redfishingboat

Photography has always been an alternate way to view the world around us. But, what happens when we turn the cameras on ourselves? The digital camera revolution has resulted in a huge spike in photos overall. And, with no cost for experimentation, there is also spike in self-portraits. There are some who commit to taking at least one self-portrait every day for a year.  On the popular photo-sharing Web site known as Flickr this is called a “365 Days Project”.  Hundreds of Flickr members give it a try, and many of them succeed. Beyond that, there are a rare few who complete the year’s worth of self-exploration, but just keep going.

This is an interview with Kendra Sundvall — a.k.a Chapendra on Flickr — a college student and longtime Flickr user who just posted her one-thousandth consecutive daily self-portrait. (!!!)

RedFishingBoat: When you started your first 365 Project, did you think it would go farther than that one year?

Chapendra: Yes, actually I did but I thought of how difficult it would be but a challenge I wanted to take but I focused on just completing the one year first and growing from there

RFB: Was there one person who influenced you to start the project?

Chapendra: Not really, I find the whole group uniquely inspiring as it is such an individual project yet so tied to the same type of endpoint of taking a self-portrait for 365 but each finishes and goes in their own way


RFB: Is it technically a self-portrait if any part of your body or shadow shows in the photo?

Chapendra: Yes. I’ve got a handful of shadow ones and just ones of fingers

RFB: Have you ever done the same shot twice by accident or on purpose?

Chapendra: Within the sets, some are similar but each has a different meaning for the day or vibe, maybe alike but surely not attended to be similar.

RFB: Have you made contacts with people based only on your 365 participation?

Chapendra: Yes, many. I’ve got a handful that have seemed to stick since the first few days

RFB: Have they been rewarding contacts?

Chapendra: What’s the definition of rewarding? I’d yes, for the most part

RFB: I mean contacts that you value and know, as opposed to the nameless Flickr contacts we all have but never interact with

Chapendra: Oh yes then, I do ones I would LOVE to meet some day and hope to do so

RFB: Have you lost any contacts due to your 365?

Chapendra: Yes, some people have left me messages saying I post too many self-portraits, or the fact that I don’t inspire them anymore as my work is too different then their own, which that part breaks my heart to the biggest degree.

RFB: Some people have a very real negative reaction to the idea of daily self-portraits. Does that surprise you?

Chapendra: No not at all, after all you are being in a way full of yourself broadcasting your day in a way with a self portrait, narcissism can be taken so many ways, for me I find it important

RFB: Important how?

Chapendra: Important in the way that I find self reflection and growing from what happened and where I’ve been, experiences part of being able to grow farther

RFB: So the value of daily self-portraits is helpful to yourself as a way to review how you and your life have changed?

Chapendra: Yes, very much so. I wish in a way I would have stark self-portraits as well, like a simple face type photograph to see the changes there instead of just generally expressive photographs

RFB: If that is the case, why make the photos public?

Chapendra: I want attention, duh! Nah it is liberating feeling you’re showing about yourself and life in a place people may find value in it or may not, either way. I do have some family+friends only, though.

RFB: Have you ever worried that you were being too self-obsessed?

Chapendra: Yes, in many ways but most of all, I try to put my life into a philosophy spin or another spin which where it becomes a lesson or a learning for others rather then just a blather about HEY, me!

RFB: Does it ever feel like a chore?

Chapendra: No. (laughs) Not really. (pause) Yes. Sometimes I feel picky how things will turn out. And nothing reaches that way. So, then I just give up and look back on it and wish something better would have came out of it. But, I guess in a sense documentation is never perfect but I want it to be good but I’ll take what I get sometimes

RFB: have you ever cheated and not taken one?

Chapendra: Nope

RFB: Will you keep going?

Chapendra: Yes I want to go forever, as long as I live.

RFB: They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Lets turn that around.   Pick one word to describe your thousand pictures.

Chapendra: Special.

RFB: (Laughs)

Chapendra: Because each day isn’t like the last, one for each day keeps it diverse but the subject me is what I am, within feelings and the day.

RFB: Are you an artist?

Chapendra: I don’t like the title. I’m Kendra

Year 1:

Year 2:

Year 3: