7-12 366/2016

More of my 366 project photos. I've been trying not to take too many photos that look similar so they feel quite varied so far. We'll see if that continues when I start to run out of obvious things to take photos of!

7/366 - I liked the reflection in the rain with this one

8/366 - It was sunny!! I didn't know what to do with myself hahaha.

9/366 - ...and back to gloomy and a well timed train

10/366 -I think this is my favourite yet even if it's just clothes on our bed (being in focus helps)

11/366 - I don't know if this is even a church still but I love faded signs like this

12/366 - Some of the damage from the Boxing Day floods in Leeds along the canal

Camera: Refurb LC-A
Film: Agfa Vista 200
Location: Around Leeds

My first 366/2016 Project Photos

So here we go, my first set of photos for my 366 project (don't forget its a leap year folks) this year. I've been making sure to take at least 2 photos a day but it seems that taking one (mostly) acceptable photo and one very blurry photo seems to be fairly consistent for me haha. So I decided that I'd pick the best photo per day from the shots for the 'official' 366 photos - it is odd to be sharing photos out of a sense of obligation this project rather than being 100% happy with them though.

1/366 - Really early blooms on a New Years Day walk

2/366 - Breakfast selfies in giant Christmas decorations

I've actually learnt a lot from looking just at the first set of photos that I've had developed so far.

I've learnt that I am not patient enough - which doesn't surprise me - I'm impatient with a lot of things I do haha. But on top of that I've also been feeling self conscious walking around Leeds with my camera and I've rushed taking the photos to just to get them taken. Which seems silly just writing it - but its true. And a few of these photos are blurry because of me not taking the time to take the photo properly. I'm frustrated about that.

3/366 - Blurry (boo) DIY and film organisation

4/366 - Graffiti near work, I liked the bright yellow

I've learnt that taking photos in low light in the middle of winter with film really does suck... and that I should use cameras with fixed shutter speeds rather than ones with light meters - the first two rolls I used were in my OM-10 and my refurbished LC-A which determines the shutter speed by light - so combining that with the low light, the results haven't been as crisp as I would prefer. You can tweak underexposed photos at least on computers but you can't fix blur. 

5/366 - Padlocks on the bridge across the canal in Leeds

6/366 - A typical rainy day in Yorkshire ha

I've learnt that being in the mood to take photos every day is hard. Most of my photos are  usually taken when I'm in a new place, or I know I'm going to see something exciting to take photos of. So getting into that 'zone' to find photos in places where I'm usually rushing around has been really tough. I think its only going to get tougher in my lunch breaks too but that's the challenge I guess.

Is any one else doing a 366 project this year? I'd love to help each other out with moral support :)

Camera: Olympus OM-10
Film: Lomo CN 400
Location: Around Leeds

4 Simple Goals

The mysterious thing about blogging is that time seems to have no meaning when you remember posts you've written - it feels like hardly any time has passed since my last wrote  '4 simple goals' post but I'm sure when I go to check my archives it will probably have been at least two years... (edit - 4 years! whaa?!)

However a good idea is a good idea no matter when you do it and I'm glad to say that once again, I have 4 simple goals for the year ahead. Exciting huh!

(Photo from A Beautiful Mess way back in 2010! I love that its yarn, I wasn't doing crochet or knitting the first time I used this image... but now its relevant, how funny.)

1. Meditate and do yoga nearly everyday.

Every day seems crazy ambitious but nearly every day I like the idea of definitely. I've read a few things recently that have solidified this goal for me. One was an Instagram photo from my friend Che talking about intention and the other was a Lena Dunham quote (which I can't find now, typical) about exercise being for the mind and not the body. Last year I had a solid yoga routine before the wedding but it, along with some basic self care habits, went out of the window (I know, silly me) as the wedding became more and more of a focus. It was necessary at the time, I couldn't see anything else that could give but now my intentions are the health of my brain and I know now that it isn't something I can let be a compromise anymore. So I intend to practice yoga, meditate and ground myself so that my mind is prepared and able to cope with the year ahead.

2. Read at least one book a month.

It's kind of crazy to be making myself do this because I love reading, but its another thing I just haven't been making the time for in the past 12 months. I've started books but then lived up to my blog title and been easily distracted by other things and I'm starting to get frustrated with my lack of focus and dedication to things I start but don't finish.

Books I have on my pile to read include: Empathy by Roman Krznaric, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (which amazingly I haven't read, though I have read A New World), Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, 59 seconds by Richard Wiseman and The Monk who Sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma... if anyone has any recommendations for something similar, or something totally different, I'd love to hear them.

3. Take at least two film photos a day, every day.

I keep starting but not finishing 365 projects with my phone because I always get bored of the digital format. So this year I'm going to try it on film. I cant wait already. I shall be writing the photos down (either on my phone or in a little diary) so i remember which day was which and of course, sharing the photos here :)

4. Breathe... and relax

Last year was so hectic and stressful - but my goals above are all things I love - reading, yoga, taking photos - not things I hate or feel I must do for anyone else other than myself. I want to enjoy my year and the ways above are all things to help that - not hinder it. So if I miss a day - I'm going to try not to stress myself out about it and remind myself, that I'm earnest (2016 word, see what I did there?) and my intentions are good and come from a healthy place, not an unhealthy one. Relax and breathe!

Have you set any goals, intentions or even new years resolutions for the year ahead? Share them in the comments!