Projects or whatever catches your attention?

[Godfrey]

I carry a camera most of the time and shoot opportunistically. I look for subjects that interest me, that capture my eye and my imagination. As the idea for a project forms, my shooting becomes more specific and focuses on the project needs until I reach a stopping point. Then the project is finished and the cycle starts anew.

G

 

[john neal]

I have a long-running project about graffiti and then shorter-term opportunistic topics depending on what's going on around me - family events and so on.

It would be nice to do more projects, but work kind of gets in the way....

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I must admit that I like a bit of structure and planning a project can be fun. I recently went to Malta and made a point of shooting a load of Ilford Delta 400 via my Rolleiflex. Project will be posted, in bits, via my blog.

That said, I carry a camera around with me - wherever I am. It doesn't get used every day but you never know when something interesting will present itself and it's nice to be able to be spontaneous.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I try to be project-oriented. But sometimes you just have to be opportunistic...
I keep several ongoing projects in the air so I have something to look for whenever I'm out - my "ordinary objects" series, the bikeshare bicycles, and long night exposures being three I shoot with routinely. One project that is both a project and opportunistic are my neighborhood walkabouts where I go out with a couple rolls of film and the Rollei and shoot things that catch my eye, all within a ten or so block radius of my house.

 

[Turtle]

I shoot whatever catches my eye, but projects reflect my journey. They give shape and structure to my intellectual, emotional and purely visual explorations.

 

[semrich]

I shoot what ever appeals to me. I've read all the advise regarding shooting projects, but I couldn't seem to think of any project to go out and shoot, and finally when looking through my negatives, low and behold, a theme arose as if by itself, so now when I see a shot that might fit it, I shoot it, but I don't go hunting for shots to fit the theme.

 

[Roger Hicks]

One turns into the other. Or not, sometimes. See also http://www.rogerandfrances.com/bodyofwork.html

Cheers,

R,

 

[Bob Michaels]

I am curious what others consider a "project"

To me, a project is an extended body of work on a well defined point that one wishes to express in a tightly edited cohesive body of work with a goal of public distribution. The shortest project I ever did was six months but that was predetermined at the beginning as the idea was to show the diversity of the different people who came to the Daytona Beach boardwalk, a 20 x 300 meter area from January to July. The longest I have done is 5 years and counting. All have clearly defined objectives.

A number of projects have been abandoned at the 3 - 12 month point when I realized that I was just shooting a general theme but that it was not going to result in anything of final significance.

Please tell us what you consider a "project".

 

[dct]

General Theme versus Project

General Theme versus Project

Indeed, not all theme oriented photography is a project per se. This is most of my family photography: Theme remains the same but few of the series can be put together to a body of work who could be told a project. Or my love for old technologies: Just a theme. But there are projects arising from those image series.

Typical project in my opinion is my ongoing hunt for wall sundials (antique and modern) in whole Switzerland. A few of the images are published as examples, many are waiting to be concluded to a published work.

 

[OurManInTangier]

There does seem to be some level of discussion to be had simply over what constitutes a 'project,' what may be considered a theme and what exactly may separate the two - if anything, perhaps?

For my initial question I was looking at a project being far more along the lines of Bob's description. Personally I'd happily leave out any hard and fast time constraints or that the ultimate goal is for public consumption (despite that being the ultimate goal for most photographers be it here, Flickr or a gallery) simply to open the discussion up to a wider group.

So, for me the definition of a photographic project would be; An extended body of work which provides an in-depth insight into a particular topic, story or location which would be edited to ensure cohesion, focus and understanding for the viewer.

In all honesty I doubt the last part would necessarily be agreed by many photographers but for me it seems to have a place.

 

[Maiku]

I have never undertaken a photographic project or essay. I have gone to events with the purpose of taking photos to capture the moment, but never longer than one-day or a one-week vacation.

I should give it a try to see how I do. Make a photographic challenge.

 

[cz23]

Project or theme? Not sure there is much of a distinction, but I guess I think of a project as more structured, with location lists, shot lists, etc. My last two "projects" were focused on street photography of senior citizens and documenting my experience as a daily rail commuter. Both subjects were new to me, so although I had projects in mind I did not want to limit myself with any structure. I wanted to simply observe and capture. So maybe that makes them more like themes.

Now that shooting is done and I'm editing, processing and publishing, they have the feel of projects. Maybe it's just semantics or degree of structure or the particular project phase.

But I do know that I like my "projects" to be guided by a topic or theme, but very loose within that limitation. Whatever we call it, I would not want to compromise spontaneity and discovery with a rigid plan.

John

 

[Bob Michaels]

Project or theme? Not sure there is much of a distinction, but .....

To my way of thinking a project has the goal of a tightly edited cohesive body of work suitable, in whole, for public consumption. A theme is a series of photos on a common subject but no final product other than a large assortment of photos. But that is just my idea. Besides I am one of those who dislikes labels.

I begin editing on a project very early. My editing is not identifying the good photos for inclusion. My editing is determining what additional photos I need to shoot to be able to photographically express what I want the end result to communicate to the viewer.

 

[cz23]

Nice summary, Bob. One thing for sure; as I get older the aimless flaneur model no longer works particularly well for me. Unless I'm in a new and very different location, I need an objective, even if it's very loosely formed.

John

 

[OurManInTangier]

Nice summary, Bob. One thing for sure; as I get older the aimless flaneur model no longer works particularly well for me. Unless I'm in a new and very different location, I need an objective, even if it's very loosely formed.

John

I think this is exactly what has happened to me, leading me towards something new. Having said that, a wander with camera in hand is still a lovely way for me to pass some spare time, its just I have less and less spare time so wish to come away with something more often than not. Setting myself an objective and structuring my time to give myself the best opportunities to achieve that (or those) objective(s) seems to be the best and most interesting way forward for me.

 

[Mcary]

As there is only so many place to wander around here, I spend a good bit of time revisiting the same areas and spots with the hope of finding better lighting, more interesting clouds or different weather,

 

[BlackXList]

A mixture of both to be honest, Street wise, I shoot whatever takes my interest, however, I also have themes/locations/ideas that I return to in order to continue a project.

I'm definitely aware that I'd like to find a good way to present projects, as well as the single image based format that blogging tends to lend itself to.

 

[rpsawin]

I find that when I shoot large or medium format it is always in a structured way; either a predetermined location or as part of an ongoing project. When I pick up on of my 35m rangefinders it's to head out the door and see what I can find.

 

[NY_Dan]

I basically work exclusively on projects since my goal is to develop a body of work whose total is greater than the sum of its parts in order to tell a story or communicate information.

My projects are infrequently as short as six months but others have been ongoing for five to eight years. I currently am working on two projects, about five years into each. As both are geographically distant, I will sometimes go for a month without photographing much. But I do have another local project, about eight years ongoing now, that I will pursue when I find something that I think will fit.

I have had a large number of projects that got abandoned after six to twelve months when I deemed that they were not coming together into something meaningful.

Of course, I will not pass up the odd unrelated shot when I happen to come across one by chance. But I spend about 15 years wandering around directionless and simply looking for something interesting to photograph. I have very little to show for that time and effort.

A bonus of only working on projects is that it will eventually force you to be a critical editor and tolerant of time and effort spent with ultimately nothing to show for it. It is hard to force yourself to end up editing out 100% of what you spent a week shooting after driving for 12 hours to get there or an international plane flight, but it is necessary.

You always have something interesting and intelligent to say. I have a combination approach -- somewhat directionless because I don't have the time and funds for too many projects. But, I do try to do themes, and connect the work by shooting in black and white and with primarily square format. I too want to put together a body of work.

 

[Rodchenko]

I have a project I need to apply myself to: Recreating Zola's pictures of South London.

As of yesterday, when I rode with a group into Greenwich without the chance to stop and shoot, I fancy going back to document a small area, which I intend to call 'Up The Creek'.