{ the jaunty magpie }

It sure sounded simple enough -- the challenge to take at least one photo a day, for a full year. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece, it doesn't have to be anything particularly dear or special, just a snapshot of a moment of your day, for the entire year. That was the initial gauntlet drop for 2010's Project 365.

This Bird was fairly sure she'd drop the ball and just let the camera gather dust, but surprisingly the little habit became as much a part of her day like brushing teeth or the necessary morning coffee. This was especially helpful in the beginning months of the year, when the Magpie was sort of floundering around, wondering what to do next. Having a creative must-do every day, even if it's as small as taking a photo, became a lesson in living in the moment, and finding beauty in small, insignificant details. The world didn't have to be about big adventures or grand, meaningful gestures, simply gaining a new appreciation for everyday observation. Plus, it's a great way to get to know your camera. You start to gain a feel for it, letting it become more of a creative appendage, rather than a tool to translate what the eye sees.

And so the Project 365 for 2010 is done, and this was the final photo of the year, on my Flickr account that I'm too cheap and lazy to upgrade to "Pro," hence the short queue of photos. It's a beautiful spice/coffee mill from Turkey that a friend brought back on her recent trip! But this Birdie ain't sad to say goodbye to a year gone by, she's invigorated for what the new year will bring, and taking a new creative twist over what 2011's Project 365 will be. A combination of photos and illustrations? Wait and see!


Jaunty Fine Print:  photograph by Denise Sakaki