I've been thinking about this for a while now too. It's a commitment of carrying a portable camera around and mine isn't that portable. You on the other hand, have that kick ass cell phone camera!

If the big group is too intimidating, come join us in the knitterly/crafty version of the same self portrait group. We're very supportive and not very strict about the every single day thing. http://www.flickr.com/groups/knitterly365days/

It's a very intriguing idea. If I were a better photographer, I would possibly consider it.

while i do understand and appreciate the artistic aspect of this exercise, i can't get over the air of narcissism that comes with wanting to take a picture of yourself and posting it up on flickr for all to see *every single day*. plz don't hurt me anyone. i don't mean to offend, it's just my humble opinion on the matter.

I've thought of doing it. In fact I sort of started, before realizing that this is a REALLY bad year for it for me.

I'm hesitant to do the self-portrait version, but I'm considering doing a simple take-a-photo-a-day version. I really want to learn to be a better photographer, but I feel a bit hampered by my camera, and I kind of want a new one. Maybe one of these days I'll bite the bullet.

for what it's worth, I'm with WTBU...

I think I could be down for a photo a day, or even a crafty/knitterly photo a day. I can't really see taking pics of me everyday, and further more posting it for other people to see frightens me =) But for people with healthy self esteem and better photography skills, it seems like a great idea. I'm loving Cauchy09 and Carrieoke's so far.

As far as narcissism, I'm not sure if it really applies to this case. Flickr is a huge community. The 365 group is not seen by the world. Just others who are interested or doing it too. It's narcissism in a contolled setting =) An outlet for people who are maybe not so into themselves in "real" life.

My two or three cents on the matter.

I tried it a year or two ago, but kept forgetting to take pictures.

Now that my camera is much bigger and less portable, I just don't think it'd be practical but I DO love the idea!

what I like about most of the 365 projects is that if you enjoy taking photos and want to get better at it / develop your own eye / etc -- it's a very good method. If only I could get over the whole carrying-the-huge-camera thing!

As for the main one that is specifically self-portrait that you linked to, I like to see bits of other people's lives (some days I guess I am a voyeur?). But I don't always necessarily feel like sharing pieces of my own. :)

I've been doing this since the beginning of the year. I don't belong to the large group, I just thought it would be a nice little keepsake for myself. I do have a tiny point and shoot camera that makes it much easier for me.

I like it, it's fun to watch. I like seeing how people find different ways to present themself. Everyone signed up not knowing how they will change over the next year or so. Some people will doubtless finish the year feeling much the same as they started it. Some will feel like a new person, a different identity, by the time 2009 rolls around. I'm enjoying watching.

Er, I totally don't see the point of doing this.

Chris

I tried to do it last year, but I got bored after a few days. I think it is neat though.

I, personally, love the idea. It would be challenging for you to be creative and innovative with your pictures. I've trying to do it with a window at work, but of course I'm not there on the weekend, so that was a poorly realized plan. But of yourself? Why not? I think the change from day 1 to day 365 would be an interesting one to document.

i don't know. i think that there's a certain amount of vanity in taking your picture everyday but i know several definitely non-vain people doing it, so... well, anyway, i never could do this. an "everyday" thing is a commitment that i can't take on.

The narcissism of it did not even occur to me! The need for tight photography/bitchin' camera did not occur to me either. I could see it being just very honest documentation of a year in your life and how you change/what it does to you. It would certainly be tedious. For me it would lack an enormous amount of glamour. But I think it would be such a treasure to have that to look back on at some point. Honestly, I haven't looked at anyone's photos, but I could see how some people could get extravagant about it.

I think setting onesself any challenge that has meaning, and then following through, is valuable. But only YOU can determine what you want to get out of something, and whether the process (in case the 365 group) is amenable to your outcome. I certainly think it is important that the feedback comes in the form YOU want. (I don't stay in snarky groups any more!!)
I have a difficult time doing anything 365 days per year. It would probbly be a good exercise for me.

Totally crazy.

I can't commit to 365 days of taking a photo of myself. To much pressure so I joint 52 weeks (http://www.flickr.com/groups/whysobluepandabear/pool/) instead. I can handle a photo a week of me. It isn't so much narcissism, I think as it is more liberating and freeing. Once you get into it there comes a time when you really start taking "real" pictures of yourself and not so much what you want others to see.

I can barely take pictures to put on my blog, so I think I'd have to pass on the 365 days thing. BTW, I've been lurking on your blog for years, but still didn't realize that was you I was sitting across from last night! It was lovely to meet you.

It's a big commitment, but I think it all depends on your level of interest (and ability to do that daily thing). As it holds no interest to me, I wouldn't even consider it. I think others have already said that it's a good idea for someone who really wants to develop their photography skills. Although I'm sure that there are a multitude of great, personal reasons from people who have taken part in it, and I'll bet that narcissism is rarely one of those reasons.

I really like it. I love the idea of having a picture of myself over a whole year because I always wonder how much I change. So what if it's narcissistic, it's also fun.

I've been tempted to start/join many, many times, but the narcissism keeps holding me back. (Not that, I hasten to add, I think the people who do 365 are full of themselves, just that it would feel uncomfortable for me. I don't know that I like my face enough that I'd want a larger number of people to see it every day than already do.)

The 365 photos I do follow and enjoy are striking in their honesty and creativity. But for me, if I did join up, it would be more about communicating with people on a daily basis. Sort of a "hi! here's what I did today" thing. And I guess it isn't surprising that I think of joining 365 on days when I've done nothing photo-worthy and am feeling a little lonely.

cindy sherman's self-portraits are interesting and innovative in that they are and are not self. this 365 thing is a very cyberworld sort of effort that is by definition self-absorbed, that begs for and dares mediocrity, that answers a lonely need for universal (or is it just western and postmodern?) recognition.

cindy sherman's self-portraits are interesting and innovative in that they are and are not self. this 365 thing is a very cyberworld sort of effort that is by definition self-absorbed, that begs for and dares mediocrity, that answers a lonely need for universal (or is it just western and postmodern?) recognition.

I don't understand the comments about this being narcissistic. Especially if those comments come from...bloggers? This is no more narcissistic than journaling or blogging. The fact that the photos could be "public" as they're on Flickr is beside the point, I think. The publicity of it isn't, in my opinion, to have everyone *look at you*, but to share an experience with a community.

All this said, I did try to do 365 (not the portrait version, but the simple photo-a-day one) and had a hard time doing it after a while (job, toddler, etc.). However, I wish I'd followed through. I think it would be a really wonderful thing to have, years along the road, to look back on.

I say if you're inclined, go for it! Who cares what the arguments are? It's a creative project, for goodness' sake!

I'm doing that this year, but I'm not participating in any of the official flickr groups for it. I'm doing it more because I moved out of state and took a new job at the beginning of the month. I thought doing a daily photojournal would be a neat way for my friends & family to keep up with me. Not all of the photos have any particular artistic merit. :)

I couldn't do it, unless I never included my face. Which may mean I have some issues to get past...
Alex wants to take a picture of the baby every day. He is notoriously short on follow-through, though, so I don't see it happening.

I rescind my earlier comment upon reading subsequent ones. Self-absorbed is a better adjective for this than narcissistic.

And I agree with whoever else said that blogging can fall into this category very easily as well.

I definitely had the "Is this too narcissistic?" worry before I started, but Erin/Mintyfresh said something that totally swayed me, which was that even on days where you're incredibly busy and stressed out and have no time for knitting or sewing or cooking or whatever your creative schtick is, 365 forces you, for at least 15 minutes, to do something creative every singe day. And for me, that's what it's about, and I think that's a really outward looking thing, rather than something self-absorbed.

Also, what JulieFrick said about people living in blog houses and throwing narcissistic stones. :)

Thanks, Ashley! I'm currently 28 days into year 2 and I still love doing it. I've spoken a lot in my stream about what I love about the project, but for me, this has been a time of great transition and intense introspection--and marking it with a photo each day has been a great sort of journal. I also approached it as an exercise in honesty--not every shot is flattering.

I love watching folks' 365, and I don't find it narcissistic at all. That said, I've considered doing it myself and what holds me back is mostly that I think it MIGHT coddle some of my own more narcissistic and/or self conscious tendencies. On the other hand, it could do just the opposite, and force me to move outside of that stuff and get over it and get more creative... Does that make any sense?

hmmm... i didn't mean to imply that being self-absorbed is a bad thing, per se. what do you all think about what it means to be self-absorbed? or narcissistic for that matter?
there does seem to be a fairly high level of defensiveness and of justification in the name of art vis a vis this project. i don't mean to sound confrontational. just think there's more to this conversation.