Arrrrrrrrgh! My pictures are just getting worse and worse! My time is so limited at the moment and by the time I take a picture I'm rushing, it's dark and the quality is terrible. Only a couple of months to go and I really want to finish the project but I am feeling the strain now!
I've only recently joined but what I have said to others that are having the same problem is to try and think fresh and remember why you joined. You've come so far and you are definitely not the only one that has felt like this. Keep going, try to make a little more time for your photography. I'm sure your pictures aren't getting worse, its just a different method you're using ;) I'm gonna have a look now :) @steviemichelle
I just finished my first year and onto the second. It can be easy to fall behind. I am busy with work so i dont have as much time during the week to shoot and it is getting darker earlier and earlier so i usually do a bunch of shooting on 1 or 2 days in the week to make up the whole week. The point of the project for me is to just shoot more which helps you get better. So dont stress if you cant shoot every day just make up for it on the days you can. Just have fun with it and keep on shooting.
yeah it gets tough. if you're at uni and in your first year I don't know what you're doing wrong - that's the best years of your life you should be rolling round drunk all the time. at the moment in the UK the nicest time to photograph is 7am-9am in the morning, and 6-7pm in the evening, consider getting up a bit earlier and taking a stroll, or doing a selfie by the window as the sun comes up.
night street scenes are also good, if you've got a tripod.
Have you considered experimenting with film, to give yourself an extra angle.
@sarajeal - thank you for the motivation! Glad I am not the only one. It would be so easy to just stop the project but I am determined to stick it out!
@soia - thanks Kevin. I am definitely struggling with the lighting and the fact that it is getting darker so much earlier. Really limits the photography time!
@chewyteeth - hehe, I'm in second year now - my essay/exam marks actually count this year so I need to do some work!! Thanks for the suggestions, I am definitely going to try some morning shots!
Stevie, firstly your photos are not getting worse! Secondly, everyone hits 'the wall' at some point - mine came with four months to go, and my second year has been sporadic at best. All I can do is second the other comments here. Remember why you wanted to do this project, and work out what would annoy you more - not finishing the project, or maybe using fillers on days when you really don't have time to take a photo. You've got a great eye - people will enjoy your photos even if it's just a quick shot of your exam/essay notes. Good luck!
Lack of daylight brings with it different kinds of pictures. It's time to learn about night photography and do more inside photography. It's a nice change from the outdoor daylight pictures we normally see in the lighter months. If time is an issue, try taking several pictures to share during the week. Do not burden yourself with something that you won't enjoy in the long run. Make this fit your needs and not the other way around.
Always darkest before dawn. Keep going. One day at a time and you will get there. Start thinking of special way to mark 365. There are quite a few seasonal events that will fill up a few days too. You can always go back over a few shots, or fill in with some classic shots if stuck.
An established photographer suggested 365 for me because I'd learn more. Today is my 6th day. I started the challenge I'm so happy to be here and I'm trying to follow more and more people with those wow photos. What I'd like to know is what do I do to make EVERY picture I do be in focus. Some times I'm on point but I'm still getting out of focus photos. Any suggestions you can offer me I'd greatly appreciate it!!
We all have those moments/days/weeks/months! My biggest piece of advice is to find a challenge with something to focus on each day (I know of the October Rainbow, Either-or and October challenge running this month). They take the pressure off you having to think about/choose something - you can plan a little in advance, and your pic doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to meet the day's challenge. I'm often really pushed for time, so being able to just take a couple of pics for the day's challenge and then move on with things is really helpful!
Make sure you've got some followers who can be cheerleaders for you too- so many people here say that they keep going because of the comments and friendships, rather than the pics. Just sharing the chaos of the day with your pic, and having some people reply can make a world of difference too.
I haven't read everyone else's answers here, but I'm sure many are saying most of us have phases when we are too busy to devote time to our photos or when we lose inspiration...my pictures go through waves of good, bad and indifferent but for me it's about taking something/anything daily and posting it not about creating fantastic pictures every day - that is challenge enough if you are short of time...keep going, I nearly quit so many times but I'm on my third year now!!
Stevie, I would say stop worrying about it too much! Remember, it's a photo a day, not an artistic masterpiece a day. Like some others say here, maybe shoot at the weekends, or every now and then , and then backfill. Whatever, you've come so far it would be a shame to stop now!
You are not alone! I was pregnant for the majority of my first year and had him when I had only 8 weeks left on my project. It was tough to finish and a lot of the last two months were cell phone shots. However, for me, a large part of the project became about documenting a year of my life, so I just plugged along and did what I could. Don't let it consume your life. Make it fun and try to find something that you will look back on enjoy in the future. Make sure you finish though. It is an amazing sense of accomplishment and some statistic on the site stated that only about 2.5% of the people who start finish. Good luck!
Keep going! I find I fall behind and then post a whole bunch of shots in one sitting. I just try to take one photo as often as I can on my iPhone and sometimes use the Hipstamatic app to add a little different look. Then I just accrue a whole bunch of photos and choose the best with little editing:-)
I feel the exact same way. I have only 50 days left, but it is so hard for me to photograph anything these days. I just started my master's degree and it is very hard and takes up all my time!
I try to shoot things everyday, although most weeks I will shoot 4-5 days of shots at a time! I also try to be aware of what it must feel like to finish, and remember why I joined in the first place. Getting this far is amazing and I really want to cross the finish line!
Keep going, you are so near. I found the last couple of months at the end the hardest too. You are doing incredibly well to manage the project while studying. Don't forget as Peter above said, just a simple photo a day is enough and you can try to do a few at a time when the opportunity arises. When you have finished your project you can then just take time to do more camera learning without the pressure if you wish. Good luck.
Hang on in there. Document the highlight of your day and/or try to take your shot in the morning and don't get too het up on the quality of your picture.
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night street scenes are also good, if you've got a tripod.
Have you considered experimenting with film, to give yourself an extra angle.
@soia - thanks Kevin. I am definitely struggling with the lighting and the fact that it is getting darker so much earlier. Really limits the photography time!
@chewyteeth - hehe, I'm in second year now - my essay/exam marks actually count this year so I need to do some work!! Thanks for the suggestions, I am definitely going to try some morning shots!
Make sure you've got some followers who can be cheerleaders for you too- so many people here say that they keep going because of the comments and friendships, rather than the pics. Just sharing the chaos of the day with your pic, and having some people reply can make a world of difference too.
Hang on in there - you're nearly there!
I try to shoot things everyday, although most weeks I will shoot 4-5 days of shots at a time! I also try to be aware of what it must feel like to finish, and remember why I joined in the first place. Getting this far is amazing and I really want to cross the finish line!