On 2 July 2011, I kicked off the first day of a year-long photography project. The rules were pretty simple: shoot one photo each day, every day, to be part of a collection called Project 365. No saving up images, no skipping days. No particular subject. Just one photo each day.



Shooting for the Project 365 became an important part of my day. At the start, I was content with taking pictures of random stuff around the house - especially when the hour was late and I didn’t yet have a picture! But more often than not, the captures were related to events, elements of my environment, or tied to things that are very important to me - friends and family. Some were in-the-moment opportunistic snaps; some of them became elaborate projects involving the whole family for hours.



Two things really surprised me as I went through the process. One, that my friends and family were interested in what I shot. Sharing images online is wonderful for feedback and encouragement. It made me start to appreciate the payoff an artist gets when their art makes someone feel something. And two, that each of these pictures makes me happy. My primary benchmark for a good 365 wasn’t that it was technically great or would be popular, it was that the image made me happy.



As a learning experience, this project is easily one of the best things I’ve done for developing in the craft of photography. I’m much more aware of how to use the tools I have, and I’ve had opportunies to learn new techniques. I’m a far better photographer for it.



My family have been amazingly supportive. They don’t just put up with this project, they help and suggest ideas and eagerly await the next picture in the collection. Coming up on the end of the project, they are sad that it will be over. I am lucky to have a family that encourages me to do the things I Iove.



Each of these images has a story, and each means something to me. I hope you enjoy them.