A rerun of something I wrote at the same time last year. Still true to this day. Congrats and WELCOME!
10 Days Left for Some, and 10 Reasons to Do 365 Project
I realize that for many folks on this site, December 31 will mark their 365th photo, and so I’m jumping the gun a bit to say “Congratulations” and to provide a little encouragement to those who might be visiting the site before January 1 thinking they, too, might want to become a 365er.
Before I start with 10 reasons, when I say “Congratulations” I really mean this: “What you have accomplished is HUGE. SAVOR IT. Regardless of how you arranged your album for this year, chose your subjects, acquired new techniques, made new friends (across the globe!), jumped hurdles to get a shot, battled ebbandflophojo to advance just one more day, and gained accolades or recognition in some way, GETTING TO THE 365th PHOTO IS HUGE! Wooooooooohhooooooooooo! Really, SAVOR IT.”
Now, for those who might be looking into this site because some avid 365er has told you that you have to do it, here are 10 reasons to join the 365Project Band Wagon:
1. You will have a pretty cool album that chronicles 365 days of your life (or what you see). You do not have to be a photographer, nor do you have to have a good camera. You could have a myriad of reasons to start a 365project, and all that this project asks is that you submit something for a year. Anything. I started 365 almost two years ago as a writing project thinking that visual cues would be the way I could chronicle a year-in-the-life of a Daryl. I just happened to fall in love with my DSLR camera and realized I could learn how to use it here.
2. You will be a member of the “Nicest Place on the Planet’s World Wide Web,” so “shhhhh, don’t tell anyone crabby to join you." During 365 days, you’ll find yourself in some tough struggles or celebrating something wonderful or you’re just plodding along, but if you are down for just one minute or you find you are having trouble taking a shot, you will be surrounded by people who genuinely care about you and want you to succeed in your year’s goals! And they’ll say “hip, hip, hooray” or “cracking shot” or “I’d be chuffed to get that one” or “This is Pants!” (and if you’re American like me, you’ll have to look up “cracking,” “chuffed,” and “Pants”). You might even start adopting a British accent with your friends and say the same stuff because it makes you feel like you are fluent in another language (I say that because some people still think they speak “American”). Haha! And by NICE, I don’t mean these folks can’t offer critique—or argue the merits of something controversial, but rarely will you see a discussion that’s mean-spirited. We seem to have a force field that keeps out internet “trolls.” That alone makes this place very special.
3. You will witness so many beautiful and engaging photographs that inspire you all year long. I remember when I first started, I kept clicking on tabs to see what other 365ers were taking each day. My jaw would drop at the skill and the variety of subjects! I didn’t even know how they took such spectacular shots! Then I started asking them “HOW????” and you know what? They told me!
4. You’ll get to travel the globe! Without buying one plane ticket, you’ll visit so many countries and cities/towns in your own country every 24 hours. You’ll explore culture, family traditions, religions, environments, wildlife, and food! You can dream about where you’d like to go someday, and even dream of meeting the friends you’ve made who live there! I’ve got a running list of places/people I’d love to see right now!
5. You get an opportunity to step out of your comfort zones, but you need not take any risks.
There are plenty of opportunities to enter into some themes/competitions/challenges, and if you are new to photography, they are excellent ways to meet others like you or to share some of your own talents. I remember taking the plunge to enter a challenge by my second month I think. I have some challenges I will not miss now, and others I still love checking in on because they show me what I “could” do if I had time, just not that week. But you don’t have to do any of these things! This is your project.
6. You will converse in all kinds of Acronyms and feel very smart (but not at first…). Here is your primer: RAW, SOOC, JPEG, ISO, PSE, LR5, PS, DOF, POV, AP, EXif, GIF, GIMP, —and no, I’m not going to tell you what they mean. But I will tell you one: SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera). If you start your first discussion on this site “What is SOOC?” well, you will get an earful, so tread lightly. All it means for many folks is that you did the settings or the photo has not been edited outside of taking the photo.
7. You get to own the project. Your project, your rules (so if you skip a day, so what!? Keep going!).
8. You can do selfies. Unless that’s not your thing. But you’ll enjoy the folks who have turned it into an art form.
9. What you learn could lead to other opportunities! Just think, you might decide you are a photographer after all. I joined a photography club locally, and I’m having a blast getting critiques.
10. You will feel super great after one year! AND you might just be able to make your mark with something you created for this site alone. For example, I end long narratives accompanying my photo with the word HOT DOG! It’s a very coveted word. I give people points for their narratives and for going to the end of mine. I haven’t gotten around to an all-time award for those wonderful folks who read everything of mine, but if they do, HOT DOG helps you focus on what is yours and yours alone.
Wishing everyone the greatest joy at the end of your projects! Happy New Year. And join in on the fun you wannabe 365ers—WELCOME!
@darylo I love this! And a big thing is...once you experience 365, you'll have a hard time walking away. And if you do, chances are you'll be back. And when you do come back, it'll be like you never left. I totally agree this is one of the friendliest places on the web and well, each of your points is spot on. I can't understand why everyone wouldn't want to do this! I keep trying to convince my photo-loving friends that it's something they all need to experience.
@darylo Thanks for this Daryl. I agree with all you've said. The help and encouragement here are amazing. I'm soon to clock up my first 365 but I'm not going anywhere. Hope you get your computer issues sorted soon :)
Whooo hoooo! 10 days and im done, although this is my second year i didnt take a photo everyday last half of 2014. This year i vowed to shoot something everyday no matter what.
Not in any way implying i think thats what should be done, its just an accomplishment i wanted to do.
This coming year 2016 i plan to shoot less, do more challenges and just have fun.
Loved reading your thoughts about 365 - I so agree - especially about the friendliness of other 365'ers and their continual encouragement - and I love seeing and reading about the beautiful places all over the world - it is just amazing how many countries and cultures are included here. I'm about to begin year 5 and would miss it terribly if my computer failed me! (Have back up camera - but not back up computer!) I don't know of other camera friends locally (small town) so you have all become my camera friends and I thank you daily for that friendship.
well said Daryl! Hope you get your computer issues sorted - wish I could help but I am yet to dive into my LR - just the organisational bit scared me hahaha
So true Daryl. I'm half way through my second year and I've loved all the time I've spent on here, the friends I've made and the help and advice I've had.
@darylo, your post is very timely for me and has made me articulate some thoughts that I have had recently. I have decided with a heavy heart to leave the project after my second full year ends in 10 days. This is not to say that I won't be back in 2017 - and I will miss it - but it is something I have thought about hard. My reasons follow. One is practical, one I think is positive for me, two are negative about me and one is negative about a single participant in the community who I shan't name for obvious reasons.
Okay. Practical. I am due to have surgery on both feet in April and I will be on my back for two months with limited walking. There is only so much I can find to interest me photographically within a few feet of the sofa!
Positive for me is that I want to try and expand my interest in photography. I have joined the RPS travel group and I am trying to post photos on other sites with contests such as Photocrowd. I am finding that I can't do it all and if I want to grow as a photographer, I need to move on.
Negative about me is that I haven't found the time to participate as much as I would wish. Every time I post a picture, I get some lovely comments from some faithful followers but I don't often get to comment on them. How I do this is that every time I come onto the site, I comment on anything that catches my eye on the first home page. I seldom go to the second page. This probably gives me a window of a couple of hours' posts. If I miss you, I've missed you. I'm so sorry!! Sadly I don't have hours to trawl through and comment on the posts of everyone I follow individually. I know I miss a lot but I also know that my habit is unlikely to change.
Also negative about me is that after my first year of religiously taking a photo a day, I allowed myself more lassitude this year and, of course, my discipline has slipped further than I would have wanted. I am finishing the year about a month behind but finish it I will. I also haven't had the time or the inspiration to enter any of the challenges I thought I would this year.
Finally - if you are still with me - I do have one negative on the friends front. I have one follower who Favs my photos without fail. Not so bad you might think. But that this individual has made over 40,000 favs and has only about three different words to describe a picture: "awesome picture", "great picture" and something else, I forget what, which makes me feel that their commentary is indiscriminate and close to stalking. This is all the worse as I have looked at this person's photos and can't honestly, true to my heart, reciprocate on much of their work. There are so many lovely people that comment on my work and give me lovely comments and I appreciate it so much, but I have got to the point when I wake up to half a dozen emails from one person that I know are going to use those choice two or three words and fav everything my heart is starting to sink and I am starting not to see the point of it - from this one person's perspective anyway.
So I shall I complete 2015 and the two years have been a fabulous experience of growth in my photography that I will always appreciate and never forget. And who knows, I may be back!
A very happy Christmas and a big thank you to everyone who has followed me over the last two years (with one exception......).
@candia
Thanks so much for all your commentary! I know what you mean, and as I am in the third year (loosely), I have had to realize I cannot do it all. I finished two official years and I realize that the time commitment is extraordinary (I think I must have been crazy to complete the first one--I did everything and kept up with commenting). I have had to just accept that I am a "post and go" participant now, and I comment when I can. I stay because I have many close friends here that I would hate to be "out of touch" with.
The project takes on a life of its own! I'm sorry to hear about the "stalker"; you can disable email notifications if that might help?
I really do wish you a successful surgery! You might surprise yourself with a series of photographs there, even when the subject matter may be limited! But I know what you mean. I've moved on to Flickr, Instagram, my Fbook page, and I'm in a local photographic society. The time is not there. I will keep on here, and I hope you'll consider visiting when you can. This year, I have really made a totally different commitment, and while it's no real 365 project, I have two of them already, and well, it's just nice to see what others are doing across this wonderful world we document!
Will keep positive and healing thoughts coming your way!!
@candia a short note on your "stalker" consider the person doesn't know how to make educated comments or feels uncomfortable about expressing themselves because of uncertainty about their skills.. consider they may be followiing lots of people and want to make a comment so each person knows their picture was seen.
Consider they may have very little time to comment but wants you to know they at least looked. I know when my mother died I was away from 365 for a while but checked in occasionally and that is exactly what I did! A Fav and a Nice was all I had time for but I wanted my friends to know I had looked and liked their efforts!
It can be frustrating when you want more, I know, but it isnt always for a bad reason.
Thank you for this. I'm just about ready to finish my second year, and like @candia , I don't think I'm going to do a third year. Why? I feel that I am not a very good participating member here. I've been so crunched for time this year because of work, I barely have time to post, nevermind comment and view others' photos. I feel very guilty about that.
Who knows, maybe I'll have a change of heart, but I have a huge sense of accomplishment having taken and posted at least one photo for two years, and I've learned a lot here.
@darylo
I read your post last year and re-read again this year. You make insightful comments and I agree. I am coming up on the end of my second year and have enjoyed it because I set myself some learning goals and allowed myself to be more relaxed about posting. I have done monthly themes and series as I did last year and re-did the 100 Happy Days Challenge.
There are lots of reasons why I love 365 but if I had to choose two, these are the two things keep me going here 1) the absolutely wonderful community which you have so beautifully described! 2) setting myself learning gaols, doing monthly themes and series to keep me on track, participating in challenges as they catch my fancy!
This year I have taken all my photos in RAW (apart from the odd smart phone pic) and I have set up and used LR for workflow and processing. Now as the year ends I am thinking about what I want to learn next year...
The reciprocal relationship between posting and commenting is as many say, the biggest time commitment but I think you get out what you put in. There are times when I haven't been able to comment as I have been away but I do try to keep up with it - it is the unique way that 365 works.
So, I will be continuing next year with some new learning goals.
HOT DOG!
@darylo A very timely post Daryl. Im almost at the completion of my first 365 project and have thoroughly enjoyed the community, the friends that I have made and the new skills I have learnt.
Before I first joined the project I would hyperventilate when someone talked about shutter speed and aperture... and had not even heard of iso. Imagine my dismay and excitement when I received my GH4 last year. I can now confidently set my camera in manual mode and take a fairly decent photo. I still have so much to lear, so have decided that I will stick around for another year and see how I go. I'm hoping that I maybe able to entice someone to mentor me and provide some constructive critism so that I can continue to grow. Any advise on how I would
Daryl thank you. What a very timely post. I have to confess that after taking a photo a day, every single day since Jan 1 2014 I was going to take a break at the end of this year.......but I wasn't too sure, I had a feeling I'd miss it/the people & your post has persuaded me not to but instead to relax the rules I impose on myself - so from 1 Jan 2016 I'll still be here but posting pics up to a week old. I'm hoping that this will not only mean I comfortably manage a third year but also that it may give me more time to comment on other photos as I, like several others above, feel terribly guilty that I don't do this as much/often as I would like. Merry Christmas - & here's to 365 2016!
@darylo Thank you for this post! I am one of those who will complete year one on the 31st. When I started on January 1, I had no idea how big this would be for me. In the back of my mind was a little voice assuring me that I would not last out the year, but here I am with just a few days to go and so glad to have vanquished that doubter within! I've learned an enormous amount from fellow 365-ers, have been encouraged and inspired on a daily basis. In struggling through those down times, I've discovered new techniques and subjects, and have realized the value of consistent practice even if shots don't always hit the intended mark.
Regarding participation, I'm like most in that I sometimes don't have time to comment as much as I should. We just need to give each other some slack. Remember that you are documenting your year, regardless of whether you are giving or receiving comments. I comment when I can, and I appreciate all comments and friendships here. I'm not bothered if I don't hear from everyone all the time, and I hope they feel the same. Every comment is a gift of time and appreciation no matter how small.
I love this community. It's been nothing but positive all year. I'm staying for year two, but I will change my personal rules. I want to keep my focus on practicing and improving, but I also need to reclaim some of the things that slid down the priority list this year in favor of getting that daily shot! I'll focus more on planned shoots, improving processing skills, and seeking critique. Most certainly I'll continue to cherish this community for the support, inspiration and international friendships.
@net Lynette Between years, I take about a month break to take in all I did the year before! Also in that time, I am able to make new goals. This third year for me has been a mixture of processing a series of photos I took back in June on a big trip (2,500 photos!) and the "daily" third year stuff. I work back and forth between the two albums. So if you need time, I encourage you to take it, but then head on back for the second year you want to have!
And on the subject of commenting, I think most people are comfortable with what they can do. I feel guilty every once in awhile, but then I feel like the friendships on here are so supportive that I know I would want someone to keep going even if they never responded to anything I wrote or fav'd. Hope that makes sense. And huge congrats!!!!
@dmcoile Setting up those personal goals really helped me focus and stay on course for the 2nd and 3rd years. I put it all in my profile so people will know my participation goals too! Congratulations!
@deborah63 Ha! I remember the hyperventilation stage too! there was a mentor group on here maybe @taffy could direct you? I know there are several groups on here. I'm so distracted these days, but I know they are so valuable for improving skills! Congratulations!!!
@pistache Congrats! Thanks for the well wishes on the computer issues. So far, I've downloaded LR and the stuff I saved shows up ok, just not in the folders. But I haven't tried to get the back ups put in yet. At least it's all there! Go for year 2!
@grammyn I'm sure I butcher the accent! And I agree with the sentiments you expressed. I'm guilty of drive-by comments and favs. It's my way of saying I am looking! xoxo
@rangerxenos Go for 3. I'm in 3 and it's not a daily exercise, and I'm horrible at commenting, but I'd rather stay in touch, even if it means I'm scrolling the photos and driving by with a fav. Wish there was a like button or a REPLY all button! @scrivna :)
@milaniet feel the same way! I was so fortunate this year to meet some 365ers in person. We are all one big happy family in the end. Happy holidays!! xoxo
@deborah63 Debbie, a mentor group is quite fun. We started one with a group of 6 about 2 years ago and have continued off and on over the years. What I recommend is that you identify a few of your followers/friends whom you have interacted with this past year, ones you trust to be supportive but able to critique in ways that could be useful. Then, what we did initially is asked the most senior person to set tasks for us each month -- we did b&w one month I remember, but other things were technique based. It was just up to us. Over time, we just started taking turns. For example, this month, we are focusing on bokeh, but we don't have an actual mentor or leader -- we just email each other with ideas, choose one, and then go for it. You could start a discussion with the idea and see who responds, or could reach out to your cohort of followers and friends in one of your posts. What we've learned is it is nice having a small group with various interests and skills, rather than a single mentor. But I know that others have had mentors for one-to-one challenges.
@taffy thanks Taffy, what a great idea to have a small group. I do have a few regulars that may be interested, so I'll put the idea out there to them and see what comes of it. Cheers.
I'm about to start on year 4. It's been an odd year for me so I've gotten away from this a bit but never really let it go so I'm looking forward to getting back into it now.
Remember that there are people from all over the world participating on this site and some speak little or maybe no English at all. I am from Norway and it actually takes a bit of work sometimes to write a comment in a foreign language so every once in a while it is easier to just FAV a shot you like or to write a simple "nice one", "great shot" or something similar.
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Not in any way implying i think thats what should be done, its just an accomplishment i wanted to do.
This coming year 2016 i plan to shoot less, do more challenges and just have fun.
Okay. Practical. I am due to have surgery on both feet in April and I will be on my back for two months with limited walking. There is only so much I can find to interest me photographically within a few feet of the sofa!
Positive for me is that I want to try and expand my interest in photography. I have joined the RPS travel group and I am trying to post photos on other sites with contests such as Photocrowd. I am finding that I can't do it all and if I want to grow as a photographer, I need to move on.
Negative about me is that I haven't found the time to participate as much as I would wish. Every time I post a picture, I get some lovely comments from some faithful followers but I don't often get to comment on them. How I do this is that every time I come onto the site, I comment on anything that catches my eye on the first home page. I seldom go to the second page. This probably gives me a window of a couple of hours' posts. If I miss you, I've missed you. I'm so sorry!! Sadly I don't have hours to trawl through and comment on the posts of everyone I follow individually. I know I miss a lot but I also know that my habit is unlikely to change.
Also negative about me is that after my first year of religiously taking a photo a day, I allowed myself more lassitude this year and, of course, my discipline has slipped further than I would have wanted. I am finishing the year about a month behind but finish it I will. I also haven't had the time or the inspiration to enter any of the challenges I thought I would this year.
Finally - if you are still with me - I do have one negative on the friends front. I have one follower who Favs my photos without fail. Not so bad you might think. But that this individual has made over 40,000 favs and has only about three different words to describe a picture: "awesome picture", "great picture" and something else, I forget what, which makes me feel that their commentary is indiscriminate and close to stalking. This is all the worse as I have looked at this person's photos and can't honestly, true to my heart, reciprocate on much of their work. There are so many lovely people that comment on my work and give me lovely comments and I appreciate it so much, but I have got to the point when I wake up to half a dozen emails from one person that I know are going to use those choice two or three words and fav everything my heart is starting to sink and I am starting not to see the point of it - from this one person's perspective anyway.
So I shall I complete 2015 and the two years have been a fabulous experience of growth in my photography that I will always appreciate and never forget. And who knows, I may be back!
A very happy Christmas and a big thank you to everyone who has followed me over the last two years (with one exception......).
Candia
Thanks so much for all your commentary! I know what you mean, and as I am in the third year (loosely), I have had to realize I cannot do it all. I finished two official years and I realize that the time commitment is extraordinary (I think I must have been crazy to complete the first one--I did everything and kept up with commenting). I have had to just accept that I am a "post and go" participant now, and I comment when I can. I stay because I have many close friends here that I would hate to be "out of touch" with.
The project takes on a life of its own! I'm sorry to hear about the "stalker"; you can disable email notifications if that might help?
I really do wish you a successful surgery! You might surprise yourself with a series of photographs there, even when the subject matter may be limited! But I know what you mean. I've moved on to Flickr, Instagram, my Fbook page, and I'm in a local photographic society. The time is not there. I will keep on here, and I hope you'll consider visiting when you can. This year, I have really made a totally different commitment, and while it's no real 365 project, I have two of them already, and well, it's just nice to see what others are doing across this wonderful world we document!
Will keep positive and healing thoughts coming your way!!
Best regards,
Daryl
Consider they may have very little time to comment but wants you to know they at least looked. I know when my mother died I was away from 365 for a while but checked in occasionally and that is exactly what I did! A Fav and a Nice was all I had time for but I wanted my friends to know I had looked and liked their efforts!
It can be frustrating when you want more, I know, but it isnt always for a bad reason.
Who knows, maybe I'll have a change of heart, but I have a huge sense of accomplishment having taken and posted at least one photo for two years, and I've learned a lot here.
I read your post last year and re-read again this year. You make insightful comments and I agree. I am coming up on the end of my second year and have enjoyed it because I set myself some learning goals and allowed myself to be more relaxed about posting. I have done monthly themes and series as I did last year and re-did the 100 Happy Days Challenge.
There are lots of reasons why I love 365 but if I had to choose two, these are the two things keep me going here 1) the absolutely wonderful community which you have so beautifully described! 2) setting myself learning gaols, doing monthly themes and series to keep me on track, participating in challenges as they catch my fancy!
This year I have taken all my photos in RAW (apart from the odd smart phone pic) and I have set up and used LR for workflow and processing. Now as the year ends I am thinking about what I want to learn next year...
The reciprocal relationship between posting and commenting is as many say, the biggest time commitment but I think you get out what you put in. There are times when I haven't been able to comment as I have been away but I do try to keep up with it - it is the unique way that 365 works.
So, I will be continuing next year with some new learning goals.
HOT DOG!
Before I first joined the project I would hyperventilate when someone talked about shutter speed and aperture... and had not even heard of iso. Imagine my dismay and excitement when I received my GH4 last year. I can now confidently set my camera in manual mode and take a fairly decent photo. I still have so much to lear, so have decided that I will stick around for another year and see how I go. I'm hoping that I maybe able to entice someone to mentor me and provide some constructive critism so that I can continue to grow. Any advise on how I would
go about this.
Regarding participation, I'm like most in that I sometimes don't have time to comment as much as I should. We just need to give each other some slack. Remember that you are documenting your year, regardless of whether you are giving or receiving comments. I comment when I can, and I appreciate all comments and friendships here. I'm not bothered if I don't hear from everyone all the time, and I hope they feel the same. Every comment is a gift of time and appreciation no matter how small.
I love this community. It's been nothing but positive all year. I'm staying for year two, but I will change my personal rules. I want to keep my focus on practicing and improving, but I also need to reclaim some of the things that slid down the priority list this year in favor of getting that daily shot! I'll focus more on planned shoots, improving processing skills, and seeking critique. Most certainly I'll continue to cherish this community for the support, inspiration and international friendships.
And on the subject of commenting, I think most people are comfortable with what they can do. I feel guilty every once in awhile, but then I feel like the friendships on here are so supportive that I know I would want someone to keep going even if they never responded to anything I wrote or fav'd. Hope that makes sense. And huge congrats!!!!
Remember that there are people from all over the world participating on this site and some speak little or maybe no English at all. I am from Norway and it actually takes a bit of work sometimes to write a comment in a foreign language so every once in a while it is easier to just FAV a shot you like or to write a simple "nice one", "great shot" or something similar.