Its Only 365 Days
THE END. LOVE. HEART.
365/365!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Dear Friends,
It's only 365 days, and I've done it. I've taken one photo (two actually) every day for the past year and as cliche as it may be, what a year its been. I was thinking all day about how I'd go out...fireworks...craziness....simplicity....and I came up with this image which I think says everything I want to say about this past year and this project.
I started project 365 for a couple of reasons. In the middle of April '09, I was looking for something epic to do. I'd done a few short term challenges unrelated to photography in the past, and each had taught me something and brought me to some new place in my life, and right as I was searching for something new, I came across a random person's 365, and I was hooked. Secondly, my life was slowly pushing me into photography. I'd been looking for a new camera for a while, and I thought why should I buy this new camera when I can't even fully utilize my old one, so a tip online, said one should carry and use their camera with them everyday and everywhere, and 365 days later, I tend to agree. Lastly, I'd been an off and on journaler, mostly off, and I knew I wanted to remember a year, and all its ups, downs, and arounds, but each time I'd try to journal, I'd be into it for a month or two, then stop, then pick it up literally the next year, and then again 3 months or so, then I'd stop. Knowthing there has been a picture, a concrete visual memory and a written one, gave me incentive to keep at it.
Two thousand and nine was such a good year to me. I had a lot of fun with friends and family and its documented in the photos I've shared here as well as the literally thousands I've stock piled for each day...and there are thousands...I now on average take about 6,000 photos a month..that's 72,000 photos for the year!
Photography has taken on a new meaning for me. I have just recently started my own photography business and as hard as it is doing the grunt work and getting it off the ground, the more and more I do it, the more it reminds me what it feels like to truly feel alive. I wake up and I want to take pictures, I drive to work and half the time I'm taking pictures while driving (yikes), and now its helping pay the bills; its just all come full circle for me. With each opportunity, I feel more inspired and want to keep going and doing all that I can to make my dreams finally come true.
This image is how I can best describe in picture form what this project has been. First of all, I've given Narcissus a run for his money because I've had to fall in love with myself ten times over. Every single day having to take or in a lot of cases, force yourself to take a picture of yourself isn't as easy as it looks. I have had a lot of bad hair days, been in bad moods, or just felt like, why the hell am I doing this, but its the drive that kept me snapping, and kept me going. The camera for me is connection with a moment in time. Here, I've learned to connect with myself. To feel in picture forms all thsoe emotions from happy to sad to joy to pain, its all there in some form on my 365. Hide nothing, I told myself, and this is coming from a private person. This project has been an affair of the senses: touch, taste, smell, vision, hearing. Its meant finding out what compells me, what I'm truly connected to, and wouldn't you know, I've found a connection with myself that I didn't know existed prior to this project.
My advice for others wanting to take on the epic challenge of doing a 365 is this: know that its not going to be easy. Everyone isn't happy and ready to be in front of the camera everyday, but on those days think of the greater experience, the entirity of the project and you can get through those days. Trust me, I've had dozens. Be bold. Seek out people, places, or things that do make an impact on your life. The project is about your memories, not ones others come up with, so stay true to your own vision and experience. Carry your camera with you everywhere. At work I'm known as the camera lady because every time someone needs a picture, they come running straight for me because they know I have my camera. I carry my camera around now like its my cell phone, and I never leave home without it. Know that you will get bored, and find the project stale at some point, so look for inspiration. There are dozens of projects you can try within your 365 to keep you motivated. Joining flickr groups is also a great help because seeing others works can often give you that kick in the pants you need to try something new and keep going. Finally, TRUST ME, know that in the end, it is soooo worth it! I've been looking back all week long, like, wow, wow, wow, I did this. This is my life, my reality show, my year.
What will I do now.? Hmm? I have wrestled back and fourth with this, and I've debated whether or not to keep going and pick up with Day number one again tomorrow, but I've done my 365, and have put a lot of time and energy into this project and I know I deserve a little time off. So I intend to take it. No worries, I'm still going to be sporadically posting pictures as it has become almost second nature to me now, but it will be more business related photos, rather then my own personal 365 photos. I think maybe June 1, I might start back up, but its all up in the air now. Right now, its time to celebrate, and kick back, and enjoy the memories of 2009-2010 (thus far).
Finally, I want to thank anyone and everyone who has ever supported me, my 365, my business, or left me comments, emails, or feedback. You guys are the best. Its one thing to go at this alone, but its another to see people running along side you and cheering you on. Many many thanks to Royce, Marie, Mwanz, Mom2js, and Ibrahim for your continual views/comments. Love. Heart. Super Love. Heart. and Sushi. to John, the first super sexy human, other then myself, to land in my 365. Muchos Abrazos.
Remember, its only 365 days.
THE END. LOVE. HEART.
365/365!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Dear Friends,
It's only 365 days, and I've done it. I've taken one photo (two actually) every day for the past year and as cliche as it may be, what a year its been. I was thinking all day about how I'd go out...fireworks...craziness....simplicity....and I came up with this image which I think says everything I want to say about this past year and this project.
I started project 365 for a couple of reasons. In the middle of April '09, I was looking for something epic to do. I'd done a few short term challenges unrelated to photography in the past, and each had taught me something and brought me to some new place in my life, and right as I was searching for something new, I came across a random person's 365, and I was hooked. Secondly, my life was slowly pushing me into photography. I'd been looking for a new camera for a while, and I thought why should I buy this new camera when I can't even fully utilize my old one, so a tip online, said one should carry and use their camera with them everyday and everywhere, and 365 days later, I tend to agree. Lastly, I'd been an off and on journaler, mostly off, and I knew I wanted to remember a year, and all its ups, downs, and arounds, but each time I'd try to journal, I'd be into it for a month or two, then stop, then pick it up literally the next year, and then again 3 months or so, then I'd stop. Knowthing there has been a picture, a concrete visual memory and a written one, gave me incentive to keep at it.
Two thousand and nine was such a good year to me. I had a lot of fun with friends and family and its documented in the photos I've shared here as well as the literally thousands I've stock piled for each day...and there are thousands...I now on average take about 6,000 photos a month..that's 72,000 photos for the year!
Photography has taken on a new meaning for me. I have just recently started my own photography business and as hard as it is doing the grunt work and getting it off the ground, the more and more I do it, the more it reminds me what it feels like to truly feel alive. I wake up and I want to take pictures, I drive to work and half the time I'm taking pictures while driving (yikes), and now its helping pay the bills; its just all come full circle for me. With each opportunity, I feel more inspired and want to keep going and doing all that I can to make my dreams finally come true.
This image is how I can best describe in picture form what this project has been. First of all, I've given Narcissus a run for his money because I've had to fall in love with myself ten times over. Every single day having to take or in a lot of cases, force yourself to take a picture of yourself isn't as easy as it looks. I have had a lot of bad hair days, been in bad moods, or just felt like, why the hell am I doing this, but its the drive that kept me snapping, and kept me going. The camera for me is connection with a moment in time. Here, I've learned to connect with myself. To feel in picture forms all thsoe emotions from happy to sad to joy to pain, its all there in some form on my 365. Hide nothing, I told myself, and this is coming from a private person. This project has been an affair of the senses: touch, taste, smell, vision, hearing. Its meant finding out what compells me, what I'm truly connected to, and wouldn't you know, I've found a connection with myself that I didn't know existed prior to this project.
My advice for others wanting to take on the epic challenge of doing a 365 is this: know that its not going to be easy. Everyone isn't happy and ready to be in front of the camera everyday, but on those days think of the greater experience, the entirity of the project and you can get through those days. Trust me, I've had dozens. Be bold. Seek out people, places, or things that do make an impact on your life. The project is about your memories, not ones others come up with, so stay true to your own vision and experience. Carry your camera with you everywhere. At work I'm known as the camera lady because every time someone needs a picture, they come running straight for me because they know I have my camera. I carry my camera around now like its my cell phone, and I never leave home without it. Know that you will get bored, and find the project stale at some point, so look for inspiration. There are dozens of projects you can try within your 365 to keep you motivated. Joining flickr groups is also a great help because seeing others works can often give you that kick in the pants you need to try something new and keep going. Finally, TRUST ME, know that in the end, it is soooo worth it! I've been looking back all week long, like, wow, wow, wow, I did this. This is my life, my reality show, my year.
What will I do now.? Hmm? I have wrestled back and fourth with this, and I've debated whether or not to keep going and pick up with Day number one again tomorrow, but I've done my 365, and have put a lot of time and energy into this project and I know I deserve a little time off. So I intend to take it. No worries, I'm still going to be sporadically posting pictures as it has become almost second nature to me now, but it will be more business related photos, rather then my own personal 365 photos. I think maybe June 1, I might start back up, but its all up in the air now. Right now, its time to celebrate, and kick back, and enjoy the memories of 2009-2010 (thus far).
Finally, I want to thank anyone and everyone who has ever supported me, my 365, my business, or left me comments, emails, or feedback. You guys are the best. Its one thing to go at this alone, but its another to see people running along side you and cheering you on. Many many thanks to Royce, Marie, Mwanz, Mom2js, and Ibrahim for your continual views/comments. Love. Heart. Super Love. Heart. and Sushi. to John, the first super sexy human, other then myself, to land in my 365. Muchos Abrazos.
Remember, its only 365 days.