AMITL:II details

Welcome to A Minute In The Life: Take2.

The goal of this project is rather simple: on the 20th of March, I want to get as many people as possible to take pictures within the same minute and e-mail them to me. I will then post a gallery (or two or three) of what I receive and we'll all be happy. Easy enough, right?

There's just one catch.

The pictures I received for the original AMITL were great, but I'm afraid the results will be very similar this time around, which is why I'm throwing a twist into it (and this is where the "Take2" part comes into play)...

When the moment arrives, I want you to take 2 pictures, the first of whatever you're looking at and the second of the scene in the exact opposite direction. Sounds complicated, but it really isn't -- 2 pictures, taken seconds apart, one looking forward and one looking backwards. My hope is to get a better understanding (and view) of what is going on wherever you are at that particular time.

For example, if I were to be standing between the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol Building, my pictures would look something like this (of course it wouldn't be dark at 2:00pm, but you get the idea):

Below are the details, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Also be sure to check out the FAQs, as the answer you're looking for may be found there.

DATE: March 20, 2010.
TIME: 2:00 PM Eastern Time (see time zone link in the sidebar for the "shooting time" in your area).
MISSION: Take 2 pictures and then e-mail them to aminuteinthelife@gmail.com.

In your e-mail, please be sure to include the location of where your pictures were taken. You don't have to be specific -- a city and state (and country, if it isn't obvious) would be sufficient. You may also include your name, but that's entirely up to you. I won't post it if you don't want me to.

Questions? Comments? Again, feel free to e-mail.

Looking forward to A Minute In The Life: Take2!

Ways to stay connected to AMITL:II

If you're like me, trying to remember something like A Minute In The Life -- even if you have every intention of participating -- can be pretty tough. With so much going on in the world, it's easy to forget something so inconsequential. With that said, I want to offer a few ways to be reminded of the official project date.

To be reminded via e-mail (most likely the day before), e-mail me and I'll add your address to a list.

To be reminded via text message (a few hours before, to make sure you have your camera), you can also e-mail me your phone number.

If you haven't joined the Facebook event page, a link to that is in the sidebar to your right (I will send out a message the day before to everyone "attending" the event).

Finally, AMITL:II is now on Twitter, so if you'd like to receive a tweet shortly before the event, follow me by clicking on the tab in the sidebar.

FAQs

What if I am in a timezone other than Eastern Standard Time?

No problem. If you aren't sure what time it'll be in your area, just click here and enter your location -- it'll then tell you when your pictures should be taken.

What will happen with the pictures once I send them to you? Will you claim copyright?

No, I will not. All images sent to "A Minute In The Life" will remain copyright of the photographer, but will be posted on this website under fair use and be given credit of the photographer, if you so choose to include your name.

If I send you pictures, will you post my name with them?

Only if you want me to. I am a big fan of your privacy, so if you want me to share your pictures anonymously, that's perfectly fine.

Is there any format you'd prefer with regards to the pictures?

A .jpg would be ideal, but I can work with whatever you send me, so don't worry about messing with your camera settings or anything like that.

What if I take my picture with a 35mm (or other film) camera?

That's fine, as long as you can make a note of which frames were taken at the "project time" (and, of course, have access to a scanner).

How are you going to know if we actually took our pictures at the exact same time?

Well, I could require everyone to make sure their cameras are set to the correct time and then check the EXIF data, but most people wouldn't have any clue what I'm talking about. Rather than get too complicated, I am essentially trusting that people will be honest with their submissions.

I'm pretty forgetful -- what if I need a reminder closer to the actual event date?

I encourage everyone to make a note of the date on their personal calendar, in their cell phone, on their bathroom mirror, etc., but you can also join the Facebook group, follow AMITL:II on Twitter or sign up for an e-mail or text reminder.

If I have a blog or website, can I put a link on there to your site?

Absolutely. In fact, I'd prefer it if you put multiple links on your site, but that might be a bit much.

Can I tell everyone I know about this?

Of course. If you know someone overseas and would like them to know about it, that would be even better.

When do I need to send you the pictures I take?

Whenever you get a chance. I imagine it'll take at least a few days for pictures to trickle in, so there's no major rush.

What if I find an error on your site or notice something that doesn't quite make sense?

E-mail me right away and I'll do my best to fix it. I have a day job and a million things running through my mind at any particular moment, so the chances I may have something messed up are pretty good.

If I e-mail you, how can I trust that my address will be safe?

I can guarantee you that your e-mail address will not be used for any purpose other than to send you a reminder or two (and to maybe thank you for participating). I'm sure everyone who signed up for the original can attest to the fact that I'm a trustworthy fellow, if that helps.

Where did the title "A Minute In The Life" come from?

I remember a coffee-table book my parents used to have entitled "A Day In The Life Of America," in which professional photographers were dispatched around the country to capture what was happening in even the smallest of towns. I always thought it was interesting, and even though that particular book didn't drive this project, I did think something along those lines would act as a good title.

I noticed that you put together a book for the 2007 version of AMITL. Any word on whether or not that'll happen again?

To be honest, I haven't thought that far ahead yet. I really enjoyed the finished product, but between editing the website, collecting waivers and creating the pages for the book, I spent a pretty ridiculous amount of time on it. I'm hoping to do it again, as it's something I'm very proud of... but we'll just have to wait and see.