Photography is probably my main hobby, followed closely by bird watching, playing disc golf and collecting Disney pins. I have taken one photography class; I am basically self taught. My first “real” camera was a Minolta X-700 35mm that my dad bought for me in 1988.

I started the 365 Project last year on my birthday (January 16, 2013) for a variety of reasons. First and foremost was the desire to learn how to use my new camera, an Olympus E-PL1 4/3 micro system mirror-less digital, which I got for Christmas 2012. The other motivators for doing the project were: (in no particular order) to increase the my quality of work, concentrate on good compositions, learn some fun and interesting Photoshop techniques and to chronicle a year in my life with pictures.

The project at times was very hard to do. Some days I just didn't "feel" the love of photography or have the artistic eye for getting a great shot. Still, I pushed through and made myself take a photo every single day. I only had one day where I took exactly one photo, thank goodness, I managed to take it or the project would have been a bust! LOL Some days it was really fun to get out and do a shoot, only to discover that I had more than one great picture to choose from.

I feel that my photos have increased in quality, and that there are more "great" shots in my final months than there were at the start of the project. I have learned a great deal about the camera! I know when to use certain settings (f-stops etc...), how to make sure my lighting is okay, when to use a tripod and how to frame a subject and how to post-edit with PSE. I think I still have a lot of mediocre shots too, but I feel better about what I am producing and have confidence that I won't come home with complete duds when I am out taking pictures.

I had a lot of fun doing the project, but at times I hated it too. I am thrilled that I finished it properly, one photo for everyday of the year, and I am also a little bit glad that it is over. It was a lot of work and a big time commitment, so now I feel a little bit like a kid going on summer vacation!

I especially enjoyed the creative side of it and am happy with the works of art I created and got to share with all of you.

Artists I enjoy are: Edward Gorey, Alex Coleville, Degas, Remington, Monet, Seurat, Erte, and Maxfield Parrish. My favorite art styles are Art Deco and Art Nouveau.

I am a graduate of Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a degree in Recreation. Course work included: The history of Art, Art Appreciation and Museum Studies.