POTD struggles

[suzanne]

I took 13 out of 31 photos last month and none today! Ugh and yes I have Katrina's suggestions in the Give It Your Best Shot Tutorial. I feel so incredible silly taking pictures of stuff around my house.

How do you get over the silly feeling and just go with it?! And how on earth do I catch up 19 days of missed photos?! If I could just get past that I think I could do this project. Why do I have to make everything harder than it has to be...good grief!

[MIDA78466]

I remember feeling that way last year when I started the 365 project. I was taking photos of everything and anything. Pretty soon I was looking at things differently and started having a blast taking photos. Now even my DH will say "get your camera, this is a good shot." Just hang in there and keep shooting.

[katrinak]

I would suggest you move forward from today. Don't worry about making up what was skipped. Think in terms of the things you wish you could see from your relatives that are no longer with you, and take those photos of your own life.

365 can start any day And there is NOTHING wrong with Project 346!

[rj77]

Even if you don't feel like you can catch up on last month, just start today. I don't think it should be a project to make you feel like it's one more thing you're not doing good enough at! Take it one day at a time and enjoy the process. And you'll be able to look back at some fun memories. And household things make for some great memories!

[lynnek]

I agree with Terry. In fact, I did this project last year and decided not to do it for 2010. But it felt so odd NOT to be taking a photo each day that I broke down and am doing it again for 2010!

Don't worry about the photos you missed. Maybe you can fill some of those in with shots of things in your home, the outside of your house, photo of a book you've been reading, a movie poster from the internet of any films you might have seen, favorite TV shows right now, etc.

As Terry said, just keep at it and the "weirdness" will wear off!

[Elena]

I started my "year" today, because I needed a break from 2009 Last year was about capturing my day to life, but this year it's going to be about becoming a better photographer, and today I shot a carton of eggs... practicing getting the right dof.

[mugsbigsis]

Terry said it perfectly. Don't stress over it, just pick up your camera. After a while you will be right in the thick of it stressing over WHICH picture you want to use for the day. :O)

[iUma]

ok, E. going to Flickr to find the eggs!! LOL!! LOVE IT.

[ajfetzer]

I agree with what all of the Ladies have said so far. I also did the project last year and had decided not to do it this year, but I miss it and realized that I am missing the little moments in our lives that I would not have caught if not for the POTD project. Some of my photos are ones that I LOVE and others are just something that I caught for that day nothing really special. But I also like to think that if my grandmother had have done a project like this one, I would be facinated with the simple everyday things she took photos of. Brands she used, shoes she wore, the little things that made up her life. Don't underestimate the interest and fond memories that an ordinary photo will bring in the years to come. Don't worry about missing a few days just go for it and when you see all the photos you have taken over the course of the year you will not regret it!

[amcmillian]

Suzanne like the others said just move forward from today, but don't give up. Trust me I have felt and sometimes still feel the same way you do and I have Katrina's list also. I felt really silly taking pictures of things in my house (especially since my house as a whole is not decorated as I would like) but I pretty much had no choice on somedays. It has opened my mind and gotten me a little creative at times, I have a few silly pictures in my 365 but I learned something in the process. One night I was even taking photos of a stack of mail and my son just laughed at me, I ended up not having to use it, but trust me if I would have had to use the picture, I would have found some clever or funny commentary to post with it. Trust me I lead a pretty boring life... home and work most days. Ever now and then I can get my grown children to model for me. I take my camera with me everywhere I go and even though I don't always snap a photo of something I see, it does get me to thinking. And I have to admit one of my photos this month was a purchase I made speciifically to take a photo. Trust me if I can do this, the most boring person in the world, you can do this, it's early but I'm committed, I want that book at the end of the year and to improve my limited photography skills.

I think the winter makes it harder, but do press on I think you will like the results.

[sweetpeony]

Originally Posted by Elena

and today I shot a carton of eggs...

Ooooo, Elena, that sounds very messy!!

Suzanne - In 2011, you'll love looking back over P365, silly shots and all. You'll be surprised at the memories they stir up.

[Aino]

I am also a little but frustrated right now.... see my post in another thread....

I'll copy my answer there, to here....

I am having a hard time keeping up the POTD. In the early morning I just don't find the spirit nor the time in between getting myself and everyone out of the house.
And we generally get back late in the afternoon, and then there is (at least now in winter) not enough light, and I can't find the motivation to shoot inside with a flash nor find something new to shoot everyday.
I am finding it hard, but it is inspiring to see you all doing so well and improving. I am finding that my photography has hit a wall, but I am not giving up. Just trying to re-focus.

[sal4gal]

I am very interested in this thread! Where can I find Katrina's tutorial?

Thanks, Sallie

[justmp]

I love having a reason to take pictures of things that I'll want to remember, but wouldn't normally think to take a picture of...my favorite candle scent burning on the stove, the birdhouse out in the front yard that has always been there, my wedding ring...

Move forward from today and try looking at things a little differently and it might start being more fun for you!

[MeEmMom]

I did this last year and I remember the changing point for me when it stopped feeling silly. My mom and I were looking through pictures of my grandparents and I was fascinated by some of the things they had back when they were young. I was showing them to my kids and we were all laughing about how things have changed. It was then that I realized that even the silly things that I take for granted now might be interesting to my grandkids 40-50 years from now. So, I started taking pictures of my favorite mug, our vacuum cleaner (who knows how they will clean house in the future!), our washer and dryer... you get the picture. Then as I was scrapping those photos I imagined my grandkids having fun laughing over all the "strange things" grandma used to have! It became a lot more fun then!

[Myra]

I get home in the dark too, so I understand. But there's always something to shoot inside. An activity, homework, what I'm doing at the moment. What made me happy that day. My favorite shots though, are when I get to go outside on the weekends. Looking back, I enjoy both kinds of photos.

And like others have said, it has drawn my family in too. My son and DH often say, "this should be your POTD!" Or "what is your POTD?" It's part of my routine, and everyone knows it. I love it most when they give me an idea.

[SarahDanyelle]

I started my POTD last year in the middle of the year, so really there's no time to be made up because it begins whenever. I look at the days when I am photographing around the house as an archeologist. What things would someone fifty to a hundred years from now want to see. I also bring my camera with me everywhere, even the ladies at my office will ask what yesterday's photo was if they saw me take a shot in the office. Start today and just go forward. : )

[suzanne]

Originally Posted by sal4gal

I am very interested in this thread! Where can I find Katrina's tutorial?

Thanks, Sallie

Here you go Sallie: Message - Digital Scrapbooking Ideas - DesignerDigitals

[suzanne]

Thanks girls! I'm going to keep trying but man is this hard!

[LauraBean]

I am an all--or-nothing sort of person, so I just committed and forced myself to take a picture every day. There were many I wasn't proud of, but I clicked the darn shutter! Pictures of dinner cooking, the burning candle on the dinner table, the boys or husband reading in the evening...

I also found this time of year to be the very hardest (at least here in the Northeast). The dark & the cold all conspired against me. It will be better in March!

[connieg]

Suzanne, on the days you feel over whelmed on what to shoot, just grab the closest object, any object and practice or learn a new technique. It will make you feel less silly and if anyone ask, you can say I'm trying to learn how to _______ (fill in the blank.)

[yellowsunnybear]

Don't give up! Just start again and go forward. I missed several days last year and gave up totally near the end of the year. I ended up with some great shots that I KNOW I would have missed had I not been doing POTD. I am doing it again. Some days it IS really hard to find something to photograph but it does get easier when the weather gets better and you can get outside more.

[readstoomuch]

I totally understand too. I made it through last year and loved it . . . not every day, but most days. Some days my shots were very much less than inspired! I couldn't imagine not doing the 365 again this year . . . it has become part of me. I've struggled for the past two days . . . tonight it is nearly 8:00 p.m. and I haven't taken my POTD yet . . . I'm trying to think of something interesting . . . with no luck. But, the night is still young . . . . four hours left for the second of Feb.

[sal4gal]

I think that I am going to start TODAY!!! WE find out today if our new grandchild is a pink or blue variety.

After all, I need to start sometime and today seems as good a time as ever. Plus I like that many of you are using it to improve your photography skills!

Thanks for the great thread! Hmmmm . . . off to take a picture of the dryer, toaster or something else very exciting, hahaha.

[DonnaNJ]

On Katrina's blog she's decided that for the month of february she is going to take pictures of things she loves.. that renewed my desire to continue with POTD so I thought I'd share.. I missed days in January and didn't post anything just keep dumping them on my computer for now but Katrina's post got me to thinking it might make it easier if I had a theme each month.. like maybe for March or April I'll go in search of 'signs of spring' and July 'patriotic things' etc. I think I work better with an objective :-) HTH DonnaNJ

[katrinak]

Donna, I'm so glad you are joining me for my February LoveFest It's helping me to think about my POTD a little bit more. This is a CRAZY BUSY month for me so I needed a little extra push!

[DonnaNJ]

Originally Posted by katrinak

Donna, I'm so glad you are joining me for my February LoveFest It's helping me to think about my POTD a little bit more. This is a CRAZY BUSY month for me so I needed a little extra push!

Thank you for coming up with the idea... I feel so much less stressed suddenly over this project :-) I mean how hard is it to photograph things you love :-)

[Aino]

What a brilliant idea! Love that - Love Fest!