Are they as good as sliced bread? Well nearly! 

As I write now, I have completed 2 full years and another 2 sporadic years of a 365 photo project. I have posted over 2200 photos in the 4 years I have been on 365. The community there is like no other on the internet and if you search the blogs you hear many other people say the same thing. The people are supportive, constructive and they are photographers! Everything I share here is based on my experience with the 365 project site and I cannot comment on what is it like to do a project like this in another way or on another platform, although I know there are many other places to do projects like this.

Even though there were times in the last four years (and I’m sure there will be more in the future) when my phojo (photographic mojo) went walkabout, looking back it was worth the effort to push myself to take and post a photograph every day. The rewards certainly outweighed everything else.

6 reasons to do a 365 photo project …

There are many reasons and if you ask anyone who has done one, I am sure they will give you loads of different reasons. These are just 6 of mine, and they aren’t in any particular order:

One

It has given me a reason to pick up my camera every single day! But before you start, decide why you want to do it: to document your life/kids, to learn to be a better photographer, to get critique from others… this will help to keep you focused. My reason for doing it was to take more photos and to learn to be a better photographer.

Two

We all have busy lives, we work, we parent etc. Finding time to fit a project like this into an already busy schedule can be tricky. But making the commitment to doing something creative is the starting point; the sense of achievement from sticking with it and doing a whole year is just glorious!

Three

You get to know your camera really well! As I use my camera every day, it has helped me to get to grips with your camera settings, so that they have become second nature. I can now say that I have a preferred shooting mode and lens!

Four

I love the thrill (and sometimes the disappointment) of uploading the shots to my computer and deciding which I will use for the day

Five

If you engage with other photographers about their projects, you make loads of friends (Ok, they are virtual, but they are also very real), who like photography, in places you have never been. I have learnt so much about the world and learnt so much by looking at their work. In fact, at the end of 2016, I met a virtual Australian ‘friend’ who came to visit South Africa.

Six

It has given me an outlet for my creativity. Given the fact that I could easily work every moment of the day, a 365 project gives me a reason to change the pace, look at the world around me and do something different to the daily grind.

I have learnt to find a photo even on the dullest days (both weather and activity wise!) – by being observant and looking at the world around me with different eyes, there is always something to take a photo of. There is extraordinary beauty in the mundane, you just need to look for it! In fact, I started this blog because of this idea! Have a look at some of the shots other people have loved over the four years.

Are you convinced?

Try one, you will see that it just might be better than sliced bread! Or if you have done one, what did you think of it? I’d love to hear from you.