125 ☼ How To Keep a Photo Diary (And Why)
125 ☼ How To Keep a Photo Diary (And Why)
My 365/2023 Project - A Daily Photo Diary
Dear friends,
This week's letter is about my 365/2023 project for which I took one picture every day through this year, all on a Kodak Professional Tri-X Single-Use Camera. This project helped me realize a photo diary can be just as helpful and meaningful as a written one.
☀️ Shout out to my friends at Squarespace for helping make this issue possible ☀️
Announcement
This coming January I will launch Process Projected, an on-going series of exhibits highlighting new voices in socially engaged photography. I’m thrilled to partner with What Is Happening Here, a rebellious art gallery in the center of Amsterdam.
In a sense, this is a spiritual continuation of a series of 96 photography exhibits I curated for the International Center of Photography in New York City, the world’s leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture.
Much more on this in January! I cannot wait to get back to my curatorial roots and showcase incredible work by inspiring photographers forming a new wave.
To read more about my curation work for ICP and elsewhere, read Process 084.
The Value and Joy of A Daily Photo Diary
In December 2021, I had the privilege of being among the first individuals worldwide to test the Kodak Professional Tri-X Single-Use Camera before its official launch. It was a great experience, especially when I used it in the studio for an editorial model shoot and achieved outstanding results. This inspired me to use it for "365/2023", a daily photo project throughout 2023, with the support of my friends at Kodak Alaris.
This unassuming camera was my constant companion, tucked snugly in my pocket or bag as I made my way through the world each day. It’s even smaller and lighter than most compact cameras, making it easy to always have at the ready to document life’s fleeting moments.
From a summer photo walk with my friend Ash to behind-the-scenes glimpses from my client shoot with broadcaster Orla Chennaoui, and personal moments shared with the ever-charismatic Tinotenda, this unassuming camera became the silent narrator of my day. At times, during the most eventful days, it was a challenge to pick the one moment to represent my day. Other days were so rainy and interior that I’d have no choice but to take a most mundane picture of my laundry drying next to my desk.
Most days gave me plenty of opportunities, thankfully. Photo walks in Burgundy, coffee dates with friends, Parisian rooftop escapades, family visits, and even sessions at the gym—the camera bore witness to the mosaic of my experiences.
I documented the accidental devastation of my backyard deck in July when a tree came crashing down, and juxtaposed it against the slow but steady resurrection in September. Each click is a testament to change and progress, but also the unavoidable little steps backward before picking back up and pushing ahead again.
The beauty of the Tri-X Camera lies in its simplicity—no frills, no settings, just the click of a button and the pop of a flash. This lack of options stripped away any sense of preciousness, allowing me to immerse myself fully in the present. It was a commitment to genuine, unfiltered snapshots—a bona fide photo diary of my 2023.
As I flip through the resulting images, it's a visual experience as much as it is one of emotions and feelings. Noticing the shifts in my friend’s lives, changing seasons, dinners with new pals like
and Jamie, and the serendipity of friendship and love entering my life—all captured in the grainy simplicity of Tri-X. Every frame a chapter in the story of my year.
This project wasn't just about photography; it was about embracing life. The Tri-X Camera was my collaborator in authenticity, documenting the unscripted daily beauty that often goes unnoticed, especially for someone like myself who can be too future-focused at times. This camera and project helped me smell the roses.
I’m reflecting on this project as much as I am inviting you to consider your experience this year. I expect that you, like everyone, went through it. You had your ups and downs, your crazy work-related days, your laughter-filled time with friends, your doubts and fears, your confident moments, your family time, and probably a couple of those days where nothing made sense and you weren’t sure what was next.
What stories does your environment hold? Which moments are waiting to be immortalized? The beauty of photography lies in its power to anchor memories visually and transform ordinary moments into remembered visuals.
I have tried many times to keep a written diary but it’s never stuck. I’m not sure why I never really thought to just make it a visual diary before, in this unpretentious and unglamorous way. But now that I look back at this year, I know I will continue to do something like this for the rest of my life. I hope you consider doing the same.
Step outside, capture the warmth of your world, freeze the laughter, and document the mundane magic that surrounds you. Let your photographs tell stories that matter to you—stories that become a testament to the richness of your life experience.
A big thank you to the amazing team at Kodak Alaris for help make this project a reality, and to the equally amazing team at Carmencita Photo Lab for making these pictures sing with their wonderful development and scanning. <3
That’s it for this week! If you enjoyed this issue I’d love for you to share it with friends.
Next Issue: I’m off next week for Christmas, but Process will be back on December 31st with the last issue of the year! I look back at the goals I set for 2023, how that went, and what my goals are for 2024. Also, my method for setting creative goals.
Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
PS A great way to support Process is to order my photo book NOTICE. It makes for a great holiday present as well. It also contains an essay by Craig Mod, a logo design by Jessica Hische, and design by Dan Rubin.
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: Kodak Professional Tri-X Single-Use Camera.
Lab: All my analog work is developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab. Use code “PROCESS” to get a free size upgrade.
Website: A huge thank you to Squarespace for making this edition of Process a reality. If you need a website, I highly recommend Squarespace. I've been a satisfied customer for over 10 years (!!!) – it's incredibly user-friendly, allowing me to effortlessly create and maintain a beautiful and professional portfolio and webshop.
Use the code PROCESS10 for 10% off your first order.
Great reminder to start a 365 for 2024! Thank you.
Are you planning on making something like a printed version for yourself. It could become a great yearbook and something valuable to look back on later on in life
22 and a bit years 100realpeople.co.uk/daily