A Picture a Day
Last year I joined Flickr and I saw Tweets about people joining a 365 photo group. I looked at it briefly but quickly decided there was no way I’d ever keep up and forgot about it. Later in the year I joined Photo Friday at the suggestion of Ann Oro. This was a manageable project-one photo a week. It has become a habit and I enjoy looking at and commenting on the variety of photos. So this year as I began hearing about the various 365 groups I took another look. I’ve been doing more photography and decided this year I was ready to give it a try. First I joined 366-1 which is a large group. Then I heard about EdTech 365/2009 which is a smaller group and many of my online friends belong to it so I joined that one as well. Then another once a week group started up on my PLN-Foto52 so I joined that as well. Belonging to so many groups isn’t that big of deal. I’ve been posting the same picture to the daily groups and then picking a favorite to add to the weekly groups. Sometimes it’s one I’ve already posted and sometimes it’s something different.
I’m beginning to hate leaving home without my camera. I notice so many more great photo opporturnities since beginning the daily project. I really think it is helping me to be more aware of my surroundings. I have a particular interest in nature photography with a focus on macro. I’m putting my photo right into my Photo Journey blog as well. It is so easy to do from Flickr that it seemed silly not to do it. So the project is getting me to write at least a little bit and often a short story each day. For someone who has never been particularly fond of writing that is a good thing!
I take a look at photos as people post links on Plurk and then on the weekends I try to look through the flickr groups as well and leave comments. It’s really interesting to see the variety of photos and I’m so impressed with the quality. I try to make sure I’m leaving comments because I truly appreciate the comments I receive. The one group I haven’t spent much time on is the 366-1. I finally stopped by today and found out they are having a focus for many of the days such as Macro Monday or Black/White Friday. I’m going back to jot those down and try to start doing those as well. I figure it will be a way to help me grow as a photographer. I’ve started bookmarking some photo sites as well and hope to someday have some time to do some reading.
If you’re interested in photography and haven’t joined a group yet you should give it a try. I think of it as ‘me time’. I’ve made it through the first 24 days without missing a photo. Will I keeep it up for all 365 days? Time will tell but I hope so.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: flickr, photography
Being a part of the edtech365 group is my favourite leisure activity at the moment and I think it will last a long time. It’s a lively community where I enjoy viewing and commenting on others’ photos as well as sharing my own. I too take my camera everywhere. It belongs in my handbag now.
I’m finding that it helps me to be more often ‘in the moment’ as I am more aware of the beauty in my surroundings – even those day-to-day ‘mundane’ objects are interesting.
I initially joined the Photo Fridays group for the same reason – fear of being overwhelmed by the need to post a daily photo. (That and the fact I didn’t own a digital camera of my own until June of last year.) I joined a 365 group this year. My husband thought I was crazy adding something else onto my plate, but it really isn’t hard as long as I bring the camera with me from the start of the day.
I really liked hearing about the 366-1 group. I like the idea they have of selecting a topic to explore with the camera. I will stop by there just to see their different suggestions. Good luck with your 365 photos.
Ann
I LOVE this picture! Bluebirds are such amazing little creatures. Thanks for sharing!