As many of you may know, I have a Flickr account where I post the bulk of my photos on a day to day basis. I really enjoy the site and have made quite a few new friends, enjoyed viewing others' works and have learned a lot!!
At the beginning of the year, I decided to join a group called Project 365! The goal of this group is that you have to take/post one photo a day, every day for 365 days to the group!! This may sound easy, but I'm in 99 days now (tomorrow will be 100) and at times I felt like it has sucked the life right out of me. However, being forced to pick up the camera every single day for 365 days in a row has its advantages.
First of all, I've had to get a little creative on the shots I take. After looking back at shots I had taken previous to joining the group, I noticed that I have a tendency to take certain types of photos, even though I've always considered myself to be one of those "all-around" type photographers.
Secondly, I've become very familiar with my equipment. I bought a new camera about a month ago, and although I don't have every single feature down perfect, I have explored many of its options and tried to incorporate them into one or more photos I've posted to the group.
Thirdly (is this a word?) I think I have improved certain skills that I was lacking on before. Having to take a shot every day, will make you think a little more about what you're going to shoot. Even though some days, I have just snapped something to post to the group. I always didn't think of myself as a very good portrait photographer but at the beginning of the year, I set myself a goal (along with joining the group) that I would make myself learn how to shoot better portraits. I'm still not great at them, but I feel I have improved significantly.
Fourth, (I'm not going to say fourthly) I've gotten to see what other photographers face and what photographic decisions they make on what to post to their projects because I view their posts as much as I do my own, scratch that, I view them more than I do my own. Its kinda like getting a little peak in to other photographers' lives. Plus, again, its a great learning curve. You might see a photo similar to one that you have taken but with a different twist.
Fifthly (what the hell), I've become very inspired by the many great photographers in the project, posting on a daily basis. One thing you can never have enough of as an artist of any medium, is inspiration!!! Even simple photos that you see, which aren't technically magnificent, might have some significance to you on another level.
So, all in all, I have really enjoyed being part of this group but at the same time, the negative impact is, it takes a lot of time and commitment to be involved in a group like this. Also, I feel that sometimes I may have posted a photo that I wasn't exactly proud of or didn't seem very artistically creative. However, I'm not giving up and look forward to the challenge, and to what other members of the group and myself can come up with.
If you'd like to view my Project 365 album, you can do so by clicking
HERE.Just keep your nasty comments to yourself! :)
