A 365 photography project involves taking a photograph, every single day, for a full year. Some people take a general photograph of anything, whatever strikes their fancy, or tells a story…that’s generally the type I do, others choose to focus on a specific theme or genre in an area of photography that they’re hoping to improve.
Some people use prompts; I’ve tried that but sometimes feel a bit pressured when I am busy and struggling to get things done in my day….which seems like most days, and adding the pressure of a scavenger hunt wasn’t pleasant. Regardless, 365 photography projects exist to push creative boundaries and help motivate photographers to seek new experiences that may improve their images.
I’ve always started mine on January 1st since it feels like a fresh start to a project. I also like to be able to look back across the years’ worth of images and associated stories and have a journal of what I saw, felt, experienced, and thought across the year.
If you are like me, and have invested a fair amount of money in the equipment that your hobby involves, then to see it sitting idle in a drawer can feel defeating. Doing a 365, for me, is about picking up the camera, using the various lenses, exercising some creativity when I feel like it, and build seeing the world through a different perspective into a daily habit.
I’ve had years where I’ve said I’m not going to do any photo projects and just take photos when I want to…..and I’ve then found that I forget about the camera because there is no impetus to use it. I also feel that, in those years, I have suffered a bit personally, because I am not “seeing” as well as I do when I use the camera more. It becomes too easy to get mired in work and routine, and the camera can take me out of that rut.
One thing I have learned along the way, through a few of these things, is that I have to be somewhat kinder to myself and forgive myself for days when I either can’t come up with anything good and have no inspiration, or miss a day. There are tips all over the internet for how to do one successfully (ex. 6 Tips for doing a successful 365 Photo Project)….some of these are helpful.
In the end is comes down to simply trying to build a habit.
I have done six projects to date, well…five-and-a- half….I didn’t finish one….or rather I started halfway through the year, 2023 will be number seven’ish.