What is Project 365?

Simply put, Project 365 is committing to taking one photo a day for a year. Whether you’re using a fancy DSLR, or simply using your phone, there is no wrong or right way to put together your own Project 365. There are a variety of great sites you can use to share your photos, to find inspiration and keep up with other photographers’ efforts.

Why you should do it?

There are a lot of different reasons why you would choose to create your own Project 365.

• It can serve as a photo diary, giving you a visual recording of an entire year in your life.
• It can improve your photography, since after all, practice makes perfect.
• In the process it will push you to learn more about your technique, about what your camera is capable of doing, lighting, composition and more.
• It will make you more observant. When you know that you have to take a photo a day, you’ll notice a lot more around you. You’ll find yourself looking for photos everywhere, and seeing little things you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.
• Your ultimate masterpiece could be out there waiting for you. There are a lot of photographic opportunities and if you commit to taking a photo a day, you’re more likely to snap that perfect photo.

Tips on getting started

The most obvious tip is to take a camera with you every where you go. If you can’t carry your SLR, use your phone. If you have a small compact camera that will fit in your bag, take it with you.

Think ahead. Sometimes you’ll find an interesting shot without even trying, particularly if you’re out and about a lot. If you’re not, or if you’re having a slow day, it’s good to have a list of ideas that you can photograph. The list can include places, subjects, techniques you want to try and more. If you’re really stumped, go to your favourite spot for shooting. There is a particular street here in Cairo, where I know I will always find an interesting shot. If I’m pressed for an idea, it’s usually easiest to just go there.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’ll have good days, and you’ll have bad days. It’s okay if you occasionally take a picture of a flower or a sunset. If you haven’t tried it before, you’d be surprised how hard it can be to take one photo a day.

Post your photo at the end of the day. Don’t be in a rush to get your photo up straight away. You never know if you’ll come across a better photo later in the day. By posting at the end of the day, you know you’re always going to put your best photo of the day.

Tips on keeping it going

If you see an interesting shot, take it.  You might think to yourself that it’s not worth it, but with digital photography, what do you have to lose? You might not find something else to shoot by the time the day comes to an end.

Look for inspiration. Keep up with your favourite photographers’ work, study the greats, keep up with other Project 365ers. There is no harm in seeing what other photographers are doing and emulating it.

Try different photography techniques. Try your hand at macro photography, see what it’s like to take night shots, and more. Play around with your angles and experiment with your lenses. Not only will this give you more ideas, it will also improve your technique and you’ll learn a lot more about how to use your camera.

Share your work with others

A huge motivating factor in keeping a Project 365 project going is to share it with others. Getting feedback and comments will definitely make you want to keep taking photos. There are several options available to you. Project 365 specific websites and communities, Flickr groups, and blogging platforms like Tumblr and WordPress can all come in handy when getting your photos online.

My Project 365 will be posted here, starting on January 1, 2013.