efix
RF user by conviction
Back in March last year, inspired by the great work of Amy Medina, I decided to start my own PAD project. By taking (and sharing) at least one picture each day, I was hoping to improve on my photographic skills, to better get to know my gear, and maybe even to broaden my audience a little.
The project took a good start, and up until May, I had taken 76 consecutive pictures. I could see how I was beginning to look for interesting scenes or subjects, for colours and patterns, for light and shadow, thinking about composition more than I did before, when I was just snapping away at stuff I saw.
However, sometime in May, I had suddenly got tired of forcing myself to photograph each day, of spending each evening going through my daily pictures and processing them, as I found I spent less time with my family due to this project. Also, I had a lot of work coming up. So I decided to drop the project and concentrate on more important things. Throughout the year, I continued to take pictures whenever I felt like it, and regularly posted them on my blog. I also developed a new love for film, and shot, scanned and processed many rolls.
In december then, I felt a bit out of inspiration, and decided to continue with my PAD project, hoping that forcing myself to take at least one picture each day, again, would help me improve on my skills as well as bring me new inspiration.
Now, only a month later, I am again at a point where I am thinking about discontinuing the project, for several reasons.
I was thinking about integrating film into the project, but then I would have to take notes with each picture I take, so that when the film is developed and digitalised, I could correlate the pictures with the days that I shot them. But then I would have to force myself again. Also, as I said, it would still mean forcing myself to take a picture each day.
I feel a bit bad about discontinuing the project so soon again, but I'm not sure that a PAD project is the right thing for me, for the reasons stated. One positive aspect of such a project is that I have a project, which means I have a reason to take pictures of stuff that I would normally not photograph.
I was hoping that maybe I could get a little input from you guys and gals. Maybe some anecdotes of how you coped with your personal projects, what you do to keep yourselves motivated, what other kind of projects you've done. Do you think I should continue my PAD project? Do have any ideas what other kinds of projects I could start? I am looking for motivation, which is why I started the PAD project, but I feel it is not having the result I hoped for.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
The project took a good start, and up until May, I had taken 76 consecutive pictures. I could see how I was beginning to look for interesting scenes or subjects, for colours and patterns, for light and shadow, thinking about composition more than I did before, when I was just snapping away at stuff I saw.
However, sometime in May, I had suddenly got tired of forcing myself to photograph each day, of spending each evening going through my daily pictures and processing them, as I found I spent less time with my family due to this project. Also, I had a lot of work coming up. So I decided to drop the project and concentrate on more important things. Throughout the year, I continued to take pictures whenever I felt like it, and regularly posted them on my blog. I also developed a new love for film, and shot, scanned and processed many rolls.
In december then, I felt a bit out of inspiration, and decided to continue with my PAD project, hoping that forcing myself to take at least one picture each day, again, would help me improve on my skills as well as bring me new inspiration.
Now, only a month later, I am again at a point where I am thinking about discontinuing the project, for several reasons.
- I do not take a picture each day. There are days when I don't have the time, or don't have the inspiration, or simply forget about it. I then feel bad about not having taken a picture. And if there's one thing I hate, it's to feel that I am forced to do something. I want to take pictures if I feel like it, not when I think I have to.
- I neglect film. In order to keep up with my daily (sometimes only weekly, several pictures at a time) picture posts, I have to shoot digital. While I tremendously enjoy the pictures I get from my M8, I miss shooting film. There are days when I just don't feel like using a digital camera and would rather take along a film camera. (Also, I have hundreds of rolls of film in the basement which beg to be used ...) I could take two cameras, but that would add weight and bulk, which is not recommendable when commuting.
I was thinking about integrating film into the project, but then I would have to take notes with each picture I take, so that when the film is developed and digitalised, I could correlate the pictures with the days that I shot them. But then I would have to force myself again. Also, as I said, it would still mean forcing myself to take a picture each day.
I feel a bit bad about discontinuing the project so soon again, but I'm not sure that a PAD project is the right thing for me, for the reasons stated. One positive aspect of such a project is that I have a project, which means I have a reason to take pictures of stuff that I would normally not photograph.
I was hoping that maybe I could get a little input from you guys and gals. Maybe some anecdotes of how you coped with your personal projects, what you do to keep yourselves motivated, what other kind of projects you've done. Do you think I should continue my PAD project? Do have any ideas what other kinds of projects I could start? I am looking for motivation, which is why I started the PAD project, but I feel it is not having the result I hoped for.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
