day three hundred and sixty five

(Be prepared for a long description.)

The End.

Wow.
Wow wow wow.
Let me just begin by saying thank you to everyone who has commented, favorited, and sent me messages encouraging me throughout this project. Your kind words kept me going and gave me the confidence that I so greatly needed. Thank you for letting me share a small part of my life with you.

Wow. What a year this has been. I can easily say that this has been the hardest, craziest, most adventurous year ever. 2010 was labeled “The Year Without Fear” on January 1, and as I look back, it has been a year filled with much fear and adventure.

January my family was thrusted into my dad’s job retirement—and new job—and move.
February we were invited to go to Florida to watch our friend drive his crew into space. The shuttle launch was more exciting than Disney World and meeting Brandon Heath.
Having Chris Tomlin and James Lankford at our school was pretty cool too.
And then in May the Parker family packed their bags, said goodbye, and pilled into the van for a two week long trek across the United States and Canada. Leaving my church and school family was the hardest thing ever. It was the last Choir tour at school and the last drama production at church. I got to be in the school play for the first and last time. My school and church were my family and I still miss them an unbelievable amount. But driving to the Last Frontier was quite the adventure in of itself. We got to stop by Focus on the Family, where my mom signed her writing contract and we were able to go through a private tour. And of course there was the normal sightseeing and stories and gas station stops. We rode the ferry, we drove through Canada, we endured the road to Tok, and finally we were in our new home. We’re all still adjusting and still facing challenges but as all things go, we can make it through.
And also in November there was the Writers’ Conference, which is always a highlight.

Photography-wise? The beginning of the year was the beginning of my photography. My camera was a Kodak Zi6, I believe, which was mostly a video camera but had one picture setting—but there was no self timer, so if I wanted to have both my hands in the picture, I would have to film myself and then print screen from the computer. As for editing? It was picnik and paint until I found some old photoshop software in a box after the move to Alaska. I also bought myself a point and shoot camera with my birthday money for the sole reason that it had a self timer! After the finding of photoshop in June, my photography finally started to improve. And there’s still a long way to go.
As I’ve told many of you before, I’m happy and sad for this project to be over. Happy because I never knew I would have gotten this far or have grown to love photography this much. Also happy because, of course, it’s over. But I’m also sad because this year has been a transition year and truly one-of-a-kind. I really am at a loss for words. It’s been a hard year, one of the hardest, but I’m excited for the year to come to see where God takes me next. It’s been an awesome journey, and really this isn’t the end.
It’s only the beginning.

Songs that got me through the Year:
I will Rise
Before the Morning
Alaska

P.S. Be prepared for a print givaway!

Also, I got a very sweet testimonial from this super awesome girl! Thank you so much! :D

Comments and faves

  1. kelly.marie, katertaterphoto, LaurenLepore, Murdock's Photography, and 36 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. alesha joy. (17 months ago | reply)

    CONGRATS!!!!!!
    This is beautiful and amazing and a great way to finish!
    I have enjoyed watching your adventures.
    You have come a long way!! :D

  3. kelly.marie (17 months ago | reply)

    This is one of the best 365 pictures I've ever seen. Congratulations!

  4. mi>|<im (17 months ago | reply)

    congrats Lauren, you're more than amazing!

  5. Donna Irene. (17 months ago | reply)

    amazing end!
    congratulations!!!

  6. *isobel* [deleted] (17 months ago | reply)

    This is BEAUTIFUL. Truly unbelievable.

  7. kristi mac. (17 months ago | reply)

    Oh my gosh, Lauren, this is probably my favorite picture of yours. I'm so sad (and happy) to see your 365 at it's end. Happy because it's a huge accomplishment, and I'm only half way there. Sad because I love seeing your pictures every single day, and being so insanely jealous of what you could create. Please, never stop uploading, and even more important, never stop imagining. A big huge congratulations to you my dear.

  8. kmyd. (17 months ago | reply)

    This is amazing!!

  9. BokehButterfly (17 months ago | reply)

    You are amazing. <3

  10. hayliegracephotography (17 months ago | reply)

    Such an adventerous photo. Great job! Keep up your photography ... :)

  11. Regina Leah (17 months ago | reply)

    Oh wow, what an amazing capture!
    Congratulations on finishing your 365. I can't wait to see more.

  12. mathilde wiren [deleted] (17 months ago | reply)

    yeah i completely agree with everyone ^^ this is an amazing picture, definetly my favorite of all yours. :-) congratulations Lauren!!

  13. Carolyn Emily (17 months ago | reply)

    This is so, so beautiful! Congratulations! I feel so bad that I only just found your stream. Congratulations on finishing, though! :)

  14. lauren r w (17 months ago | reply)

    YAY congrats! your pictures are fantastic

  15. rawrrrxamanda (17 months ago | reply)

    oh my goodness
    this is the most epic end of 365 picture i've ever seen
    you're incredible and i can't believe i JUST found your stream!

  16. rosa joy (17 months ago | reply)

    oh my word.

  17. rachael hyde (17 months ago | reply)

    Although I wasn't here to watch your 365, this has to be one of the greatest final shots I've seen.
    Congratulations, dear, you're incredible!

  18. charmfully (17 months ago | reply)

    this is the best 365 shot i have seen.
    the freedom and the lung and the expression shown through this photograph is amazing.

    congratulations on finishing such a big project

    to know that you started with a freaking VIDEO CAMERA and to had PRINT SCREEN?!
    that's fjkasjdjtkslredfjfa
    i could have never.
    that is so encouraging.
    you are beautiful. (:

    keep your photograph up, please.
    don't stop taking pictures.

    congratulations. (:

  19. patty nguyen (17 months ago | reply)

    Wow. Can I say epic finale much?
    I'm sad I didn't get to follow your 365, but I know it has let you grown and made you an even better photog.
    Congratulations!

  20. jenna cleveland. (17 months ago | reply)

    congrats! i am so happy for you :)
    and oh my word, this photo is unbelieveable.

  21. nikki chicoine. (17 months ago | reply)

    amazinng photo, and congrats! :)

  22. BokehButterfly (17 months ago | reply)

    You're welcome! I felt like you deserved it. :)

  23. Anthony Delletiglie (17 months ago | reply)

    Whoa! Lauren, this is absolutely incredible.

    Congratulations!
    You've done a wonderful job.
    :)

  24. GillyFace (17 months ago | reply)

    I came across your stream right at the end or your 365 project, but after watching your "year without fear" video, I think it's amazing how much you have improved and developed throughout it. I hope in 11 months when mine comes to an end, I will be able to say the same for myself.
    Congratulations, and I hope you continue to upload brilliant photos.

  25. bexcks (17 months ago | reply)

    i LOVE this- congratulations on finishing!!!!!

  26. ann, (17 months ago | reply)

    okay, so i haven't been following your 365 for very long, but i just wanna say you have TONS of talent. you constantly have fantastic ideas and they're perfectly thought out and executed and you have done so well. and with a point and shoot! so congratulations to you, lauren, you are incredible.

  27. painted glass (17 months ago | reply)

    Oh my god.
    Congrats.
    This gives me shivers.
    Your description was so inspiring.

  28. Eight Line Poem [deleted] (17 months ago | reply)

    congrats on making it girl! I didn't follow troughout your whole 365, but I'm glad to have your stream in my contacts :) to keep me up to date from time to time :)
    Keep making photographs!!

  29. Dillon Versprille (17 months ago | reply)

    This is absolutely breath taking.

  30. ▼insk▲ (17 months ago | reply)

    a
    ma
    zincccc

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