The 365 Photography Project

Last year was a really big year for me in the photography department. I'd gotten my hands on a new camera towards the end of 2008 and was really enjoying playing around with it. Then, one day, sitting in the hairdresser I was thumbing through the latest issue of Frankie when I came across an article that caught my eye. 365 days of grateful. Brisbane based photographer, Hailey Bartholomew had embarked on her very own year long photography project that entailed taking a polaroid each day of something she was grateful for. Pouring over her delightful photos a little thought sparked and stuck with me for the next few months. To the point that I went back and photocopied that article, stuck it above my desk and set myself the new year's resolution of taking my own 365 photos the following year. 

So on January 1st away I went. Armed with my camera I began to search out photos high and low each day. Gradually I began to train my eye for composition and my mind to think creatively. The photos began to pile up, and encouraged my my friends I created a blog to share my journey. Check it out over here at www.the365photographyproject.blogspot.com.

New year's eve 2009 I had the very proud moment of taking my 365th photo! I had never set myself such a large and long term goal before, so I was simply overwhelmed with excitement and satisfaction that I'd made it. Overall the project really was very rewarding and a lot of fun. I felt like my skills really did develop along the way. Some days and weeks were more challenging than others, but the best feeling was always when I'd somehow pull a cracker of a photo from nowhere. You know, one minute running around like a headless chook with a camera slung around my neck. The next, giving myself a surprised little pat on the back.

This year, seeming lost without a project on the go 2 things happened! No 1. My dear friend Tegan put forward the idea of a collaborative blog. Photography mixed with creative writing, I couldn't hold back my excitement and at the beginning of autumn the Hello Sunday project was born. Worthy of a post of it's own I won't ramble on any longer, instead, if you're curious simply head to www.teganandemma.wordpress.com. No 2. Of much more relevance to this post, I decided to turn the 365 photography project into an exhibition. The ball is well and truly rolling and with the exhibition taking shape and the opening date in sight it won't be long before I can share the when's and where it will be held.

So until then, stay in touch.

Emma