Frequently Asked Questions

Adobe After Effects’ Image Stabilization Plugin.

The project began out of spite. I had just purchased a digital camera (Nikon CoolPix 900), and it was rather expensive. My girlfriend at the time asked me why I bought it and what I was going to do with it. I explained. She seemed unconvinced and asked if I was "going to use it every day" with sarcastic inflection. I told her yes, and resolved to do so. Inception!

* Supposedly this story is untrue. At some point Michelle explained to me that I had wanted to do this with a Polaroid prior to the digital camera but couldn’t justify the ongoing expense of the film at the time.

Initially, I thought of the project focusing on the differences that one can see in the self from day to day. Same person, different personas. As the project grew and grew, it became more about the process of the whole. I began to look at the long-term changes that occur parallel to the short term changes. These changes will become more and more apparent as the project ages 20-30+ years. Now I’m looking towards the end. It’s a morbid proposition, but something that must be faced.

I don’t smile for this project because I want the images to be as ‘subtly objective’ as possible. I like to be able to extract a specific feeling from what should be an expressionless face. There are days when you can see a lot from the way the muscles are situated in the face. Granted, it is next to impossible to see these things when the images are so small, but trust that they are there.

I am the byproduct of the American education system. As a result, I only understand English. I regret this fact every day.

Unfortunately, Babelfish only goes so far when translating text.

* Thanks to the help of various visitors, I now know all of these questions. Much appreciated.

The last one says it best.

Or, as Michelle says, “The more you do, the more you get done.”

Go for it! It’s never too late to start anything.

Since the internet’s an enormous space, I doubt I’ll be cramped. In fact, here’s a link to other obsessive photo projects.

Yes, I have created a time-lapse animation of all the images. I’ve done it twice, using the original full-size photos, and output the result to video. The result was nice, but took much too much time, as I meticulously aligned the eyes in each image, so there would be a focal point. Why don’t I have a smaller version on the site? Because I can’t afford to serve out that much traffic. Plus, I only like the idea of the animation as an end result, and this project hasn’t ended.

Update (2006 Oct 01): I put together an animation of the project because a lot of the issues I had before no longer apply. I also plan to update it every eight years with the latest batch of photos.

Update (2014 Oct 01): Annnd, the 2014 animation of project.

Update (2023 Oct 01): Annnnnd, the 2023 animation of project.

Jonathan Keller Keller

Uh, I did.

Steel Town Motor City, USA The Big Apple Hamsterdam Ocean State Halibut Capital

Doin’ fine, thanks.

Started the project at age 22. Currently about 47. Although my birthday happens every year...hint, hint.

The project will continue until the day I die. Only then will it be complete, and worth its true value. Hopefully the completion date is far off, but you never know, right? Unfortunately, I won’t ever see it finished. It’s really a heckuva Catch-22 I’ve set up for myself.

I don’t want to count either. I started the project on 1998 October 01. During the period between 1999 September 29, and 2000 May 25, I was unable to continue with the project. Today is...do the math.

I suppose since I’m a web dork, I should write a little script to automatically count the number of photos. I’ll get on that tomorrow.

As you can see, I’m a pretty average-looking fella. This leads to me looking like a lot of different folk. It also leaves me looking like no one in particular.

Once, in a bagel shop in Brooklyn, I was accosted by a woman. She stated that I looked “exactly like a perfect mix of three of her best friends.” I told her that I had no idea how to respond to such a statement. She agreed, and I bought my bagel.

This list could really go on much longer than these 4, but you get the idea. Passion of any sorts is amazing.

No, I don’t have anything better to do. No, I am not bored. The amount of time I devote to this project is minimal, to be honest. 1 minute a day to snap the day’s photo, and 30 minutes every 10-12 days to get the photos from the camera to the site.

I’m sure my hair will start fading soon. At least I still have options.

Contrary to popular belief, I do own more than 3 shirts. In fact, I own 3 red shirts that are exactly the same, as well as a number of plain, white t-shirts. Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t wear the same clothes 2 (or more) days in a row, but it’s not quite as bad it seems. I just don’t care enough. If you have a serious problem with the lack of diversity in my wardrobe, I’d gladly accept clothing donations. I wear a small to medium shirt.

Because I chose the Nikon CoolPix 900 as my digital camera, I am able to hold the camera out in front of me to take the image. I am able to see the LCD screen as I snap the photo, which allows me to frame the image correctly. After about 10-12 photos, I copy them to my computer and rename them. I set up an action in Photoshop that resizes, sharpens, and saves the web version of the photos. Then I upload them via FTP and change the PHP document to accommodate the new images. That’s it.

I don’t have a specific time that I take the photo each day. Usually it’s in the evening.

It’s subtitled the Daily Photo Project, and wouldn’t really be much of a project if it was all false, would it?

It’s integrated in the laptop.

Uh...I cannot respond to this.

Yes, which is why I made this FAQs page.

I was in Antarctica, working as a janitor. I didn’t know if they would have appropriate computer facilities to continue the project. There was a weight limit for the amount of stuff we could bring down with us. Also, after being on the Ice, I had planned to backpack around New Zealand for 6 weeks. I thought it was best to abandon the hassle of trying to work out all the technical details with regards to my digital camera. I do regret not working out a satisfactory alternate solution though. Never again.

I went to Antarctica to work for Antarctic Support Associates, a contractor that was in charge of employing the support staff for the United States’ Antarctic Program. I applied for a janitor position, which I received, for the summer 1999-2000 season. I was there from October through February, about 5 months. I believe you must be at least 18 years old. Raytheon Polar Services is currently in charge of employment, if you’re interested.

The Daily Photo Project is starting to get large. Some browser/computer/ISP configurations can’t seem to handle the load. Sorry, but it’s the nature of the beast.

c71123.com was my old url...

When I was 5 years old, my father asked me to remember the numbers of three cows that needed to be bred (he was a professional artificial inseminator). The numbers were 7, 11, & 23. Being the math/number dork that I was at that age, I set out to remember those numbers for as long as I possibly could. I hope to have them with me until I die.

I’m an aspiring artist. I do web design to make money.

No.

That’s helpful.

Uhhh...

I do, and she likes the project, but thinks I obsess over it too much. I would have to agree.

Huh, I never knew homosexuality was a cure for boredom.

I really can’t be sure of that one. I must have missed the email header information that lists a person’s sexual orientation.

This question was from a woman who thought I was a 38 year-old gay writer (who I happen to have designed a website for). She delivered me from my homosexual lifestyle after asking the question. Seriously, what century is this?

Yes, but call me if the condition persists.

I believe I have a healthy balance of happy, sad, angry, excited, scared, insightful, etc. days.

I spend a good deal of time awake. That leads to being tired a lot of the time.

So I’ve heard. I have yet to see this movie, and am thinking more and more about never seeing it.

Some of it.

Every day.

The longer I continue, the less I feel like the project represents me as an individual.

I wish. I’d be traveling a lot more!

None that I’ve seen, but apparently some people want to copy it.

Heavens No! But I’ve read a couple books about serial killers. Seen quite a few movies as well.

It gets easier as time goes on.

Hermann is a liar. I’ve taken every photo. I’d watch your personal belongings, because he’s probably a thief as well.

Yes. email me at jk (at-symbol) jk-keller (period) com

Although you should check out the latest batch of questions and answers first.

Here are my Friday answers...

From 2003 January 01 to 2003 July 11 I received 2111 emails to my website account. 613 of which were real emails from people about the site, with 35 containing ‘love’. 1498 were junk email, 10 of which were apparently sent from the future (2038), and 59 containing ‘love’.

For the most part, no, although sometimes I watch myself all day long and write myself with confessions of love.

My art’s going a little slow at the moment. I feel as though I am on the verge of a very productive period in my life. You can see a couple other projects at my website (http://jk-keller.com). And check back every so often to see if there’s anything new.

I guess you could call it that. I started at the Rhode Island School of Design, finished my unergrad at the Minneapolis College of Art + Design and got a Masters from the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

I’ve had a number of ideas to extend this project past the website. I’d like to get huge prints made of each year’s photos. Maybe a set of yearly books or videos. And yes, I would like to show the project in a gallery/exhibition setting. If you know someone who is interested, email me at jk (at-symbol) jk-keller (period) com.

I’ve thought about it, and mentioned ‘what I’d like to happen should I become incapacitated or die’ to a couple of close friends, but nothing has been officially arranged. I do like the idea of allowing anyone to do what they would like to with the photos. Let the photos immediately live in the public domain.

I started the project believing that someone had done this type of thing before, but I had personally never seen or heard of anyone. Throughout the time I have been working on the project I have learned of a number of people doing similar types of projects, including Roman Opalka, and have listed them on a related photo projects page. Each is unique, like the personality that is creating the work.

My project doesn’t really inspire me beyond simple narcissism & solipsism. As far as other forms of art that inspire me, everything either stimulates me because of how amazing it is, how much I hate it, or how indifferent I am to it. All three of these reactions leave me with the feeling that I need to create work beyond my current abilities.

Yes, I am the designer of the site. I use Photoshop & Illustrator to create and optimize the images and BBEdit Coda SublimeText to code the HTML & CSS and currently building with Hugo.

The website is hosted by Hurricane Electric in California. It may be more expensive than some other hosts out there, but they have been unbelievable when responding to questions. I really think they are great, and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a serious web host. They even send me a hand-written holiday card every year, and I think that’s very sweet.

Currently hosted at Media Temple. We’ll see how it goes.

Now hosted at Dreamhost.

Yes, if you’re talking about the project you can publish my photo in your blog. If you’d like to use photos to talk about the project for a publication, please email me at jk (at-symbol) jk-keller (period) com for permission. I’m going to say “Yes”, but I’d like to know where they’re being used for ego’s sake.

You do not need my permission, yes.

If it’s obsessive enough, yes.

I have a vague idea of where people are from who visit the site. I can say that they are from all over the world, which is quite exciting. Usually a certain country or area will increase quickly and then die out, and then another will increase and die. They all come in waves.

Why am I asking donations? Because I wanted a humorous way to show everyone a picture of me smiling, since that is one of the most requested actions concerning the project. And if people feel so inclined to donate a couple bucks, that just helps defray some of the personal cost of hosting the site, and I thank you. I don’t do this no more.

I’ve never received any advertising interest tied to the project. Maybe I should be hitting up Nikon for free cameras and stuff, cause I could sure use a new one. If you can convince Nikon (or anyone else for that matter) to give me a new camera, then I’ll send you my old one. Seriously.

If my camera broke, I would either go out and buy a new one (if I had the time and money) or I would use one of my phone’s camera or someone else’s. It wouldn’t really be that overwhelming of an event.

As far as long-term and disaster data protection, I keep multiple backups, both online and off.

The date is the name of the image file, such as 20000101.jpg (New Year’s 2000). The time holds no importance to me and thus I leave it out.

I bring my camera with me when I go away.

I know if I write that no one close to me has died, someone’s going to drop, so I’ll leave it alone. As for the black, I got 4 new black t-shirts.

Apparently you know better than I.

I don’t think that’s possible.

Nah bro.

Because I own different glasses.

I’m going to try and ignore the implications of this statement.

I’m going to try and ignore the implications of this statement.

That’s a matter of opinion.

This question was prior to any of the many head shavings. While it’s fun to see it grow back, I’m sure it’ll start falling out on its own soon and that will really make for a disturbing set of photos.

Yes, that’s it.

If I say “yes”, will you stop emailing me?

I couldn’t subject anyone else to my obsession and feel right.

Yes, she is No, she’s not. It really had no effect on our relationship.

Yes... I am still doing the project

I think it lies with the parents.

The people close to me do know about the project and they all think it makes perfect sense, considering my personality.

Both.

I think it has a certain scientific quality that is interesting, but does it have scientific ‘value’? That’s probably stretching it a bit.

I guess some facial recognition / age progession people think it may help them develop algorithms, maybe?

Usually Liquid Tide.

Tell Katie Couric Meredith Vieira Ann Curry Whoever, and maybe I will...

I am a movie fan. While I don’t dream of being a movie-star, if it happened I wouldn’t be displeased.

Why, are you watching me?

Yes, it’s an enjoyable film.

The Manchurian Candidate. And I’m absolutely appalled that ‘they’ made a remake set in the Gulf War. Though, I haven’t seen it yet, and I heard it was really good.

Some other favorites:
Comedy: Rushmore
Film Noir: Touch of Evil
Documentary: Hands on a Hardbody

I guess I should be trying to get into more clubs and restaurants, looking like celebrities as I do. Although, Ben Affleck? I liked it better when I looked like Amanda Plummer.

Every time I look in the mirror

Not yet.

Sooo... apparently my old email address of website (at-symbol) c71123 (period) com confused this woman. Have you ever met someone named ‘website’ or ‘c71123’?

I am who I am, and that’s all that I am.

Here you are my dear.

5 feet, 10 inches

Forever, or the lack thereof.

It can be constraining, but I will not give up.

Well, I don’t plan on having children, so that takes care of that. But even if I did, I wouldn’t subject my son or daughter to his/her father’s compulsion.

No.

No.

Never, everything in my life is easy.

I’m going to blame it on the cleverness of advertising.

Ancestors.

Yes. Come by the coffee shop tomorrow.

Reincarnation, I guess.