Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”
Day after day! You could say that people like us, the ones who do these 365 projects are touched by a bit of insanity. But in defense to what Mr. Einstein said, I gladly fit right in to his definition because I absolutely do the same thing of taking a photo day after day, and I definitely expect different results. I expect to become, first and foremost, a better photographer than I was yesterday. I hope to tell a story with my photos. Sometimes that means that the story only makes sense to me - and that’s ok. Sometimes that means that I get ‘the shot’ with my very first and only photo, and other times that means I shoot 200 photos. I chose to push that shutter day after day because who else can say they have a photo journal as detailed as mine (besides my fellow 365ers of course)!?
My photography project also feeds my scrapbooking projects… This hobby fits into that insanity definition too I think. This bookshelf houses my completed scrapbooks of our life from 2001 through half of 2018. Luna’s bed lays next to my display of scrapbooks – like a little guard dog to our life.
Year after year! I have been taking a photo a day for YEARS! I know that many of you in our community have done this longer than me and you deserve such a huge congratulations. At the end of 2021 I will have a total of 7.5 years of 365 (or 366) photos which equals 2,818 photos with a 365 project. Talk about INSANITY. But this kind of insanity makes me smile. Photography is a form of therapy for me and it brings me unspeakable joy. It allows me to step out of my comfort zone (100% introvert here) and it gives me an opportunity to take a couple of moments just for me – every day of the year. I am a big believer of “selfish time.” What I mean by that are those selfish moments that you do just for you to help keep the insanity of outside circumstances somewhat at bay. (See what I did there – I’m all about calling myself insane with this project but then I use this project as a form to keep myself sane. Giggle! I tell my husband often that I am a walking oxymoron and I’m not afraid to admit that at this point in my life – feel free to giggle at me too). This is a collage of ALL of the 365 prompt guided photos from 2014 through 2020. It’s insane to see them all together like this but it’s also pretty cool – 2,483 photos.
Some days are easier than others. I love the mess of photos I have captured above and I love seeing what our community does with each prompt sent out. Day after day, year after year, we have a tool (no matter what tool you choose to use, phone, DLSR, etc.) to tell the story of our lives and we are documenting it in a way that very few have done. Truly – we are rare – those of us who complete these projects. I am so blessed to say that I am doing it alongside each and every one of you. 365 Picture Today is a family so thank you for sharing day after day, and year after year with me and the entire 365 Picture Today Team. Let me tell you, the WORK that is put into keeping 365 Picture Today alive is incredible – I don’t know how Amy, Lee, Kris, and Garnett did it all last year so wonderfully!
I hope that if you are on year 1 or year 15, keep true to WHY you do a 365 (insane) project. You’ll never regret the photos you take – only the ones you don’t. (I sure love to pull those scrapbooks out once in a while to look at).
