the end...

So, looking back over the blog tonight, I only have 259 posts.  However, I do have 380 photos total.  So I sorta made the goal of 365.  In the spirit rather than the law. ;)

It was fun to look back...mostly personally.  To see my baby at the begining and now, and how much he's grown.  To see how our year looked, now that it's over.  I'm grateful to have documentation of it, more than "photo shoots" where I want things to look good - just taking pictures of cupcakes, forts, pants falling down...every day moments.  When it comes to photography, I think I deteriorated - ha!  The downloading, editing and posting gave way to the iphone shots - so much easier, although not as high quality. 

Looking forward...will I do this again next year?  Hmmm....possibly a variation of it.  If I were to do a photo a day, I would need to make the posting part easier - iphone, I'm afraid.  Maybe posterous, or instagr.am, or the project 365 app?  Or, going a totally different route - I like the project life scrapbook...maybe that would force me to print more photos off and do something with them. 

Regardless, I struggled with how to end the project, and finally decided on this idea from Shutter Sisters - your best shot 2010.  It's hard to do, mostly because the photos are so personal.  I like the monthly (mostly) family self-portraits, and love the photos of my kids...how can I choose?  I think I'll do my favorites instead...

 

How about a reader's choice favorite?  Which one do YOU like best? 

This will be the last post to this blog.  I feel the need to simplify.  You can visit me at my photo blog...maybe if I'm posting to fewer blogs I'll post more often on the one(s) I do have. 

Happy New Year, and thanks for reading!

Ellen :)

the final lap

Oh, how lazy I've gotten.  Scarce posts, iphone photos...I had such ambitions for a photo a day.  It was meant to spurn on my creativity, but I have to admit it had the opposite effect - I started looking for shortcuts, lost steam, found that I was becoming pretty repetitive.  I do think it helped me to be better at recording the daily lives of our family, but I don't know that it's done much of anything for my photography (besides make me want to shoot exclusively with a phone).  So maybe that's the key...photos of my family don't have to be taken on my "nice" camera.  It's ok to rely on other professional photographers to capture the "real portraits" while I just snap a quick photo on my phone.  And maybe I don't need to keep up with a separate blog (I can hear my husband's sigh of relief right now).

Maybe I just need to simplify...
record more "real" and less "perfect"
not worry about what does or doesn't make the blog

not worry about separating my "photo blog" and "personal blog" - maybe I just need ONE that records me...photography, kids, sewing, whatever is going on in my life at the moment (I think I need to finish Everyday Work of Art)


I saw a few inspiring ideas on blogs this month...a one word project from Shutter Sisters (focus) and a post titled "Happy December" with a collage of photos (from various people) showing winter...As much as I like the idea of ending the blog strong with a photo every day the rest of the year, taken from my "real" camera, I think I'll simplify.  One last project, compilation of photos I take the rest of the month, to be displayed at the end.  A farewell of sorts.  I've liked the journey, and what it's taught me.  If nothing else, to worry more about being in the moment, and less about recording it.  Blasphemy as a photographer, I know. ;)

look who can stand...

...the only problem is that he apparently hasn't figured out how to sit back down, so naps and bedtime have been rough - we've had a very tired baby the last couple of days!!

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