Tips For A Succesful 365 Photo Project

I am starting a 365 project in 2018. It isn't my first, but it's been many years since I've done one. I created a small group on Facebook, and limited it to a few people to keep it manageable, but if you are looking to start a similar project, groups are easy to find on places like Flickr. This is a letter that I wrote to our new group about how to have a successful 365 project. Some of it is very specific to that group, but you may find some value in it too:

The Eyes Have It

The eyes have it. I have had a Tamron 90mm macro for awhile but don't often use it. I wanted to put a unique series of all my animals together, and that lens fit the bill for what I needed. 1 lens, 1 common focal point, 5 different subjects. Constraints can add a cohesiveness to a series, whether it is a single lens, a single color, or a single focal point. In some ways, it releases the creativity as there are less other decisions that need to be made.

Frank

A Common Scene

I shoot this same scene all the time. My dogs, in my front doorway. In the morning this area normally provides open shade. In early afternoon, we get soft diffused light. Late afternoon will occasionally provide harsh direct light for a brief time, so I keep a close eye on it.

Trail Running

Panasonic Lumix DMC-10

I have spent a good deal of time trail running this summer. I take my dogs with me on these runs, and the one thing I always miss is the ability to carry my DSLR as I'm running. I get to run through some pretty amazing places, and often during the most gorgeous light. As a compromise, I have a small point and shoot, a GoPro, and an iPhone that I will swap between (I never take them all) depending on what I think I might encounter that day.

Rambo

Tap, tap, tap... is this thing on?

It's been a very long time since I've posted here. Perhaps now is as good a time as any to put something up. I'm hoping that going forward, I will post 2-3 images a week to share and discuss if there was any special work of some sort that went into capturing the image.

He's Smiling

He's Smiling
Originally uploaded by fwisneski
The bond is extremely noticeable between these 2, it always has been. But every once in awhile, you capture an image of a brief moment (milliseconds) and you have to stop and wonder.

Is he really smiling? Of course he is. He's loved, he's needed, he has a job, he's been rescued, cared for, and trained by some amazing people, and he has people that count on him. He's won the heart of a little girl, and she thinks the world of him. I think if you look up the definition of happy in the dictionary, that's what you will find.


Team Blackdogsrule

No Man Get's Left Behind

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Originally uploaded by fwisneski
I obviously didn't shoot this, but my fellow Warrior teammate Kevin did. We were at the Newport Beach Marine Beach Challenge, and I had just finished my 5K obstacle course in the sand. Here, I was cheering on my daughter during her 1K obstacle course.

I'd imagine that somewhere in the not too distant future, she's not going to want my help, or insist she doesn't need it. As a matter of fact, she wanted to run by herself today, and told me to stay behind. I gave her plenty of freedom and stayed on the sidelines. But I was never far, as she IS a type 1, and this was a very tough course, I didn't want to be far if her blood sugar crashed. And then it happened, for a fabulous couple of minutes, she needed me, wanted my help, and I was able to give it. I will cherish this moment, and this picture, forever.

Hope

Hope
Originally uploaded by fwisneski

I work with an amazing group of people that go into the Baldwin Park Shelter every other week to photograph, video tape, and upload a bio of 70-80 homeless dogs, in an effort to help get them adopted and rescued.

That group is http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/ And they work tirelessly beyond the every other week photo shoots to talk with potential adopters, foster several of the animals, keep the images and bios updated, and upload all this info to FB, www.adoptapet.com , and the like.

This image symbolizes all of the work the hard work that goes into this effort, and exactly who we are fighting and hoping for.

Best Friends

Best Friends
Originally uploaded by fwisneski
Rule #1 No clutter in the background.
Rule #2 Choose your location carefully
Rule #3 Watch for lens flare
Rule #4 Forget the rules

This image was taken in a mall parking lot. A brief passing moment of my daughter and her service dog Major. But wow, what a moment. These 2 have been working together for 3 months, and have quite the bond. My daughter is a type 1 diabetic, and Major is trained to detect fluctuations in her blood sugar.

Yep. A parking lot in the mall. You normally wouldn't even bother to bring out your camera. After all, there are rules that need to be followed. But then, you wouldn't have this image. And the only rule I've ever payed attention to, is to "listen to your gut"

For more info on their story, go here: A Guardian Angel for Stella

Waiting

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Originally uploaded by fwisneski

Stella and Major waiting for mom at the Huntington Beach Dog Beach.

Did a light vintage effect to it in Lightroom

Dog Beach

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Originally uploaded by fwisneski

Took the family down to the Huntington Beach Dog Beach for the very first time yesterday. 11/27/11. It was 85 degrees, and the water was great!

The family had a blast, and here you can see Major really enjoying himself.

A happy lab is a tried lab. Covered in sand. And salt water. With a tennis ball in his mouth . ;-)

20111126-IMG_3683

20111126-IMG_3683
Originally uploaded by fwisneski

Today I ran the San Dimas Turkey Trot 10K. After that race was over, my daughter participated in the kids race. I had a blast running with my daughter today. A year ago, this was not even a remote possibility. Such an amazing feeling. Loved it all!

A big thank you to Robert Abitia for shooting this!

Eerie morning

Eerie morning
Originally uploaded by fwisneski

Really happy with the way this came out. IPhone 4 and Instagram

Dia de Los Muertos

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Originally uploaded by fwisneski

I shot the annual Dia de Los Muertos event at Turner Live Oak in Monrovia for the 3rd year in a row. This year, I was told that I couldn't use flash. I'm always up for a challenge, so I set my camera to ISO 2000, and 1/30 sec. I only had my 24-105 f4 with me, so I used f4. The limiting of my settings I actually found very freeing. I had to tell myself that "It is what it is" and I was pleasantly surprised by what turned up.

The violin

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Originally uploaded by fwisneski

Shot a wedding on Saturday (my last of the year) and they had a Mariachi group perfoming. My assistant shot the group, while I go some detail shots. I like the way this one turned out

Margo's Bark

The family went to the Race for the Rescues on Sunday. One of the vendors there raising money for the cause was Margo's Bark Soda Company, an amazing company that gives all it's proceeds back to shelter dogs and rescues. We knew about them as they have offered up money to help get critical dogs out of shelters, and we bought a 4 pack of soda to try out.

It's really good soda! Next time your at Whole Foods, pick up some. Or go to the website and order it. The money goes to a cause very near to our hearts. And as always, please stop by A Guardian Angel for Stella

Good Low Major!

Good Low Major
Originally uploaded by fwisneski

Major, our diabetic alert dog (DAD), alerting us to our daughter's low blood sugar, using the bringsel (the baton in his mouth). We were in the midst of thousands at the Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Patch, with farm animals, BBQ's, and lot's of other scents and distractions going on. He really does shine when we are out and about in public.

The look on my daughters face shows you exactly how she felt at the time.

For more info about Major, and DAD's in general, go here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Guardian-Angel-for-Stella/253843297977243

"Saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one animal"

Wind in her hair

Wind in her hair
Originally uploaded by fwisneski

As my daughter and I were running some errands Saturday night, we had the windows down. It's been a while since it as so nice that we didn't have the AC on. We were listening to some good tunes (I believe at this point it was the Smashing Pumpkins), and having a good time. I looked in the mirror, and saw the shot. I took a couple, 1 with me, and 1 without, but I really like the way this came out. It makes me smile, remembering how great the evening was, and the fun we were having.

Shot with the iPhone, obviously :-)

What my son does in the middle of the night ;-)

What my son does in the middle of the night ;-)
Originally uploaded by fwisneski

My son has been editing his film in the middle of the night. Cup of coffee in hand.

Seriously, he was watching the new Muppet Movie trailer on Youtube, but he was holding onto my coffee mug. Yes, that mug is mine. And I LOVE that coffee mug. :-)

Power Pole Zooms By

Power Pole Zooms By
Originally uploaded by fwisneski

Just a quick grab shot using the iPhone and Instagram. Sometimes you get lucky!