I hate to say that I have quit my current 365 project.
There are a few reasons and I will also present my views on 365 Photographic Projects.
The main reason I stopped taking daily photos is that I came down with a bad chest cold that lasted for two weeks. It may or may not have been bronchitis. After working the daily holiday rush delivering mail and packages, I didn’t have the energy to get outside again and hike to take photographs.
Combine that with the December darkness I didn’t have the time to find the photographic compositions I wanted before nightfall. I didn’t want to photograph around the house because that wasn’t my purpose for doing a 365 Project.
I realize I could pick back up with the Project, but between coughing fits, I had some thoughts about 365 Projects. The thoughts below are what I want from my photography, my schedule, and how they relate to a 365 Project.
By no means do I think 365 Projects are bad or useless, only that currently a 365 Project is not right for me.
My Thoughts On 365 Projects
I won’t discuss the good points of 365 Projects (there are many) only the issues that I came across in the month or so that I took daily photos.
As mentioned some days there isn’t enough time in the northeast to get outside and find a worthy photo around the winter solstice when you also have a job.
Remember the purpose wasn’t to only take a photo, it was to take a photo of something that interested me outdoors. It takes time to drive someplace, walk around, and look for a composition, then go back home to edit the photo and publish it on my website and the 365 Project website.
Some days it wasn’t a problem but on others, I felt that I should be home working on my own business. All of that to say I had mixed feelings on some days where instead of concentrating on the photography and enjoying nature I felt guilty for not working on Home Microgreens or even this photography website.
I found that many of the photos were more or less snapshots and not the type of photographs I wanted to take. Either I didn’t have the time or I felt rushed to take a photo of anything that I came across to get it done instead of finding another composition that was more pleasing to me.
So in short, 365 projects are great if you have the time each day to get outside and find new exciting, and interesting subjects. I would suggest setting a goal or at least the parameters of the project beforehand and thinking about what you will do when time is running short. I do think I would be better off if I stated that the project would be daily photos but not edited and published on the same day.
I found work and life responsibilities along with the shortness of the late autumn and early winter daylight were the largest contributors to stress during the month I took daily photos.
At some point, I will try to complete another 365 project.
