My failed "365 Project"

Have you heard of these "Project 365"'s? The idea is to take a photo every single day - for the purpose of pressing yourself to keep shooting, but even more importantly to keep thinking and to keep creating.

For a long time, I have known that a 365 project would be difficult for me with my lifestyle - as there are often times that I get up super early, go-go-go-go all day long, and come home for the first time again late in the evening and collapse with only a couple of hours left to sleep before it starts again.

For some reason, though, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to start a self-portrait 365 project. This is another evidence of my fool-hardiness - because I hate doing self-portraits. But the "requirements" for a self-portrait (as defined by one of the self-portrait 365 groups on Flickr) is to have some portion of your body in each image. Well, I didn't get more than a week's worth of shots. Take a look for yourself.

If I must admit it, though, there is one decent shot in that batch, a black & white shot of my arms and legs, sitting on the floor, relaxed and in jeans. I got the idea from one of my former students who had a similar shot of herself in her Facebook album. (I can't show you that shot or link to it due to Facebook's wonderful security features - of which I am fully supportive!) I'll just say "Thanks!" to Liz for the inspiration. :-)

The other thing that I must admit is that I learned a lot from my short attempt at the 365 Project - and that I fully intend to carry one out some day. In my decision to shoot such a very limited subject, I had to begin to consider all of the possible variables to create 365 shots and still avoid having them all be the same shoulder-up shot of my face (uck!) Some variables that I took into consideration were: setting/context, including other objects, unique crops, including other people, and so on.

It won't be soon, but eventually you'll be reading here that I am attempting a 365 again, and the next time I will be successful! In the meantime, here are some links to inspire you:

• Photojojo looks at Project 365


• Project 365 Group on Flickr


• My friend, Vi, takes wonderful self-portraits (She's beautiful to begin with!) She makes me want to learn to do some better self-portraits myself.


• Another Flickr friend, Shannon, who started her 365 self-portraits good, and just got better and better. I believe that she's at about 300 out of the 365. Go Shannon!