Noticing
📷 A Cambridge Diary, routines, photography, Project 365, and 🎵 Closing Time
In this, our last issue of 2023, we highlight photography as a way to notice more, share the work of a Cambridge photographer, discuss Project 365, and finish with a media embed perfect for this weekend.
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A Cambridge Diary
Earlier this month, I read a lovely little BBC article about a man who has taken a picture every day for 5,000 days. His name is Martin Bond and I’m excited for you to meet him and his work.
He told the BBC “the project started when he accidentally caught the moment a decorator dropped paint on to his sandwiches on camera.” That was in March 2010. Here is how he describes what it has become on his website:
Martin Bond is a professional photographer who has lived in Cambridge all his life. A Cambridge Diary, which sees him post a photograph from Cambridge online each day, is his labour of love. It is now in its thirteenth year of continuous daily pictures, with five thousand photographs in the archive.
His pictures capture moments that are unique to Cambridge and are seen by thousands of people every day on social media. The allure and enticement of Cambridge is revealed in his own style that goes beyond the established rhetoric of the city, [sic]
After reading the article, I contacted Martin Bond and secured written permission to share a few of his photographs with you here (Thank you, Martin!). Please enjoy these and explore more on his website, A Cambridge Diary.
His ability to capture the moments in the everyday resonates with me. I love how the practice of taking a picture every day helps one to notice more.
The BBC article ends with this:
“I always try to photograph people in a way they would like to see themselves. I don’t take pictures that are detrimental to them as humans,” said Mr Bond.
“It is a very healthy thing we can do to notice other things and other people rather than get too consumed in our own troubles.”
Indeed.
Martin Bond told the BBC his 5,000th image (below) would be his last in the collection.
He has released a book featuring 365 images curated from the first seven years of the project. If you enjoy photography as I do, it’s worth a look.
When I was in college, I used to keep an Olympus Stylus film camera in my backpack so that I could capture scenes on campus. I loved that little camera. In an age where most people have a smartphone in their pocket and can take seemingly unlimited photos, it may be hard to fully appreciate how amazing a feeling it was to be able to pause and capture a foggy morning, a vibrant sunset, or a spontaneous meetup with friends on film.
Someone once said the best camera is the one you have with you. It’s very true. I rarely leave home without one.
Routines
As we look towards the new year, it is a natural time to think about routines. Some might call them habits. If you enjoy the world around you and might enjoy noticing it a little more, I encourage you to consider taking a photo a day.
Project 365
Some years ago, I came across something called Project 365. I’m not sure who first invented the idea but it’s a simple one: take one picture every day for a year.
The Project 365 group on Flickr (remember Flickr?) was started in 2006. Since then, more than 1.8 million photos (all lovingly tagged xxx/365 where xxx is the day number) have been shared in the group pool.
I tried it in 2007 — and failed. I tried it a couple more times but found the friction of having to download pictures from the memory card of my digital camera to my computer every day too much to be sustainable.
I tried it again in 2012, researching if it was possible to do it entirely on mobile and trying a then-new app called Instagram (which launched on Android in 2012). With less friction, I made it longer (50 days in all) but still failed.
I tried it again in 2017 — and finally succeeded in taking a picture every day for 365 days. It was a healthy creative challenge, an amazing experience, and a wonderful keepsake. I’m really glad I did it.
To give you a better sense of the magic that can result from ordinary moments, watch this beautiful video (2m38s) by Anja Poehlmann, who just finished her fifth Project 365 in 2023:
Here are a few more examples for inspiration:
365:2010 Documenting a year in photos & words. (Ali Edwards) - one of the first I specifically recall seeing
Photographing a year in my life. Project 365 (Anja Poehlmann) - definitely check this out if you don’t watch the video above
Photo-A-Day Project: 10 Year Milestone (Chris McClanahan) - includes some lessons learned and a video of his 10 years (!!!) of pictures
If you decide you might like to give it a try in the new year, here are some resources you may find helpful:
Reference
What is a 365 Project (365Project.org)
Take on a 365 project (First Man Photography)
How To
10 inspiring 'Project 365' ideas: Take a photo a day to keep the creative block away (Canva)
How to rock a 365 photo challenge (Lightroom Presets)
Learnings
Of course, you don’t need to formally do Project 365. Do what feels right for you. My encouragement to you is simply this: Notice more in 2024.
On that note, has anyone checked out the new app Amo just launched called Capture?
If you have an iPhone and try it, I’d love to hear your impressions. It’s an intriguing take on low friction everyday photography.
🎵 Closing Time by Semisonic
As 2023 comes to a close and we prepare to welcome 2024, this is a fitting song to end with.
Closing Time came out in the spring of 1998 and I remember hearing it a lot that summer as I returned home from studying abroad. It has a lyric that I’ve always liked — and just discovered today is actually from Roman Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca. (I’m not the only one who didn’t know). The lryic?
Closing time, every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning's end
-Source: Musixmatch via Google Search. Songwriter: Dan Wilson. Lyrics © WB Music Corp.
So with that, 2023’s beginning is coming to an end. I wish you a happy new year and will be excited to discover our new beginnings in 2024.
Be well,
-Bryce
Love this! (btw, I failed at the 365 too.) I was blessed to be working so much that I didn't take the time. Instead, I embraced the "original idea" of Instagram and only used my phone. That was back in 2011. Now, I have no idea what my IG is for except not to worry about it!
So interesting! I like this idea...it’ll work well with my 1000 hours outside challenge...I document with a photo. But observing, noticing more, looking up/looking down and zooming in....all fun ways to get cool shots. Thanks for this info and inspiration! 😊