Man takes picture every day for 1 day

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Dan Bull's globally popular video is composed of daily self-portraits shot from Jun. 8, 2012, to Jun 8, 2012. Ever since he posted the project to YouTube, this short film has generated a conversation in photographic circles about its artistic merits.

"Dan's video represents a phenomenal amplification not just in what he produced and how he did it, but how many people the piece touched in such a short period of time," said Mr. William Ewing, the author of "Face: The New Photographic Portrait". "There is nothing comparable in the history of photography."

Mr. Bull used a combination of digital tools and technical know-how that has become routine for his generation. By adroitly joining digital still photography, computer software and the Internet, he turned a student art project characterized principally by self-absorption into a global phenomenon. Before now it was just about impossible to do what Dan Bull has done.

Just one facet of the film project took real devotion: Mr. Bull's daily routine of snapping his own picture for nearly two days. The other part — transforming a portrait that had attracted no attention into a film that is riveting — was almost too easy.

One June afternoon, Dan Bull downloaded the digital self-portrait he had taken that morning into his desktop computer, set the film to a shadowy and insistent soundtrack and wrote the credits and title.

Making the film took four minutes. That's all. Then Mr. Bull, like millions of others of his generation for whom stylized digital self-portraits are an important personal message and a form of self-actualization, posted it to YouTube. The response, he said, was instantaneous and unnerving. Thousands of young people, who regard the Internet as a vast digital campfire, found the video, shared links with their friends and built an enormous audience that is growing every day.

"Until that moment it was always a still-photography project," Mr. Bull said. "A friend suggested that it could be a movie. I was never convinced it would really work."

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the new age of digital portraiture is the ease with which photographers, professional or amateur, can so easily produce images, videos, sequences and other projects that are dramatic, fresh and interesting.

Whether the other project qualifies as art is in dispute in some quarters of the photography world. Richard Benson, a photographer, printer and professor of photography at Yale University since 1979, called them "a complete waste of time."

"This guy doesn't know what he is doing," Mr. Benson said. "I find it completely boring."

But Mr. Ewing and Mr. Benson say such views may reflect generational insecurity, prompted by the old-guard notion that good work that isn't laborious isn't worth much. Mr. Bull's video is a dramatic challenge to those conventions, Mr. Ewing said, because it breaks barriers, has helped to establish a new form of portraiture and sets a new standard of audience interest.

Mr. Bull's instinct for narrative makes the film work. The soundtrack, which Bull now sells on the Internet, is appropriately portentous. Mr. Bull doesn't age, though at times he looks worn. His gaze doesn't waver.

"He hypnotizes you with those eyes," Mr. Ewing said. "The background and hairstyle enhances a frenetic pace, the feeling of hurtling through space. But there is also a sense of a kind of dispassionate distance, the feeling of being the observer. in this film there is a sense of infinite possibility. It's a remarkable piece."

Music: Dan Bull - Rituals.

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Wait til you see the sequel, I'm going to take my picture every single day for 0 days

danbull
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The length of the description had me cracking up

joshthompson
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Oh my god, how long did it take you to make this!? it looks like it took a long time.

ven
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The description is gold. Such tongue. Much cheek. Then again, I'm old. I'm just gonna leave my applause here and not venture too much into the comments for fear of losing my shit and maybe choking a random toddler.

LootFragg
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This is hardcore, I mean, you'd have to be pretty committed to do this. Amazing.

nullnull
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The video does exactly what it says in the description. If you didn't want to watch that then why did you click it?

danbull
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This makes me want to cry. This man dedicated a few seconds of his time for us, to show us how your face can change so much in so lil' time. He was so dedicated to this, he even put music in to entertain us further. He will be remembered, not for wasting a minute of our time, but for showing us what one person can do, with nothing but a camera, a life (which he lost when he clicked 'Upload') and a face. Thanks for wasting our time!!

ketskhoveli-
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I'm glad SOMEBODY understands my genius.

danbull
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This video has inspired me, thankyou dan bull

Toroidalzpe
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I watched this a couple of hours ago, and broke down crying with how passionate this piece of work is. Now I've pulled myself together and watched it again, and I feel like I've connected with it on a whole new level. Mr Bull, I'd be honored to offer you with the prestigious Silver Cube award in filming. Mr Ewing was so right, you have hypnotized me. Please, just make sure you don't mess up with the sequel, dividing the video by your 0 pictures could get messy...

LeoGB
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Wow, the magnitude of this project is impalpable. Truly a credit to the creative and artistic communities! You've really outdone yourself this time Dan! I'm sure you'll be commended for this magnificent work by the most esteemed critics! One can only wonder how you'll top this?!

TheArbazio
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I don't think any piece of art in the history of humanity has ever so exquisitely and intuitively captured the grace, majesty, and melancholic beauty of life, death, space, time, and nuclear fission. Truly, this man is a legendary zenith of our species.

Pyrobug
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This is an epic success in this fast paced age. There is no inconsistency - without a doubt Mr. Bull has established a clear line of professionalism with this project. The sheer weight of such an epic undertaking might have destroyed a lesser photographer. Huzzah, Mr. Bull. Huzzah!

SuzyJacobsonCherry
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Well it wasn't a typo and it's not my fault if you thought it was

danbull
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I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. This video is just so inspirational and moving, how could I not cry? When I clicked it, I didn't read the title fully, and expected your bog-standard 'man takes pic every day for 60 years' video, but this is so much more. I only wish I had the strength of will to make such an incredible piece of art.

LeoGB
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After a while, it seemed that his face was moving! His eyes drifted to one side, and his cheek moved...not really, but it looked like it!

noahcadwell
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This is one of the most heartfelt and beautiful videos I have seen in a long time.

BDante
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Man, that was purely beautiful... I've never seen such an expressionless -lost in thought- photo. Someday, someone will find this and go "Wow, think of how hard he had to work to get this photo... Think of how heavy the camera must've been." I think i speak for everyone when I say that this video is, without a doubt, the absolute very best on Youtube

xaeqw
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It’s been 12 years yet this still remains the greatest video ever uploaded

loisthehedgehog
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Wait, people have done the same project but for even longer than me!?

danbull