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: