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The every day project: A comeback to the 365.

Saturday, November 19, 2011 Posted inALL,ARTISTIC INSPIRATION,PHOTOGRAPHY

Truth be told, the 365 was slowly but surely killing me. It sounds simple enough, right? Take one photo every day for a year. Easy. I mean, there’s lots of things we do every day. Shower. Brush teeth. Sleep. Eat. etc.. So, what’s the big deal?

At first I loved it. The project really helped me step my photography up a notch, it forced me to focus more on my personal work than on my professional work. It forced me to think outside of the box. At the beginning I found it incredibly inspiring and it really made me a better photographer. But about half way through the pressure started to eat me alive. I felt like I had to be constantly improving my images, like I had to create a masterpiece every day. I lost all motivation and even started resenting my camera. This brought me the greatest sadness of all. Resenting the one thing which has given me the greatest pleasure for so long, my camera. I’m even embarrassed to type it – and I was so shocked to feel it. So I decided to stop the 365. And that was that. I was free, and I felt relieved.

But since I’ve been “free” of it, I have found myself missing it. As much as I hated the 365 for the immense pressure it put on me, it had actually taught me a thing or two and had been really pivotal to my growth in photography. I realised that I actually do want to take a photo every day. I just don’t want to resent my camera along the way.

It’s like – photography, I love you. And I do want to be with you every day. I just don’t want to fight with you about it if I don’t make it one day.

So, I created “the every day project”. Every day I will take a photo. And if I don’t, I won’t beat myself up about it, because I won’t have failed the project. It will just mean that I won’t have a photo for that particular day. The photos are numbered according to how old I am on that day. Today is day 8248 of my life, so today’s photo will be number 8248. (thanks to this site for helping me figure that out) There’s no way to fail this project. It’s just a simple way for me to aim to take a photograph every day, but not resent the project if I end up skipping a day.

And that’s that. I’m happy with this project, and hope that I can keep it up :). I look forward to it.

What’s your experience with Project 365? And who’s joining me with The Every Day Project?

Posted inALL,ARTISTIC INSPIRATION,PHOTOGRAPHY

  • claire

    Hi, First of all I love your work! Imm doing the 365 project as well, mostly so i learn how to use my camera, rather than only using it on ‘special’ occasions. Your blog made me realise that I’m alone in how frustrating it is sometimes! I have a love almost-hate-but-not-quite feeling about it. Ive learnt so much tho =]

  • Jenna Souers

    I’m completely LOVING this idea, takes away all the pressure yet helps you keep the passion alive<3 I'll be joining! (:

  • http://imonnetphoto.wordpress.com ImonnetPhoto

    I did the 30 Day Photography Challenge and it was not so easy as I thought it would be. Sometimes inspiration was not there and I had to make a big effort to came up with something. I’m now thinking a lot about starting (or not) the 365 on 1st January 2012. Your idea could be a great alternative! :)

  • http://www.annawithlove.com annawithlove

    Where is the LOVE button? Way to go Alex!!

  • http://www.tomsimmonds.com Thomas Cole Simmonds

    I am just about to start a 52 week project ( http://thomascolesimmondsphotography.blogspot.com/2011/11/skeleton-project.html ) and it is the first time I have attempted something like this. I don’t think I would ever do a 365 project, I love photography but I don’t need to take a photo every day. I think one a week will be just enough to keep me on my toes though. :)

    I look forward to following your project Alex! :)

  • http://www.iamchrisphoto.com Chris

    Great idea Alex.

    I guess it’s a bit different for everybody, but I finished my 365 project, and carried on going! I’m now on day 520 something. Im also in the middle of a 30 day self portrait challenge as well.

    I love these little goals i set myself, but of course it can get really really hard somedays to do it. But it’s a hard habit to break once you get into it!

  • http://ponderingpony.blogspot.com/ Jill

    I’m trudging through my own 365 project and have felt almost the same as you about it at points. I’ve ended up just kinda filling in the ‘empty’ days with extra shots from other days- I liked them and wanted to share them, but really, every day was killing me! I’m glad it isn’t just me that was feeling the pain! I’m nearly at the end of my 365 (and I WILL see it to the end! That is me getting stubborn), but afterwards I think I’ll join you in this one:)

  • http://thisisrosie.ca Rosie

    I’ve been working on Project 365 since July, and to be honest, I’m getting sick of it. But I think my problem is mostly that I try and post them all on my blog, but then I fall behind and get overwhelmed. Also, it’s made me realized how dull my life is, even though when I’m not looking through a camera it’s stunningly beautiful.

  • http://www.ajiradarchphotography.com/blog ajira

    I don’t know how I missed this post. But I’m reading it today. I’ve been doing the every day project for a few years now and it’s the best. Seriously. Every time I find myself starting to look at my camera with a bad attitude I remember that this is for me, and I don’t HAVE to do it… I want to. And sometimes all I do is shoot some leaves on the ground or the back of my son’s head as he walks away. And that’s okay. Love the idea of counting the days you’ve been alive. :D

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  • http://beatskipping.posterous.com Lauren

    I’ve done Project 365 twice – once in 2009 and the other last year in 2011. I am not a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I wanted to document the way my personal life was changing and to improve my photography skills along the way. 2009 was a brilliant experience, and I really missed doing the project in 2010. I found doing the project for a second time much more challenging, and though I think some of my shots are better, I was glad to reach the end of 2011 and not feel the pressure to take a shot every day. It was also occasionally disheartening to see the amazing images other people were taking, and feeling a bit insecure about my iPhone photos taken at the last minute. But I am really glad I did it and I am sure it’s a project I’ll come back to again at some point.

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