The latest Photo-a-Day project is Project 7 Up, started back on, appropriately, 07-07-2013. The rule is to take and post at least one photo within seven days or less from the previous post. I’m liking this since it’s more flexible than a “picture-a-week” (or P52), more frequent than Project 12, and less grinding than my three previous “picture-a-day” projects. So far, it’s kept my interest up without becoming the chore of P365. I’m planning to continue this indefinitely.
On 11-11-11, I started yet another daily photo project. The plan this time is to take and post a daily photo for 398 days. Since 2012 is a leap year this should technically be titled “Project 366+32”. But 2008’s project was titled Project 365, so I’m calling this Project 365+33. Plus, I’ve run out of fingers to figure out the correct count.
This project was partially inspired by a new camera purchase, the Canon Powershot Elph 300HS. Great little camera, with a very wide, for such a tiny camera, 24mm lens. I quickly cracked the screen by knocking it off a table (it’s very thin), prompting a second purchase before they were discontinued. Got the second one at an even better deal, so every member of the BackAmp Research team is now fully equipped.
For whatever reason, I’ve decided to do my second Project 365 this year. As of today, that makes 375 pictures posted to photoblog. Along the way, I’ve learned a few things:
Good luck!
I haven’t completely decided what the “X2” means, but I’m cranking up another year of daily photography. After the 2008 Project I needed a bit of a break, but I think I’m ready to go again. Annie and I both seem to go back and look over the 2008 pics and it’s amazing how much it brings back each day of the year.
Update: I had to take most of March and all of April away from the cameras. Moving on now with Project 308.
I never got around to writing much of a summary of last year’s Project 365/366. I did get all 366 photos taken and posted, albeit a few were taken at 11:59 PM. It was an enjoyable project although it turned out a bit different than I might have guessed. I expected to get better technically with my camera, and I did learn a few subtleties. I particularly wanted to improve on approaching strangers about taking their photo, which I barely improved at (although beer helps).
What I did get better at (I think) was finding seemingly mundane things to photograph in an interesting way, at least to me. And the record of the year is amazing, I remember each and every shot and also quite a bit about that particular day that would otherwise become more of a blur.
I did enjoy the project thoroughly and became quite comfortable explaining to friends and coworkers why I was hauling a camera around all of the time. I considered continuing to 2009, but come Jan 1, I was happy to not be scanning for a photo from the time I got up until I had something I liked. It surprised me, but that “looking for a photo” mode just switched off; I had sort of expected to find myself constantly on the lookout and worrying about getting something until I would remember that the project was over.
Consequently, the camera(s) got left home a little more often that they might have been, although I have taken a few. So, one quarter into the year, I’ve decided to resume as “Project 12”, with at least one photo a month posted. I think having a much easier deadline will get me thinking again about regular photography without the commitment of a daily post. Sure, it’s not much, but the three I just posted at Photoblog cover the highlights of Jan, Feb, and March for me.
Yesterday was the final Tour De Fat event for this year, in Austin. I went last year but this was my first time riding the parade. I hung out mostly behind one of the mobile sound bikes. With the tunes and the bells and the yelling…it was pretty loud for a bike ride. Highly recommended.
Lots more pics over here.
Austin photog Annie Ray makes the cover of the XLent this week. She shot this photo of yours truly. 
