Project 365 2013

What to shoot today? This is a question I asked myself every day in 2013. The inspiration for “Project 365” actually began a year earlier... On January 11th, 2012, I suffered a minor heart attack. I recovered well and the prognosis was positive, but there is a part of me that will be forever changed. The change is almost impossible to put into words but the experience helped me re discover a love of photography and everything that goes with it. On doctor's orders, I wasn't allowed to drive for six weeks and I was at home with very little interest in doing anything. I was generally feeling sorry for myself which I’ve since learned is quite typical for some that have had a similar experience. In early February I took the bus to do an errand in downtown Hamilton with my Son and this changed everything! I learned how to navigate the bus system and thus ended up spending a couple of days each week through February wandering the streets of Hamilton with my camera. I felt like I had the freedom and all the time in the world to wander, visit coffee shops, chat with complete strangers and take pictures along the way. Even though my outings weren't really about photography, they gradually led me to find the passion that had been missing for a very long time. For me, photography is as much about the experience as it is the final image. Looking back now, for many reasons, I think February 2012 was a great time in my life. When I returned to work in March I vowed not to lose the passion that was so fresh to me. Fast forward to January 2013... I'd been back to work and had settled in to “normal” life for about 9 months and sadly the excitement of active photography was behind me. It wasn't completely lost but it certainly wasn't a priority. Late December is a good time to reflect and consider resolutions for the new year. I decided that taking a picture every day in 2013 was a good start. The goal of taking, editing and posting one picture everyday seemed easy enough at the time and I really didn't put much thought in to what the daily subject matter would be. By day four I was already trending towards an artsy style rather than day in the life, and snap shots. By day fifteen, I was committed ... passion found! As the weeks and months went on, I began to feel ownership of this project and it became a priority every day. I have to admit that many images were made because I had to and not because I wanted to. Still, I was committed and the image would be made. During the winter months with cold weather and limited day light I relied heavily on the kitchen table and macro lens to attempt creativity each day. Special thanks to the wonders of LR, PS and NIK for often making something out of nothing. I don't have a favourite image from the collection but the Brooklyn Bridge might be the one of the most memorable because of the story that goes with it, or the rain drops on the window simply because they were there. I've driven on White's Falls Road on the way to our cottage hundreds of times but this project made me slow down and appreciate the beauty it offers. I saw it with purpose and from a different perspective. One of the great things about photography as a hobby is that you often see things that others don't. Sometimes it's because you were looking for it or just because you were there at the right time. Other images such as the Q-tips, kitchen tile, tin solders and too many more to name were made out of pure obligation and lack of creative will. To make an image each day for 365 consecutive days is a tough challenge but a rewarding experience, and one that I would recommend to any photo enthusiast. I look at these images now and cringe at the amount of ridiculous over-processing but it was a work in progress and a huge learning experience. For me, each image is a little piece of art and whether they are popular or not, they are mine and I am quite proud of them. I think it works.