Let’s Try This Again…

Remember that one time way back in the day when I said I was going to do a Project 365?  Yeah, that didn’t work out so hot, did it?

Alright, so I slacked off a lot.  I can make up a number of excuses – I was too busy, life got in the way, I didn’t have a chance to upload the picture, I screwed myself by typing long-winded descriptions and didn’t want to do that anymore, I’m tired of uploading the pics and then editing them just for a 365 project.  Blah blah blah.  Excuses, excuses, excuses.  Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.  I was on a plane from Albuquerque to Chicago when I came to the conclusion that I should restart the abandoned project I tried to accomplish so long ago.

I recently went back to look at all of the ones I had done for the first two months, and it made me realize something: when I was taking those photos, it was almost like cataloging every day of the year.  I look at the time flying by nowadays and remember that it didn’t seem to zip by when I was doing the project.  Each day and each photo was an assurance that something happened that day.  That each day had a purpose.  A meaning.  It wasn’t just another day you put a red X through.  Looking back on them, there really was a memory to each day – even the silly pictures, like the arrow or the trees.  They all had a place, symbolizing something that happened in my life, no matter how big or small.

I feel like I’m starting to let that kind of profound sensation slide, allowing each day to slip into obscurity.  Maybe it’s because I enjoy playing the “tortured artist” role, but during the plane ride, I felt like I was missing out on the mission I set for myself with photography: to notice the details in our daily lives and see that there is beauty all around us amidst the chaos and insanity of the day-to-day routine.

Therefore, I’m making an announcement right here, right now: I’m going to start the project up again.  However, this time, I’m going to set some ground rules:

1. No more ridiculously long descriptions.  I know I’m very long-winded when it comes to talking about myself or my craft, but no more.  I’m going to let the picture speak for itself and only write a one-to-two sentence caption for the photo.  If anyone wants to know more, they can ask.
2. Majority of my photos will come from my iPhone, and I will use the post-processing apps I have downloaded.  I found that the main problem in keeping up with the project was the idea of uploading the picture I took, then editing it, then uploading it, then writing about it.  Too many steps.  If I simply use what is always on me – my iPhone – I have no excuse not to take a picture of something!  Currently, I have had my phone for a year and a month, and there are 428 photos in my camera roll on my phone.  Clearly, I’m taking a picture of something almost daily.  Time to upload at least one of those a day.
3. On a similar note to #2, I may use my DSLR if I feel it’s necessary or I like a photo I’ve taken with it better than what I achieved on the iPhone.  Such an instance could be from a shoot I had on a particular day or during a photo walk.  However, I won’t be forced to use them if I don’t want.
4. I will make sure that I will have the photo for the particular day posted no later than 12pm the following day.  For example, a photo for September 17th must be posted by noon on the 18th at the latest.  This ensures that I’ll have time to upload a photo for the project, in case I get tied up in the evening and can’t get a second to upload one.  Plus, it allows me to upload the photo first thing when I wake up, no matter what the circumstances.  No excuses.  It’ll become a part of my regular routine.

The rules may evolve over time, but right now, I think that’s a fairly simple and structured set of rules for me to follow.  Starting tomorrow (August 1st), I’m going to try the Project 365 again.  No excuses.

Hopefully, as I continue to update my progress with the project, it will encourage you to try one of your own.  In our day and age, everyone has a camera on them at all times: our cell phones.  And as Chase Jarvis said (and even made a book about it), “the best camera is the one that’s with you.”  So, why not take advantage of this idea?

Until next time,

- Patrick

P.S. Posted at the top of the article is one of my favorite photos from the last attempt at the project 365.  I remember that day, walking in the snow from work on my way to the metro station on the second-to-last day of work I had in the restaurant industry and seeing this bench covered in snow, completely untouched.  If it wasn’t for that photo, I would’ve completely forgotten about that day.  To top it off, the photo was taken with my iPhone – further proof that this feat can be done.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 31st, 2010 at 12:30 pm. It is filed under personal, photography and tagged with inspiration, journal entry, photography, project 365. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.