Day 365

365/365, a photo by Aaron LaRue on Flickr.

My name is Aaron.

I like taking pictures. On June 22nd, 2010 I decided to take a picture every day for a year. When I started, I couldn't fathom how important this project would become to me. I did it because I had a camera that wasn't being used as much as I would have liked, and I wanted to learn more about photography. Now, 365 pictures later, I'm happy I did it for a million other reasons. 

I had no idea how crazy this year would be, but I can confidently say that it's been the most eventful year of my life. I watched my mom follow her dream. I watched my cousin join the Army. I welcomed my new sister. I loved and lost. I turned 21. I made movies. I explored. I experimented. I shot movie stars.  I saw some great shows and played a sold out show of my own. I worked my ass off and graduated! And God knows I drank a ton of coffee. 

And everyday I took pictures. Sometimes I got something that I was proud of. Other times my pictures flat out sucked. But I never quit taking them. At a certain point, this project became less about the pictures themselves and more about the experience. It was an excuse to get to know my grandparents better. To spend time with my old friends or become closer with my new ones. To go on adventures. To go out on a limb and do something that scared me. It was an excuse to say yes to opportunities that I may have otherwise said no to. I got to blame it all on my camera, and my life was much more enjoyable because of it.


I've learned a lot from this project, more than I could ever begin to describe. I've learned a lot about myself and a lot about the people in my life. And I've definitely learned how to make (and take) better pictures. 


So here it is, the last picture of my 365. It feels like the end but I know it's just the beginning.