"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light
in the darkness of mere being." - Carl Jung
I entrust my project into the capable hands of The Guardians and a Monopoly style silver dog. Just don't give Ralph a biscuit because he will woof it down and then he forgets not to land upon hotels and you will lose at the aforementioned game, which is not good. Also he will run off and leave my project unwatched and only the dark guardians would be left. Then everything would go black or at the very least a very unfathonable, extreme grey. So, why are the guardians there you may ask if they are so negative and menacing? Surely, all you need is Ralph. The plain truth is that one would not exist without the other. It's only the special silver reflective qualities of Ralph that has brought some light into this photo, and light cannot exist without an opposite. So NO BISCUIT for the nice doggy. Thank you. Besides, what were you thinking trying to give a treat to a silver dog, are you nuts? Everyone knows that the significance of a silver dog is but to let a beam of light shine upon it. That's its true purpose, to spread out the available light to where its needed. In essence, where there's such a given light, there's always a kindling of hope from whatever darkness life may try to offer.
Finally, after that wierdly surreal tale, a big thank you to everyone who's ever followed my project even if only briefly. It's all been very much appreciated. There were times when I never thought I'd be able to say, "It is done!" Others may have found their 365 project easy to accomplish, personally I found it to be very much a test of endurance and not easy at all. However, I am glad that I stuck with it. I feel a need also to thank some individuals for they have stayed with me for the longest and commented on most of my efforts during the year. They even prompted me to start up again after a huge absense during the summer. You know who you are and without you, your support, I would not have made it to the end that's for certain. Once again, thank you. For almost three months I gave up and uploaded virtually nothing. So, if there's anyone out there who feels like you can't complete it, I've been there and this project if nothing else is testament to the fact that you can come back & can get to the finishing photo in your own time, in your own way regardless of whether you post each and every day.
A Big Congratulations Matt!! You gave me my first comment and you were the first person I followed. I've loved your wacky creativity and I'm hoping you'll stick around!
Matt, you present us with a fantastic photo to mark the end of your project. It is quite interesting and also the pieces look quite detailed. So what are you going to do? Will you continue in some way, visit off and on? Either way, its been great following you. I've enjoyed sharing the journey.
@shutterbugger Jenn thank you, it's been fun doing a bit of wacky stuff every now and then. Being creative visually is something I've always enjoyed. Thank you for your support with my various oddities including, but not exclusively the woodcreatures. Please keep the Canadian branch going. :)
@digitalrn Well, Rick, it's been a long journey and I think that you've commented on virtually every one of my photos. You deserve a medal, really you do. Thank you so much for following my project and it's been great to get to know something of your life too from your own thoughtful writings and images. As for carrying on, I don't know at this stage. I do feel I need a break and I shall probably just upload on an occasional basis from now on or maybe after a week or so I'll miss it all and return. One thing I can say with certainty is that it's been a milestone that was worthwhile.
@nectarfizz B your support is what has made this project possible. It's no exaggeration to say that without your love I would have not even have begun. :)
So amazing. Congratulations on completing your project! What an accomplishment. Our paths crossed only briefly but I'm glad it happened. Live long and prosper, and may every day bring you many happy little surprises. 8)
Wahoooo congrats on finishing your project Matt! I have thoroughly enjoyed your wood creature series and your imagination let loose upon us unsuspecting 365'ers:) So glad to hear you'll sticking around - I know I said it before, but we'd miss you:)
Congratulations on finishing your project, Matt! I have really enjoyed your pics and your wonderful sense of humor! You've made me smile and laugh out loud many times, when I really needed it! I loved all your wood creatures. You have a wonderful imagination. I'm so glad to hear that we will be seeing you back, if only occasionally. I really hope you miss the project and come back soon! :0)
Made a special note to come back to your last photo today ! Well you made the end Matt & I think you must be well pleased with yourself, a great achievement & for anyone who works I just don't know how you find the time ! Your wood creatures have been a wonderful series & the stuff you found in that wood, the way your eye saw all those wonderful fairies, giants, animals & such like is amazing, thank you for opening a world of fantasy ! Your final picture does you proud & I would have expected no less from the master !! Many thanks for all your funny & imaginative comments on my photos, I could always count on you for something to make me smile !!! I hope you carry on as you will be missed but enjoy the ''little'' rest !! Well done !!
@myautofocuslife Livia, I enjoyed looking at your photos. I mainly think of you as the BJD woman as I had never seen even one of those dolls before seeing yours. What an art form they are. To call them merely a doll is almost insulting, they practically seem like they have breath within them. You take such care with your photos, indeed as you do with all your collected treasures. The attention to detail is a measure of your affection for them. So, even if our paths crossed briefly, you still made an impression.
@pwallis Ahh, you old sap. No pressure then! You know, the wood creatures are barely 10% of my project. I suppose they've been the most easily latchable thing about my output. I think if/when I come back at some point it will be with a new camera and it will be concentrating on the more technical aspects of photography. A different emphasis, but still with a creative twist here and there. Your photos, Paula, are always an inspiration and a spur to do that.
@cjwhite Thanks, Carolyn. Like Rick you've been a mainstay for me during the year. You certainly helped keep me going with your support. You always had kind word about my photos and often I did some of the humorous ones with you in mind thinking, "This might amuse, Carolyn." as I knew you'd be one of the certain ones to comment. What can I say about your own photos. You have a gift for photographing wildlife, and I think the patience that is necessary to go with it to get that particular shot that you want. That is not easy to achieve day in day out. On top of that your photos are beautifully composed and exquisite with detail, but you know this already. :)
I'm so sorry I've met you only at the end of you're project, I like you're photo's a lot and as I sayed before you changed my way of looking at nature.
And for the record The End is always a new beginning, I can follow you're story of the soul, but do not agree, I think that is because I have something whit reincarnation, and that is why I can say that the end is alway's a start of a new begin.
I wish you al the best and will miss you're photo's over here
@happypat Pat, you've always been there with a funny or an insightful comment. I can't remember a time when you weren't around! I believe that every project should have a Pat as a follower. Your love of life, of your home, and your village is very much at the core of who you are with the farming side still apparent too in various ways, the chickens and the sheep. I've enjoyed seeing your escapades into village life and sitting around the kitchen table with you enjoying a cuppa and a read of the paper. I grew up in a small village with farms around so I understand the vagaries of village life which you document so vividly. :)
@clarissajohal Clarissa, thank you. I enjoyed our occasional banter on some of the stranger aspects of life. Well, maybe not exactly stranger, but my mind often goes off at tangents and you went along with it which was fun. I know you feel like your project isn't as appealing today as it was last year, but the truth is that you have a wonderful artistic eye. Sometimes you set the bar so high for yourself, but you don't really need to always as even your shots that you're not so keen on have something about them. Something underfinably good that you can't teach, it's just there. I hope that makes sense.
@zonnestraaltje That's kind of you to say, Agnes. I'm open to the possibility of reincarnation. Many things definitely can't be explained or discarded simply because they are unknowable and in that way reincarnation could be true. It's a more hopeful view on life and death to believe it to be so. I was going to call this photo 'The end of The End' but I thought that sounded a bit ridiculous lol What I meant was the end can be seen as being a new beginning too as you picked up upon in your comment. It's good to have met you and I will drop in from time to time. :)
@richardshears I feel I may have given you something of short shrift, Richard. I didn't intend to do full blown comments on everyone when I did your initial reply. but now that I have done I feel I want to comment on your photos too. I think you have a fascinating eye for picking up on the vagaries of modern life. It's the journalistic eye isn't it. You've truly had some wonderfully candid and emotive shots as you've gone about your travels. At times, it felt like I was sightseeing with you off the beaten track. That has to be what photography is all about.
Matt congratulations on an amazing achievement!!! Following your project was the highlight of my 365 experience. Your photos and descriptions have been so inspiring and intriguing and have obviously entertained a whole tribe of followers! I look forward to catching up on the "last leg" of your project (behind on my comments again...) :)
Great final shot Matt...and congratulations on surviving your test of endurance. I have enjoyed your unique take on things, especially your wood creatures - they rocked!
Well done Matt, sounds like you have had a real journey here, and I too am sorry that I have joined just as you are finishing (your first 365 at least).. I want to thank you for bringing some joy and fun to me at a dark time, and I love your thoughtful comments and thought provoking commentaries.. you are incredibly creative.. so I hope you pop by and share regularily.. best wishes and really well done
Congrautlations, Matt, on making it to 365. I reallly like your photo for today. It got very tedious for me at times, too, and I was also glad that I stuck with it and made it to the end. I hope you continue to post and share your wonderful pictures with us.
@tonje Ton, that's nice thing to say. I've loved your witty and insightful comments over the year. It doesn't matter when you make them, they're always a pleasure to read. I do miss Jasper and your family's day to day antics. There's such a happiness and contentment there that you can see that Jasper thrives on, even if he does end up on the naughty step occasionally for being overly tempted by that stray sandwich! I hope you might consider going ace and upload occasionally like I'm going to do. :)
@judithg Thanks Judith, I think you've made beautiful, historic and ancient Cambridge even more appealing through your photos. It's a place I've always had a soft spot for and I'll never forget the first time I walked into KIng's college chapel, it was so impressive and moving. The height of the chapel is just so perfect a proportion to the width of the walls, and so much detail in the crisp stone carving. In fact the whole city has a good feel to it with so many historic colleges and the bustle of student life seen in everywhere in every collection of propped up bicycles outside an ornate gate. Your G1, and Monty and your great eye has taken some fabulous, timeless shots.
@sparkle Thanks Juliette. What amazes me about you is just how busy you are and yet amongst that hectic schedule of traveling and meetings and such, you produce so many great shots. My favourite ones of yours have been your landscapes, although it doesn't really matter what genre you take as they are all pretty excellent. Another one which comes to mind is that b/w selfie sitting in the shower, it was such a strong and dynamic image. I think you probably put us all to shame with your fitness levels! I think it's that drive in everything you do that makes your photos all the more appealing, i.e there's a force behind them. :)
@fungirlslim Thanks Jen. It's been good to meet you too. You definitely have an artistic flair, it's undeniable. In fact although you've not exactly said, I believe that art is one of your lifelong passions. I can see it in your drawings which even if you might play down, they are accomplished, and as thoughtful as your keen interest in sculpture. I wish I had tried something along the lines of that abstract snow sculpture, most interesting the way it transformed as it began to melt. There's obviously a huge sadness and weight over the loss of John, yet I think he'd be happy that you were doing something like this, sharing your gift of art and image with others, spreading the light and interest of who you are. Your project being dedicated to him, there is no finer tribute to his memory than that. :)
@mittens Thanks, Marilyn. I know what you mean by the project becoming a bit tedious at time. There definitely were times for me when I thought that I'd had enough of trying to find a picture every day. It wasn't so much that it felt a chore, but it did feel obsessive. However, I got past that and I'm glad I did as it makes the achievement seem all the sweeter. I always thought that you were one of the ones that found it easier, it just goes to show we all have the doubts about commiting to something like this. I like your cheery shots, well not just cheery, you've photographed all sorts, quite an ecletic range and often with a wry sense of humor behing them. I thought the smiley beaker series was fun and and really did add a bit of brightness into this winter, just when we needed it. Also, you've commented on a lot of my efforts and I thank you for it, Marilyn :)
@sabresun Hi Matt, thank you for your kind comment. I try to present a street view in most of what I do. But enough of me. I have to apologise for not taking in the fact that that was your last shot of the project. An explosive finish without a doubt. But hopefully you'll be back. I notice in one of your replies that you found it difficult at times to keep up. I know that feeling well...I'm over a month behind because there are times when I cannot get out there to take pictures. Or I might try and I'm just not happy with what I get so, as they say, 'if in doubt, leave it out'.
I wish you all the best with your ongoing ventures and perhaps you'll come back to the project again one day soon.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so glad you made it! Happy to hear that you will be sticking around for a while longer. I have thoroughly enjoyed reveling in your imaginative musings, and have gotten to view many a woodcreature, thanks to you.
First of all your first bit made me laugh (and also made me feel like I should be on some sort of drug to understand it lol)- I honestly have no idea how a person develops such an imagination like that to come up with such entertaining and creative stories. Also I want to say a big congrats to you and I am really truly so happy for you for completing the project!! it's been so wonderful following you and getting to know you a bit. I hope your plan is to continue!! well you did upload a 366 so I'm guessing that you may indeed stick around in which case - yay!! :)
Good for you, Matt. I'm still working towards my #365 in my own time. Maybe I should discount my total by all the fillers I've used and go passed the 365. ;)
@jgoldrup I think you should count the fillers as you still selected and spent time on them. I decided in the end that whichever photo was #365 that was the end of the project whether it came by filler or not. After that it seemed a much more doable task. :)
@laurentye Yes, I'll stick around. Not every day will I upload, but I do want to keep in touch with everyone so I will check in. It's actually no small relief to not to have to think about being behind with my shots and then to often coax myself to find something new to photograph. That wasn't always the case, but there were times. Now I can just upload when I wish to. Completing the main goal makes me feel I can relax a bit over the whole thing. I am glad I did start and complete it. :)
@sabresun thank you so much for your comments, seems you have me sussed! I think John would approve, especially when there are thoughful and supportinve people like you here...
February 21st, 2012
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
And for the record The End is always a new beginning, I can follow you're story of the soul, but do not agree, I think that is because I have something whit reincarnation, and that is why I can say that the end is alway's a start of a new begin.
I wish you al the best and will miss you're photo's over here
I wish you all the best with your ongoing ventures and perhaps you'll come back to the project again one day soon.
I thoroughly enjoyed your surreal tale above!