Start a photo project

by Mary ElizabethApr 1, 2020

Capture Your Social Isolation Stories

Take Images of Your ‘New Normal’

During these unprecedented days of lock-downs and gathering restrictions, many people are finding themselves with time on their hands and are looking for new projects or creative diversions. A photo project might be just the ticket. You can start right away and choose subjects that are close at hand – the people in your family, the things you are doing to combat boredom, new or revisited hobbies, birds in your backyard, progress reports on creative endeavours, what you see on walks in your neighbourhood or many other small and larger undertakings.

There are plenty of places to find inspiration for a photo project – 365 days or 100 days – 52 weeks – 12 months – 4 seasons – a particular person or object through the year – or an unexpected time of social distancing. A photo project might be a fun diversion during this unusual time and it can offer a way to track some changing activities or looks that might be unique to this current situations.

I completed my first 365 day project in 2009 with a picture a year, a layout a week. I finished the layouts and published the book in early 2010. It was rewarding to complete and it is great to look at all the day-to-day moments. In the years since, I have done weekly collections in a digital format.

Photos are a great way to capture everyday moments. The routines of your day can be interesting or entertaining in years ahead and I am always amazed at how often I look at photos and think, “Oh, I’d forgotten that I used to do that all the time.” If you have children, they will look back at the images and marvel at their daily activities. OK, it might take them awhile to appreciate it but eventually, they’re sure to get there. A photo project can take as little or as much time as you want and can be focused or random. The details are up to you.

Challenge: Start your own photo project.

What will your project be? There are many options and these are just a few

Set a schedule an keep to it, whether it is every day, every week, or 10 days a month – choose a frequency that is realistic for you
Set parameters or guidelines. They can be very narrow to challenge your creativity (shoot only one photo a day, or select a single subject) or as broad as you like (anything that strikes your fancy on a particular day with no limits)
Decide if you will shoot at the same time each day/week…
Share on Instagram or twitter with hashtags like #100daysofphotography #project365, or #photoaday. Post on FaceBook or your blog and/or print albums or calendars for yourself or as gifts.
Develop a theme for the year or change as you go along, perhaps a theme for each month or season – or maybe random images or shots at the same time every day
Challenge friends to have their own project on the same or different themes and keep each other accountable

Inspiration

Many photography or creative art sites have challenges or opportunities for sharing. If you are seeking inspiration for your own photo project, you might like:

digital-photography-school.com/tips-for-creating-a-personal-photography-project/

captureyour365.com/

expertphotography.com/365-photo-challenge

photodoto.com/photo-theme-project/