My first complete 365 Days project. An endeavor to take a self-portrait every day for a year. The rules are simple. I must be visible in the picture, and I must take the picture. All I had to help me get into the photos was a 10-second timer. It’s surprising how fast you can get at moving into position!
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It’s Been a Tiring Week (365: 49)
It’s Been a Tiring Week (365: 49). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
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Too Much… (365:50)
Too Much… (365: 50). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I felt a bit rough when I got up this morning, and heaven knows why, but for some masochistic reason, I pointed a camera at myself. Happy Ending: A quick shower followed by a walk and brunch, and all was right with the world.
It was just as well I took this picture, as my planned Day 50 picture turned out an unmitigated disaster.
This would be a pretty uninspiring picture, apart from one thing. It was the first of my pictures that Ginger saw and commented on. She wrote:
I don’t understand how a man can feel like hell, wake up and take a picture this good. Sure, you look sorta sad. Or maybe tired around the edges. But this is a good look!
I replied:
Thank you. I’m glad you like it, I do too. Tired about sums it up, but the wine and brandy didn’t help
And that was it for a few months.
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At Ease (365: 51)
Day 51 It’s Late and I must choose… Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I’ve run out of time. I couldn’t choose a picture so I’ll go with the first.
That’s a big problem with self-portraits. You end up taking a lot – because you never know which one might have the right ‘look’, often you end up with a lot of similar poses, and not a lot to choose between them.
At this time I was using a 10-second self-timer, with a broom or something similar to ensure the camera was properly focused. Then I just had to press the button, rush into position, remove the broom or whatever, and try and not look too concerned…
By the way, the book is “The Crow Road” by one of my favorite authors, Iain Banks – who died in 2013.
Lots to choose from. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Six years on and I like this one too. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Watching (365: 52)
Watching (365: 52) — I’m watching you… Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Seeing Red Read (365: 53)
Seeing Red Read (365: 53) — 365 days Mini Challenge – Colour. Guess what the colour is… Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Red with Red Shoes — Challenge ‘Color’ — Red Shoes by Kate Bush. Naked just for the shock value. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Turn-On (365: 54)
Turn-On (365: 54). No time for a considered picture today – this will have to be it. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I had a dinner meeting straight after work, so I was late. I thought I’d take a simple picture of my finger on a light switch. Twenty pictures later (some fairly respectable, most just average), I decided to change tack and use the same idea on the oven instead. I took three shots to get to this one, at which point I called it a day.
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Safety in Numbers (365:55)
Safety in Numbers (365:55). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Last-minute panic! I just didn’t like any of the pictures I took earlier, so I had to fall back on my old favourite – the desk lamp. Why safety in numbers? Because it took 38 photographs to get this one.
This is another re-edit. Mainly to remove the intrusive background from the original shot.
Then over the years I’ve re-edited the picture a couple of more times a) Black and white version and b) in color because my post productions skills are much better now than ten-plus years ago.
2015, and I much prefer this black and white ‘re-mix’. I also like the 2017 color-corrected version.
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Toast (365: 56)
Toast (365: 56). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Toast (Original). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Toast is normally outside my diet, but I allow myself luxuries at weekends.
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Bedhead (365: 57)
Bedhead (365: 57) — Stayed up late and got up late. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I stayed up late and got up late. The light from our north facing window was too good to let pass, I took a load of pictures but settled on this one.
This is another re-edit. Mainly to improve the background of the original shot.
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Drowning in Red (365: 58)
Drowning in Red (365: 58) I forgot my picture for today, so this is a panic shot; which also resulted in my camera and I having our first lover’s tiff. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I forgot my picture for today, so this is a panic shot; which also resulted in my camera and I having our first lover’s tiff.
It suddenly refused to focus, and forgetting to set the timer before focusing lost its allure while waiting impatiently for 10 seconds to pass.
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It felt like a long day (365: 59)
It felt like a long day (365: 59). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I’ve felt tired all day, and I was looking for something that would portray this. The other pictures I took didn’t show the tiredness, this picture seems to capture it a bit more.
This truly represents how tired I feel, and how I thought I looked earlier today when I caught myself in the mirror. One of my car-share friends described me on the way home as ‘looking grey’.
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If you are what you eat, then this is me weekdays (365: 60)
If you are what you eat, then this is me weekdays (365: 60) — I diet weekdays, and have fun at weekends. This is fairly typical weekday fare. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I diet weekdays and have fun at weekends. This is fairly typical weekday fare.
What a total mess-up of a picture! I forgot to set up a fill-in light, so there are harsh shadows around my face. I haven’t the time or inclination to set it up and take it again; anyway, I’ve eaten a lot of it 🙂
D’oh! Picture spoilt for 2 minutes of effort.
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Burned Out (365: 61)
Burned Out — I’ve taken a day off to recharge. It is a shame the picture, like me, is a tad burned out despite my best efforts to correct it. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Note: This was not the picture I originally posted on Day 61. But that’s because somehow, I originally posted an earlier picture, and I’ve only just realized. This is the correct picture for Day 61.
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Friday Tie (365: 62)
Friday Tie (365: 62) — No inspiration and I wanted a quick end to my pain. Thirty non-descript pictures later and this is all I’ve got to show for it. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Dieting can damage your wallet (365: 63)
Dieting can damage your wallet (365: 63) — I need some new clothes. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Sunbathing (365: 64)
Sunbathing (365: 64) — The first sunny day for ages. So I am unashamedly enjoying it. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. The garden has an eight-foot high fence to stop the neighbours from peeking and, worse, complaining. The only one we can’t block is our next-door neighbour, whose only comment has been, ‘I know you like your sunbathing.’
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Breakfast (365: 65)
Breakfast (365: 65) — Anyone thinking our kitchen looked nice should note the unplastered ceiling. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
No Fancy Socks (365: 66)
No Fancy Socks (365: 66) — I’d have preferred to have my feet higher up the frame, but it is late, and I don’t have time to set the shot up again. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Resting (365: 67)
Resting (365: 67). I’ve had a hectic few weeks. Today saw one major item out of the way. Now just two more to go, and then I’ll have some more time. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Last Minute (365: 68)
Last Minute (365: 68). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. It is nearly half past eleven and I need to take and choose my picture. No time for anything fancy, just another shot taken at my desk.
And just to prove the struggle is real, here are a few of the pictures I took to try and get something half-decent.
It is nearly half past eleven and I need to take and choose my picture. No time for anything fancy, just another shot taken at my desk. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Not at all unhappy… (365: 69)
Not at all unhappy… (365: 69) — I might look it, but I’m Just bloody tired. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I might look it, but I’m Just bloody tired. Six am, and the end of the week. Around four weeks of four to six hours’ sleep a night leaves one like this in the morning.
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Shaving on the tiles (365: 70)
Shaving on the tiles (365: 70) — My reflection in the shower door. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
If I lay here (365: 71)
If I lay here (365: 71). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Snow Patrol’s album ‘Eyes Open’ is a part of my life soundtrack at the moment.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars.
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Obi-Wan Kenobi? (365: 72)
Obi-Wan Kenobi? (365: 72) — Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. No just bloody cold! It has been suggested that I am all too eager to disrobe, so I thought I’d dress up for today’s picture.
Rejects: Obi-Wan Kenobi? — Featuring: Stupid expression & my new red tie. Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
