Project 365-twelve months (finished!!)

Exactly a year ago I've started a 365 photography project on flickr, you know, one of those projects in which you take a photo every day during a whole year. It turned out to be my favorite project I've ever done ( and I've done quite a few). I had a lot of fun, I learned a lot and it connected me with many awesome people, great photographers and inspiring artists. Although I didn't feel like taking a picture and didn't feel inspired every single day of the year and there were some photos I wasn't satisfied with, generally I enjoyed this project immensely and I believe this experience has enriched my life in many ways. I feel very grateful for that. I'd like to share some of my favorite pictures from the project and some more thoughts but first things first! Let me show you my favorites from the last four weeks ( a little ritual I've been doing every month on this blog).

Here we go, my faves, taken from February 21st till March 21st:

Day 344/365: exhibition


Day 345/365: creativity is the antidote


Day 354/365: blank canvas


Day 359/360: from my sketchbook


Day 360/365: reversal of roles


Now, let me introduce you to a collage of my personal favorites from the last three thundered sixty days. I consider these also my "breakthrough" images, since I learned something valuable while taking them:


1. day 31/365: shape of my thoughts, 2. day 52/365: blues, 3. day 68/365: yellow umbrella, 4. day 79/365: a couple of cherries, 5. day 85/365: me and my paper mobile, 6. black bird, 7. one of those days, 8. yellow line, 9. with my head in clouds, 10. polka dot tea pot, 11. little city looking down on big city, 12. upside down, 13. day 70/365: dreaming in blue


According to flickr statistics...

-this was my "most interesting photo":
Day 336/365: in my bag...

Yes, that's the content of my bag, and yes, that's a tripod in there, I lug it around everywhere I go (just like my camera).

-my most viewed photo:
Day 66/365: a cup of tea


-my most faved photo:
Day247/365: magic lamp


-and my most commented photo:
Day 192/365: rainy day



This was the equipment I used:

Olympus E-510 and four lenses: Zuiko digital 35 mm macro lens, Zuiko digital wide angle 9-18 lens and two kit lenses, 14-42 mm and 40-150 mm lens. I also have a couple of tripods and I used a remote for most of self-portraits (until I washed it in a washing machine by accident and it stopped working hehe). I prefer natural light and use it whenever I can.

Some stuff I learned about doing a project like this:
- it's a great, invaluable learning process, even if you don't intend to improve your skills or learn anything during the project but just have fun or document your life after a year of work improvement is inevitable and you will most definitely end it as more skillful/better/confident photographer

-taking a photo (or more) a day and sharing it gives you a great sense of achievement; even if your day totally sucked at least you know you created one photo and it gives you feeling that your day hasn't been completely wasted

- doing 365 helps you develop many qualities like self-discipline and it also teaches you not to be too much of a perfectionist (hey, you can't take a mind-blowing, outstanding photo every day and that's ok)

I would definitely recommend embarking on a 365 project to anyone!


Life after 365:
Many people asked if I'm going to do another 365 project, well, I won't :-) It doesn't mean I'm going to stop pursuing photography, though. I have many ideas and I would love to do more conceptual shots/manipulations in future. The 365 has turned my love of photography into a genuine photoholism so there's no way for me to stop clicking , even if I tried :-)

I also wanted to say big THANK YOU to all of you who followed my project, either on flickr or here! I appreciate your support more that you can imagine!

P.S.:I was tagged by Maja to share 6 things about me so that post is coming tomorrow!