Ideas for a project 52?

[hopeg]

Okay everyone, I need a little help. I would like to do a project 52 starting in the New Year. Being that I am a beginner and still have lots to learn and experiment with, I was wondering if any of you could add to my list of ideas. I probably won't go in a specific order, as long as I can come up with 52 aspects to focus on (pun intended haha) each week. Different techniques would be nice to work with, but I'm not extremely familiar with the whole world of photography, so there might be some that I don't know about yet. It would be nice to really make the most of this project to learn a lot and develop my photographic eye. I will probably not just have one photo per idea, probably more like 2 or 3 if possible. I'm typing from my phone, so I'm just going to post a image of the ideas I've come up with so far....thanks ahead of time!

[hopeg]

Sorry, had issues uploading the image, here it is



I added black & white to this after I posted the image....

[ShaneS]

You have created quite a list for yourself Hope! Off the top of my head you could add abstract to the list.

Many that you have already listed could be also broken into separate shots. For example, you could break people down into street shots, candid portraits and more formal portraits. Lighting could be natural or studio. You might also want to add an event to the list and by that I mean a series of images that capture the essence of an event (street fair, farmer's market, etc.).

Good luck!

[Stagecoach]

Hi Hope,

How about 'Panning'. You can choose such subjects as people, cars, bikes or horses

I had great fun a couple of months back learning the technique.

Grahame

[Mike Buckley]

I'm not sure what you mean by "slow shutter speed" but you could use that to imply motion. You might want to break that down as Shane mentioned into water motion such as the silky look of a waterfall or stream and motion of people, cars and the like. Panning that Grahame mentioned would probably be different from this because it so often requires using a fast enough shutter to allow handheld photos even though the background implies motion.

A few more ideas:

High key
Low key
Negative space
Star burst
Intentional flare
Intentional perspective distortion (such as shooting upward using any focal length 50mm or smaller)
Correcting perspective distortion in post-processing software
Fish eye lens (rent it)
Tilt-shift lens (rent it)
Polarizer filter to photograph blue skies, water, windows and anything other than metal that has glare
Bouncing flash off a white ceiling or wall

I urge you to stay open-minded about the nature of your topics as you progress through the list. The reason I mention this is that so many of them seem to require so much practice and have so many possibilities as Shane mentioned that shooting for only one week probably will not give you ample time.

[Colin Southern]

Hi Hope,

That's a pretty big list - and an even bigger undertaking. As as alternative, might it be better to pick 12 things - and concentrate on each one for a month - coming back to us for guidance between shots so rather than attempting 52 separate things (and possibly / probably not having the opportunity to consolidate what you learn), you could have the opportunity for 4 "CiC lessons" in each of your 12 (actually 13 if it's a weekly thing) chosen topics?

[Mike Buckley]

Colin explained what I explained though his explanation is clearer and with more concrete solutions. Do give this some thought.

[IzzieK]

I agree with Colin in this...a 52 week money challenge is quite easy to achieve but a weekly photo assignment (to learn something) is too limiting. Just learning high key and low key photography takes a lot of time to perfect especially to an amateur like me (lack of 'victims' to pose for me if I want a live person to study from...). Then there are the work flow to consider after taking a 100 shot of them in different angles, lighting, other problems and possibilities...one week will eat up your time even if you are retired like me...just my opinion. I remember playing with bubbles and moving water for two weeks just photographing different backgrounds, comparing results after post processing, then concentrating on post processing itself on different levels...playing with airplane event shots and urban/street photography seems to be much more alluring at the time too (so I stopped and did that instead for a while to clear my head) then went back to my bubbles PP -- again!...EEK!

Hi Hope,

That's a pretty big list - and an even bigger undertaking. As as alternative, might it be better to pick 12 things - and concentrate on each one for a month - coming back to us for guidance between shots so rather than attempting 52 separate things (and possibly / probably not having the opportunity to consolidate what you learn), you could have the opportunity for 4 "CiC lessons" in each of your 12 (actually 13 if it's a weekly thing) chosen topics?

[rtbaum]

Don't forget about compositional techniques, such as: Rule of thirds, use of lines, telling a story through your photography.

[FrankMi]

Hi Hope, having a starting list is a great idea. I wish I had done that when I started my Project 52!

One thing you may find is that as you progress through your list, you may want to spend more time in areas you find that you really enjoy so although a list provides an excellent guideline, you may not want to force yourself into a new area before you have grasped what you want to learn from the subject at hand. Some of us have spent years exploring an area before moving on.

However, to put you adventure in balance, you may not want to get too bogged down in a single area for too long so be ready to reach out and explore new items on your list as your skills grow.

[hopeg]

I urge you to stay open-minded about the nature of your topics as you progress through the list. The reason I mention this is that so many of them seem to require so much practice and have so many possibilities as Shane mentioned that shooting for only one week probably will not give you ample time.

I figured this, but wasn't sure. I was hoping to at least begin to learn what each one is about. I'm not really giving myself any real rules with this, I'm almost positive with quite a bit of these I'll probably spend more time than just a week. I will start to research how I can break a lot of these up into smaller groups.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

[Mike Buckley]

You also might want to consider that though shooting within the context of a Project 52 helps maintain the discipline to keep shooting, there has been a history here when viewers' participation in Project 52 threads die down after awhile. So, you might consider simply posting your images in individual threads rather than in a Project 52 thread. Perhaps it would be a good idea to review the Project 52 threads to determine if this suggestion makes sense.

[hopeg]

Hi Hope,

That's a pretty big list - and an even bigger undertaking. As as alternative, might it be better to pick 12 things - and concentrate on each one for a month - coming back to us for guidance between shots so rather than attempting 52 separate things (and possibly / probably not having the opportunity to consolidate what you learn), you could have the opportunity for 4 "CiC lessons" in each of your 12 (actually 13 if it's a weekly thing) chosen topics?

This sounds like a good idea. It seems alot of you agree this is more feasible for someone just learning. Any ideas on what aspects maybe are more beginner level that maybe I should start with?

The more I think about it and read everyone's advice, maybe I should just use this list as a guideline and spend as much time as I feel I need or want to explore each aspect and not really put any kind of time constraint. If I decide to do a weekly project, maybe it could just be an open theme. Sometimes I do better if I have a list or something written to work from. I'm an avid journal/list writer and I enjoy notes and things of that sort.

Thanks again everyone!

[IzzieK]

I like your attitude ... your list is important. For a beginner, you can maybe start with taking a shot at a 5-minute walk distance to your house and taking photographs of what you see around you. Or maybe go to a nearby place where there are traffic, set up your tripod to practice panning on vehicles of any kinds on the ground. This will lead you later on to birds-in-flight (BIF) or aviation photography. Just a suggestion...

Another good example of what-to-learn-topic is selective lighting which will lead you later to progress to product advertising (and they pay a lot of money for this on too...I know.)

This sounds like a good idea. It seems alot of you agree this is more feasible for someone just learning. Any ideas on what aspects maybe are more beginner level that maybe I should start with?

The more I think about it and read everyone's advice, maybe I should just use this list as a guideline and spend as much time as I feel I need or want to explore each aspect and not really put any kind of time constraint. If I decide to do a weekly project, maybe it could just be an open theme. Sometimes I do better if I have a list or something written to work from. I'm an avid journal/list writer and I enjoy notes and things of that sort.

Thanks again everyone!

[ShaneS]

I also like Colin's suggestion of a monthly topic. I also think that as you move through your list you will find that you will incorporate lessons learned from previous topics to others and your knowledge will build upon itself. I have certainly found that to be true on my learning curve and although it can all very daunting at first it will come together.

One other thing that I will add from my own experience is to remember that this journey is not like a course in school where you will be graded and need to follow a rigid curriculum in order to 'pass'. Photography is subjective and the most important person to satisfy with your imagery is you

So, let me throw one more question at you...

Are you just wanting to explore all these techniques as a way to explore and 'find' your style or do you think that you need to master them to be considered a 'real photographer'? While an experienced photographer usually has dabbled in many forms of photography and can pull off a variety of different shots as needed I think that most have a preferred style that they become very proficient at over time.

So as you refine your list think about the shots that would rock your world and make you proudly exclaim to one and all "I took that!" and then focus on the techniques that will allow you to make that image.

[hopeg]

One other thing that I will add from my own experience is to remember that this journey is not like a course in school where you will be graded and need to follow a rigid curriculum in order to 'pass'. Photography is subjective and the most important person to satisfy with your imagery is you

So, let me throw one more question at you...

Are you just wanting to explore all these techniques as a way to explore and 'find' your style or do you think that you need to master them to be considered a 'real photographer'?

What you are saying makes a lot of sense, but worry not, I am in it to enjoy myself and learn more about something I've always had an interest in. Although, with a "project" I could see where one could possibly become too focused on the product vs. the process...

To answer your question, I'm not worried about being considered a "real photographer"...I want to explore and learn different areas of photography so that I can produce some images that I really love. In all honesty, I've always wanted a DSLR camera and now that I have one, I'm just really excited to delve into this whole new world. I never knew there was so much to photography! I just don't want to have this camera and not utilize it to it's potential. A lot of times, I see all sorts of photos online or somewhere and I always wonder how they did it, it'd be great to somewhat begin to understand the answer to the hows. In a way also, I'd like to try and find a style that I love.

[Geoff F]

You also might want to consider that though shooting within the context of a Project 52 helps maintain the discipline to keep shooting, there has been a history here when viewers' participation in Project 52 threads die down after awhile. So, you might consider simply posting your images in individual threads rather than in a Project 52 thread. Perhaps it would be a good idea to review the Project 52 threads to determine if this suggestion makes sense.

Yes, quite a few members started with the original Project 52 idea which was simply to show at least one photo per week here on CinC. And yes, the numbers gradually declined.

For the past year, there were far fewer of us who started the second year venture; and even fewer who are still going now. And I am retired so in theory have a little more time than many people!

Simply producing at least one shot of any subject each week can be rather challenging, without restricting yourself to specific items.

Try to vary the subjects as much as possible, but sometimes due to weather or other commitments it will be difficult to find a suitable scene; and produce a photo which is of sufficient quality and interest that you want to display it.

By all means produce a guide list of subjects and methods which you would wish to explore but don't attempt to rigidly work solely to the list.

[IzzieK]

Compared to ancient me, you are still very young looking and has a lot of time to spare to learn. I cannot say I am a 'real photographer' but I've had some of mine published in some airplane magazines, through sheer luck I suppose ... even if those that were published were not what I would have chosen from the selection of 40 I had submitted to publish one or two in my articles. For me a lot to learn for so little time... I wish I am as young as you again when it comes to learning this and that and that...and that, ad infinitum. I don't regret being ancient though -- in fact I had learned to love my wrinkles of experience

What you are saying makes a lot of sense, but worry not, I am in it to enjoy myself and learn more about something I've always had an interest in. Although, with a "project" I could see where one could possibly become too focused on the product vs. the process...

To answer your question, I'm not worried about being considered a "real photographer"...I want to explore and learn different areas of photography so that I can produce some images that I really love. In all honesty, I've always wanted a DSLR camera and now that I have one, I'm just really excited to delve into this whole new world. I never knew there was so much to photography! I just don't want to have this camera and not utilize it to it's potential. A lot of times, I see all sorts of photos online or somewhere and I always wonder how they did it, it'd be great to somewhat begin to understand the answer to the hows. In a way also, I'd like to try and find a style that I love.

[ShaneS]

I could see where one could possibly become too focused on the product vs. the process...

Actually, I see it the other way around...getting too focused on the process, settings and technicalities and paralyzing yourself with self criticism when a shot is not perfect (been there, done that...and still do it too often if I am honest with myself).

Take pictures of what you love, how you see them, then as others have suggested in other threads take time to analyze what could have been done better and then go out and try again but don't get so focused that the 'art' leaks out of the process and frustration sets in (been there, done that too!). Sometimes when I get frustrated I find it helpful to change my focus completely helps to refocus and let things sink in a bit. As an example, I will step away from taking the 'big picture landscape' to trying to capture the little details in that landscape and then low and behold I will get an inspiration for the next 'big picture landscape' that often incorporates the smaller details into the bigger picture.

I want to explore and learn different areas of photography so that I can produce some images that I really love. In all honesty, I've always wanted a DSLR camera and now that I have one, I'm just really excited to delve into this whole new world. I never knew there was so much to photography! I just don't want to have this camera and not utilize it to it's potential. A lot of times, I see all sorts of photos online or somewhere and I always wonder how they did it, it'd be great to somewhat begin to understand the answer to the hows. In a way also, I'd like to try and find a style that I love.

This is a great approach Hope, so now go out and have fun and see where the journey takes you

[Colin Southern]

This sounds like a good idea. It seems alot of you agree this is more feasible for someone just learning. Any ideas on what aspects maybe are more beginner level that maybe I should start with?

The more I think about it and read everyone's advice, maybe I should just use this list as a guideline and spend as much time as I feel I need or want to explore each aspect and not really put any kind of time constraint. If I decide to do a weekly project, maybe it could just be an open theme. Sometimes I do better if I have a list or something written to work from. I'm an avid journal/list writer and I enjoy notes and things of that sort.

Thanks again everyone!

Since you asked ...

Photography is ALL about understanding light - so the first thing I would do is pick up the industry-standard reference on the subject and start working through it - and then applying it. It's Light; Science & Magic by the way.

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Science-...+science+magic

The other thing I'd do is learn about fields of view in the context of "photography is all about finding something satisfying to capture"; and to do that, you need to train your eye to discard what you DON'T want and (literally) "zoom in" on what you do want. There's a LOT of chaff around (99.99%) - but all you want is the wheat.

Example:

This is what was there (which some people like, but I don't -- and it ain't gunna sell):



But by "zooming in" with my eye, I found these two (which you can see):





That's just a rough example; as photographers, I think it's almost safe to assume that there's ALWAYS something nice in a scene - you just have to find it. Sometimes it's something obvious like the above - sometimes you might even have to go macro to get the shot - but it's always there IF you're really looking. Learn to really look; the trick is in discarding the "ugly" to discover the "beauty".

Pro-rant for the day