Taken on 27th January, 2010 in La Candelaria, Bogotá, Colombia. Nikon D90, Exposure 0.5s at f/3.5, Focal Length 18mm, ISO Speed 250. Show on Flickr.

One photo a day for 516 days: I never thought it would be all roses.

Occasionally I take dozens or hundreds of pictures in a day and the decision about which to choose for the blog can become a difficult one.

Often, especially lately, I find myself taking a picture I'm really happy with, breathing a sigh of relief, and promptly putting away the camera for the rest of the day.

Some days, like today, I have no interest in pointing a lens at anything at all. The hours slip by and before I crawl into bed I frantically search for something to photograph.

Although on occasion this has come up trumps, more often than not, I'm left with imagery that I cringe to publish.

Phil O'Kane blogged recently about the this negative side of a Photo 365 (similar to Day 516, one photo a day for a year).

While it?s a fun project, there will always be days where imagination is not on your side or outside influences prevent a photo from being taken? When an image of the kitchen appears you know it?s time to stop.

Why a Photo365 is a Good Thing, and Why I?m Not Doing One

There certainly are low points to a project such as this; it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge them. Tonight, as I peer desperately through the blue tinted window of our bedroom, click the shutter a few times before conceding, packing the camera away and slumping under the covers, I'm left disgruntled and disenchanted?

?but there's no stopping now.

2 Comments

  • avatar
  • Phil wrote:
  • 3rd February, 2010

Thanks for the mention - you make a good point. Though I think my idea of photography is just a bit different, and want each of my images to be something I'm proud of - whether or not I'm still proud of it a week later is always a different matter.

  • avatar
  • Oisin wrote:
  • 4th February, 2010

Cheers Phil,

I didn't mean to imply that I don't want to be proud of my images. I prefer to think of each in relation to the whole though, where they fit in context with everything else in the collection.

Given the fleeting nature of our satisfaction with individual images you referred to I find it helpful to look at the bigger picture (if you'll excuse the pun!)