365

as ever, thanks to joe & co for creating and sharing the site. i had intended to just find a site that would let me post a pic a day and maybe a bit of waffle to go with it; instead i found a community of people happy to share their lives and their expertise. i'm not sure i'm a better photographer than i was a year ago, but i see more in my surroundings than i ever did, and now i have somewhere to share so i don't feel like a lonely little freak whose friends are merely politely interested when i show them something i photographed on the way to work... ;-) thanks to those who view, esp to those who subscribe, and most of all to those who take the time to comment; it's good to know that people like what i post enough to say so.

after a year, i think it's about time i stretched myself a little. to that end, i signed up for the dictionary project, which i start on 5 June and am both dreading and looking forward to (how will i get inspired? what if i see something amazing that i can't twist to fit and thus miss the blip of a lifetime?). i am also vowing to finally read my camera's instruction manual (i've only had it 18 months...) and see if i can't ease away from the auto settings. i've a little list of projects already - something to focus on for a week or two at a time - but i want more suggestions. so, i've a decent bridge camera, but only ever use auto; have got photoshop but not yet learned to use it - these 365 blips are all straight out the camera, no cropping, sharpening, colour tweaking, erasing of irritating bits etc etc. so anything that will help me be a better snapper, a better post-processer and get me (if only temporarily) out of my macro-and-nature comfort zone - bring it on!

so far this is my list of things to try, all ideas welcomed:
black and white
selective colour
saturated colour/uber-processed tricks
people
still life
everyday urban grime
a week of the same view/object to find something new every time
composite/montage shots

finally, i leave you with some of my personal faves from the last 364:
gripping
'yes, but is it '*art*?'
weird clouds
tranquil
red
beauty & the brrr
high rise
feathers
shiny
fog