December 30, 2017 (364/365)
"Life is like a camera. Focus on what's important. Capture the good times. And if things don't work out, just take another shot." - Ziad K. Abdelnour
It has been my habit at the end of each year to reflect upon my Project 365 and to make plans for the next iteration. Some years have been status quo while others have been (sometimes failed) attempts at redefinition. Occasionally, I wonder if I should reduce or even abandon this project, having struggled to maintain the pace and to find new inspiration. More and more, I try to focus on quality over quantity, yet often it is the quantity of photos that leads to the quality that I strive to achieve. I have posted a photo each day for five years -- that's 1826 photos, but I have taken thousands more. Even when it seems as if there is nothing new or interesting to photograph, I have found that capturing familiar subjects helps me to experiment with camera settings, lighting, angles, and editing techniques, ultimately allowing me to see my own growth as a photographer. I know that if I were to stop, I would miss the challenge, but in 2018, I will try to afford myself the flexibility to enjoy the process rather than hold myself to strict guidelines.
I might challenge myself with series, themes, colors, and photo-a-day challenges, or I might simply continue to allow each day to surprise me. To paraphrase Fitzgerald, "and so I beat on," allowing the past to become a source of inspiration and ideas for the future.