... the biggest thing that will keep you from celebrating your own growth is comparison to other photographers. Instead of comparing today’s photo to someone else’s, compare it to the one you took on Day 1… and celebrate how far you’ve come!
I've been looking around the web for some inspiration lately as I think I've hit a slump with my project (as many of you will know if you follow me, I've been whining about this for ages!). I am so close to the end (31st Dec) and am determined not to give up this year. I found this blog post with tips for completing a project and thought I would share it in case there are others in need of a little inspiration. My favourite bit is the paragraph above!
Would anyone like to post their very first photo here and write a little about how far you've come? Perhaps it will inspire me (and others) to keep going, especially when the end is in sight. I know I'd love to see some!
Happy snapping
Debbie
"The story you’re telling with your Project 365 has never been told before. Give yourself all the grace you need to pick up your camera and tell it!"
This was my earliest taken pic. Still doing puppy pics a year later (who can resist puppies) but now wait until, they are more individual. I have been really inspired by all on 365. Don't manage a pic every day as life has a habit of intruding. Challenges are good when the phogo flags and doing something in macro is so absorbing that it draws one in. I am looking forward to year two. 365 is super as are all who sail with her. Thank you xx
I only started this in July and my first pics I posted here are SOOC! I was on my summer holiday and while I was sitting on the train I just suddenly decided to sign up here and posted my first pic later that night, when I arrived at my destination.
Wince - on multiple levels. Bad Photo and I not only didn't keep the resolution but I sold the contraption when I moved.
I've gotten better at seeing something to photograph. Since I work long hours, I've kind of developed a trend of taking pictures of very mundane things from a different perspective and finding the interesting (I like interesting better than beautiful) in very normal things (look up the tag for office-supplies, to get a taste). Maybe after I retire I can learn to take better beautiful scenery shots but I live in suburbia & work long hours in a very grey office. Quirky office supplies is an improvement over this thing.
@johenn Hahaha Jo I know exactly how you feel. Many of my shots are things at home that I try to look at from a different point of view. The main thing is to keep taking pics isn't it?
@barneyone I agree, the challenges are good ways to stay focussed - I definitely have my favourites: album cover challenge, etsooi and sometime the mundane ones.
Haha. I'd better not celebrate. My goal has completely changed in the past 2 and a half years. With it my photos changed, not becoming any better, just different. My albums became a diary of some kind. The quality lies in the concept and the story instead of the individual photo's.
It took me some time to realize this project wasn't about taking the best pictures and showing off the perfect photo's on the PP. It was a relief finding out where I fitted in this social system with favs and comments Once I let it go, after three month or so, it has been a very easy task delivering a photo a day.
I look back at my photo's from time tot time. Also got a book with my first 366 photo's. Recommendable!
This was my first photo. I'm still enjoying the project but I'm not very much around on the site.
@johenn I noticed your gasroparesis book on the machine. I am also a sufferer of this condition. Trying to do what the book recommends and also lose some weight collected because of the condition.
My very first post - this is one of my beloved retired/rescued greyhounds having a run in the garden, as he still does. I had joined on the day I posted this, so I leaped in there and posted any old photo. Looking back at the shots since this project has actually let me be a little more creative, something I had felt was lacking, mainly due to work. I think it's let me develop a very definite style of my own...quirky, different, sometimes bizarre. But I like it and that's the main thing.
This was my first post, taken in October 2011. What possessed me to post it I have no idea! Probably taken in full auto mode. I believe I have moved on from here and hopefully can continue to improve
My first shot. I'm not sure how far I have come. It feels to me like one of those things where the more you learn, the more you learn there is to learn.... That make sense? I do know I have enjoyed my journey so far and that it has made me look at everything differently. As for comparing ourselves. I suspect we all do abit if we are honest with ourselves. Keep going Deb. I KNOW you'll do it. I do.....
1st Jan, 2011. Not sure how far I've come but I have learnt a LOT! So many terms I had never heard of before. I know how to shoot a refraction, water droplets, make an orb with a sparkler... I have a crystal ball for gosh sakes! I've even dropped strawberries into milk, lol... and I'm still learning. Thanks so much 365ers for sharing your talent. And thanks for the thread Debs, now I think you should share your first shot too.
16th June 2011 was my very 1st post, I've learnt a lot since this, like Sheralee since this I've done water droplets, played with refractions, dropped all sorts of stuff into water & loved every minute of it :)
This is a nest that we had been watching and so excited that the eggs finally hatched! I was so frustrated that I couldn't get things focused well but was determined and fiddled with the settings until I got something somewhat recognizable. If only I had known then what I know now. Thanks for posting this! It is amazing how practice and necessity push you to learn new things.
From Jan 1 2012:
I can't believe how much I've learned this since this was taken. This was taken with a point and shoot, I now have a Nikon 5200 and since this have taken so many different (some good, some not so good) shots. Inspiration comes and goes but the joy always returns.
My very first pic on the 1st Jan. I wanted to learn how to take better photos and do a photo diary of my year. I wasn't expecting any responses, comments or views, but I did and that's led to more which I've loved. Anyway, I've learnt about cropping, pov, light, etc, loads of stuff, some I've taken on board some I'm still struggling with. And I've hit many slumps, going through one now, but love seeing what everyone else is doing.
I am a scrapbooker and took my first photo for a scrap page. I was shooting in auto then and using my ps as often as not. Now I shot in RAW have a new lens, have a better understanding of Aperture, ISO and shutter speed, have a mentor, have actually made pp and my scrapbooking suffers because I am always taking pictures. I also went from using Photo Shop Elements to using Lightroom and Photoshop. But one of the best things is a feel I have made real friendships.
@graemestevens I just figured you had been here forever. You are so supportive of everyone. I see your comments everywhere. That is a big part of this site - giving back.
My kids were my main push to join 365. They're so little and we are glued together 24/7 so I don"t get much chance to escape on interesting photo adventures. I wanted to document our day and push myself to see our little mundane moments differently. When I started in November last year, I couldn't shot manual, had never really heard of or used metering and had little confidence. I'm no expert now but I have come on in leaps and bounds.
The wealth of advice and encouragemnet on here has been invaluable.
I can't believe how much my baby girl has changed in a year!
What a great thread! I only started in May, but can definitely see improvements. I started this project just as a push to be creative, never consider myself a creative person. I had just started learning about aperature, ISO, all of that non-automatic stuff a couple months before starting 365 but wasn't to the point where I could imagine how I want the shot to turn out. I'm starting to get to that point (although it's rare, but it does happen now). Just love the ability to get feedback from some amazing people that also give inspiration to me to try things I would've never thought of prior to 365.
@graemestevens Haha Graeme! "quirky, different, sometimes bizarre" - most definitely! So glad you have your own style, it certainly gives many of us something to comment on!
@dibzgreasley@graemestevens bizarre and quirky you say? I have to confess to having never noticed....will keep an eye on you now for this quirky/bizarre work.....
My first shot. I had just read about 365 Project and thought this is a great challenge. I didn't know at the time how much enjoyment it would bring. It's such an important part of everyday life now :-)
@newbank@graemestevens
Ruth, you will have to keep a sharp out for the quirkiness, it is sometimes very hard to see, hidden in amongst the so called 'normal' shots! Tee hee
@newbank I really like this shot Ruth and I now know that you love leg shots! I think you had a style before you joined but like you say, you've just found out how much there is still to learn!
@lynnilou nothing wrong with this but you do have a style of your own now. Always know your shots. You bring such beauty to the world around you in your images.
I am not great at writing so for me my photos speak for themselves....over the last 2.5yrs I have travelled an amazing journey, constantly inspired by other so this site along the way.
My first ever photo on 365
And one of my latest (absolute poles apart)
My first photo posted on Aug. 1, 2013. I was doing a rainbow month on a photo-a-day site on Facebook. This is my blue picture of the sky above my son's football practice in NH. It is SOOC because I didn't use any post editing at this point. And, it was taken on a basic point-and-shoot.
The sky picture I took the other day. I had my Nikon on the sunset setting and did post editing with Picasa to crop and sharpen. I learned to do the post editing here on 365.
This was my first posting. I have learned so much since then and I absolutely love photography. I didn't do much processing in the beginning but now I love to edit photos and I am learning how creative photography can be.
I started my 365 project in June this year. I needed a new interest and whatever possessed me to take up photography I don't know. However I'm very glad I did. Prior to this my photography was limited to birthdays and holidays and not much of that. I bought my camera one day and joined 365 the next. went on four hour course two days later and am now completely hooked! I learn so much from all the kind and supportive people on here and from looking at your work. Way to go but I'm loving it.
This is my first attempt.
My first photo for 365, I can't believe how much thought went into it now seeing how it turned out.
When I fist started the project I was a little sad that none of my friends and family were really interested in my project. None of them cared about photography and I am so passionate about it, I have been my whole life. But now I find it freeing in a way how this is kept separate and how I can express things in photos and blurbs that I could never get across in another way. Plus even though I am socially awkward I am so drawn into peoples projects on here, and how beautiful some of the photos are. It makes me think I really should get better at commenting daily.
Thanks Debs for thinking of this and following through with this challenge of sorts. I believe we all go through ruts as far as creativity. We tend to photograph similar objects and we grow bored with ourselves. It's good to have a place like the Project to draw inspiration from others. To help us learn to see things we have missed.
This is my very first photo posted on the Project, January 2, 2012. It is a house that has always stood out to me at Christmas because the owners choose to use the natural aesthetics of the house to be the prominent focus of their decorating. While I was pretty proud of it back then, I wish I would have taken more time to tone down the bright harsh light shining on the front door.
I present my SOOC chicken! (Its photo 8 but I back filled ) I have always loved photography but I have never learned as much as I have,especially about creativity...on this site!
I started out with no huge interest or skills in photography. I was taking snap shots with a point and shoot.
2 cameras later and into my 3rd year on 365 and I have grown in leaps and bounds throughout the years. Photography has become a passion for me...and I've gotten past taking snap shots. Here's today's shot and it was taken in M mode, that I am just learning and experimenting with more:
This was my first pic taken with a point and shoot. It's not very good but I was pleased with it at the time. I then bought another camera - my first bridge camera followed by a better bridge camera before I got my DSLR which I now use. I don't think anyone viewed my first shot but I have had loads of Favs on the bird pics I shoot now.
This is a recent shot which has had 19 favs on it so drastically better than the first. I have learnt a lot from looking at people's Exif Info so that I now usually shoot with manual settings.
Ah, just the reminder we all need from time to time! Here's my first photo, which I naively thought looked great (but now I see that it's very grainy and undefined!):
and here's my end-of-year-one photo which I tried to "bookend" the first photo but the weather was more challenging. I still think it came out better because I learned so much the first year:
And another Chicago skyline image from Year Two:
I am thankful to this community for teaching me so much!
This was my first shot. I don't know that I've become this amazingly better photographer. I use 365 mostly as a photo journal to document my year. I can definitely see that I've changed and grown as a person from reading that entry, though. This has become a place for me to ramble about my day and life experiences, and for that I am very blessed to be apart of this little community.
I started my 365 project on March 16th,2014. This is the first photo that I posted. I wasn't sure what 365 was about; I thought it was like keeping a journal. I took this photo because we were in the middle of a long, cold winter so the melting snow was very much on my mind. The photo, while not very interesting, has served the purpose for which it was intended. When I look at it, I remember that as much as I truly enjoy the first snow of the season, I had had enough. The fact that the snow was melting was a sign that spring was coming. Since I started my 365 project, it is still sort of like a journal but I've learned so much from the friends that I've made here that now my project is also about improving my photography skills. And I still have so much to learn!
This is a great thread! Thanks, Deb, for starting it. I started my 365 project in late January of this year. However, my real project started in March 2013 with this photo with my (then) new Canon 6D purchased just in time for a major vacation. I took a fair number of photos in 2013 and have uploaded many in my Extras album so I can better see my personal progress.
This is my first photo in my official 365 project. I think it's ironic both are nearly square given the focus on composing in that format in September.
My photography has grown in numerous and innumerable ways in the past 9 months. EVERYONE in my world knows I take a picture a day. Many comment on seeing things differently bc of my passion (and constantly having a camera with me), tell me about the things they see, take me to what they've seen so I can see too, or snap a pic and send it to me.
The community here on 365 has been a large part of my growth. I learn from seeing the work of others. It forces me to consider all sorts of factors that went into the creation of their work. Likewise, I feel encouraged and affirmed as a photographer by the generous comments of many. I may slow down a bit once I hit the 365th day of my project but I don't think I'm going anywhere! I'm learning too much and have too many interests to say I'm done.
Wow this is great. I started on New Years Eve and have enjoyed this site more than any. I love the themes/competitions (even won one lol), but most of all I love the people. I love looking at peoples' pics and if I see one that would be great for a theme/challenge I would suggest it to them to tag. I get super excited when I see that something I suggested has made it to the top five, won or ended up in Top 20. Please check out my page and if you like I would love the follow :-) this was my first shot:
I started on January 1st of this year, and have been surprised at how easy it has been for me to stay motivated to keep up with my project. I have been struggling with time constraints at certain points, as my job has been insanity for most of the year! As it often has over the years, photography is one of the things that has helped me destress.
I've learned so much here, and also have learned a lot on how to use software to edit my photos and get different effects, which has been so much fun.
This is a very meaningful topic, as I am just a bit away from finishing my first year. I am so grateful to this community for its support, advice and inspiration. I can't begin to express how much I appreciate how the supportive artistic sensibilities from the folks here have added to my daily abilities to appreciate the world around me. Thank you!
My first uploaded shot to this project was taken with my iPhone, heavens, here it is:
@mummarazzii Such a difference from the beginning... way to go! I follow your project because your shots have such great light, composition and humanity. So fun to see the first shot... thank you. :)
@amandal@rosiekerr@dibzgreasley thank you, this site has helped me so much...and continues to do so. I am am grateful the day I stumbled across Project 365 :)
@mummarazzii I had no idea that I would be into photography. I did this on a whim. It's amazing how having this changed my life in ways. Some good, some bad. Addiction to the site has been a struggle. But taking photos, capturing moments of joy and emotion, searching for beauty everywhere...that has been so life giving!!
How cool looking back at some of my first submissions - this was my first and I was so darn proud of it - first time ever "processing" a photo as well and I was in heaven lol. Knowing what I know now, I definitely would have processed it different, but you have to start somewhere!
This is my very first photo on 365 all the way back on 2nd January 2011.
I know I have learnt so much since then and have 365 Project to thank for a lot of that. I've learnt more about focusing, about what I'm passionate about capturing in a photo (portraiture and capturing moments in life) and so so so much about editing. I have more confidence now (although still not very confident) and I have even captured photos for others that have approached me. Mostly though I think after nearly finishing my third year I've realised just how much I LOVE photography.
And just to show how far I've come here is one of my more recent photos.
I started Jan 1, 2011 with the shot above. My husband and nephew playing a dancing game on the Kinect lol. Looking back my photography has come SOOOO far and has improved beyond on my expectations. I didn't used to edit very much when I first started, I didn't know what dof, rot or bokeh was, barely knew what macro was lol. 2013 was the 1st year since I joined that I had no empty spots during the whole year and so far in 2014 I have no empty spots either. I have gotten so many ideas, learned so so so much on here. I am so thankful beyond words for this site. I wouldn't be where I am in my photography if it wasn't for this site and all the people that I follow and even some that I don't follow, the photography on here is amazing.
Below is a shot I took today, one that I am very proud of because it was on my bucket list.
My first post from June 2013 - I still have a lot to learn but have learned to use my camera better, think more about what I want from the photo op, gotten a wider range of processing skills and am getting more creative with my shots.
it was a tomato OK...early girl if I remember correctly. around here I celebrate every single one because they are hard won! besides new years day is my birthday and the first ripe tomato is a celebratory feast I can relate to :)
I know that I should've done this when I started the thread (and Sheralee @bella_ss reminded me to do it!) but this week has run away with me. I started this 365 project as a way of being creative whilst I wrote my PhD thesis and as a little distraction I suppose. And really, the project and the wonderful people here have kept me sane!
I have been taking photos for many years and had a bit of a style before I started 365 but I have still learnt so much - how to post-process, what HDR is, different styles of b&w etc. So when you look at my shots, I'm not sure you'll see much difference but it's been more of an internal journey for me I think. One obvious thing I have done is to stop labelling my photos!
This is a recent pic
A favourite part of my day is looking at other people's images and gaining inspiration from them and their life stories. Even though I have never met anyone on 365, I feel like I have made friends here. Anyway, enough burbling...
It has been a real pleasure reading all your stories and thoughts about your own growth. Thank you all for sharing. May the happy 365 journey continue!
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I've gotten better at seeing something to photograph. Since I work long hours, I've kind of developed a trend of taking pictures of very mundane things from a different perspective and finding the interesting (I like interesting better than beautiful) in very normal things (look up the tag for office-supplies, to get a taste). Maybe after I retire I can learn to take better beautiful scenery shots but I live in suburbia & work long hours in a very grey office. Quirky office supplies is an improvement over this thing.
It took me some time to realize this project wasn't about taking the best pictures and showing off the perfect photo's on the PP. It was a relief finding out where I fitted in this social system with favs and comments Once I let it go, after three month or so, it has been a very easy task delivering a photo a day.
I look back at my photo's from time tot time. Also got a book with my first 366 photo's. Recommendable!
This was my first photo. I'm still enjoying the project but I'm not very much around on the site.
My first shot. I'm not sure how far I have come. It feels to me like one of those things where the more you learn, the more you learn there is to learn.... That make sense? I do know I have enjoyed my journey so far and that it has made me look at everything differently. As for comparing ourselves. I suspect we all do abit if we are honest with ourselves. Keep going Deb. I KNOW you'll do it. I do.....
I can't believe how much I've learned this since this was taken. This was taken with a point and shoot, I now have a Nikon 5200 and since this have taken so many different (some good, some not so good) shots. Inspiration comes and goes but the joy always returns.
My very first pic on the 1st Jan. I wanted to learn how to take better photos and do a photo diary of my year. I wasn't expecting any responses, comments or views, but I did and that's led to more which I've loved. Anyway, I've learnt about cropping, pov, light, etc, loads of stuff, some I've taken on board some I'm still struggling with. And I've hit many slumps, going through one now, but love seeing what everyone else is doing.
The wealth of advice and encouragemnet on here has been invaluable.
I can't believe how much my baby girl has changed in a year!
Ruth, you will have to keep a sharp out for the quirkiness, it is sometimes very hard to see, hidden in amongst the so called 'normal' shots! Tee hee
My first ever photo on 365
And one of my latest (absolute poles apart)
My first photo posted on Aug. 1, 2013. I was doing a rainbow month on a photo-a-day site on Facebook. This is my blue picture of the sky above my son's football practice in NH. It is SOOC because I didn't use any post editing at this point. And, it was taken on a basic point-and-shoot.
The sky picture I took the other day. I had my Nikon on the sunset setting and did post editing with Picasa to crop and sharpen. I learned to do the post editing here on 365.
This was my first pic (sexy I know :D):
And this was my 365th picture, a hommage to #1:
This is my first attempt.
When I fist started the project I was a little sad that none of my friends and family were really interested in my project. None of them cared about photography and I am so passionate about it, I have been my whole life. But now I find it freeing in a way how this is kept separate and how I can express things in photos and blurbs that I could never get across in another way. Plus even though I am socially awkward I am so drawn into peoples projects on here, and how beautiful some of the photos are. It makes me think I really should get better at commenting daily.
Anyway here is my picture for today.
This is my very first photo posted on the Project, January 2, 2012. It is a house that has always stood out to me at Christmas because the owners choose to use the natural aesthetics of the house to be the prominent focus of their decorating. While I was pretty proud of it back then, I wish I would have taken more time to tone down the bright harsh light shining on the front door.
My photo from yesterday.
This week.New lens,new knowledge!
2 cameras later and into my 3rd year on 365 and I have grown in leaps and bounds throughout the years. Photography has become a passion for me...and I've gotten past taking snap shots. Here's today's shot and it was taken in M mode, that I am just learning and experimenting with more:
This is a recent shot which has had 19 favs on it so drastically better than the first. I have learnt a lot from looking at people's Exif Info so that I now usually shoot with manual settings.
and here's my end-of-year-one photo which I tried to "bookend" the first photo but the weather was more challenging. I still think it came out better because I learned so much the first year:
And another Chicago skyline image from Year Two:
I am thankful to this community for teaching me so much!
This was my first shot. I don't know that I've become this amazingly better photographer. I use 365 mostly as a photo journal to document my year. I can definitely see that I've changed and grown as a person from reading that entry, though. This has become a place for me to ramble about my day and life experiences, and for that I am very blessed to be apart of this little community.
I haven't been doing my project for long, but the challenges I have entered have definitely pushed me and challenged me a lot!
I started my 365 project on March 16th,2014. This is the first photo that I posted. I wasn't sure what 365 was about; I thought it was like keeping a journal. I took this photo because we were in the middle of a long, cold winter so the melting snow was very much on my mind. The photo, while not very interesting, has served the purpose for which it was intended. When I look at it, I remember that as much as I truly enjoy the first snow of the season, I had had enough. The fact that the snow was melting was a sign that spring was coming. Since I started my 365 project, it is still sort of like a journal but I've learned so much from the friends that I've made here that now my project is also about improving my photography skills. And I still have so much to learn!
This is my first photo in my official 365 project. I think it's ironic both are nearly square given the focus on composing in that format in September.
My photography has grown in numerous and innumerable ways in the past 9 months. EVERYONE in my world knows I take a picture a day. Many comment on seeing things differently bc of my passion (and constantly having a camera with me), tell me about the things they see, take me to what they've seen so I can see too, or snap a pic and send it to me.
The community here on 365 has been a large part of my growth. I learn from seeing the work of others. It forces me to consider all sorts of factors that went into the creation of their work. Likewise, I feel encouraged and affirmed as a photographer by the generous comments of many. I may slow down a bit once I hit the 365th day of my project but I don't think I'm going anywhere! I'm learning too much and have too many interests to say I'm done.
I've learned so much here, and also have learned a lot on how to use software to edit my photos and get different effects, which has been so much fun.
My first photo, which I still like:
My last, from today:
and my latest
My first uploaded shot to this project was taken with my iPhone, heavens, here it is:
Today's shot is here:
I know I have learnt so much since then and have 365 Project to thank for a lot of that. I've learnt more about focusing, about what I'm passionate about capturing in a photo (portraiture and capturing moments in life) and so so so much about editing. I have more confidence now (although still not very confident) and I have even captured photos for others that have approached me. Mostly though I think after nearly finishing my third year I've realised just how much I LOVE photography.
And just to show how far I've come here is one of my more recent photos.
I started Jan 1, 2011 with the shot above. My husband and nephew playing a dancing game on the Kinect lol. Looking back my photography has come SOOOO far and has improved beyond on my expectations. I didn't used to edit very much when I first started, I didn't know what dof, rot or bokeh was, barely knew what macro was lol. 2013 was the 1st year since I joined that I had no empty spots during the whole year and so far in 2014 I have no empty spots either. I have gotten so many ideas, learned so so so much on here. I am so thankful beyond words for this site. I wouldn't be where I am in my photography if it wasn't for this site and all the people that I follow and even some that I don't follow, the photography on here is amazing.
Below is a shot I took today, one that I am very proud of because it was on my bucket list.
I have been taking photos for many years and had a bit of a style before I started 365 but I have still learnt so much - how to post-process, what HDR is, different styles of b&w etc. So when you look at my shots, I'm not sure you'll see much difference but it's been more of an internal journey for me I think. One obvious thing I have done is to stop labelling my photos!
This is a recent pic
A favourite part of my day is looking at other people's images and gaining inspiration from them and their life stories. Even though I have never met anyone on 365, I feel like I have made friends here. Anyway, enough burbling...
It has been a real pleasure reading all your stories and thoughts about your own growth. Thank you all for sharing. May the happy 365 journey continue!