Project 365....YOUR questions answered.

Wowza!

Yesterday's post got an unexpected amount of emails asking for advice, tips, presentation and organization of Project 365. I have learned a lot from my experience this year that I will be implementing in next year's P365.

Here are the answers to your questions.



Organization: To Blog or Not to Blog
There are a few ways to display your Project 365 photos along your journey through the year. I have seen some people set up a blog specifically to showcase only their Project 365 Photos. This is a good choice because it is free and there is ample room to write the story behind the photo. It is also easy for family to follow if they are interested in your project.

I choose to post my photos in a Flickr Gallery. I did this initially because I was invited to do so by my friend, Liz, since she started a specific P365 group on Flickr. There are many Project 365 groups to join on Flickr and you can even start your own small group with a few girlfriends who are doing the same project. This would be better than a Blog, since all of your photos would be pooled together in one place where you could check everybody's work, leave comments and support. Flickr is also free. I have really enjoyed being able to see all of my photos together in a thumbnail grid as the year has progressed.



Presentation: To Scrap or Not to Scrap
Yes, I have stopped traditional scrapbooking, but I do plan on putting all of these photos into a digital scrapbook soon. I am still researching price options, since I want to be able to write at least a small blurb about each day. But does this mean paying for a 183 page book? Yikes! I am still considering how many photos to put on each page, how much to write and which service to use (shutterfly, blurb, etc.) So far Blurb seems to be the least expensive option and I have heard their quality is good....so I am leaning in that direction. I'll be sure to keep you updated as I complete that process.



What I Learned: There is Repetition in All Things.
I learned a great lesson from observing three great photographers complete this project. Repetition is a part of life and can showcase what things are most important. At first I stressed about capturing a unique photo each and every day. Then I watched my friend, Noel, take photos each and every day of her beautiful girls. Most of these photos were head shots and all of them were beautiful.

I also purchased the book A Year of Mornings where two photographer friends took a picture of their morning routine each day. And, of course, more than one shot had a cup of coffee and a morning paper. And I realized that is okay. Family members, rituals and mundane repetitive tasks fill our lives each and every day and there's nothing wrong with displaying that repetition in your P365 photos. This next year I will allow myself to capture and even celebrate the repetitions that make up my life.



One More Tip: Change It Up
This Project is the catalyst that helped me really come into my own as a photographer with a "good eye". I tried every day to see if the photos I was taking could be shot from a different point of view. So often, we stand with feet apart, point the camera towards our subject, center them in the frame and click. This year I challenged myself to get lower, get higher, stand sideways, move closer and try to be different.



For instance, the photo above was the very first photo I took this year. Jan 01, 2009. After snapping a few shots of my husband and daughter from the side and looking straight at them I decided to get down low and shoot the playing piece on the board game. This photo is one of my favorites from the entire year. The other photos I added in this post are also examples of shooting from an unexpected angle. So go ahead, try new things!



If you've decided to do your own 2010 Project 365, you're on your way to a fabulous adventure! I can't wait to see what's in store!