365 Photographs Later...

Last year, on Valentine's Day, it started -- the take-your-camera-everywhere, late-night scramble-for-a-photo madness of 365 days in photos. And here we are today, many batteries later, my Samsung and I, old friends. We both have our moments -- sometimes he switches to video mode without telling me, sometimes I drop him out of my back pocket into the road-- but we're both still functional, for the most part.

So, here it is, my year in photographs, along with a few things I've learnt along the way.

Discovery: The flash is not my friend. It's been turned off since June. If the light's bad enough that I need a flash, there's no point taking the picture.

Tip: Never take a photo of yourself in a green mud mask and expect people to say flattering things.

Discovery: Taking photos at work seemed boring and desperate at the time, but now those shots are some of the most telling in looking at how my life has changed.

Tip: Photos of fried food will never look tasty, no matter how good the food was.

Tip: When inspiration runs thin, taking photos of the same old things, but from above, can hold you over until the 365 excitement returns.

Discovery: Looking back at the photos, it's always the close-ups that grab my attention, but it's nice to have a few larger-scope photos to help capture the atmosphere of the month.

Discovery: Taking a photo-a-day in those first few months of having Tilly often made me feel like I'd actually accomplished something that day, and worked wonders towards me feeling like a functional human again!

Discovery: Though I haven't beaten my slight fear of public photography, I have gotten much much quicker at whipping out the camera and taking the shot before anyone notices.

Tip: Sometimes it's the mistakes that make the most memorable photos. A blurred leg here, and sneeze-on-camera there, it all helps to recall the real feeling of the year.

Discovery: Who'd have thought photos of feet were so interesting (to me, at least) and addictive?

Tip: As well as all of the regular baby milestones, we've really enjoyed taking Tilly's photo at each of our favourite restaurants and cafes -- her first plate of IKEA meatballs is a big step in this family!

Tip: A very easy home-studio for staging shots can be made from two white sheets of poster board, propped together at a right-angle. The white board reflects light onto your subject, and gives you a blank background.

Discovery: There are several lists of weekly themes out there on the Web for 365ers needing inspiration. When challenged with the theme of 'macro' shots, some new perspectives were found.

Discovery: As with many things, taking photos begets more photo taking. So while at the start, one photo a day was often a challenge, now it's become natural to take a picture of anything of interest.

And what happens at the end, you might wonder? Do I put my camera on a shelf, and breathe a sigh of relief? Put the lens cover on and give my trusty Samsung a rest?

Not on your life! Call me ambitious, but I'd like to commit, right now, to taking a photo-a-day every day for the rest of my life. Off we go again, The Year of the Rabbit in photos...

My Creative Year

2010 has been a handmade year like no other.

January was spent patiently knitting for unborn Tilly, on needles so small that the blanket took ten months to finish.

In February, Wodger and Wupert Wabbit -- the original Travelling Tillberries -- were sewn, though Wodger unfortunately disappeared into the mystery of the Chinese postal system.

In March, I made my first quilt. I discovered Lotta's "Simple Sewing for Baby" in April.

May and June saw me desperately stuffing foxes and hand-stitching tea cups during the eight weeks of any-day-now Tilly panic.

July was a month of simply creating ourselves as a family of three.

In August, there were many nights of cutting out felt letters.

September, scarily, was when all of the Christmas presents were started, which continued through October.

My Mum's visit in November threw creativity into overdrive -- cardigan knitting, apron embroidery, cross-stitched ornaments, and the lid of the infamous can of blackboard paint was popped.

And December's proudest achievement was the advent tea wreath, a tradition I hope we'll continue for many years to come!

What have you enjoyed creating this year? Let's hope that 2011 is just as full of inspiration!