LIVING THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES | Darrin Henry

Today we mark the first 100 days of 2018 and, for the third consecutive time we are also celebrating a successful 100-day start to a photography Project 365.

When Sharon and I embarked on this photo-a-day adventure on 1 January, 2016, our ambition back then was just to complete the year, we never considered April 2018 was going to be reached, uninterrupted. Surprisingly the confines of living on a tiny island – the size of St Helena is 48 square miles – has not prevented us from keeping the project interesting and fresh.

Click Here for more about what a Project 365 is.

The first 100 Days of 2018 captured in one photo per day, part of the bigger Photography Project 365.

 

Month by Month, Day By 831 Days

Although today marks the first 100 days of 2018, it also means 831 consecutive days we’ve been capturing a new picture. Yes, there are times it’s been a drag, especially when there’s foul weather outside, the day is rapidly finishing and we’ve yet to shoot the day’s picture.

But, slow days aside, this first 100 days of 2018 is typical of how, in hindsight, we realise we are actually living the days of lives. And I think that applies to more of us, wherever we live in the world, than we may appreciate.

A quick glance back over the last century of days, to the start of 2018, is a good way to bring this realisation home.

In January we spent a weekend in Rupert’s Valley photographing First Generation. It’s a project that’s unlocked a deeper curiosity of this important segment of island history, not just for us but a lot of the models who took part and members of the public who came to see the exhibition.

In February the island bid a heart-wrenchingly sad goodbye to the RMS St Helena. A sea-going way of life came to an end for Saints. Our link to the outside world is now primarily by air.

March highlighted two incredible Saint maritime achievements. A circumnavigation of the globe by a Saint family, James and Hannah Herne and their three children, on their yacht Carpe Diem, presented in an exhibition at the Museum of St Helena. We also posted a story of Me Ansum, a 40-year-old homemade example of the incredible craftsmanship and resourcefulness of island carpenter, Charlie George.

April has already seen Team St Helena at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and visiting cruise ships, including a historic entry onto the island by MV Astor, using the sheltered landing facility at Rupert’s jetty for the first time.

Day 94 of the first 100 Days of 2018 on St Helena, watching our team live on tv at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.

 

The Randomness Of The First 100 Days Of 2018

In-between these big moments are all those random little life moments, unplanned nugget images of life as it unfolds around us. From a dinner of traditional Saint plo to birds playing in the rain puddles; from melting road tar in the summer sun to a guitar player in a local band, each one is a patch on our first 100 days of 2018 quilt.

Only now, looking back at the pictures we realise these first 100 days of 2018 have been quite something. Without necessarily thinking about it on a day-to-day basis, our Project 365 is building a digital log of some big moments in St Helena history.

Primarily though, the theme of our blog and in turn, our Project 365, is all about adventures in photography. It’s a challenge to pick up the camera and take a fresh picture every single day. We don’t always have a big event to point at, so then it’s about being creative, seeking out an interesting frame within ordinary surroundings. Or getting out the strobes and toys and fabricating a picture for the day. Day 61, is a perfect example, on 2 March experimenting with levitation photography.

The first 100 days of 2018 have been a super photographic journey. Let’s see what the next 265 brings.

Clockwise from top left: Planning Miss St Helena; launching First Generation; old friends reunion; MV Astor passengers landing at Ruperts jetty. First 100 Days of 2018 Project 365

 

BTS – the setup on Day 39 to shoot the inside of the bottle.

 

Finding inspiration in the bottom of the bottle! Trying to find a different view on Day 39.
First 100 Days of 2018