March 365 Photo Idea List

How is your 365 Project going? Ready for a little list of inspiration for March? Click on the photo below to get 31 ideas for photos in the lucky month of March! Thanks to all of you who helped put this month's list together!

There are many ways to use the inspiration list.

1. Everyday, search for one item on the list.
2. At the end of the month, search your photos and match to the words.
3. Take a literal approach, finding or spelling the words with objects.
4. Pick and choose a few that move you, filling in around the rest of your photos.

There are no right or wrong ways to complete your 365. Enjoy shooting!

How will you use this list? I'd love to hear what you're doing with it!

Happy March!

A Picture Is Worth More Than 1000 Words

There are so many details in this photo. So many tidbits of our life at this moment. Most compelling, though, is how this photo connects me to my own childhood. There are so many details I'm reminded of. Details I've not thought of in a very long time.

I'm reminded of my childhood fireplace. Rocks, each of a different shape and size. Some with nooks and crannies we drove cars through and played house with.

I'm reminded of the bookshelves on each side of our fireplace. Glass doors with hidden treasures behind. Old National Geographic magazines. The set of Encyclopedias with red binding. The Facts in Five Game. I loved that game.

I'm reminded of the trinkets along the mantle. The pigeon clock we used each weekend. The clay sculpture given to my mom by Bruce and Flo.

I'm reminded of Christmases with stockings hung. Reminded of the year the fire singed all of the oranges at the toes of the socks.

I'm reminded of lining up for Halloween photos. And special occasions.

I'm reminded of the green carpet in the living room.

I'm reminded of the maple coffee table. The one where we did our homework. The one we danced on. The one we played under. The one mom stacked laundry on as she folded it.

I'm reminded of the oil paintings created by grandmother.

I'm reminded of the white and gold vinyl couch that left imprints on your cheeks when you fell asleep.

I'm reminded of laughter and tears and moments of my childhood.

I'm reminded of my life.

I'm reminded there is so much more to a photo than what first appears.

How I Started My 365 Project, 1,093 Days Ago

Today is day 1,093 of my 365 project. Almost three years.

Perhaps you've started. Perhaps you've stopped. Maybe you've thought about it, but are afraid of the commitment. Every day for an entire year can be daunting.

How did I start?

I did not begin with 365 in mind. In 2008, a group of friends said, let's try doing a photo a day for 30 days. Seemed fun. 3o days, no problem. And so it began. 30 days of taking photos and sharing them with each other. We were excited and supportive and in love with photography.

Day 30 arrived and several of us couldn't stop. We just kept going. 30 days had created a habit we were now addicted to. Seeing the details. Trying things in ways we hadn't before. Documenting our lives in a daily photographic journal.

30 days, 7 days, 42 days, or 365 days, whatever you commitment. You become present. Present to the details in the world around you. Present to the craft and the art of photography.

365 is a blueprint of my life with highs and lows. Moments of clarity followed by moments of uncertainty. Happiness and sadness. Focus on the big picture and moments of minutia. I see it in my photos and I've felt it in the process of creating them.

It starts with one day. One photo. And you take it from there. We all begin with 1.

What's your number?

Take A Look Around The Frame

It was a cold morning. Okay, not Minnesota cold. About 40 degrees. Cold enough my fingers couldn't quite grasp the ring on the tripod mount to remove it from my camera, forcing me to hand hold my camera. Cold enough that my boys were bundled up, complete with heads covered.

I walked down the bike trail, looking for the spot that would convey the feeling I wanted when my subjects arrived.

A little hill. The bike trail curving into the distance. Through my viewfinder I could see that the road would start in the bottom right corner and move around the frame, ending towards the right again. Nice.

One distraction in the frame, but for anyone who is out on the trail often, it is also a place giver. The sign announcing who cares for the trail. The 20 mile marker seemed a fitting piece of context as well. We all have a story for that marker. Maybe it is where our workout started or our bike got a flat or the spot of our longest run.

The runners I waited for would appear on the left side of the frame. I wasn't planning on capturing my boys. The right side worked. It filled in the patch of bare dirt. Filled it in with a story bigger than any words I have.

In that moment my photo of the day arrived. Unexpected.

365 Photo Inspiration List For February

Do you like a little challenge in your 365 project?  I've put together a downloadable PDF February 365 Inspiration List for you! 28 fun ideas to inspire your photography. This list is open to a lot of creative interpretation.

You can use the list in several ways!

1. Everyday, search for one item on the list.
2. At the end of the month, search your photos and match to the words.
3. Take a literal approach, finding or spelling the words with objects.
4. Pick and choose a few that move you, filling in around the rest of your photos.

There are no right or wrong ways to complete your 365. Enjoy shooting!

I'll be using a combination of idea #2 and #3. What is your plan?

Happy February!

January 2011 Rejects

In 2011 I am working on shooting with intention. Taking few shots more deliberately.

And still. I have many rejects. Here is the best of January!

Ian's latest technique to "help" me take a photo. I focus, recompose, he shouts, "I'm not in the middle," and moves to place his reflection in the center of my lens!

Or he just dodges at the last moment. Nice head shot.

It looks like 2011 will be a good year to continue the Lens Cap series. I love it so much.

In 2011 I'm also adding the Overexposed Series. It's a nice contrast to the deep colors of the Lens Cap Series.

Notice the sharpness of the tree? Got to love good focus.

And wow, look at this fence. Not sure why that same little boy keeps getting in the way of my shots.

And the hand. Close up. Perhaps you've seen other parts of this body before?

One of the beautiful things about shooting everyday is collecting a few rejects along the way! Perhaps I should consider creating a reject book this year? 

How Procrastination Changed My 365 Project

I took a photo everyday in 2010, as I did in 2009.

I didn't keep up with getting them into a photo book though. I got behind. Some days I didn't select my photo of the day, keyword it, and upload it to flickr. Ok. There were several weeks when I didn't do that. I took pictures, put them in folders by date, knew they were there. That was it.

I'm determined to get my 2010 book completed by the end of the month. I'm compelled by a free coupon that expires that day and by seeing how amazing it is as they come together.

My procrastination paid off though. Had I selected my POTD last year this photo would be the selection.

A salad. It was an incredible salad. After a day in the hospital for my mom's knee replacement surgery it was a nice quiet moment with my sister. A great memory. But yesterday as I was putting I found this photo. Taken with my phone.

My dad. He loves to read. He didn't always. I don't remember him reading much when I was a kid, but now it is a daily ritual for him. He drives to work early to read before he starts work. He's never been in my 365 as he's not a photo fan. But I got this. Doing what he does, knowing he sat in the room with my mom as she rested post surgery.

Is there anything or anyone missing from your 365? I'm glad I found mine. Procrastination paid off.

365 - The Same, Only Different

I anxiously awaited the opportunity to pop my last photo into the template to complete Page #3 of my 365 book. I love how Anna's (free) template can be used in different ways.

I'm not sticking to a week to one page, rather opting for a flexible flow of whatever mood strikes me.

Nine days in one template.

Four days in one template, with a simple merge to show off the ice on my windshield.

The first eight days you saw when I was thinking about beginning with the end in mind.

I anticipate a few one photo pages as well. I'll just adjust the template as those days happen. Looking forward to seeing how the year in photos unfolds!

Feeling the 365 Spark

I grabbed my camera and stuffed it into the bag as I raced out the door to work in Ian's classroom. With so much sunlight outside, I knew light would be good inside. 43 photos. I snapped them while they sat in circle time and while they got their wiggles out. I want to remember these moments when he still smiles at me when I come into the classroom, giving me a thumbs up and a wink to let me know we're all good.

I tried to hide the camera until they got involved in what they were doing. Using my 70-200 (as my metadata recommended) meant I could sit back and let the lens do the work.

After a few days of indecision over my photos of the day, today's came easily. I knew as soon as I saw it on my screen. I'd tried to frame him between arms of his friends, with the little belly showing and of course, the ears being tugged. So him right now. It was the last photo I took. It was the one.

Something happened this week. I regained a spark for 365 I've not felt in a while. Reacquainting myself with a lens I too often leave in my bag, shooting someplace that isn't completely known to me. It felt good.

How is your 365 going? Are you feeling a spark? What's creating it for you? Let's chat.

The (Controversial) Winner Of the Family Vote

I was out voted by my family. 

Like many of you, the dreamy sepia tone was my favorite. Artistically, it is the best photo, but this year's project 365 is leaning towards memories.

Christi hit the mark with her comment, "For us all we know is that he's playing on the swing. To be there in that moment there is so much more going on. I'm sure he's talking, you're talking, there are bugs and critters, his imagination. For all I know he was flying in a space ship in one of those photos and the story behind the photo would make the difference."

In this moment he was Bear Grylls parachuting to the ground. I plan on printing the other photo for my photo wall and giving copies to his grandmothers. The one above will go in the 365 book. How can I deny the little adventurer who pointed at the screen and said, "that one, it's got color."The boy likes his color.

I was out voted and I can live with that!

I should have guessed another sunny afternoon would yield another batch of photos, this time a helicopter.  Another day, another 365 decision.

Taking A Family Vote For Photo of the Day

After my display of geekiness yesterday, I'm going photo heavy today! I took on my challenge and with the aid of sunshine for the first time in MANY days, a swing, and my 70-200 lens we headed into the garden. He played while I sat at a distance willing myself to use a focal length less than 200mm.

We took a family vote to decide on THE photo of the day. The 5 year old criteria for selection is always straight forward, no holds barred.  Dad thinks a little more strategically and Mom always goes for the emotion. 

These are my favorite type of 365 photos. Just the natural flow of life as it unfolds.

Which is your pick? I'll share the final family choice tomorrow!

How Metadata Can Improve Your Photography

Before digital cameras, photographers kept notebooks of settings and situations to improve their photography. In the digital era information is at our fingertips, hidden in our photo's metadata. Programs like Lightroom let us quickly look at large amounts of data. I wondered if mine held anything of value.

Here's what I found.

I tend to shoot at the extremes of each lens - typically the widest aperture, the shortest focal length, or the longest focal length. Not a lot of in-between.

Then the latent analytical side I don't often admit to kicked in. What did my Photos of the Day tell me? Would the story be the same? Numbers all over? Aversion to using an ISO other than those translatable into film speeds?

I found a few interesting things about my Photos of the Day.

My ISO was almost always 100 to 200, telling me that I was shooting in abundant light for most photos. Runners up? 400 and 800. So, yes, I love my film speed equivalent ISOs.

Most of my POTD's apertures were right at f/4.0. Again with good light, moderately shallow depth of field. I thought this might be because my wide angle lens' widest aperture is f/4.0, but when I looked at the lens used for most POTD it was the 50mm f/1.4.

The abundant light explains why only 3% of my photos were taken with a flash.

Very few of my photos were shot at narrow apertures (above f/8). Most likely driven by available light and a moving subject.

So what do I do with all of this information? I plan to use this to challenge my photography this year. There are focal lengths and apertures and shutter speeds I'd like to try out a bit more. Dive a little more creatively into places I avoid. Stretch myself out of the settings that come so naturally and easily. A few ideas:

• Work with narrow apertures more often
• Play with external flash as my light source
• Slow my shutter speed down a little more often
• Perhaps ISO 320 now and then?
• Use my 70-200 lens a bit more
• Try focal lengths in the middle ranges of my lenses

Are you intrigued? Or frightened by my geekiness? Take a look at yours, see what it tells you.

Quick Steps To Analyze Your Metadata
Open Lightroom
Select Library Mode
Type "G" for Grid View
Select the folder you want to analyze
Select Metadata
Click on each column heading to choose the metadata you want to view

What does your metadata tell you?

Another Approach To 365

 

I stumbled upon another alternative when you miss a day of 365!

365 is about our memories. I don't want to feel locked into anything, bound by rules that get in the way of my life. I want 365 to be a natural flow with my life, something enjoyable.

While away for the weekend my husband emailed me photos each day of his escapades with Ian. I realized I had to include them in my 365. THEY are my life. They are the focus of my energy and love. So I'm plugging them in. 

I can live with the quality being less than perfect. In 20 years I'll be so happy to see this little moment again.

What's stopping you from including other people's photos in your 365? Does it feel like cheating to you?

Simply A Photo of the Day

We are so lucky Ian has a thoughtful teacher. She has wonderful assignments that involve the entire family and well, make for excellent photos of the day.

He'll be taking this to school today. Ian's dad made one to, filled with the wishes and dreams for Ian. I made it in his classroom after our monthly parent meeting as I waited for a friend in the classroom next to Ian's. I love that his little table is the background.

I used my phone, with the flash. Processed using Matt K's Nostalgic Preset. I love it.

What do you dream for your children?


I'm sharing this at The Simple Things. It is the Simple Things that matter so much.

Project 365: Begin With the End In Mind

You've finished your first week of Project 365! Congratulations.

It's been helpful for me to start the project with my final result in mind. Am I going to put them together in an album? How many details do I want to include? How large do I want the finished book to be?

So many options.

In 2008 I included a photo on each page. I started 365 in March, so the book is shorter than 365 pages.

Click here to view this photo book.

In 2009 I took a different approach. I used Anna Aspnes' Templates and included a week on each page with journaling. I changed each page up a bit as well. I changed the color with each spread. There is A LOT more going on on these pages than is typical for me! And I'll be honest, I'm not done with it yet! Here's a look at a few of the pages. I have all of the photos and journaling. Just need to get it done! Credits here.

After including so much in 2009, I included less in 2010. I used Ali Edwards' Grid Template and a little word art. Just photos. Super simple. And well. I'm almost done! Credits here.

For 2011, I'm grabbing the best of both worlds. A little journaling and a grid style from Anna Aspnes'. I'm going with a black background to make the photos jump off the page. I have a fun idea for changing this template up each week!

You can find this template at a free download on her blog! I used her Art Play Celebrate Value Pack for the paper. I like the challenge of the landscape photos as I'm definitely more of a portrait shooter, it will be good to get me out of a rut!

What is your plan for how you will bring your project together? Link me up in the comments to your ideas! Anyone just blogging them this year? I'd love to see.

Honor The Ordinary In Your 365 Project

For the past week Brene Brown has touched my world in the most interesting ways. I opened my email, to find a link to Brene's Ted.com Video with my dear friend's comment, "it spoke to me similarly as your professional goals did." I had watched the same video the day before when it popped up on the front page of Ted.

Reading Twitter yesterday, Ali Edwards tweeted about the same video. I clicked, not realizing it was the same Brene who was somehow infiltrating my life. So I bought her book on the Kindle for iPad.

Early this morning I woke up, unable to sleep, and sat in bed with my iphone in hand. I read almost the entire book. So much of it resonated with me. So much of it felt like she was talking directly to me. Her words were a beautiful extension of my 40 Day Yoga experience and the practice I'd completed just hours before.

Are you wondering how this all relates to Project 365? I found it in one statement she made in her videos and explores more in her book.

"In the ordinary moments of our lives is really where we can find the most joy." Brene Brown

That, my friends, is what 365 or 52 or 12 or whatever project you might be working on is about. Ordinary. There is comfort there. There is life there. There are memories there. There is joy there.

No matter what camera you are shooting with. No matter how you decided to bring your project together, it is about our lives.

Here is my ordinary life over the last seven days. There are multiple cameras. There is imperfection. Most importantly...there is joy.

I hope you find the joy in your ordinary life.

So, What do you do when you skip a 365 day?

Is it possible to pick just one of these? He was showing me his happy dance on the way to the zoo this morning. The one on the left is going to be THE photo for the day, but it just makes me smile with the other one next to it!

But what do you do if not every day is a happy dance day? What if (gasp) you miss a day? Here are just a few ideas to consider.

1. Skip it and move on. No harm, no foul. No one will know and frankly, in twenty years no one will even notice. 
2. Fudge it a little. Take a photo related to that day, no one will know. Take a photograph of your calendar perhaps?
3. Make fun of it. Find something fun or tacky to replace the day every time you forget. Perhaps a pink elephant? Or a solid color. Or the ugliest piece of jewelry you own? 
4. Give up. Don't go forward. Consider yourself a failure. 

Okay, so four isn't really the BEST option, but I had to include it :) 

What is your strategy?

Starting My 365 Project with Happiness

Here we go! 365 photos begin again. I am a little more enthused about this year's project than I expected. 

I like when my photo of the day project happens naturally, just taking photos as life unfolds and somewhere in that batch finding one that just resonates. After our New Year's Day photo walk yesterday, I found that one photo. How can you not smile?

I love the ear slightly folded and dad in the background. Every time I tried to recompose the shot, he'd move to be in the center of the frame. It seems he's looked into the lens a few times!

What did you start your 365 project with?

10 Ideas for A Photo of the Day Project

Are you thinking about starting a photo a day project or continuing from last year? I started my photo a day project on February 28, 2008. It started as a 30 day challenge with this photo.

I've learned a few things both about photography and keeping up with a 365 project in the three years I've been collecting a photo a day.

Here are the things that have helped me most along the way.

1. Keep it real and simple and don't be afraid to capture the ordinary and the simple.  Photograph life as it happens, naturally and spontaneously. Those are the memories I will treasure most. Sometimes it is not about a perfect photo, just a moment of life.

2. Include photo walks in your 365, with others, by yourself, with inspiration lists. Just get out and look for things that inspire you. Or just walk around your house.

3. Collect and review your photos. Looking through my photos, reading the stories I've written about them and seeing them together is great inspiration to keep the project going!

4. Scrapbooking your photos? Keep it super simple. It is a BIG project. I'll post more on that tomorrow!

5. Hang in through January and February, they are the hardest months to photograph. Low light. Mostly indoors. They can be tough.  Only let your mood get in the way a little.

6. Look in unexpected places for you photo of the day. Look up, down, around, behind. Shoot the same thing on different days with a different point of view.

7. Know that somedays selecting your photo of the day will be easy, others not so.  It may even be the first photo you take.

8. Get others involved. Whether you join a flickr group or ask people to vote for their favorites or blog your photos, having a group around you can make 365 a lot more fun!

9. Try something different. Choose a different setting. Try macro. Get off Auto. Change it up.

10. Enjoy the process. You are documenting your life. THAT is the most important thing.

What have you learned doing 365? What keeps you from trying it, if you haven't?

**********************

If you'd like a few more pointers as well as a LONG list of inspiration, check out my tutorial Give It Your Best Shot No. 02: Capturing A Photo A Day

Tomorrow He's This Many

And the face? That is his "tomorrow it's my birthday face." Amazing the cooperation anticipation of presents can bring!