Photographer shares 1 660 days of photos … and counting
uMhlanga resident Ryan Joffe challenged himself to take a photo daily as a way of adding positivity to his life.
WITH World Photography Day coming up on August 19, we reached out to local photographer Ryan Joffe who challenged himself to take one photo every day. Today marks day 1 660 of his journey – which began in 2019.
Joffe, a creative director for an advertising agency, has long been a photographer.
“My personal preference is fine-art landscapes,” he said.
Joffe was inspired to start his daily photo challenge as a way of adding positivity to his life and sharing the good vibes with others.
“In 2019, there was a lot of bad news going around, and I decided to post a photo each day to focus on something else. It was a bit of a struggle in the first few weeks, and then it got easier. The only rules I have are that I don’t post any photos of family or any of my professional work photography. The idea was to break the monotony and bad news,” he said.
Joffe’s photo of the day could be of anything interesting he sees in a day.
“I live in uMhlanga and go for a walk on the promenade or the nature reserve. I might post a photo of a dolphin or someone surfing or anything I see that catches my eye,” he said.
Some five years later, Joffee is continuing the journey. He starts a new album every year and posts his photos on his Facebook page.
“I have gotten a lot of positive feedback over the years. I have a friend who loves birds and always shares details about the species when I post bird photos,” said Joffe.
He has also enjoyed the journey – learning along the way.
“You start seeing patterns of certain flowers that come at certain times of the year or weather patterns. It’s quite cool to be connected to it. You stop and appreciate the little things. It’s really nice to have a creative outlet like this,” he said.
Are you ‘captured’ by this idea?
Joffe shared a few tips for anyone keen to take up a photo-a-day challenge.
“The sooner you start the better – just jump in. I was too critical of myself in terms of quality control, and that’s where I went wrong in the beginning. I was my own worst critic. I wouldn’t post a photo if I didn’t think it was amazing. Meanwhile, others might have liked it,” said Joffe.
When it comes to taking good photos, Joffe said ‘practice makes perfect’ and reaching out for help is encouraged.
“I am one of those people who loves to research. I am not afraid to ask for help. Most photographers are approachable and willing to share tips,” he said.
For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
