In the fall of 2009, I began doing my own 365 project, or a-photo-a-day. I was really wanting to improve my skills as a photographer. I saw a lot of talk on blogs, or via Twitter, where designers, photographers, were doing their own 365 projects. The whole idea of 365 projects are to cause you to see things in a new way, each and every day. To find beauty in the small things throughout your day. It is really a great discipline. I spoke with a seasoned photographer I know, that told me it was a really good idea. He said you couldn’t go wrong with setting about trying it. This photographer however was a film photographer and not really experienced in the digital photography world. When I began telling him about my online photo projects, he immediately warned me of the dangers of people stealing my photos. I know that photographers need to be careful and protect their images as much as possible, but you can’t totally protect your work entirely. Especially with the kind of screen capturing software and image editing software out there that have become very sophisticated in the last few years. I have experienced copyright theft in the past from a so-called web designer, who copied my website. This was some years ago when I was freelancing under my web design business. I had to send a letter of cease and desist for her to pull the site down. So I know that it is a real problem.
This seasoned photographer that I spoke about, eventually stopped talking to me. He didn’t agree with my online photography sites and how I posted to them. A lot has changed since he started doing photography. Though I don’t claim to have the knowledge or experience he has, I think that it is a different day and age, where change is a good thing. Online digital photography blogs and sites are necessary in today’s pursuit of improving your skills or starting your own photography business. Social media has changed everything. Joining social media sites or online photography blog sites can really help to grow your photography skills.
So in beginning my 365 project, I wanted to find a place where I could upload my photos each day. I started adding them each day to my personal Facebook page. My friends and family there, were great in encouraging me along the way. But my personal Facebook page really didn’t serve the purpose. For one thing, I wanted feedback that would help me improve my skills and I wanted to be inspired by other photographers work.
My husband and I were up visiting the Heceta Head Lighthouse outside of Florence, Oregon last December, when we met another photographer that told me about Blipfoto. Blipfoto.com is a daily photo journal site for anyone that wants to improve their photography skills or just journal to record their daily life. After cruising the pages of Blipfoto, I thought I’d give it a try. It looked like a great community of people that love photography.
On December 24th, it was my 365th photo that I posted on Blipfoto. A whole year of my photo journal. It has been such an amazing ride! Not only am I surrounded by inspiring photos and photographers everyday, but I can see where my photography skills have improved. I will continue to journal there as I have become quite addicted to the community. I have made some friends there as well. There are even local co-workers and friends that started the Blipfoto journey after seeing me post my daily ‘blip’ to my personal Facebook page.
If you are looking for a great place to do a photo journal, you might consider Blipfoto or other online photo community to get you started! Check out my Blipfoto.com journal while you are at it. Let me know if you have started your own 365 project and by what means you are posting daily too. I’d love to hear it!
To follow me on my pddesigns Images Facebook fan page, just press the ‘like’ button!
Read my PacNW Blip Meet blog post from last March!
