The Project
My goal is to post a picture each day that was actually taken on that day. Yeah, that means I’ll be shooting at least one photo every… single… day. It’s going to be an exercise in discipline and commitment, and I’m not even really sure yet if I’ll be able to make it happen for an entire year, but new years being what they are, I figured now would be the time start if I was ever going to do so. Assuming I make it through the year, posting will cease here on December 31, 2009, with the publication of my 365th photograph.
The Purpose
The point of this project is simple: to take more photographs. I’ve long lamented my limited output, and a project like this seems a good way to force myself to look through the lens more often. I’m expecting my skills and technique to improve, and a consistent daily record will hopefully provide a means of seeing that progression realized.
The Name
This project began without much planning, more an impulsive reaction to the new year than anything else. However, during the two or three days that this was purely speculation, I read a brief story about the Chinese Zodiac. Shortly thereafter I saw a picture of a newly born aardvark and the name just came together from there. It seems absurd enough to have some weird, deeper meaning that I hope will reveal itself as the year and this project unfold.
The Camera
I jumped on the Canon bandwagon with a 10D in September of 2003 just before Hurricane Isabel blew through town. It served me well until November 2008 when I upgraded to a 50D. My 10D has been retired to a supporting role, and though I’ve considered selling it a few times, I probably won’t.
The Lenses
- Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
- Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
- Canon EF 50/1.8 Mark II
- Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro
My current favorite is the 70-200, but I tend to shoot most with the Sigma or my 50MM f/1.8 (the least expensive lens of the bunch… go figure). I’d like to pick up the 50MM f/1.2, but I think my next lens purchase is going to be Canon’s MP-E 65mm f/2.8 Macro. Macro photography is an area I’d like to spend much more time exploring.
Elsewhere
I blog semi-regularly at BruceHartman.net. I’ve also recently started a photography-centric blog at BruceHartmanPhotography.com where I discuss the projects and obsessions of the day. I maintain a portfolio of my better work at Hartman Creative Arts. You can also catch up with me on FaceBook.
The Site
The site is powered by Wordpress and the theme is hand-coded (and rather poorly) by yours truly with copious inspiration from Scott Wallick’s Simplr theme.
