POTD will make you realized...

[suzanne]

just how boring ones life really can be! I have always known that we are not the most exciting people around but man will trying to take a photo a day really get that point across.

I've got Katrina's Give It Your Best Shot list & it is only the 2nd week of the year and I am already struggling with this whole concept.

[Chris]

Suzanne, you might end up like me and get some of your basement cleaned out instead. That's what happened last year with my POTD project. In desperation I started to take photos of items we had down there and realizing just how much clutter I had, got rid of a lot of it.
I might have to join the group again to complete the task!

[mugsbigsis]

Originally Posted by Chris

I might have to join the group again to complete the task!

Maybe I should join you then.

Suzanne, If you feel like you HAVE to do it and HAVE to follow rules you won't have fun. The whole idea is to take pictures, period. Trust me, if you just take pictures you will find after a while that you start looking at things differently, you start seeking out happy things to do in order to take pictures and you learn your camera even better in the process. Don't try too hard to make it happen. Just start by taking pictures.

[Britgirl]

well I agree with Kelly. Youre not looking for stunning landscapes everyday you know. Just little snapshots of your here and now. I, for one dont know what your desk looks like, your coffee mug, your view, your car, your garden, your neighbours, your local store, your favourite part of the house, your weather...etc etc... You absolutely arent boring I promise!

[Gabi]

Originally Posted by Britgirl

well I agree with Kelly. Youre not looking for stunning landscapes everyday you know. Just little snapshots of your here and now. I, for one dont know what your desk looks like, your coffee mug, your view, your car, your garden, your neighbours, your local store, your favourite part of the house, your weather...etc etc... You absolutely arent boring I promise!

I ditto with this.

I don't care if my photos are or are not perfect, they are perfect to me (even those blur ones), they capture our everyday life and that's why I love them Your life isn't boring, I don't believe you

[suzanne]

Thanks for the support girls! I'm definitely not looking for the perfect photos just something to photograph besides what we eat, my 2 kids and my very undecorated home.

[katrinak]

So much good advice. Get your kids involved and ask them to play "I Spy" with you. THey spy something, you photograph it. For me POTD is about the mundane bits of our lives seen in different ways. YOU WILL notice your photography skills improve over time.

Have fun with it. Don't feel rule bound. Even skip a day if you need to. I say go for the most boring things in your life, shown in the most interesting way you can find!

[TereseC]

I've had the same feelings about the POTD, Suzanne. I struggle between trying to take a great photo of something, anything that looks good and taking a picture that captures a moment in my day or says something to me about my life. Not an easy task since I spend most days in my office and drive home late in the dark. However, I am finding that I look at everything a little differently and I'm already learning more about my camera and so much from the photos of all the other group members.

So that's a long way of saying I'm sticking with it and hope to improve while at the same time documenting some little moments and pieces of me.

[readstoomuch]

I too think that some of my photos are incredibly boring. I love it when I can take people . . . grandchildren or our kids, but when I take an object . . . I wonder what in the world I am doing. Can I say that my kids think that I am totally nuts!

I did the 365 in 2009 and loved each photo. I am doing it again for 2010 and wonder right now what in the world I will take tomorrow if the grands don't come over! But, when I look back at some of my more mundane shots from last year . . . I find that I love them! So . . . boring or not, I'm sticking to my POTD for this year. It has become a habit and a good one. I sometimes wonder if I have learned much . . . there is so much that I don't understand and don't know, but with Katrina helping . . . I know that I will be a better photographer one step at a time!

[deanie]

I am finding that I really miss taking photos-it's still hard for me to hobble around with my toes hurting, but as soon as they are healed... I've been working on my book, and find some of my favorite pictures from last year were the mundane things- like the gas burner on my stove. Don't give up!

[echogirl]

I'm so very sorry you feel that way. It shouldn't cause you angst and you definitely shouldn't think you are boring. Mel is so on the money. I for one love taking a peek into someone else's life. Chances are we will never be able to visit every persons home, life and State/country. What a better way to get to have a peak into someone else's life? You may think you are boring but noone else here would.

I've thought so hard about this as well. While my photos will not be pushing any creative envelope, they will be mine. Evidence of my life, photos of kids, food, pets and life. Whether or not you decide to do it, life is going to continue. Next year will still come. I want to be able to have some sort of documentation to show what our life was like!

I want to be able to learn from my camera, the manual, my photography lessons (Thanks Katrina!), the DD group at flickr, the 365ers here and all the people here.

The biggest thing for me though on top of all of this is honestly this is such a great group of people. It sounds trite to say but everyone here is nice but really they are. Everyone genuinely wants to help. It's such a great community.

I hope you do whatever is fun for you..but really I would love to see what you see.

[Blossom]

I agree with you since I did this last year too I feel I have taken a photo of everything we own Not reality but it seems so. But I know I take photos now of things I never would have taken a shot at earlier to get my "daily shot".

[anke]

I have seen your pictures and love them, that is what life is all about, the everyday stuff, the little things. I wish I lived in paradise and had a bunch of pretty flowers, but this is our life! It's funny how after a while you really look at things differently (not always mind me), but you see the sun reflecting on the wall, or something little you hadn't noticed before. My one DD is the one pointing this kind of stuff out to me all the time. The other day she got a kick out of the little lights along the path to our piano teacher's house, because they were under the snow and still lit. So I had to take a picture with my camera phone I felt bad because I hadn't even noticed them.... this is such a great exercise to train you eyes, your perception of things and of course your skills Don't give up, just shoot silly stuff, I haven't seen your computer yet, slippers left around, little things Whew, I can't believe I had this much to say, sorry!

[iUma]

To me it's about getting in the habit of just CARRYING my camera with me. Then, about learning how to use it better, then about how all those damn numbers actually work together...like I want to eventually know what to do without having to take 4 shots to get what I want (or close)..then it's about SEEING with an eye for images. I am trying to learn how to do this and I have found reading books on photography and looking at various Flickr groups really helpful--especially the still life group for freezing days in the south!!

ETA: after reading the posts made while mine was waiting overnight....I'll add this. It's not about WHAT you take pictures of, it's about light, shadows, composition, learning the camera....how not what. For me, anyway.

[DonnaNJ]

Hi Suzanne You've already gotten great advice so I won't repeat but just a thought... someone on the board (can't remember who sorry) is taking a different view of the POTD and taking the opportunity to go around their town/city and shoot pics and learn more about where they live.. that might be an idea that would keep you interested. best of luck with your project.

[Elena]

All great advice so far! I'll throw in a few more ideas... Sometimes the Flickr group does a treasure hunt... you could make one for yourself each day. Today, shoot shadows, the next day shoot something red, the next look for texture, the next wheels, the next typography, food, light, kids in motion, etc. etc. It's an adventure in photography!

[ValerieP]

I havent had a hard time yet-I know that I will more than likely have a shot of something in my classroom each week-and some of the dinners I eat-or other meals each week, but really I look forward to going somewhere every Sat to take photos! So I will just have to see how long I can go before I run out of things to shoot- I have to say, though, that the ideas I have are enough for a few years at least. I have thought about all the objects in my house, and the places I shop and maybe even some of the produce in the stores or other items

[roxygirl78]

POTD for me=appreciating life. Many times in life I've wished I've had cameras in my eyes so I could remember a certain sight. Now when I see something like that I have my camera more often than not and I'm able to snap a shot!

[LisaD]

Reading this makes me want to try POTD. All really wonderful advice.

[Amson]

For me it is just about trying to take better photos. I have teenage daughters who refuse to be photographed (although the thought of posting one of the scowls is tempting ).

So I am focusing on my small garden and the dogs. I have no distinct seasons and just love seeing the variations of foliage and clothing in many of your photos. I just love any snow photo - they all look totally amazing to me. What you believe may be boring to me is so interesting. All our lives are interesting in their own way.

[LauraBean]

My 2 cents: forcing myself to take a picture every day--I did it in 2007 and again in 2009--really helped me find the interesting in my fairly mundane life and surroundings. The longer I worked at a picture a day, the more interesting my surroundings got--not because my surroundings were changing, but because my eye was changing. So my experience is that the project gets easier rather than harder the longer you do it, I think because I pushed harder for something more interesting.

I also gained inspiration from looking at the photos others were posting. It's OK to copy the subjects others have shot! (I still remember a shot of Deanie's silverware drawer that I plan to copy someday...when mine is clean!)

[suzanne]

I'm still working at this and struggling. I'm not ready to give up just yet. Now I need to figure out what I want to do with my photos.

Thanks for all the replies and advice.

[anke]

Originally Posted by LauraBean

My 2 cents: forcing myself to take a picture every day--I did it in 2007 and again in 2009--really helped me find the interesting in my fairly mundane life and surroundings. The longer I worked at a picture a day, the more interesting my surroundings got--not because my surroundings were changing, but because my eye was changing. So my experience is that the project gets easier rather than harder the longer you do it, I think because I pushed harder for something more interesting.

I also gained inspiration from looking at the photos others were posting. It's OK to copy the subjects others have shot! (I still remember a shot of Deanie's silverware drawer that I plan to copy someday...when mine is clean!)

I couldn't have said it any better than that

[readstoomuch]

Donna . . . Mary Ann (sweetpeony) is the gal that is doing a years' photography project about her town of Kent, Ohio. I think that this one of Kent's old train station is wonderful and the idea of a specific photo project to intermingle with other POTDs is a great one!

Originally Posted by DonnaNJ

Hi Suzanne You've already gotten great advice so I won't repeat but just a thought... someone on the board (can't remember who sorry) is taking a different view of the POTD and taking the opportunity to go around their town/city and shoot pics and learn more about where they live.. that might be an idea that would keep you interested. best of luck with your project.

[katrinak]

Originally Posted by Cutesuzyq

I'm still working at this and struggling. I'm not ready to give up just yet. Now I need to figure out what I want to do with my photos.

Thanks for all the replies and advice.

You may want to check my blog for some ideas. I'm blogging the choices I make for my POTD and some of the options. They compliment the tutorial some.

And I think it must be said, if it isn't the right time for you, it isn't the right time. I think we all want you to experience we've had with such a fulfilling project. It is not without its tough spots though!

[DonnaNJ]

Originally Posted by readstoomuch

Donna . . . Mary Ann (sweetpeony) is the gal that is doing a years' photography project about her town of Kent, Ohio. I think that this one of Kent's old train station is wonderful and the idea of a specific photo project to intermingle with other POTDs is a great one!

Thank you Mollie I have to come up with some way of keeping track of the threads I want to remember... my memory just isn't what it used to be :-) DonnaNJ

[dorah]

I think some of the best advice for this project I ever read was by Katrina: shoot from a different angle, from the top, side, bottom, back etc.
And never make it a job that has to be done. Make it fun and something you want to do. As long as you have the photos you can always decide later what you want to do with them.

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by Cutesuzyq

I'm still working at this and struggling. I'm not ready to give up just yet. Now I need to figure out what I want to do with my photos. Thanks for all the replies and advice.

OK... here's my two cents... for what it's worth! I attempted this last year... I told myself I would TRY. But, if I didn't snap a photo... oh, well. I wouldn't stress about it. But, I tried. I also TRIED to journal some little snippets from the day. Just a Word doc... nothing lengthy. And, I did it. Somedays, I took a photo. Somedays, I wrote. Somedays I did both. Somedays I did neither. And, I haven't yet put any of it together in a book. But... there's always a "but", isn't there? ... I did take photos and I did journal.

Amazingly enough, I managed to snap 289 photos. And, journaled just over 300 days. I mean, like... wow! That's... what... 3/4ths of the year or something? I am just so stinkin' proud of myself for doing it. No stress, no worries... I just TRIED and did what I could. And, to be honest, I LOVE going back thru my photos on my computer and reread my journaling. And, someday, it all might come together in a book!

And, in case you were wondering... yes, I'm TRYING again this year. (My 16-yr-old DD told me the other day that I HAVE to do it again... even tho she's not seen one photo on a page!) So, there!

I didn't mean to get carried away typing! I guess I could wrap it up in one word (OK, two...): JUST TRY.

[lisa.hinrichs]

Suzanne - I have to admit I was beginning to think the same thing. Being a backwards working person, 365 for me was more about recording my daily activities, sort of like a journal. The first few days was easy. I would write about something that happened that day and hope I had a photo of it. When I didn't have a photo, I get up and take one, even if it is a few days late. I am starting to feel like I am running out of ideas, but am completely inspired again. I think I am going to put a post it note on my desk to keep me on track for my real objective this year. To document the everyday experience at "The Good Cooking Ranch"

[dugarner]

I'm there with you, Suzanne. I have two kids, I live in a tiny town, my house is not decorated at all, we do the same thing every day . . . so my challenge was in the post-processing. I managed to make some pretty dull, boring pictures interesting with skills I improved over the year. Cropping, rotating, different blend modes. One of my favorites for the year was a horribly-lit snapshot of my daughter. I couldn't fix the lighting, the background was horrendous. it was slightly blurry and because my camera loves noise, it looked like she was standing in a digital snowstorm. I almost threw it out, until I converted it to black & white, and then clipped it to a brushed mask to hide the background. All of a sudden, it was a very good shot, and one of my favorites.

So to encourage you, just take the pictures every day. Don't think about whether you "already have one of those," or if it's exciting enough. It won't matter in the end. I couldn't use the majority of the list from GIYBS, nor could I use most from Becky Higgins' list two years ago, I just don't have access to many of those things. But they helped get me thinking.

One side effect of doing the project last year was in desperate search for subjects, I fell in love with our landscape here, making trips at least twice a week to our local NWR. I learned to love watching for birds and now I see them everywhere. My life is better because of it.

Just in your signature, I see all sorts of possibilities. You're a book lover. Take a picture each day for a week of your seven favorite books. Journal about why you love them, so that your great-grandchildren will know you better.

You're a crafter. Take a picture each day for a week of different crafts, crafting implements, supplies, where you do your crafting. Do you do it in a room? By the TV? With your family? After they're in bed? Do you give them away? (Ha! Your crafts, not your family!) There are all sorts of possibilities.

You've got a blue belt in MMA (I'm a huge MMA fan, by the way!). That's unusual for a woman. Take a picture of your equipment, or where you train, tell the stories of how you got interested. Are you into jujitsu? Boxing style? Are you more of a wrestler? Have you competed?

Just trying to help you out. Stay encouraged. It shouldn't be stressful. When I ran out of inspiration, I just shrugged my shoulders and took pictures of squirrels and lizards. And eventually the spark hit again.

Something will work for you---just don't worry about it. Worrying makes it no fun.

Sarah