.
Looking back, I know I was crazy. Trying to explain the insanity was even more exhausting than actually working through the project. How do I tell people that I needed something to challenge myself in an area that I had no clue about? How can I make them understand that a year long photography project is something that is important to me because I’m not happy being mediocre? When people wanted to know WHY in the name of all that’s good and yummy would I want to take a self-portrait every day for one year, I always glossed over it and changed the subject like that embarrassing incident involving a table at Chili’s and the song Angel is a Centerfold.
But I did it. 365 days of me.
What did I learn?
To use lighting, editing, how to frame a shot, how to find my artistic side with themes/song lyrics/poetry, how to use a ridiculously popular but often hilarious group, Flickr Group Roulette, to help me laugh at myself, how to love my face, how to take a good shot so I don’t need to dig deep in the Photoshop, accomplishment in a long term project, realizing my Day 2 was my best shot and I should have just quit then, how to use a camera, and how to put it down and just breathe.
And I’ll do it again one day. I’ve attempted once and bombed around day 50. One year, I’ll pick up the camera for more than just vacation and food shots. And this time, I’ll be ready.