If you can spare a moment, please do read this- I really want to know the answer!
Sometimes I struggle with what 365 is for. This photo is a perfect example... This cheeky chappie was eyeing up the fishpond in my garden when I staggered bleary eyed into the kitchen for breakfast this morning. After the inevitable dash for the camera (in the other room and, naturally, without a flashcard in it. I must learn to replace them promptly after downloading...) I managed this 1 shot before the heron flew. It landed in a neighbour's tree and I then had a supert few minutes photographing it with the long lens, with great success.
So my question is this. Do I post a great close-up in my project; the kind of photo that I am proud of taking and demonstrates how I think of myself as a wildlife photographer OR do I post this "slightly out of focus-taken through the rather murky kitchen window-somewhat overexposed-foreground of an out of focus bush" photo of a moment where a bird was positioned perfectly mirroring my heron garden sculpture and, moreover, a moment I will probably never be able to recreate?
If you only get one shot at anything I would post that photo, but as Lee says post the one you like the best.
If you have another one which you think is a better shot you could always post that one on here tomorrow and say I took this one yesterday etc. (I'd love to see that, put it on tomorrow please).
To me 365 isn't an exact science, it is about posting a record of my year and also posting photos I like. For example, I have quite a few what I call 'people shots' and so I have decided I will post my people photos every friday until I have gone through the ones I like the best. Some of my people photos were taken a while ago, but that doesn't matter I have got a theme going one day a week and it gives me a break from searching for a photo every day. Sometimes I put on a photo which I took a few days ago too like the pelican yesterday. To me it is about not getting too stressed about a photo it is about sharing what you have taken with other people and enjoying what you do.. Hope all this helps, sorry if I have rambled on a bit.
I love this one though. Who is imitating who!!! It really made me smile.
I agree with Babs. I don't want to make 365 an onerous duty and, while I want to do something to move my photographic journey along every day, I don't think I need to post a picture I am not at all happy with just because I took it today when I have two pictures that I think much more interesting that I took yesterday. I'm also trying to be more willing to post a picture that I may not be happy with technically, if I think it is interesting or even if it demonstrates 'what not to do" in an effective way.
Having said that, I guess the project can be flexible enough to encompass a lot of goals. For those who want to set the goal of a shot taken from the day, posted on that same day, well, good for them but It's not what I am aiming for.
I love this serendipitous shot, but I'd like to see your other shots too.
I would have chose this not even seeing your others, a character shot always wins out for me. And you are right, a moment that may not come around again. I try to stick to something that has happened in the day but I follow a few challenges. They have been great to get the mind into a creative spin & learning how to use my camera. Most of my daily shot have a story behind them, I just don't write much with my posts. Walking or playing somewhere with Ed, going to & from work, doing a water shot late because time has got beyond me and I always look for the animals & birds. The project is for you, have fun with it.
This is such a fun capture
First and foremost the project should be fun and achieve what you have set for yourself whether it is to record your year and what is important to you, for me it is to push myself to improve my photographic skills so my subjects are so far fairly random apart from my kids who feature heavily. I always have a back up shots for the days I don't have any shots I am vaguely happy with. For me, post the shot you are happy with, the one that means something to you. When you look back in a year's down the line, it will remind you of the day/moment and more than anything, enjoy. Not every shot will be a winner
Well, Angela, you asked for advice and our fellow 365ers have certainly given it. I have never seen such lengthy and thoughtful comments. I would only add that the challenge and the self discipline have an important part to play and the wonderful input of images are a bonus.
@onewing Babs- thank you so very much for your considered reply. I've made a bit of a rule for myself that in this first year I will genuinely post a photo taken each day so I can't use the heron the next day but I really ought to join the extra 365 bit so I can post the odd extra photo. I can't see me stopping at the end of this year though so I get to use my extras then for a bit of a break! Everyone else seems to use fillers though and goodness knows I can see why! Made it a bit of a silly rule for myself and of course, everyone can do what they like. Even posting every day is a heck of a task, when all said and done!
I'm so pleased you think this should be my photo of the day. I think I'm coming to understand my own project and it really means something very special to me so those unmissable moments are the order of the day! I really really appreciate your time in visiting and commenting on this. You are so good to me with your comments always, Babs, and I'm very grateful.
@gardencat Thank you so very much for your time Joanne. You're always so generous with your time and comments and I really appreciate your time over this dilemma! It seems to be a resounding opinion that I should post that unique moment over the better shot, every time. I have indeed made that rule for myseld that I'm always going to post a shot for the correct day and not use fillers but I'm really convinced after these comments that I should always post my gut feel rather than striving to do my best shot every day. I can'rt see me giving up after this year though cos I'm addicted so fillers are definitely on the way!
@wenbow Wendy- thank you so very much for your time in helping with my dilemma. I think I'm really clarifying in my mind why I'm doing this and it's become really clear that the "moment in time" shot should be the one I post, every time. I really enjoy following your project, incidentally and I really appreciate when you call in on me! Bless you.
@roseolivia Rachel- I so appreciate the time you've taken to help me here and what you say makes alot of sense. I've become really convinced that the "moment in time" shot has to be the one I post, every time, and I have to love what I post in my project. This project means so much to me and I didn't know it would! I do want to push my shots and learn from this magnificent community but I also have so many memories tied up with this as well. Thank you for your support and I really appreciate all your comments. You're so great at staying with me!
@chessington My goodness- wasn't everyone wonderful in the time and thought they put into these replies? I think I got a fairly clear message and clearly I posted the right shot! Thank you for your own support- I really appreciate your time when you otherwise feel so pressured. It's a lovely point of contact, isn't it?
June 30th, 2013
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If you have another one which you think is a better shot you could always post that one on here tomorrow and say I took this one yesterday etc. (I'd love to see that, put it on tomorrow please).
To me 365 isn't an exact science, it is about posting a record of my year and also posting photos I like. For example, I have quite a few what I call 'people shots' and so I have decided I will post my people photos every friday until I have gone through the ones I like the best. Some of my people photos were taken a while ago, but that doesn't matter I have got a theme going one day a week and it gives me a break from searching for a photo every day. Sometimes I put on a photo which I took a few days ago too like the pelican yesterday. To me it is about not getting too stressed about a photo it is about sharing what you have taken with other people and enjoying what you do.. Hope all this helps, sorry if I have rambled on a bit.
I love this one though. Who is imitating who!!! It really made me smile.
Having said that, I guess the project can be flexible enough to encompass a lot of goals. For those who want to set the goal of a shot taken from the day, posted on that same day, well, good for them but It's not what I am aiming for.
I love this serendipitous shot, but I'd like to see your other shots too.
This is such a fun capture
I'm so pleased you think this should be my photo of the day. I think I'm coming to understand my own project and it really means something very special to me so those unmissable moments are the order of the day! I really really appreciate your time in visiting and commenting on this. You are so good to me with your comments always, Babs, and I'm very grateful.