Day 366 / 731 –
Thus ends the 365, on day 366. Perfect.
This is the same place as the first post of the year, only taken now. Snow covered landscape rather than barren desert. It doesn’t have quite the scale and depth of the previous one, but that’s how it goes. It’s just a little different.
So, what now? Two years of posting here daily, and it’s time to move on, to put this aspect of my photography down. It’s been fun, and a learning experience, which is what it was intended to be in the first place. I needed to learn more about photography, and shooting daily was quite the education. I learned about what worked and what didn’t work, and what worked and didn’t work for me.
But now, I want to do something different. A single image is one art form, and one I’ve been practicing in for this project. But my work in year two tended towards the series, several images posted over days in succession, or groups of shots from the same outing. Some of that was by necessity, some by convenience, and some because I wanted to do something more whole. Something that worked well together.
I can go out into the fields day after day and bring back images, and take photos I love. I’ve been doing that, and I’m sure I will continue. Rather than doing one long disconnected project, I want to do a few smaller, more concentrated projects. I want to do things that fit together into a smaller single piece, rather than a year-long block. Think of it as a piece of poetry as opposed to a long and winding ramble or rant.
This will be another learning experience, and I’m sure I won’t hit the nail on the head that often, but then again, I didn’t alway hit the mark on 365 either. I didn’t always publish work I was overly proud of, but it was work I made, and a good representation of where I was at, physically as well as creatively.
There will be a new project site, something that I can put up longer form pieces on. This site will be “mothballed,” but still around for viewing. I sorely need to update the favorites selection. It’s been ignored for too long, and I have many I want to add to it. And I need to update my portfolio site as well.
I’ve also thought about starting a Patreon account, so I can put up some pieces exclusive to people who want to contribute financially to this stuff. I’m not sure what shape that would take, but I’m thinking about it. Perhaps shorter parts put out for free, and longer versions with more photos on Patreon. I’m also thinking about other ways to make something for people who want more access or physical copies or something more than a photo or two on a website. There is something about putting a photo in the real world that is completely different. I want to do that more.
Also, finally, the long-awaited print sale. I don’t know exactly what has kept me from doing it, but selections of 365 over the two years will be available soon as prints. I found a print shop I like, which was the most difficult part. Next up is final proofs (what you see on the screen vs what is printed can be quite different), a system for ordering, and then finally pulling the trigger.
To anyone who came by, who was a supporter, who was encouraging, who commented, who liked, who threw a few dollars my way to help with expenses, who encouraged, and even liked something I posted more than I did, a huge thanks to you. It has been a lot of fun doing this, and at times, it was difficult to see though. I think I’m going to miss this project. It helped me grow as a photographer, and also as a person. But you don’t put things out into a vacuum, so thanks for taking the journey with me.
I’ve opened up comments for the moment on this post, if you have anything you want to say, or any suggestions for what you want to see next.
On to the next party.
