This part of the year often seems to give rise to gentle reflection of the year gone by. Highlights, achievements, changes. But oddly, when I look back through my archive of 365 photos for this year, they show none of those things. They are full of the minutiae of life and all the more valuable for that.
I did toy with loftier goals for the year to come - a photo a day based on The Daily Shoot's photo prompts. But on reflection, I rather like the random nature of what I captured each day.
2011 will mark the fourth year of taking on the challenge (with varying degrees of success) but seems to still have value.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. (Aristotole)
And if you want to fall in love with the way photographs capture life, you need to visit Pummelvision and make a movie of your entire photostream. In their words, it's like watching your life flash in front of your eyes. Bizarrely captivating.
Oh! How I LOVE this - it captures you exactly. I particularly love the way that it is punctuated with huge smiles from your boys.
Posted by: Alice C | 27 December 2010 at 22:49
Wow! I love this! Thank you for sharing such a great idea - I am waiting for mine as I type.
Posted by: lina | 28 December 2010 at 04:46
oohh I like the idea of making sure you take a photo a day for the whole year :-) I am loving getting back in to photography again this year. Love that last photo montage - great music with it too.
Posted by: scentedsweetpeas | 28 December 2010 at 08:48
I've been thinking of doing something like this since I got my new camera. Your pictures are such an inspiration Ali.
Posted by: Sue | 28 December 2010 at 09:25
Well, your minutiae is a damn sight better looking than that of most of us.
Posted by: The Coffee Lady | 28 December 2010 at 09:59
That was really entrancing! I love the Aristotole quote too 'we are what we repeatedly do' - I'd best stop being a moaner then!!! x
Posted by: simone | 28 December 2010 at 15:47
Wow, great Pummelvision - what a great idea! A wondeful way to review your year!
Posted by: Louise | 28 December 2010 at 16:50
love it!
fantastic to see all that you are drawn to, have created and care about. what an inspiring spring board to the new year. i hope yours brings much more of the same because you do it so well ali.
and now to pummel...x
Posted by: kelly | 28 December 2010 at 19:24
I love your pummelvision, I really want to investigate that!
Posted by: harmony and rosie | 28 December 2010 at 20:54
You have such a good eye, your 365 photos reflect the treasures in your life.xx
Posted by: French Knots | 28 December 2010 at 21:46
Minutiae are the best sort of life things to capture. Put 'em all together and they add up to a whole lot of significant.
Posted by: Tania | 28 December 2010 at 23:08
Delightfully compelling. I am rubbing my eyes.
Posted by: jackie | 29 December 2010 at 12:15
Oh zowie! That is so fantastic! But now I'm feeling sooo lazy and unproductive... K :)
Posted by: kristina | 29 December 2010 at 17:37
What beautiful photographs you take Ali. I was indeed captivated.
Posted by: lazylol | 29 December 2010 at 21:25
Happy New Year Ali
Posted by: joanna | 30 December 2010 at 09:48
Happy New Year Ali, what a wonderful photo film to have. It captures the "you" we see via your blog so perfectly. So much colour, craft & happiness. Thank you for sharing the idea with us, I'll have a go at making one asap!
MD xxx
Posted by: Modern Dilemma | 02 January 2011 at 11:27
Happy New Year to you and yours and thank you for the last years worth of your fabulous inspiration.... Keep up the fab work, its been a treat reading it all and enjoying your fabulous pics
Posted by: suzie sews at Dotty Red | 03 January 2011 at 01:30
Lots of cakes :-) Too fast - so many pretty things that I wanted to examine but that's why I love reading your blog.
Posted by: Fiona | 05 January 2011 at 22:01
WOW I LOVED that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't use this word lightly, but that whole experience was "AWeSoMe"! Your life is certainly very stylish and you capture it beautifully with camera. Wonderful. I think if i ran my pics together like that I would feel a bit nauseated, it would feel like being dumped inside a smartie tube and rolled down a steep hill.
Posted by: Lucy@Attic24 | 11 January 2011 at 13:05
Mesmerizing! I want to make one! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Amberly | 26 January 2012 at 05:55