first-ever political science course. The class is Public Policy, and for our first paper, we are to read this entire book and write a book review.
That’s not (exactly) why I’m furious.
I’m furious because I’m learning, in detail, about the failures of the American health care system according to one author-journalist.
I’m furious because I procrastinated in starting this book, which has prevented me from going out and making pictures and blogging a real photo for my first entry in this 30-day series.
I’m furious because, although I’m far more interested in being a photographer than in being a student, my academics and work schedule this semester are severely limiting the time and opportunities I could have to pursue better photography.
My weekly schedule, not including my occasional photo-editing shifts on Fridays, Saturdays, and/or Sundays. The purple are classes; the green are worktime or photo-editing duties.
I’m excited about this 30-day challenge. I want to incorporate a theme or motif — and soon, so I can pursue that for the remainder of the challenge. I just hope I can find enough time to make good pictures to blog every day.
Words and Light 
If you need some inspiration – or just want to see what a crazy nerd I am – check out my Project365. It’s been on-going for the last three full years. I’m a little behind in posting my recent photos for year four, but they exist, and will be up soon.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rokstar/collections/72157603778087584/
I think you’ll like the every-day challenge. It makes you think in new ways. Good luck!
Thanks Erin! I’ll be sure to check it out — after I’m done reading this headache of a book. Got a pop quiz on it tomorrow!
I really am looking forward to this… it’s just the time issue that’s pretty daunting. I don’t want to be stuck and ending up doing a lot of night photography on my weekdays, but I’ll make something work.
Given the policy battles going on in Washington, I think it’s good you are reading this book now. And it will encourage you to be a better citizen, in addition to being a better photographer.
No matter what you are shooting, there is a health component to it, and this policy book could possibly give you cues you never thought of before.
Happy reading!
I agree with you, completely. I’d like to think my current understanding of health care isn’t terrible, but it’s not fantastic either. I’m just bitter that reading this 300-page book is detracting from what little time I have to pursue photography — at least over the next week or so.
[…] As I wrote in my previous post, I’m hoping not to have to resort to nighttime photography for every day of this 30-day challenge. […]
Hi Chris–
I am sorry the book is so long. If it makes you feel any better, I spent three years writing it, working 7 days a week, pretty much full-time.
The problem is that the healhtcare mess is extremely complicated. And I wanted to explain it both with numbers and with anecdotes.
Numbers alone are too boring. Anecdotes alone are not persuasive.
I am very impressed that your professor actually assignied it. I will admit that it’s a lot for a freshman to digest, but he/she is obviously taking you, and the course, very seriously.
Hi Ms. Mahar —
Thanks for checking out my blog entry. I’m sorry if I came off as critical of the book. That was certainly not my intention. Although I have not yet finished reading it, I am impressed with the breadth and depth of research involved, as well as your ability to present everything cohesively and persuasively.
In writing this entry as well as my response to srubenfeld, my chief complaint was in my own time management skills (or lack thereof), not in the length or level of detail presented by your book. I should have started reading your book right when the professor assigned it, and not a week before the first draft of the paper is due.
I hope you can trust that, despite the time commitment involved, I am enjoying reading your book and appreciate that I am finally getting a grasp on the scope of the U.S.’s health care problems, at least from the perspective and presentation of one author and her work.
Thank you again for checking out my blog entry and commenting.
By the way, Chris, I hope you’re gaining an appreciation for poli sci work loads from all of this. I’m actually impressed how long you had to read the book. I’m only in one poli sci class this semester (thank god) and I have 400 pages of reading for every weekly class, plus a three page paper. On top of all this, I’m supposed to be producing a 30-page research thesis for the class by the end of the semester. Oh, poli sci. If only more people realized what a bitch it is.
I actually have far more reading on a weekly basis in my Advanced Mythology class; it’s just that I’m substantially more familiar with that material than I am with the health care system. (Never mind that this is possibly a negative reflection on me — that I know more about ancient Greek myth than about the reality/finer details of health care in America.)
That said, I do appreciate the amount of academic research necessary for other degree paths, and I hope nothing in this entry or my comments implies I’m uncomfortable with facing facts, doing research or reading large amounts of text — because none of that is true.
I just should’ve started the book sooner.
Hi Chirs–
Two things I forgot to say: it’s a very good photo of the book, and the photo at the top of your home page is outstanding. (My husand , who is a professional photographer, commented on it.)
I suspect that photography is your calling.
I wasn’t at all offended, btw, that you found the book long, and I thought you were very candid in pointing out that you had procrastinated in starting the reading and were furious, in part, because the book delivers such bad news.
Mainly, I found your post funny (because it’s so refreshingly candid and simultaneously intelligent). I also was flattered (that your professor actually assigned the book. )
In an earlier career I was a college professor, and I’m also the mother of 20-somethings, so I recognized your dilemma. I recall the semester when my daughter had to write 15 papers.
Best,
Maggie Mahar
http://www.healthbeatlblog.org.
http://www.moneydrivenmedicine.org
(I cross-posted part of your post on healthbeat)
Hi Ms. Mahar —
Thank you for your kind words (as well as your husband’s); I appreciate it!
The class discussion of your book so far has been good, educated and enlightening, and it’s refreshing to learn more about issues that so often get simplified in the news. I have to admit I’m not yet done with reading — and the paper’s due on Tuesday — but I’ll get there. (Super Bowl prep/watching haven’t helped.)
I’ll keep an eye on the healthbeat blog. Thanks again for your comments!