Finished Object: 365 Days

I finished a project over the weekend. A year-long photography project.

Project: 365, A Year of Self Portraits

Materials: Two cameras. Computer. Flickr. Various props, including cats. Self.

Mods: While this should have been done in exactly 365 days, starting 3/18/09 and finishing 3/17/10, I missed three days throughout the process (11/20, 12/20, 1/5). I made these days up at the end of the project, and took my final 365 shot on Saturday, March 20, 2010.

Verdict: I am so glad I did this. This wasn’t a banner year for my in any way with no major life events (like a marriage or round number birthday). This was just a typical year in my 30s, living in a fairly new city (we’d lived in Louisville for 6 months when I started).

I will say this: this project was NOT easy. There were days when I really, really didn’t want to take a picture of myself. There were many days where a so-so picture of my hand holding some random object were all I could muster.

However – I put together the collage above to show off some of the photos that I took for the project that I really, really like and am proud of. They are all photos I wouldn’t have taken if I hadn’t done this project. Looking back on them, it’s like a gift I gave myself – memories of a not-so-typical year, made special merely by doing this crazy-making project.

If you have a camera, and have any interest in journaling a year of your life, I highly recommend this. It’s crazy, but worth it.

Last photo of the project. Don’t worry, I have another project I’m working on, so the self-portraits aren’t over yet!

Filed in: Photography