So when I started my project, I really did not expect it to have such an impact on my work. I consider myself very fortunate in that I can make a decent living from photography - and I only work part time, I need to limit my business to just that since I have 3 kids and a husband who frequently travels. I'm a lifestyle/portrait photographer located in the San Francisco Bay area.
I am about 40% done with my project and cannot believe how much I have learned; I am really greatful because it has helped me in so many ways. Here are just a few of the things I have learned by taking out my camera EVERY day and choosing/editing one image each day:
1. I have been able to cut the amount of shots for each session by about 25%. I was way overshooting my sessions. Some of that was due to a lack of self-confidence. I have learned that I can shoot fewer images and now have alot more confidence that I can produce a great selection of gallery images for my clients, without having to shoot 400 images!
2. I was over-processing and spending too much time on my workflow. I have been able to cut my processing time in half and increased my productivity. I am loving that!
3. You do not need to have super high end equipment or alot of lenses to get fantastic results. Some of my favorite 365ers - those who I think continually produce amazing images - use very basic and not super expensive equipment. At one point I owned 6 lenses. I now have 2. That is all I need! I no longer buy tons of actions or invest in alot of templates. I was wasting so much money before and now I focus on improving my skills, rather than buying the latest version of PS, investing in more lenses, etc.
4. It takes alot of dediction and time management skills to keep up with this project and it's easy to fall behind.
5. I've made friends here - people I really care about, and I did not expect that!
6. Instead of spending alot of time experimenting with different processing techniques, I have learned to be true to my own style... it's nice to admire another photographers work, but when I try to replicate processing techniques that another photographer has done, I am always disappointed with my images. My style is my style... my clients like it, so I should too.
Ok, that's about all I can think of right now... now i want to know what YOU have learned so far.
What a great thread to get us all to do a little reflecting. Here's the most important thing I have learned: I have lots more creativity than I ever gave myself credit for.
Good topic. I have learned quite a few things too.
1. NOT to center everything in the frame. This is actually hard for me; when I learned years ago, I learned to center everything and not to run things out of the frame. Now I know that it's not only ok, it is sometimes the best choice.
2. Everyday things can be beautiful (ok, I knew that but I find it emphasized everyday).
3. I can be friends with and care a lot about people that I've never met.
4. I can actually take a self-portrait and feel comfortable about it (to an extent).
5. We all have our own style, not better, not worse, just different and still beautiful.
I've learned how to do sports photography, specifically baseball/softball.
I have only photographed at 6 or 7 of my sister's softball games but I really feel like I have grown at my sports photography skill. I didn't really realize until right now how much time I have invested in just softball games until right now. Each game is about 2 hours long, and I've been to about 7. So that is 14 straight hours, but some games go over so I can round up to about 20 hours of just softball photography. I don't think I have spent that much time on any other one subject.
And looking at the photos on my hard drive I really see a difference in the shots. The photos from tonight and last night's game are so much more focused and so much tighter than the the shots of the first two games. I now know the kind of things to look for when I shoot a game. For instance, the action may be the most exciting part, but the emotion of a player could be even more exciting.
One thing I want to learn how to do is to not over shoot. That is one problem I have and really need to work on it or I am going to run out of hard drive space pretty fast!
I love being a part of this "community". I´ve never thought that you can care for anyone you never met. But thats what we do here on 365. You are helping me be a better photografph by comments my pictures.
I´ve learned that its ok for me not to be a portrait-photograph. I love making landscape, macro, animals and flowers. I have find out that the world is much more, than you can ever see with your eyes. Our world is so beautyfull and fill with lovely (and ugly :-)) creatures.
Like Weslin I´ve learned that center is not the right way to compose a picture.
For 4 month ago I would never have written so much in english. I am more confidence that you can understand what I mean and I am happy to learn :-) Actually, when I start here (allmost 100 days) I was sitting with my translating book. I dont enymore :-)
I've learned to train my eye to frame a shot before I take it and to recognise a good shot in something I wouldn't normally shoot. Also that the everyday is just as interesting as the unique, everyday is only everyday to me. I've realised too that although I own a DLSR, most of my best shots come from my battered old p&s - it's the eye not the technology.
Finally something I stick at and I've made friends along the way.
I would be here all night listing everything I have learnt in the short time I have been doing this project!!!
But, the main thing I have learnt is that I love photography! It was always one of those things I wished I had done, and I felt like I should do, and it turns out that I was right! I love it! It relaxes me, helps me unwind, I get passionate about it!
I have also learnt a whole heap of technical stuff, but feel like I am just beginning to scratch the surface!
Zephan hit the nail on the head for me. The main thing I have learned from this project is that I love photography. When I started this project I was content at just taking a picture everyday and uploading it with no concern for composition, perspective, lighting, well you get the point- not so anymore. I am learning something new everyday, and I love it!
So refreshing to hear these comments. In the short time l have been on here l really feel dedicated to the project. I'm crap at sticking with one thing and seeing it through but l am determined with this.
I, too, love photography and this project has taken over my life!
It has made me go through my life with eyes wide open.
I look at EVERYTHING with a 'photo eye'.
In turn, l respect my surroundings and love where l live.
It has given me confidence, not just with a camera, but to approach people and ask their permission to take a shot.
And l am learning a lot about photo editing, but as you say, not to do too much!
I know l still have a huge amount to learn but its great fun and my friends on here are a great support.
I am still very new to the 365 project but already in almost 2 weeks I am learning to look 'up' and 'around' and to view my world with fresh eyes.
This has uplifted my spirits so much after feeling bogged down looking after 2 babies, not working and spending a lot of time at home.
I can feel the cogs of my rusty brain slowing starting to turn and as others have said, seeing things and automatically framing them or noticing lighting, etc.
It has opened up a whole new interest for me and from what I can so far tell, there will always be something new to learn, which is an exciting prospect.
Technically I have learnt loads,I never even knew what aperture was until I started this project, I bought my camera the day I started and had no idea about how to use it,lol.
Most of all it has given me the "zest" I needed put back into my everyday life. I really needed something for myself,some inspiration and happiness and photography and 365 has done that!
I've been into photography for a while and have known about 365 but have only recently started with the project. What I have learned so far:
1. It is ok for people to see my photographs, and I actually like sharing them. Opening up like this is a VERY scary thought for me, and I am slowly learning that it is ok. Sharing my photographs is helping me deal with my fear of being vulnerable.
2. I should give myself more credit. I know how to get the shots that I want by manipulating the settings on the camera, with little or no need for processing. Not having an SLR is not an excuse for not taking pictures.
3. I am humbled by the talent that is out there, and the willingness of people to not only share their photographs, but also their lives with people they have never met.
4. I am happy with my photographs, and that's what matters. Others may not share my taste, but as long as I am happy with my photo, then it is a success.
5. I hardly have any photos of people, and I am forced to ask myself what this means in my life.
What I still want to learn:
1. Do I have a "style," and what is it?
2. How can I invite people into my photograph? How can they see what I see and feel the emotions behind the photos?
3. How can I be better?
Well, I've learned mostly technical things. I know a lot more about using my dSLR for a start, and have put into practice things I already hypothetically knew about composition, and stuff. I've also seen a lot of great photographs by a lot of great photographers, and learned from their examples as to how you can make a scene interesting.
I still don't know if I'm any good at it, but, I think I've made a few decent images here and there, and am quite surprised to realise I'm 200 photos in now. 200! When The Internet's Liz first suggested we do this, I really had no idea how I'd keep it up. But I have, and that's ace.
I've gained a few more e-friends, and a couple that I consider irl-friends too. On a related note, it's hella cool to see several people saying that before they came here they'd never known people over the net before - from my perspective (as a devout internet-guy) that's a huge win for this site, and for Ross (the guy who wrote it); to have made something that's shown non-internet people what the internets are really all about - connecting with other people - is epic.
And taleweaver, let's have some brofist action for this:
> I hardly have any photos of people, and I am forced to ask myself what this means in my life.
as I'm in the same boat.
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1. NOT to center everything in the frame. This is actually hard for me; when I learned years ago, I learned to center everything and not to run things out of the frame. Now I know that it's not only ok, it is sometimes the best choice.
2. Everyday things can be beautiful (ok, I knew that but I find it emphasized everyday).
3. I can be friends with and care a lot about people that I've never met.
4. I can actually take a self-portrait and feel comfortable about it (to an extent).
5. We all have our own style, not better, not worse, just different and still beautiful.
I have only photographed at 6 or 7 of my sister's softball games but I really feel like I have grown at my sports photography skill. I didn't really realize until right now how much time I have invested in just softball games until right now. Each game is about 2 hours long, and I've been to about 7. So that is 14 straight hours, but some games go over so I can round up to about 20 hours of just softball photography. I don't think I have spent that much time on any other one subject.
And looking at the photos on my hard drive I really see a difference in the shots. The photos from tonight and last night's game are so much more focused and so much tighter than the the shots of the first two games. I now know the kind of things to look for when I shoot a game. For instance, the action may be the most exciting part, but the emotion of a player could be even more exciting.
One thing I want to learn how to do is to not over shoot. That is one problem I have and really need to work on it or I am going to run out of hard drive space pretty fast!
I´ve learned that its ok for me not to be a portrait-photograph. I love making landscape, macro, animals and flowers. I have find out that the world is much more, than you can ever see with your eyes. Our world is so beautyfull and fill with lovely (and ugly :-)) creatures.
Like Weslin I´ve learned that center is not the right way to compose a picture.
For 4 month ago I would never have written so much in english. I am more confidence that you can understand what I mean and I am happy to learn :-) Actually, when I start here (allmost 100 days) I was sitting with my translating book. I dont enymore :-)
Thanks everyone !!!
Finally something I stick at and I've made friends along the way.
But, the main thing I have learnt is that I love photography! It was always one of those things I wished I had done, and I felt like I should do, and it turns out that I was right! I love it! It relaxes me, helps me unwind, I get passionate about it!
I have also learnt a whole heap of technical stuff, but feel like I am just beginning to scratch the surface!
I, too, love photography and this project has taken over my life!
It has made me go through my life with eyes wide open.
I look at EVERYTHING with a 'photo eye'.
In turn, l respect my surroundings and love where l live.
It has given me confidence, not just with a camera, but to approach people and ask their permission to take a shot.
And l am learning a lot about photo editing, but as you say, not to do too much!
I know l still have a huge amount to learn but its great fun and my friends on here are a great support.
This has uplifted my spirits so much after feeling bogged down looking after 2 babies, not working and spending a lot of time at home.
I can feel the cogs of my rusty brain slowing starting to turn and as others have said, seeing things and automatically framing them or noticing lighting, etc.
It has opened up a whole new interest for me and from what I can so far tell, there will always be something new to learn, which is an exciting prospect.
(Don't worry, I had an inkling anyway!)
Most of all it has given me the "zest" I needed put back into my everyday life. I really needed something for myself,some inspiration and happiness and photography and 365 has done that!
1. It is ok for people to see my photographs, and I actually like sharing them. Opening up like this is a VERY scary thought for me, and I am slowly learning that it is ok. Sharing my photographs is helping me deal with my fear of being vulnerable.
2. I should give myself more credit. I know how to get the shots that I want by manipulating the settings on the camera, with little or no need for processing. Not having an SLR is not an excuse for not taking pictures.
3. I am humbled by the talent that is out there, and the willingness of people to not only share their photographs, but also their lives with people they have never met.
4. I am happy with my photographs, and that's what matters. Others may not share my taste, but as long as I am happy with my photo, then it is a success.
5. I hardly have any photos of people, and I am forced to ask myself what this means in my life.
What I still want to learn:
1. Do I have a "style," and what is it?
2. How can I invite people into my photograph? How can they see what I see and feel the emotions behind the photos?
3. How can I be better?
I still don't know if I'm any good at it, but, I think I've made a few decent images here and there, and am quite surprised to realise I'm 200 photos in now. 200! When The Internet's Liz first suggested we do this, I really had no idea how I'd keep it up. But I have, and that's ace.
I've gained a few more e-friends, and a couple that I consider irl-friends too. On a related note, it's hella cool to see several people saying that before they came here they'd never known people over the net before - from my perspective (as a devout internet-guy) that's a huge win for this site, and for Ross (the guy who wrote it); to have made something that's shown non-internet people what the internets are really all about - connecting with other people - is epic.
And taleweaver, let's have some brofist action for this:
> I hardly have any photos of people, and I am forced to ask myself what this means in my life.
as I'm in the same boat.