I'm done!

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I'm done!  I can't believe it, but I am finished my project 365!  Remember a year ago when I said I was starting. Yeah, that was forever ago.

A year ago I didn't know enough to know what I didn't know. I thought that the project would be a piece of cake until about day 11.  I was bored and uninspired and had no idea what to shoot.  I can see my progress through the year of pictures, but can't articulate quite what I learned or how that makes me feel. Mostly I feel proud.  I can't believe the task went from a struggle to a habit. Not only did my pictures improve but the days where I just took something to say I did were fewer and fewer. I can't tell you what I learned technically, but I'll offer you this:

A few things you should know before you start your own project 365:

• A year is both very short and very long.
• I suggest owning a dog or cat or both. If you don't, then get one - even if you have to rent it.
• Having kids is crucial to success. If you don't have any, rent them too. You will need them.
• Have a house with good light.
• Have interesting things in your house that you can take interesting pictures of when it's 11:30 pm and haven't got your picture of the day yet. That, or do what I did and take pictures of boring things.
• Plant a flower garden. This will supply you with material to photograph for a good 100 shots anyway.
• Get a good camera bag because you will be carrying your camera everywhere you go for at least a year. I say at least, because even when you're done, you'll likely still carry it around out of habit.
• Lenses make great gifts. Ask for one you don't have. New toys always give you new inspiration.

In my year I took 54 pictures of my kids, 20 pictures of my dog, 11 of my horse, 9 of my cat, 7 of chickens and 6 of my cows. If I didn't have these props I don't think I'd be able to complete the project.

In my year I learned a few things about myself too.

• I don't like taking pictures of people. Especially in public.
• I like shooting into the light.
• My dog is very photogenic.
• I am glad I live in the country because there is a lot of things to take pictures of.
• I suck at prompts.
• I can take pictures of kids.
• I'm not a big fan of textures.
• I need rain gear for my camera. Being stuck indoors for a week when it's wet and cold kills photographic mojo.
• I am not very good a picking my picture of the day. Some of my favorite pictures now, I didn't choose at the time as my picture.

The best thing I learned this year was how to capture what I love, the way I see it, so you can see it too.

These are some of my favorites for the year.

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