I’m getting close to the finish line – September 30 – of my 3rd 365. Chances are I’ll continue on for a fourth year; the visual diary that grows from doing a 365 has become indispensable to me.
A 365 is the story of a year (whether the story is true or not is impossible to answer and largely irrelevant anyway). Moreover, when you do more than one year in a row, you get a chance to compare days: I experienced this on that date, but what happened on that day one year ago? How have I changed since then?
Picking a few random dates, this is what I discovered:
November 11
On this date I am – unsurprisingly – focused on how I dislike winter, but the date includes evidence of how there is no light without the dark and no rainbow without bad weather.
In 2011 I was doing a month of black and white, and was frequently turning my lens to the signs of the coming winter.
In 2012 I remember how down I was from the fact that it was already dark when I walked home from work; at the same time I tried finding some joy in the dark by testing my two-months-new camera in bad lighting.
In 2013 I wasn’t focused on impending wintry gloom at all, but rather on the most fantastic rainbow I have ever seen.
February 19
This date is all about moving – travelling to unknown places or walking through familiar spaces.
In 2011 we had travelled northwards to Trøndelag to celebrate a baptism. I was fairly new at phone photography at this point, and was slowly learning how fun it is to experiment with apps.
In 2012 I was out for a Sunday walk and caught my own reflection in a window.
In 2013 I walked home from work and discovered that the world was slowly starting to take on colours again after a long winter.
August 27
Today’s date has been all about the sweets so far:
In 2011 we had a quiet Saturday evening in with some chocolate.
In 2012 I shot these tempting muffins while buying coffee in the morning on my way to work.
It remains to be seen which image will represent August 27 2013.
I have two tips for anyone who wants to practice photography through a 365. It’s obvious and it’s been said before, but it bears repeating:
(1) Always have a camera available. My 365 has become almost exclusively mobile, since my phone is always with me.
(2) Silence your inner critic. If you’re feeling uninspired, shoot something anyway, if only the light through the blinds in your bedroom when you go to bed. If the resulting image feels uninspired, you will have a matching record of your mood, and you will have learned what made it uninspired and perhaps even what could have made for a better image.
Keep shooting!
~ Jenny
Isn’t it amazing to have all these wonderful photographs to look back on, to help you remember?
I looked through my photographs online the other day, on instagram, flickr and my blog, and was moved by all the memories that came to life again. Such a precious treasure!
Thank you for sharing your memories with us!
I totally know what you mean about photography as a memory aid – I’m always astounded by how powerfully it works. Thanks for your comment!
Such evocative shots. They tell the stories of your years and you so beautifully.
I’ve begun 365s several times and never stuck at it yet I love looking at other people’s and seeing their years unfold. Perhaps this time it will take. I like your advice about shooting anyway and how it will match your mood and experience. Good advice.
I know what you mean about a 365 “taking”. Back when I first started, I had been doing a class with Tracey Clark over at Big Picture Classes in October, and by the end of the month I realised I had taken a shot every day and that I might as well continue – it had taken before I knew it.
Good luck with it whatever you decide to do 🙂
Congrats on nearing the finish of your 3rd 365 project. So great to have a visual diary of your work!
Thanks, Nikki – it really is!
Thanks for the post. It reminds me to get back and enter my own photos in my 365. It will be a chore, but I do like the end product.
It certainly can be a chore – the posting as well as the shooting. I used to post an image to flickr every day, but that became too much, so now I update my 365 set over there only once a month or so.
I love that you are in year 4! I have been loyal this year and have found it remarkable. Thanks for the inspiration to keep it up!
Remarkable is the word for it 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
great words of wisdom.
and are those pretzel muffins?!
I… have no idea 🙂 I don’t think I ever heard about pretzel muffins before!
You are amazing! As I get nearer the end of my 365 I have vowed never to do one again, so I am in even more awe that this is your third!
Well, I’m in awe of your images, mobile especially – I doubt I would manage a 365 if I were to put as much work into each image as you seem to do 🙂
Wow. How inspiring. I’ve tried twice to complete a 365 and made it pretty far into the year before abandoning the project. I think my inner critic takes over and I don’t want to post what I feel are mediocre shots. But life isn’t always stellar. : ) Thank you for the inspiration.
The inner critic has her place, but that’s definitively not in a 365. I still don’t especially like posting mediocre shots, but I do it anyway since I’m committed to this. Best of luck with it 🙂
Having completed a 365 in 2010 – I am in awe of your 3 year journey.
Thank you!
More than half way through my third 365 and I know I am a better photographer because of this discipline. The inspiration comes and goes at times. I always find it interesting that some of my photos that don’t inspire me happen to hit home with others- so that critic part gets shushed and try bed on its head…
You have me curios to compare my days now!
Yes, isn’t it interesting how others react to our photos? I’m always surprised when an image I consider mediocre gets lots of love on IG – that’s another thing that makes it worth persisting with a 365 also when inspiration is ebbing.
What wonderful photos, I´m so inspired and hope I can take such photos some day. Wish so much I could win a place in your picture everyday class. (sadly money is barely this time) <3