The Project: Beginning, Middle and End

[egpj]

After much procrastination I have finally committed to doing a photographic project. The first rolls have been started and I am pretty excited to say the least. Before starting said project I decided to ask a pro what he thought the stages of a project would be. Asking advice about maybe using a storyboard to try and give structure and not just be wondering around aimlessly snapping photos. Anyway, I received his reply and have been mulling over his advice. I think it was good stuff and thought about sharing it here. Also thought that his advice may spure some others into providing their ideas on how to aproach a long term project of say one or two years. anyway here is the response I received:

As far as shooting documentary photos: First you have to have an idea of what the story is. This could change as you are shooting the project and that is the reason I don't like to do a story board. A story board can restrict you. Stay flexible. Shoot lots of film, film is the cheapest part, and shoot in your style (that could change as you are shooting as well). You should have a beginning, middle and end in your story. Most likely you will not shoot b.m.e. in that order, you will do that in your layout but keep it in your mind. The other thing that you should think about is focal length. Most of your art has the same focal length feeling. I don't say that in a bad way because your photos are not in story form. But when you do a story you should have wide, tight (real close up stuff) and midrange photos. So with b.m.e. and w.t.m. you should have it because the only other thing is LIGHT and COMPOSITION.

For me, starting a project is the next step in my photographic evolution and I am pretty sure that there is someone else out there that is thinking about doing the same thing.

 

[RML]

I'm thinking and doing, though it doesn't come easy to find time.

Good luck and enjoy the ride. 🙂 Show us some of it now and then.