I’ve
written a few things here or there, but I thought I’d answer a few questions
some people have asked or might ask about this #Project365 I do every
day/month/year …
What is #Project365?
That’s
a good question … I’ll tell you …
I
don’t know.
Sorry,
couldn’t resist quoting a line from one of my favorite movies.
Basically,
it is a photography project where you take one picture a day (usually 365 days
a year, except for leap years). This not only helps you remember your life, but
also get more comfortable with your photography equipment. I’ve even used an
HTC Evo 4G phone, as well as a Samsung Galaxy S3. The GS3 is spectacular, at
least for me.
I
wrote a blog back in 2011 describing “Project: 365”. Wow, was that really three
years ago? My how much time does fly past us?
How Did This Start?
In 2009, I was introduction to “Project: 365”. I was on the website of a radio
station (likely there to redeem some points for a prize) when I read about
“Project:365”.
This
man described that in a crisis, we watch our lives flash before our lives. He
said most of the moments were blurs and some were things he had forgotten. He
decided, after that moment, to take one picture a day, every year.
I
lost sight of the article after a while. I wonder if he is still doing this.
When
I started, I soon learned that most of the time we are so busy living our
lives, we forget to document them as they happen. Memories are told, rather
than shown. Key things might be forgotten and chances are missed. Those are
memories and chances that will never happen again – so, document them while you
can.
The
premise is basic – take a picture for each day of the year. Either with a
digital camera or a camera phone. I’m sure you could do a 35mm camera, but that
could get expensive – buying filming then transferring it to DVD.
The
pictures can be anyone (with their permission of course), anything (that isn’t
sensitive or private in nature), any place (where you legally can).
I usually plan for a few “selfies” throughout the year to see how I’ve changed
– hair color, weight, and fashion sense – maybe I have different glasses to
show off!
I also plan for vacation highlights (sometimes resorting to Fotor for
collages), gas prices (we all know how up and down they are), and certain
landmarks (as they come or go).
And,
once I year I have the NASCAR race in March. That is a LOT of opportunity right
there to take and/or post one picture per day.
There
is also #WBW (Way Back Wednesday); #TBT (Throw-Back Thursday); and #FBF (Flashback Friday) where you find
an old picture and post it, take a picture of something old, or scan one of
those OLD pictures.
That
has definitely been fun. I’ve got a lot of #WBW,
#TBT, and #FBF stuff to do until the end of the year, if not well into next
year. Going through my stuff that has been in storage over 25 years is
definitely fun and exciting.
It
can be an old t-shirt you loved, a shirt from school, something you’ve had
“forever”.
But, if you have a family, you can document first/last days of school, field
trips, whatever you feel comfortable with. Even if there is a new restaurant
you go to. Perhaps one you do monthly?
My pictures don’t really have a theme. On October 14, 2014 – I took this one:
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| [I still have no idea what this is] |
Kind of silly isn’t it?
In 2012, a friend of mine had an “Instagram” challenge for the holidays: “Christmas
Photo Challenge”. There were things like:
Christmas Decor
Something Shiny
Red
Holiday Texture
Star
By
now, you should get the idea … you can read that blog here:
It
was a fun and exciting challenge. Adding in the fact I was playing with
“filters” in the app … it made a memorable month’s worth of photos.
I
also took picture of items I’d won on Twitter through re-tweets or trivia
replies. As you can see … there are a lot of opportunities for taking a picture.
You Take/Took Them, Now
What Do You Do With Them?
When
I started this project, I uploaded them to Facebook and Twitter with a caption.
I then started sharing on Google + (G+) and 365org. After realizing that
managing four (4) social networks was a bit of a time-sponge, and there was
limited interaction on two of them – I opted to stick to Facebook (where family
and friends are), and Twitter (where some other friends are).
I
was also backed them up on USB flash drives as well as DVD in case something
happened to my computer. I also put them on my back-up laptop as well.
But,
I wanted to do something else – I wanted to put them in an album or make a
“photobook” of them to have a physical copy for those who were not on social
media.
For
the 2009 “Project: 365” book, I decided to use some “Snapfish” credits to make
a photo book. That was time consuming and expensive as I was limited by their
templates, and felt a bit creatively restrained.
But,
several years later, I became a Heritage Makers Consultant where I can
literally design it from the bottom up. And, it is a “small business” as well,
so I’m helping mothers (mostly) and friends, not a corporate CEO.
While
the company (HM) has changed slightly, the goal remains the same – document and
preserve your stories, memories, and heritage.
So
… I started working on my own “from scratch” photobooks (note “started”, not
anywhere close to being done). That is definitely taking some time. Picking out
the perfect “page” background, and arranging the photos in the albums (for
framing) is quite time consuming since I have decided to re-do 2009 and haven’t
started 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, or even 2014.
But,
after I get them done, it will be quite worth it. This way if Twitter or
Facebook were to ever shut down, I’d have something to pass on to my children
and their children … a “heritage” of sorts. They can see the things I saw, and
I can put stories with the photos to tell them what was going on at the time.
To
check out what Heritage Makers is all about, go to my website:
Now,
if you like doing it the old fashioned way, with “prints”, you can always sign
up for Shutterfly (you get free prints for signing up) and redeem MyCokeRewards
for prints (through entering Coca-Cola product codes). You might get an
occasional “FREE 100 Prints” email from Shutterfly. I got one in July just
after an amazing trip I took (took advantage of that). Then, after Labor Day, I
got another email (wasn’t able to take advantage of that).
Usually
the emails follow major holidays. You could get enough credits to cover the
prints you need and only pay for shipping. Finding a suitable photo album is
another thing as most only have spaces for 200 (the one I used for my trip),
300, 500 prints. And, you have to either find a photo album with a space to
write captions, write on the photo, or on the back (meaning taking it out to
show it to others). But, whatever works. No one way is right. I do what is
easier for me … and what I have room for.
This
project allows me to “re-live” certain moments and memories. In addition, I am
getting quite familiar with my photography equipment, though I do need a new
camera for obvious reasons:
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| [Camera and cord falling apart, literally] |
How Long Should Someone
Do This?
As
long as you like. I’ll do it as long as I possibly can. Providing I am able to
and have the equipment to do it.
A
man by the name of Jamie Livingston took a single picture nearly every day with
a Polaroid from March 31, 1979 to October 25, 1997, the day of his death. That
was some dedication. According to the articles, that was eighteen (18) years.
And, I’m technically in my sixth (6th)? WOW!! I’ve got a long way to
go. I’d be almost 50!
I
know a few friends who started off with it but haven’t been as vigilant as I
have. One stopped because their camera broke (despite having a good camera
phone), another friend stopped due to lack of interest, and one had found it
was increasingly difficult to find new things every day.
I’ll
admit, after about six (6) years (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and now 2014) …
it can be a challenge. Some pictures have been food themed, travel related,
school related, and downright silly.
The point is … you don’t have to have a theme or be a professional! You can
just take one picture. That’s all. In the first year, I took 1-6 per day. Last
year, I found some free software that allowed me to do collages, so that makes
everything easy when dealing with multiple photos I want to post. I still get
one picture, but I might have 2-6 items in it. The point is to take a picture
of something, anything, etc.
How Do You Keep It All
Together?
Taking
the pictures, documenting what it was, and documenting what network I posted to
can seem like a challenge. And, the longer you wait to update the project, it
can seem complicated right? Wrong.
It’s
rather easy.
As
part of my yearly Christmas gifts, my mother gives me a yearly/monthly planner,
like this:
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| [Some are fancy, some plain – either way, they work]
|
I
begin using it on January 1st and up to December 31st. I
aim for taking the gas price pictures as the last day of the month: 28th,
30th, 31st. Anything else falls in where it should.
Naturally the major “holidays” and events take precedence over anything I might
see. If I see something weird on that day, I might post it in a status.
I’m
a bit creative in the planner. I make a “bracket box” and high light it to
write it in the “subject” for the rare times I cannot immediately post the
picture:
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| [There are times you can only make a note of your picture for the day. Here is how I do it.] |
I
have either use the camera’s file name (last four digits), “phone”, or
“collage”. Then, I write down a brief note. The longest I’ve gone is about 10
days, which was due to being sick and having quite a bit of errands.
Because
I used the planner, it was quite easy to manage even DAYS after I took the
picture.
I
use a green highlighter for “F” (Facebook), and a blue for “T” (Twitter).
At one point I needed pink for “G+” (Google +), purple for “3” (which was the website 365 ORG),
and orange for “S”
(Snapfish).
By
using “F”
and “T”
in the “date space”, I know I’ve uploaded those photos.
I
also have a “template” in word (and have it saved) for “copy-righting” and for
the standard Twitter post:
“#Project365 – October 15th – ” [just need to fill in the caption/description
of the photo].
For
Facebook, I usually just choose this: “Project:
365 – November 2014”
for the album name. That way in the description, I only have to list the date
and caption.
As
you can see, after this length of time, I’ve got this down to a science. It
could seem complicated, then again it seems rather easy.
As
far as uploading them to Heritage Makers … that I will work on … later.
How Rewarding Has This
Been?
For
me?
It’s
definitely helped me through quite a few bad times. It has helped me look back
and see things that were going to happen long before they did. It has helped me be a better photographer,
and it has helped me document my days better. Definitely helps with memories,
not that I have a problem, but it is amazing how this project works like that. I
can sometimes reflect on the entire day.
It
gives my family and friends a look into some of the things they might not see
any other way. They get to be a part of my life that was at one point
unavailable.
Photography
has always been a hobby of mine. With a digital camera, I have an unlimited
resource to take pictures.
So,
I’d say that while there are no financial rewards (I don’t sell my pictures for
money) … there are unlimited experiences when doing this.
How Does One Start “Project:
365”?
Starting
is easy, grab your camera. And, I would recommend a planner. You can get them
from about $5-$20 at Walmart, Staples, Office Depot, Target … most major
retailers. I usually go for Walmart first as I’ve gotten them as low as $4.
But, if there is a special one? I’ll pay up to $20. But, no more.
After
that? Snap, document, and upload. Remember to mark it off. If you need
highlights, I recommend using “Sharpie Accent”. You can usually get them one at
a time in a bin, or in the packs. I use blue for Twitter because of the bird,
so by default I can’t do it for Facebook. I use green as it is also a dark
color and easy to see. But, any colors you choose are fine.
I’m
now doing a “monthly” review, as well as “weekly” highlights to spotlight some
of the most unique and positive moments of the month.
Also,
it helps in tracking gas prices.
Then,
anytime of day – day, night, evening.
Of
course good sense dictates you don’t take pictures of sensitive, proprietary,
or potentially identifying information.
Children
at school okay, not WHERE. The mall, but watch out if you have a “professional
camera”. Look for the blog on that. Just anytime you can squeeze off a good
round of pictures. I’ve gotten a “one and done” because that moment was so
quick. And, taking my camera in my purse or pocket is essential next to my
license, phone, and keys.
Back
about 10 years ago a former friend quizzed me on why I brought my camera to
work. I explained that I might see something interesting coming to work or
going home. As a result, I carried my phone in my purse as a habit.
Of
course I wouldn’t have to because of my camera phone. But, when the battery
goes on that? I need a back-up.
When Do You Start The
Project?
While
I never like putting things off, I would highly recommend that you “practice”
as soon as you can, but I’d start off with the New Year (at the beginning) –
make it a New Year’s resolution or goal …whatever you call them.
It
makes sense to start on January 1st as that is when the year begins
and it is easy to track. If you forget a day or two, you can still take a
picture of something that came in on that day or something you got on that day.
The
point is to have fun, document your life, and get familiar with the camera
equipment.
And,
in my case? It gives me a reason to stay out of the house longer than just
taking my mom to and from work.
It also gives me great “footage” for my personalized calendars:
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| [One of the many things I do with my pictures. This is my 2013 calendar] |
