What better way to finish the December Holiday Challenge than to finish my second year on 365 as well! Since I was visiting my family when that momentous occasion occurred, I'm finally posting my little celebration. And in honor of completing my second year and in line with the Wednesday tinsel and glitter requirement, I'll add to this photo the list of the top 10 things I've learned since being on 365. Let's see if you agree!
1) You can always find someone with an encouraging word on 365.
2) Being on 365 sometimes requires that you eat your photo subject- especially if it's made of chocolate.
3) There are as many ways to photograph any given subject as there are photographers in the world.
4) There is no end to the awesome talent on 365.
5) Slumps happen...but challenges spark creativity.
6) Spouses, siblings and other family members will at first pretend to be annoyed with 365, but generally learn to accept the 365 "addiction" and sometimes even contribute to the madness by scouting out photo opportunities or acting as models.
7) Buying trinkets, toys, unusual food items or gadgets and various odds and ends to be photographed on your project is an inevitable side effect of 365.
8) Nothing is mundane when you put a camera in front of it.
9) Your level of achievement on 365 is not dependent on getting on to the Popular Page or into the Top 20; it is making friends around the world and seeing the world anew through their eyes while completing your project that makes you a high achiever here.
And the most important of all:
10) No one will ever figure out the exact formula that gets a photo on to the Popular Page!
@mmartin Thank you Michelle! It was fun to come up with a way to celebrate the second year- something I never thought I'd be able to do when I started on my first year!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick- you are one of those inspirational people that have been a great influence on my project Rick and you were one of my first followers! I have so appreciated all your comments and input!
Congratulations on another year done! I probably should have started on January 1st but noooo... I'm a June 1st gal! This is a fantastic shot! It looks like a party in the background! Very festive and very colorful! Well done! And I'm glad you're doing a third year! :)
I'm so happy that you accomplished what you wanted and finished the year. I lost a lot of time, but had some health issues. This pictures says so much and I really enjoy the color and happiness of it.
Congratulations on finishing year 2. How apropos for the final celebration of the holdiays also be for the end of your 2nd year. It was a fun month. I hope we do it again next year. Happy New Year!
@kerristephens Thanks Kerri! @summerfield@hudamor Thank you Vikki and Huda! This was one of those shots that processing bumped up a notch. It's a set of three light up candles with glitter inside them. It's been a while since I did it, but I think I somehow inverted it (the original shot was basically white, gray and gold). I then added the text and frame. @prttblues Thanks Bev- it really was a matter of timing. I was introduced to 365 early in January of 2010 but when I signed on, I thought that you were supposed to start on Jan. 1, so I back loaded the first two weeks of shots, thus my counter began on Jan. 1. In the long run it's a good thing. I get easily confused with dates! Believe it or not. So, a start date of Jan. 1 is easier for me to keep track of. lol @granny7 Thanks Linda! I'm sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well, but the nice thing about 365 is that you really can work at your own pace and post as you choose. I hope 2013 brings you better health and the time to get back to 365 in a way that works for you. Thanks so much for all your faithful comments this year! @paulavdmerwe Thank you Paula! @sangwann Thank you Dione! I hope you'll be sticking around. I've so enjoyed your beautiful shots of Malta! @dmortega Thanks Dorrena! This has been a fun challenge for December! I'm glad to have taken part in it. I'll keep a look out for it next December. @mrssmith Thanks Carla! You are right (but I just had to end on a funny note with #10!). @nadaa Thanks Nada! I thought they'd be a fun way to close out the year.
YAY!! Well done Anne what a wonderful way to get to 731! (My next target!) I just love your list of things and agree with them all. Brilliant missus, and the best news is that you're staying on for year 3. I'm so pleased :)
@filsie65 Thank you Phil! I'm having so much fun with this, I don't think I'll ever stop- I love how it makes me look forward to each day and keeps my eyes open for new things to see. @vposey Thank you Vickie!
Congratulations Ann. I love your take on 365 and you always provide such wonderful shots and thoughts to go with them. Looking forward to seeing what another year holds in store
Ann, I love this....cool cheery greeting and I agree with you 100% on the top 10 list. Above all, a couple other things I've learned are ----not to stress out or worry--basically there are no rules. Lay back and enjoy the project in other words. It has been a pleasure to be included among your 365 friends and I have enjoyed your photos immensely. Congratulations on Year Two!
This is beautiful Ann! I'm so behind and just now seeing some amazing shots that I missed while being sick! Congratulations on Year 2 - quite an accomplishment! I'm so glad that you're sticking around for Year 3. Happy New Year!
Wow Ann I'm so sorry for not noticing this. Congratulations on completing your 2nd year and I'm glad you're continuing in 2013. I haven't been the best follower lately and I hope to catch up more this year!
I completely agree with your lessons!
@summerfield @hudamor Thank you Vikki and Huda! This was one of those shots that processing bumped up a notch. It's a set of three light up candles with glitter inside them. It's been a while since I did it, but I think I somehow inverted it (the original shot was basically white, gray and gold). I then added the text and frame.
@prttblues Thanks Bev- it really was a matter of timing. I was introduced to 365 early in January of 2010 but when I signed on, I thought that you were supposed to start on Jan. 1, so I back loaded the first two weeks of shots, thus my counter began on Jan. 1. In the long run it's a good thing. I get easily confused with dates! Believe it or not. So, a start date of Jan. 1 is easier for me to keep track of. lol
@granny7 Thanks Linda! I'm sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well, but the nice thing about 365 is that you really can work at your own pace and post as you choose. I hope 2013 brings you better health and the time to get back to 365 in a way that works for you. Thanks so much for all your faithful comments this year!
@paulavdmerwe Thank you Paula!
@sangwann Thank you Dione! I hope you'll be sticking around. I've so enjoyed your beautiful shots of Malta!
@dmortega Thanks Dorrena! This has been a fun challenge for December! I'm glad to have taken part in it. I'll keep a look out for it next December.
@mrssmith Thanks Carla! You are right (but I just had to end on a funny note with #10!).
@nadaa Thanks Nada! I thought they'd be a fun way to close out the year.
@vposey Thank you Vickie!
@daisy Thank you Kathryn!
@automaticslim Thanks Andy!
@tara11 Thank you Tara! Don't feel bad, you'll catch up!