Photography Turned Project

For the past several months, I have been trying to challenge my photographic progress.  Push me to take more and do more with them.  I used to post a photograph a day, then changed it to one a week, but that still wasn’t getting me out photographing.  You’ve all heard about 365 projects, especially since the movie Julie and Julia.

You’ve probably even seen blogs that are currently doing a 365 photo a day project.  If not, do a search for 365 Photo Project and you’ll be overwhelmed.

I’ve thought about it, it’s been done before, so that’s not for me.

That lead me to think about other projects I can do to encourage my activity as a photographer.  I was reading this post You Know You’re A Photo Project Junkie When… and decided I agree with her.  There are so many photo projects out there that you’ve probably already done or are doing and don’t even realize it.

I challenged my scrapbook girls to do a photographic walk in their neighborhood.  It’s a great excuse to get out, get some exercise, and get some different photographs to scrapbook.  You might see your neighborhood in a new light or find a place you never knew about.  The scrapbook idea is to use these photos in a layout to tell about where you live and what you see around you.  It’s neat to see what others don’t.

That post also tells about a fun family photo scavenger hunt around the neighborhood.  A great twist to my challenge, it gives you something to find.

Lastly, she did a photo interview where you answer questions about your life with photographs.  An excellent idea because then you scrapbook them, like she did with her mini album, and you have a record of your life at this moment.  Scrapbookers mostly scrap about events and their loved ones, rarely about themselves.  This activity is a perfect way to get some info down about you.

Here are some other possible projects to take on:

• Strangers – you meet a stranger, ask to take their photo, then get some bio info on them.
• Collection – pick an object or color or whatever and only photograph what falls into that category.  The challenge is finding ways to make the same thing appealing in each image and not boring.

• Basics – go back to the beginning before fancy, dummy proof digital cameras and test your skill with a disposable camera or a completely manual film camera.

• Metamorphosis – this long term project depicts the changes over time.  The way a tree changes color, leaves fall, then it blossoms again.
• Macro – get up close and personal, so close you might not even recognize what’s in the image.

• Yearbook – remember during school you would vote on who’s the class clown or most successful.  Take photographs of people who fit into each category.
• Blind Eyes – transform into being blind and figure out how to take great photographs based on your other senses.
• A to Z – two interpretations of this project are to photograph objects or activities that start with the letter, like a can for “C” or wrestling for “W”, the other is to photograph objects that look like the letter.

After each challenge is completed, create a themed album or a layout or frame some display of your accomplishment for all to enjoy and learn about you and your point of view.