A Polaroid A Day
by Amanda on February 1, 2010
January is usually an awesome, laid back, summery month for me but on this side of the globe I feel like making it to February was an achievement. Getting through my first Canadian winter is not easy for me and yes, I know all you Canadians who don’t live in Vancouver are probably laughing at me. And even you Vancouverites are probably laughing at me because it’s been a very mild winter, but it’s still tough coming from my end. So yes, I got through another month! Hurrah!
Apart from the titillating subject of the weather, another reason I’m happy I made it through January is that I accomplished a little creative goal. WAY back at the beginning of 2010, I thought I’d give myself a photography project (as I usually do and usually fail). My project this year is Polaroid seasoned and the aim is to share a Polaroid a day. I’m not necessarily taking one every day in 2010, I just want to share one every day for 2010. Although that kind of goal for me is far too hardcore, so I’m going month by month or until the film runs out.
I made it through January, but Hawaii helped a lot because I had A LOT to shoot. We shall see how well we go in February without much light.
I find the photography projects to be helpful and hindering. I love the idea of them, but struggle to keep my mojo going. 52 Weeks almost sent me spiralling into a trauma ward last year and I’ve done the daily photo thing in the past. The hardest part is staying motivated. Right?
However, I do believe that 2010 is going to be the year of the Polaroid, so I have high hopes for happy Pola moments this year. Onwards to another month of Polas! Have you got any inspiring, creative projects going on this year?
p.s. One exciting bit of news for me: I was contacted by a publisher in Korea and one of my photographs is being used for a book cover over there. Score.
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16 Responses to “A Polaroid A Day”
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congrats on surviving january! i’ve lived in canada my entire life & cold is just not something you get used to – at least not me! i’m currently doing the 365 photography project and agree with you about photo projects…but i’m not giving up yet! also, congrats on the book cover! how very exciting.
I feel you on the projects – I got roped into a 365 and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep it up. I missed Saturday because of the rain and general chaos…now my dilemma is do I give up and keep plugging through?
Anyway – wanted to see that I look forward to seeing your shots.
I’m glad it’s not just me, Kay. They are hard to do. We can all keep each other inspired and on track.
Charlane, I’d keep going. I missed one week of 52 weeks because of illness but I did the rest anyway. It may not be 365 days in a row but it’s a year’s worth of photographs that you didn’t have the year before. I think people get so caught up in the rules of these projects that they forget what they are about. They are about learning and growing as a photographer, right? Screw the rules!
congrats on the great news! did they tell you which photo they used?
As for the project I think it’s great! I’ve tried the “self-portrait a day” one but dropped it in the middle – it’s really hard staying motivated. I think a Polaroid one is so much better because you just take one photo and that’s all, which of course is a huge part of film’s beauty :) Unfortunately, I can’t find film anywhere over here and the shipping costs me almost twice the price of it, so it ain’t happening :(
I really loved your january set though, so I hope you will continue :)
I’m born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and I find January tough, so I can imagine how it was for you even though Vancouver usually has gentler weather than Toronto. This year though? Mother nature has turned the tables on everyone so it hasn’t been “normal”. Love your blog & your photography. Your project sounds wonderful!
congratulations on finishing january! if it’s any consolation: we norwegians are getting pretty fed up with the snow as well, and we’re supposed to like it…
good luck with your polaroid project. if today’s photo is anything to go by (and i think it is), you’re going to have lots of happy pola moments!
yay! to getting one of your photographs on a book cover!
Iva, yes I had to approve it and I’ve seen the cover. It was a shot of my Russian doll Polaroid.
Yes, Sherry, I bet Toronto is a bit cooler than here! Thanks for commenting. :)
BC, I’d actually be happier if there was snow. It’s all a novelty for me.
Thanks dear. :)
I wouldn’t feel to badly about having a hard time with January…I live in Vancouver and am originally from the northern climes where it gets f*cking cold, and to be honest, I find Vancouver winters harder. It’s all the grey, rainy days, they kind of just blend into one and you start thinking they’ll never end…
But hey, February’s here now, so the flowers will be blooming soon – the worst part is over!
Congratulations on the book cover! I love your creativity, thanks for always sharing it here.
i’m another vancouverite that finds winters here really tough. sure, its fairly mild, there is green growth. but its the grey…. i’ve lived in colder parts of canada but they always had lots of winter sun. i find it really challenging getting through winters here too. so i’m definitely not laughing at you!
congratulations on your book cover!
thanks so much for dropping by and saying hello, it has lead me to your beautiful world which I am definitely enjoying.
looking forward to reading more & especially enjoying your polaroids.
♥
congrats on the book cover!
January is a real toughie…I blogged about the same thing myself yesterday! Here in SW France January has been lovely and sunny most of the time; but pretty cold and frosty. Better than grey drizzle anyday so I can’t complain!
I don’t think I could commit to a project like 52 weeks, although the discipline would be so good for me, hehe :)
congratulations! you create wonderful photos.
: )
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Etsy Polaroid Team and jakemessenger, Amanda Gilligan. Amanda Gilligan said: My Polaroid a day project http://www.mocking-bird.org/blog/2010/02/01/a-polaroid-a-day/ [...]
Hi, sorry i just left you a comment logged in under my mums name (Suzie) and I left you a comment under her blog, please delete it! thank you :)x
Hi there, thanks for deleting that comment!
I meant what I said though, you really inspire me, and you’re linked on my blog!
xxxx