Project 2020

A picture a day, everyday. I first did this project in 2013, when my passion for photography had recently come to life again. The year before had been a tough one and the project was more about re-focusing my priorities than it was about actually making pictures. Making a picture a day is an ambitious challenge that forced me to think creatively every day and allowed me to grow as a photographer. It was a special time and a very special project. Seven years later and my love of the photograph remains strong. I’d been working on my photography regularly and with a little nudging from my better half, 2020 seemed like a good time to try the project again. This time, I wanted the images to be cleaner with a more natural feel. I wanted to include “people” which I didn’t do in 2013. Most of all, I wanted to have fun with it. Goals achieved! Once I had decided to include people, my options opened up and I found myself in downtown Hamilton often. The city core provides a great backdrop for photography with a mix of vintage and modern architecture and no shortage of people going about their daily lives. These are some of my favourite images from the year. As a photographer, I believe a collection of pictures should have a common thread but I gave myself the freedom to include different genres without having to worry about maintaining a theme. It’s about the journey, not the destination. If Project 2020 lacked an obvious theme, the images I made on the streets have turned in to a separate book that I’ve simply called “ Streets of Hamilton.” 2020 was the year of the Covid-19 pandemic. With government imposed shutdowns and travel restrictions it was life as we haven’t experienced for generations. The message from our governments was to “stay at home” as much as possible and many faced unemployment, isolation and general uncertainty. As I write this, the pandemic life continues, it’s been a difficult time for everyone. I have been fortunate to work from home for most of my career, but having to do it everyday with all of the restrictions, and without the regular travel I am used to, it led me to feel a little stir-crazy sometimes! This project is what helped me through those times during the pandemic. It gave me something to look forward to at the end of the workday. Photography is my great escape and it makes me happy.