Project 365

People will often say that their whole lives flashed before their eyes after they experienced a traumatic event. Perhaps it’s a bit morbid, but we think that sounds pretty incredible.

When Taylor McKnight started taking a photo a day on January 1st, 2004, he never imagined the project would not only serve as a way to remember a year, but also help him understand what was important to him in his life.

Whether it was his relationships, his career, or his fashion sense, recording a photo a day for a whole year left him with a rich visual history of his life. And it made him a better photographer to boot!

Now that he’s in the middle of doing it for a second time, we asked Taylor to write about it for us. Read on for our tutorial on how and why to create your own daily photographic history.
Project 365: How to Create a Daily Photographic History
www.photojojo.com/content/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/

Why do it?

Taking a photo a day is a big undertaking with big payoffs. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider doing it:

* Imagine being able to look back at any day of your year and recall what you did, who you met, what you learned… (Often we find it hard to remember what we did just yesterday or even last night, let alone a whole year ago!)

* Your year-long photo album will be an amazing way to document your travels and accomplishments, your haircuts and relationships. Time moves surprisingly fast.

* Taking a photo a day will make you a better photographer. Using your camera every day will help you learn its limits. You will get better at composing your shots, you’ll start to care about lighting, and you’ll become more creative with your photography when you’re forced to come up with something new every single day.

Tips on How to Do It

Here are six tips on how to create your own Project 365:

1. Bring Your Camera Everywhere
Yes, everywhere. Get in the habit. Grocery stores, restaurants, parties, work, and school. Going to a movie theatre? Snap a pic of the flick with your phone–there are photo-ops everywhere. If you have one of those tiny tiny cameras, you have no excuse not to have it in your pocket all the time. And if you don’t? Camera phones are a great substitute.

2. Make Posting Easy
You can install blog software like Movable Type or Wordpress on your own site and create an entry for each photo, but for true ease of use, try a photo sharing site. Flickr will let you post a week’s worth of photos in 2 minutes flat, and fotolog and Photoblog.com are geared toward a photo-a-day workflow. Making it fast and easy means you’re much more likely to do it.

3. Vary Your Themes
Try to capture the day’s events in a single photo. Perform photographic experiments. Take a photo of someone new you meet, something you ate for the first time, or something you just learned how to do. Take a photo of something that made you smile. And don’t forget to take a photo of yourself at least once a month so you can remember how you’ve changed, too.

4. Tell a Story
Use your blog entry, or your photo description, to explain what’s going on in each day’s photograph. How good did that dinner taste? What made you want to take a photo of that stranger? It’ll help you remember down the road, and it gives friends following along a better appreciation of why you took the photo you did. You don’t need to write a lot, just enough to add some color.

5. Don’t Stop, No Matter What
This is perhaps the most important tip of all. You will get tired of taking a photo every single day. Some days, you will consider giving up. Don’t. The end result is worth the effort. Remind yourself why you wanted to do it in first place.

There will be times you’ll think there’s nothing interesting left to take a photo of, and times you’ll think you didn’t do anything exciting enough to take a photo of. There’s always a great photo to be made.

Get out of the house and take a walk. Or stay inside and look around. Take a photo of something important to you. Take a photo of the inside of your house so you can see how your taste has changed over the years. Take a photo of anything, just don’t stop.

N.b. It helps if you’ve told your friends about the project and asked them to follow along. Their encouragement will keep you going!

6. Post early, post often
Plan on going through and posting your photos at least once a week so you don’t get backlogged and feel overwhelmed. Ideally, post every day or two. Again, spend the time up front to make sure it’s quick and easy to post. It’ll make all the difference.

(Info From: PhotoJoJo)

(This list was originally posted at DST but I was afraid it might get lost so I copied the list here. This list is from a January issue of CK Magazine)

□ 1. Your backyard on a snowy day
□ 2. Your backyard on a rainy day
□ 3. Your backyard on a sunny day
□ 4. Your backyard on a fall day
□ 5. Your backyard on a spring day
□ 6. The view out your front door in winter
□ 7. The view out your front door in spring
□ 8. The view out your front door in summer
□ 9. The view out your front door in fall
□ 10. Your cleaning products
□ 11. You or a loved one at the computer
□ 12. Your self-portrait taken in a mirror
□ 13. Mittens, scarves, hats and boots
□ 14. Your hairstyle
□ 15. A close-up of icicles
□ 16. An elderly couple
□ 17. A close shot of a couple holding hands
□ 18. Your breakfast
□ 19. A child playing dress-up
□ 20. An outdoor ice-skating rink
□ 21. A hand proffering a valentine
□ 22. Rosy cheeks
□ 23. A steaming cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows
□ 24. Your open jewelry box
□ 25. A sunset
□ 26. A bowl of limes or lemons
□ 27. A frosty mug of beer or a glass of wine
□ 28. Family members’ smiles
□ 29. A basketball game
□ 30. The first flowers of spring
□ 31. The first robin of spring
□ 32. Field trips
□ 33. Someone mowing the lawn
□ 34. Neighborhood produce or a flower stand
□ 35. A local flea market or a garage sale
□ 36. Gardening tools
□ 37. Your place of worship
□ 38. Teenagers in prom attire
□ 39. The grave of an ancestor
□ 40. Your car
□ 41. Someone riding a bicycle
□ 42. Farm animals
□ 43. Graduates with diplomas
□ 44. Someone playing with a pet
□ 45. A wedding party
□ 46. Family profiles
□ 47. A child eating a Popsicle
□ 48. A motorboat on a lake
□ 49. Children playing in a fountain or sprinkler
□ 50. Cattails in a ditch
□ 51. Your car trunk packed for a vacation
□ 52. The main street of a small town
□ 53. A big-city skyline
□ 54. A hot-dog stand
□ 55. A grandmother playing with a grandchild
□ 56. A Ferris wheel or attractions at a local carnival
□ 57. Vines ripe with berries
□ 58. A parade
□ 59. People watching a fireworks display
□ 60. Children with sparklers
□ 61. Your most prized possession
□ 62. A cornfield
□ 63. A colorful patio or beach umbrella
□ 64. People waving flags
□ 65. Friends sitting on a park bench
□ 66. People playing catch
□ 67. A pitcher of lemonade or iced tea
□ 68. Someone getting a haircut
□ 69. Your workplace
□ 70. Your kids’ schoolbooks
□ 71. Your grocery store
□ 72. A high-school football game
□ 73. Lunch boxes or lunch bags
□ 74. A school crossing guard on duty
□ 75. A soccer team practicing
□ 76. Your purse
□ 77. Pumpkins or gourds
□ 78. Birds flying south
□ 79. Baled hay stacked in fields
□ 80. A close-up of a colorful leaf in a puddle
□ 81. Costumed Halloween revelers
□ 82. A basket of apples
□ 83. A haunted house
□ 84. Someone on a cell phone
□ 85. Someone dressed in military apparel
□ 86. A leafless tree silhouetted against a twilight sky
□ 87. Freshly baked pies
□ 88. The Thanksgiving table
□ 89. A woman applying lipstick
□ 90. A wreath on a door
□ 91. Boxed ornaments or decorations
□ 92. Your family Bible
□ 93. A mailbox with holiday cards
□ 94. A face illuminated by candlelight
□ 95. Christmas shoppers with packages
□ 96. Gifts under a tree
□ 97. A large Christmas tree in the center of town
□ 98. Kids in pajamas
□ 99. Flowers in a garden
□ 100. Flowers in a pot
□ 101. A natural landscape
□ 102. Parades
□ 103. Events at a fair
□ 104. Horse shows
□ 105. Rodeos
□ 106. Auto shows
□ 107. An important graduation
□ 108. Musical instruments
□ 109. A statue or a fountain
□ 110. Stonework on an old wall
□ 111. Monuments
□ 112. Clouds
□ 113. A photograph for each letter of the alphabet (for example, an apple for the letter “A”)
□ 114. Your home’s decor
□ 115. Your favorite chair
□ 116. Your favorite food
□ 117. Cooking and baking
□ 118. Your favorite restaurants
□ 119. Your jewelry
□ 120. Your clothing
□ 121. Family eyeglasses
□ 122. Garden tools
□ 123. Your old shoes
□ 124. Your car
□ 125. Things that bother you
□ 126. Textures
□ 127. Puddles
□ 128. Rainstorms
□ 129. Umbrellas
□ 130. Mountains
□ 131. Grass
□ 132. A street lamp
□ 133. A pair of skis
□ 134. An old house
□ 135. Your house
□ 136. Your mailbox
□ 137. Your doorbell
□ 138. Your knocker
□ 139. A pile of clutter
□ 140. You doing your housework
□ 141. Volunteer work
□ 142. Where you work
□ 143. The movie theater
□ 144. Relatives
□ 145. Church activities
□ 146. Grocery shopping
□ 147. Doing laundry
□ 148. Painting the deck
□ 149. Arranging flowers
□ 150. Walking the dog
□ 151. Visiting neighbors
□ 152. A picnic in the living room
□ 153. A fort made of cushions
□ 154. A yard sale
□ 155. Cleaning out the closet
□ 156. High-school memorabilia
□ 157. You studying or reading
□ 158. Your breakfast
□ 159. You unmade (or made) bed
□ 160. Your sleeping kids or husband
□ 161. A sunrise
□ 162. Your kitchen
□ 163. Your bathroom
□ 164. Your living room
□ 165. Your bedroom
□ 166. Your lunch
□ 167. A favorite treat, such as cupcakes
□ 168. A snack of cookies and milk
□ 169. Your car
□ 170. Your vegetable garden
□ 171. Your flower garden
□ 172. A street sign
□ 173. Your closet
□ 174. Your outfit
□ 175. Your feet
□ 176. Your shoes
□ 177. Your sports equipment
□ 178. A gas station with gas prices
□ 179. Your dinner
□ 180. Someone cooking dinner
□ 181. The people in your life—family, coworkers, roommates, friends and more
□ 182. A local movie theater
□ 183. Your computer
□ 184. A self-portrait
□ 185. Your creative space
□ 186. Any art or scrapbook projects in process
□ 187. Your favorite pillow or fabric
□ 188. Family coats
□ 189. Your iPod
□ 190. Running shoes
□ 191. Birthday parties
□ 192. Birthday cakes
□ 193. Birthday decorations
□ 194. Bridal/baby showers
□ 195. Housewarming parties
□ 196. A wedding ceremony
□ 197. A wedding reception
□ 198. A wedding cake
□ 199. Wedding presents
□ 200. Wedding guests
□ 201. Family dinners
□ 202. A barbecue
□ 203. A day at the amusement park
□ 204. Animals at the zoo
□ 205. Children visiting the zoo
□ 206. A day at the park
□ 207. State and county fairs
□ 208. Pets
□ 209. Neighborhood pets (like horses or that yappy dog down the street!)
□ 210. Outdoor concerts
□ 211. Farmer’s markets
□ 212. Drive-in movie theaters
□ 213. Your gym
□ 214. Your local bakery
□ 215. Your neighbors
□ 216. Your cell phone
□ 217. A favorite magazine
□ 218. A favorite book
□ 219. A favorite movie
□ 220. A favorite CD
□ 221. Your jewelry box
□ 222. Your child’s favorite toy
□ 223. Your favorite place to shop
□ 224. Swimming pools
□ 225. Swimming at the lake or on the beach
□ 226. A camping trip
□ 227. The autumn leaves in the canyon
□ 228. Someone running under a waterfall
□ 229. Hiking
□ 230. Boating
□ 231. Waterskiing
□ 232. Snow skiing
□ 233. Cross-country skiing
□ 234. Snow-shoeing
□ 235. Sledding
□ 236. Building snowmen
□ 237. Making snow angels
□ 238. Throwing snowballs
□ 239. Drinking hot chocolate
□ 240. Decorating cookies
□ 241. Making valentines
□ 242. Trick-or-treating
□ 243. Christmas carolers
□ 244. A pile of opened presents and ripped wrapping paper on Christmas
□ 245. Carving pumpkins
□ 246. Dying Easter eggs
□ 247. An Easter egg hunt
□ 248. An Easter basket with candy
□ 249. Dance parties
□ 250. A child’s recital or performance
□ 251. A family or friends playing games
□ 252. Bonfires
□ 253. Gardening
□ 254. Holiday parties
□ 255. A family reunion
□ 256. A road trip
□ 257. Your parent’s childhood home
□ 258. Your childhood home
□ 259. A school reunion
□ 260. A newborn baby
□ 261. A remodeled room
□ 262. An unfinished (or finished) crossword puzzle
□ 263. Your mother on Mother’s Day
□ 264. Your father on Father’s Day
□ 265. Party decorations before a party
□ 266. A party invitation
□ 267. A thank-you note you received
□ 268. A Thanksgiving turkey
□ 269. A pumpkin pie
□ 270. Everyone working in the kitchen on Thanksgiving
□ 271. A pile of dirty dishes after Thanksgiving dinner
□ 272. A Christmas Eve program
□ 273. Christmas stockings hung at the fireplace
□ 274. A New Year’s Eve party
□ 275. A snowman
□ 276. Christmas cards you received
□ 277. Valentines you received
□ 278. A visit to an assisted-living home
□ 279. A visit to a museum
□ 280. A visit to an art gallery
□ 281. Spring blossoms on the trees
□ 282. You exercising
□ 283. The first snowfall
□ 284. What you see on an evening stroll
□ 285. Your child’s school
□ 286. Your child’s teacher
□ 287. You child’s best friend
□ 288. Your child learning to walk
□ 289. Your child learning to ride a bike
□ 290. A favorite Christmas decoration
□ 291. Christmas in stores already in September!
□ 292. A house decoration that’s important or you just finished
□ 293. Sunday dinner rituals
□ 294. A dessert
□ 295. Your homemade bread
□ 296. Something that strikes you as important that day
□ 297. A quote by someone and this person’s picture
□ 298. What you do that relaxes you
□ 299. A book your child is reading
□ 300. Your husband’s profession
□ 301. What makes you happy
□ 302. A date with your husband
□ 303. A bucket of paint you plan to use on a room
□ 304. Your children in a sandbox
□ 305. Your children swinging on a swing
□ 306. Cookies straight out of the oven
□ 307. Interesting architecture you see
□ 308. Someone jumping in the air
□ 309. An umbrella in a rainstorm
□ 310. A train station
□ 311. People at an airport
□ 312. Luggage you’re taking on a trip
□ 313. Athletes at a sporting event
□ 314. Spectators at a sporting event
□ 315. A bandstand in a park
□ 316. Christmas lights on a house
□ 317. Your child getting on a school bus
□ 318. Headlines on a daily newspaper
□ 319. A bird’s nest with eggs
□ 320. Newly hatched birds in a nest
□ 321. A baby’s crib
□ 322. A birthday present
□ 323. A bowl of soup on a cold day
□ 324. Your everyday dishes
□ 325. Your fine china
□ 326. A trip to the library
□ 327. A leafless tree in the winter
□ 328. You child’s favorite outfit
□ 329. A cemetery on Memorial Day
□ 330. The view out your bedroom window
□ 331. Your favorite cereal
□ 332. Your child walking to school or catching the bus
□ 333. Your favorite spot to relax
□ 334. A local pumpkin patch
□ 335. A local Christmas tree farm
□ 336. Piles of laundry
□ 337. The inside of your refrigerator
□ 338. Your bookshelves
□ 339. Puddles
□ 340. Fog
□ 341. A family heirloom
□ 342. The place where your parents were married
□ 343. The place where you were married
□ 344. Your child’s first date
□ 345. A recognition or award ceremony for someone in your family
□ 346. A new pair of shoes
□ 347. Where you went to school
□ 348. Where you went to college
□ 349. A weight-loss progress chart
□ 350. Your clothes before and after weight loss
□ 351. Your diet food
□ 352. Your favorite Halloween costume of all time
□ 353. Your favorite band
□ 354. Your favorite ice cream
□ 355. Your favorite recipe
□ 356. Your favorite piece of furniture
□ 357. Your favorite website
□ 358. People you meet
□ 359. Your alarm clock
□ 360. A full moon
□ 361. A new moon
□ 362. Your “bucket list”
□ 363. Your favorite vacation destination
□ 364. Your hair-care products
□ 365. Items in your favorite color

Project 365

Monday, January 3, 2011

day 2

Sunday, January 2, 2011

day 1

Friday, December 3, 2010

The Beginning!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

What is Project 365?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

CK List of Prompts