365 DAYS #365 Famous Last Words on Flickr.

Well this is it, this is the final photo in what has been a big project and commitment from me. I couldn’t think of a better place to end it than at home, in Australia on a beautiful 30-something day in Bendigo. This photo represents the end of this project for me, I’m walking away, having completed what I intended to do.

It has been a big year for me - I’ve spent the full year living abroad in London, I’ve travelled to Greece, Turkey, Spain, Scotland and finally, Australia, for a visit home over Christmas.

In the last few weeks I’ve anticipated taking the last photo to finalise this project and not have to think about it anymore - it’s been a massive commitment and I’m proud of how far I’ve come, even though some of the photos may not be that great. Considering I only picked up an SLR camera not even 2 years ago, I think I’ve done alright.

So 2012 will bring on a new year, new opportunites and new adventures in both life and photography - it’ll also include a final return to Melbourne after over 2 years in London.

To everyone that has viewed my photographs over the past 365 days: THANK-YOU! Whether you viewed 1, 100 or all 365 photos, left comments for me or reblogged them onto your own tumblr blog - I can’t say how much it means to me, so once again: Thank-you!

It’ll be a strange feeling waking up tomorrow morning knowing I don’t have to take a photo, but I’ll learn to deal with it.

See you all soon,
Matt

PS: Happy New Year!

365 DAYS #364 The Good Life on Flickr.

I’ve been waiting for a night like tonight for 19 months. Ever since I’ve been away I’ve wanted to come back here, to this deck, at what we call “The Resort” in Bendigo.

It’s a simple photo for the penultimate shot in my 365 DAYS project but this is a simple pleasure - to be able to sit amongst great friends, with warm weather and a few glasses (and bottles) of wine.

The Good Life!

365 DAYS #362 GPOYW № 5 on Flickr.

This is the final GPOYW for my project, sitting in the back seat of my parent’s car as we are on our way out.

365 DAYS #361 I Love You Mum on Flickr.

This is probably, by far, my favourite photo of the entire project. This is the photo I’ve been waiting to take ever since I began on Jan 1st.

It’s been a tough 12 months or so for my family, especially for my mum, who is sitting next to me in this photo, as we watch the sun set on what has been a beautiful day in Melbourne.

I couldn’t be happier to be home in Melbourne for the holidays - a trip only possible thanks to my parents - and I’m extremely grateful to be able to share a moment like this with my mum out the front of our home.

There is a short instrumental track on the Watchmen soundtrack entitled “I Love You Mum” - you have to read the comic or watch the film to understand where it fits in, but that is where I’ve borrowed the title from to name this photo.

365 DAYS #359 This Is Christmas on Flickr.

Living in the UK, I’ve met people who cannot comprehend a warm Christmas in Australia. One thing I’ve come to realise is that Christmas has nothing to do with the weather or the place - Christmas is where your family is, where your home is. This is Christmas for me.

365 DAYS #357 Thongs! on Flickr.

It felt like almost a rite of passage that I had to go through in order to continue with my 3 week holiday at home in Melbourne - a new pair of Havaianas. My feet thanked me graciously!

365 DAYS #356 Sunny & 28! on Flickr.

Today has been a day spent with my dad in the backyard, helping him with his latest project - a deck around our newly replaced swimming pool.

I took a short break however to snap this from the front of what is our family home and has been for 27 years. I love this house, not only for it’s memories, but for the people that live under it’s roof and the fact that this house, in Ferntree Gully, will always be home.

Today’s weather forecast was “sunny and 28” - and the weatherman wasn’t wrong!

365 DAYS #355 Crash on Flickr.

This is me on the night of my third day back home in Melbourne. After only 2 hours sleep the night before, I was the walking dead for most of the afternoon, before I crashed at just after 9.

Luckily I slept for close to 12 hours!

365 DAYS #350 An Oxford Street Christmas on Flickr.

It’s hard to leave this street after work every night, especially when it looks like this. But the cold that is in the air is too much to bear, so one must wander home.

365 DAYS #349 Waiting To Exhale on Flickr.

A long few weeks is almost over. Only one more day of work for the week so I’m breathing a sigh of relief.

What comes next???

365 DAYS #348 Spitting Fire on Flickr.

“What the rest did
I was average
But I dont mind
Drawn on two sides without disguise.
But I dont mind
But I spit fire on lovers and liars
And you, you dont believe me
And I, I find it easy
Easy”

Spitting Fire, The Boxer Rebellion

365 DAYS #347 Clarity on Flickr.

“I worry, I weigh three times my body
I worry, I throw my fear around
But this morning, there’s a calm I can’t explain
The rock candy’s melted, only diamonds now remain”

Clarity, John Mayer

365 DAYS #346 Socks Stay The Same on Flickr.

Not a lot has been normal for me in the past few months. At the beginning of September, I had a four month plan, which I have to admit I never noted down, but either way, it fell through.

Work-wise, the past four months in particular have been amazing. I love my job, I say it all the time, and it’s only because I do - and largely because I have always wanted to truthfully say it! I love the people I work with, they range in ages, in backgrounds and in attitudes and ideals but I love working with them every day and I would work with them on weekends if I could!

But life is all about balance - life is also a bitch. You can never have equal amounts of everything it seems, They will only allow you enough of a good thing and They will always serve a slice of something bitter to go with the sweetness that may be everything else in your life.

I wish, like my socks, things would just stay the same. Even just for a little while.

365 DAYS #345 Two Layers on Flickr.

The weather is getting increasingly colder. My signature “Stones” t-shirt is now layered upon a long sleev thermal shirt from Uni-Qlo. What I wouldn’t give for a slice of warm weather right about now…