C for effort
So, there it is, another year of Project365 over and probably the toughest one to date. If you can't find enough subjects to shoot in year 1 then you're not really trying. By year 4 I couldn't help but repeat myself and when the novelty is gone it is really hard to stay creatively motivated especially when you're trying to fit it in around your daily 9-to-5. I did stick with it and I did finish for which I give myself a half-hearted pat on the back.
Last year I got 6 images in Flickr Explore; the year before it was 57. By my fuzzy math that makes me 950% less popular in 2010 than I was in 2009. That's a trend that is hard not to get discouraged by. I had my first little show which was not the triumph I'd hoped. Competing against the usual enthusiast fare of pretty pictures of flowers and travel photography I decided to stick to my guns and showed some of my street parking work. It did not go down well amongst the literary crowd attending. The other photogs all sold a print or two; no one even asked for my price list. It was all very last minute and only hung for one night but no one I knew could make it; even my greatest supporter, my wife, was sick and didn't come. I'm not sure there's any more lonely feeling than standing with a wall of your work in a room full of people and getting little more than passing glances - it was like high school all over again.
On the gear front, I already had all the 'serious' camera equipment that I wanted though I did have fun with the 17-40mm f4L in 2010. The biggest revelation and innovation was upgrading from the iPhone 3G to the 4. A camera that actually focuses on your iPhone combined with all those apps was a crutch I probably relied on too much but it does make photography fun again and it does also mean that you have a creative tool with you where ever you go.
Technically my biggest challenge was learning more about video. HD video on the iPhone is amazing - I love being able to capture, edit and post 720 video from my phone. Learning to make quality videos using the 5D II is a more tricky proposition though the resulting movies are worth the effort ... I think. Those hardcore still image guys may not approve of my including video entries in my project365 last year but I am unrepentant and will probably include video this year again. I like the technical challenges of video when I have the time to play.
I don't like making new year's resolutions - it feels like setting yourself up to fail - but I will endeavor to do something creative every day in 2011 because it keeps me mentally healthy. Part of that will be to continue in Project365. After 4 years I'm afraid that if I stop shooting every day I'll stop shooting all together and photography, for better or worse, defines who I am.
Good luck all Project365ers in 2011. Despite all my whinging it is worth it. |
