I Can't Believe It's a Year

12/18/10 - Day 365

Relief. Accomplishment. Emptiness. Pride. Grateful.

These are some of the feelings I am experiencing today as I conclude Project 365.

Relief:  The intensity of this undertaking was beyond what I had expected.  When I committed to do this project and gained a following, it was important to me to not only shoot every day, but also post every day.  With the exception of a handful of days, I did that.  But there were many evenings when the pressure was on and sacrifices were made to get this done.  So after today, at least for a while, that pressure will be relieved and I can engage in some additional activities otherwise forgone.

Accomplishment:  I feel a sense of accomplishment having achieved my objectives for Project 365.  I see things differently and am more creative behind the camera and in the digital darkroom than 365 days ago.  I also realize there is still a long way to go reach the level of work by those I admire.

Emptiness:  As I write this, there is a sense of emptiness in the pit of my stomach as this project has occupied a portion of every single day for a year.  I'm pretty sure it won't last long, but it is here today.

Pride:  I'm proud of the body of work I created this past year and look forward to publishing it for friends and family who have traveled the path with me.  No doubt in my mind that I'm a better photographer now than 365 days ago.

Grateful:  Most importantly, I am grateful for the support I received along the way from friends, family and complete strangers.  From 50 email followers that received the photo every morning to new friends I've met via Flickr, Daily Shoot & MacroMondays, from strangers happening onto the blog to new friends I met on the train because of photography (Doug first, then Frank) - each of you have provided the ingredients of inspiration, ideas, knowledge and camaraderie. And for that, I offer my profound thanks.  And a special thanks goes to Mrs. Wonderful, Lin, for putting up with my obsession.

So what's next?  Giving up photography is not an option.  I'm planning a two week "breather" which means I'll probably shoot & post informally and then launch into a Project52, shooting at least one shot a week (probably more) for a year.  Not sure of the format yet but stay tuned.  Once set-up, I'll provide a link from this site and those that wish to can register for automatic email delivery.  I’ll also have more time to follow the photostreams of my new and very talented Flickr friends.

Hope to see you all on the next leg of this photographic journey. Best wishes for Happy Holidays and a great New Year.

Jeff