Reflections on my 366 project

So. Let’s talk about the 366 project.

Here’s the deal: I’ve wanted to do this project for the longest time, and I never had. Not because I didn’t have time, but because I didn’t really want to put just any picture I took on a specific day out there. I thought the photos had to be “worthwhile” and all that. But now, I see that was a pretty big — and honestly, stupid — mistake.

Even the best photographers can’t create a great photo every single day. So what’s the point then?

Well, the point was to test myself. To see if I could show up every single day, shoot a photo, maybe edit it, and post it. That was tough on some days — but in the end, I managed. I actually did it.

I’ll split this into three short parts so it’s clear what I’ve learned during this project.

Part 1: Gear

My initial plan was to do the whole project using just one camera and one lens. I started out with the Leica Q2, while I’ve waited the Nikon Zf to arrive. I pre-ordered it on December 30, 2023, and it arrived a week later.

So, for most of the project, I used the Nikon Zf. Sure, I threw in a few photos from my phone and other cameras here and there. I didn’t want to constrain myself too much, as it would probably have made me stop the project. Some days, I just wanted to carry lighter camera gear — some days, only my phone. It worked out just fine. Some days I didn’t feel like taking photos at all, or I didn’t have the time — I’ve got two kids now (well, one at the time and one on the way during the project).

The goal was simple: have a photo for each day. And I did that. After the first few days, I stopped caring about what I was shooting with. But yeah, most shots were taken with the Zf.

Part 2: Posting

I’ve had a Flickr account for years — probably since I first got into photography, around 15 years ago. Photography is just a hobby for me. I do sell some photos from my darkroom website and a few stock images on Adobe Stock, but that’s not the main point. The point is to shoot, enjoy the process, and edit as little as possible. Editing is the boring part for me. This is why I use my own presets & LUTs to speed things up.

Finding a good posting schedule was hard. Some days, I waited all day before choosing a shot and uploading it late at night. That was draining. Eventually, I ditched that routine. Whenever I had a picture I liked, I posted it. That was it.

Part 3: The Experience (and What’s Next)

How Did It Go? Here’s What I Learned

After the first two months — which were kind of shaky, I wasn’t even sure if I should keep going — it all started to flow. The biggest shift happened when I stopped chasing inspiration. I just did the thing I needed to do: take a picture.

I also stopped stressing if I couldn’t post the photo the same day. Sometimes I uploaded it the next morning. At the end of the day, it’s my project, and I get to make the rules.

I avoided including too many family photos. Maybe I shouldn’t have. Truth is, there wasn’t a single day where I didn’t take pictures of my kids or family. It felt too easy or maybe too personal, but in hindsight, those moments were just as much a part of the year.

There were days I was completely out of ideas. I remember having a fever, lying in bed, annoyed. Then I just snapped a shot of the thermometer and called it: goal for the day, done. Not every day has to be profound.

Editing was another source of stress — and it never really went away. That is, until I got the Panasonic Lumix S9. This thing is a beast. I loaded my own presets converted into LUTs, and suddenly I didn’t have to edit anything. I don’t get why other brands aren’t doing this. It puts Fujifilm recipes to shame — full control, perfect output, no extra work.

Uploading was boring sometimes, especially while traveling with the family. It felt like it was eating into time I’d rather spend actually enjoying the trip. But I kept at it.

Oh, and turns out, I could’ve done the entire project using just my iPad. That was a nice surprise — streamlined the process way more than I expected.

In the end, it wasn’t about making great images every day. It was about showing up, doing the work, and letting go of perfection.

Would I do it again?

Probably not. At least not another 365 or 366-day project. But a 52-week project? Yeah, that sounds more like it.

The next project will be theme-based — black and white, architecture, minimalism, whatever. One week per photo. That feels more fun and manageable. And in the end, it’s easier to create an album — which I also plan to do for this 366 project. I want to print it, see all the images together.

So, yeah. No more 365 projects for now. But 52? That’s likely coming. Maybe even next year. And yes — that one will be a one camera, one lens project for the whole year.

P.S. If you’re considering a 366 project, remember: it’s not about perfection. It’s about persistence. And maybe a bit of stubbornness.

Here are my favourite photos from the project in no particular order:

Iconic Dom Luís I Bridge with Yellow Tram Crossing Over the Bustling Porto Cityscape 125/366 Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto 🇵🇹

Person walking in the fog on a street with cars and buildings 318/366 Walking in the Fog 🌫️

210/366 Basketball time 🏀

Pigeon on an antenna 345/366 Pigeon 🕊️

Yellow blue red - A bright yellow staircase with a blur of a person walking by, surrounded by red bicycle racks and dark pavement. 227/366 Yellow blue red 🟡🔵🔴