By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
IT STARTED with a throwaway line.
And now Michael Knowles is taking a ‘selfie’ of himself every day for the next year, as part of his own special project.
Michael, from Narre Warren South, is almost 90 days into the project, for which he is posing with a different person in a selfie every day – many of whom are local Casey stalwarts.
“I started the project one morning when I was getting a haircut with my long-term hairdresser,” he said.
“We took a selfie in the mirror of the hairdressing salon with him posing Charlie’s Angels style with the hair dryer.
“I stupidly said, ‘I should do this every day for 365 days of the year’.”
“And so the next day, I did it again and so the rest is history.”
Since starting the project, Michael has taken photos of himself with a range of local identities and community campaigners. When posting each photo to his selfie Facebook page, Michael includes a small biography and background for each person.
Michael said some of his favourite selfies include photos with TV personality Coxy, Casey mayor Mick Morland, and a basketball team where the players were also all jockeys.
“It’s really fun, it creates little pictures of people and tells their stories,” Michael said.
“People say interesting things. I also work as a specialist vet, so you’ll see a few animals in the photos.
“It takes a bit of planning, usually for the week I have a few ideas as to who I will get in the selfies. People are connected with so many people but just don’t realise it. When you start to connect with them you can string heaps together.”
Michael has also set his own list of rules to abide by when undertaking the project. The photo must be taken by him, it must be a person or living animal featured in the photo, and it must be taken on the day.
“I am also thinking how I can make it a charitable event – been thinking of putting a dollar in a jar for every selfie and then sponsoring a World Vision child at the end of the year when I get there,” Michael said.
Michael’s wife has selfie #365 reserved, while Star News photographer STEWART CHAMBERS featured in one of this week’s photos.
To check out Michael’s selfie project, visit www.facebook.com/365Selfies, and to contact him email superknowles2000@yahoo.com.
