kuvvy
Well-known
My photography has become a little stale of late and needs a bit of a kick-start. I think that I’m going to have to find a project that I can really get into to get me productive again. I was wondering what plans you guys have for the coming year. What will you be shooting? I know many of us tend to shoot a mixture of anything and everything that takes our fancy. That’s the pleasure of being an amateur. But I would really like to know if any of you have a particular project, theme or subject you intend shooting. I would be interested in your ideas.
Paul
Paul
I strongly recommend finding something or someplace that is of strong interest personally as well as photographicly to you and just go an burn lots of film. I had made a number of trips to the Mansfield Training School before deciding to make it into a project.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/663
For this project I made 3 trips, 150 ish images and edited down from there. My goals were to tell a story, to focus on small details to show the larger picture, to show the beauty of what was, and to learn about my skills and equipment. I think I was successful.
Hope this helps.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/663
For this project I made 3 trips, 150 ish images and edited down from there. My goals were to tell a story, to focus on small details to show the larger picture, to show the beauty of what was, and to learn about my skills and equipment. I think I was successful.
Hope this helps.
R
RML
Guest
Rover has a really good point: it's not important what other people take for a project; it's important that any project you start is something that has personal meaning for you.
I have one personal project recording the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This has deep personal meaning to me as Mongolia is my second home, the ger districts appeal to me, and recording a disappearing way of life appeals to my historical senses.
Hopefully I'll be able to one or two other projects in Mongolia as well. One would be shooting tsam masks and items for a book; another would be shooting how a ger is build, the felt covers made, etc. Both appeal to me in a religious or cultural sense: the tsam masks project will deepen my knowledge of Mongolian culture and how Mongolians experience their form of the Buddhist faith; the ger building project will bring me closer to another essential aspect of Mongolian culture.
I can tell you that new equipment won't rid you of your blues.
I just got a Canon 300D and have been shooting it for the past few days. I'm already getting bored with it and I'm longing for a digital rangefinder (I enjoy the digital part but detest the SLR part of the 300D ). The Dark Side is strong, however, so beware!
And, if in the end, even a project doesn't cure your blues than just put down the camera for a while! In due time your hands will be itching again to start shooting.
I have one personal project recording the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This has deep personal meaning to me as Mongolia is my second home, the ger districts appeal to me, and recording a disappearing way of life appeals to my historical senses.
Hopefully I'll be able to one or two other projects in Mongolia as well. One would be shooting tsam masks and items for a book; another would be shooting how a ger is build, the felt covers made, etc. Both appeal to me in a religious or cultural sense: the tsam masks project will deepen my knowledge of Mongolian culture and how Mongolians experience their form of the Buddhist faith; the ger building project will bring me closer to another essential aspect of Mongolian culture.
I can tell you that new equipment won't rid you of your blues.
I just got a Canon 300D and have been shooting it for the past few days. I'm already getting bored with it and I'm longing for a digital rangefinder (I enjoy the digital part but detest the SLR part of the 300D ). The Dark Side is strong, however, so beware!And, if in the end, even a project doesn't cure your blues than just put down the camera for a while! In due time your hands will be itching again to start shooting.
GeneW
Veteran
The monthly themes here on RFF often prod me into action.
A couple of folks here have set up a PAW (picture a week) website to post their most interesting picture each week. It can make a kind of photo journal.
One project I like is this: my village (city, neighbourhood, etc). Imagine someone 30 yrs from now wondering what it looked like 30 yrs ago, then start documenting how it looks today. It's amazing how many changes occur in a relatively short time. Shots that look mundane today take on historical interest. Very few of our neighbourhoods get a good historical treatment. Be sure to include automobiles, trash days, signs, buildings, intersections, and people where possible. Even the changes in their clothing styles become interesting over time.
Gene
A couple of folks here have set up a PAW (picture a week) website to post their most interesting picture each week. It can make a kind of photo journal.
One project I like is this: my village (city, neighbourhood, etc). Imagine someone 30 yrs from now wondering what it looked like 30 yrs ago, then start documenting how it looks today. It's amazing how many changes occur in a relatively short time. Shots that look mundane today take on historical interest. Very few of our neighbourhoods get a good historical treatment. Be sure to include automobiles, trash days, signs, buildings, intersections, and people where possible. Even the changes in their clothing styles become interesting over time.
Gene
back alley
IMAGES
i too often wonder about what to shoot.
i like to go to the touristy part of town, generally known as 'whyte avenue', here in edmonton. i've been shooting here long before it became trendy to hang out here.
but, the older i get the more i hate the cold, so walking about in winter doesn't happen nearly as much.
most saturday mornings i head out to the local farmer's market. i arrive early as the set up is happening. i'm begining to be more accepted and recognized and people are talking to me about the photos and what i am doing there. but that's only a couple hours a week and more often than not i walk away without anything special on film.
i'm starting to put together a list of indoor activites with an eye towards shooting.
i look forward to other's respnses to this question also.
joe
i like to go to the touristy part of town, generally known as 'whyte avenue', here in edmonton. i've been shooting here long before it became trendy to hang out here.
but, the older i get the more i hate the cold, so walking about in winter doesn't happen nearly as much.
most saturday mornings i head out to the local farmer's market. i arrive early as the set up is happening. i'm begining to be more accepted and recognized and people are talking to me about the photos and what i am doing there. but that's only a couple hours a week and more often than not i walk away without anything special on film.
i'm starting to put together a list of indoor activites with an eye towards shooting.
i look forward to other's respnses to this question also.
joe
FrankS
Registered User
I've been taking pictures of musical performers at my local cool coffee shop. I've made prints, scanned them and sent them to the coffee shop's owner and to the performers. I also gave the shop owner a print of him playing guitar along with one of the bands. He's wanting to talk to me about displaying some of my photos there.
Over the coming year I'd also like to do far more nude photography with attractive female models, but I don't think that'll fly with my wife.
Over the coming year I'd also like to do far more nude photography with attractive female models, but I don't think that'll fly with my wife.
R
RML
Guest
FrankS said:
I think if you replaced the attractive female models with handsome male models your wife might be more inclined to let you indulge in your photographic passion.
FrankS
Registered User
But thats' just not my cup of tea.
back alley
IMAGES
it'a all about the pics frank!
remember it's art
joe
remember it's art
joe
FrankS
Registered User
I'm not that artistic.
Borghesia
Well-known
My projects are to finally print out the best pictures I have to decorate my home (never done that). My amateuristic work is slowly moving up to professional work. One or two times a month I am asked for a (paid) photography project. RF camera's are part of my equipment, and my Electro and Hexar AF did a good job.
Though I have digital equipment, my advertisement is that I shoot mainly on old fashioned film. My second project for the new year will be that I stick with film and try to master that more fully.
Though I have digital equipment, my advertisement is that I shoot mainly on old fashioned film. My second project for the new year will be that I stick with film and try to master that more fully.
peter_n
Veteran
Too funny!FrankS said:
I love music and I'm working on a 3 year project with GBYSO, a Boston youth orchestra that produces many talented professional musicians. I've been associated with GBYSO for many years and both my children are grads of the program. I'm hoping that my efforts will result in an exhibit in 2008, which is GBYSO's 50th anniversary.
FrankS
Registered User
About photographing male nudes, I just want to clarify that this is not my area of passion in photography, but if it is for anyone else, I have no problem with that, even if what we're talking about is sexual orientation: I have no problem with that, it's just not my cup of tea, and i have only respect for anyone self-actualized enough to realize and make that choice for themselves. I'm all about inclusiveness - racial, sexual orientation, whatever.
back alley
IMAGES
it's ok frank, it was only in fun.
in fact, my next phase was to start in about the photographer being nude.
but maybe i'll pass on that.
afa nudes, i have done a few. both men & women.
we have a lively gay community in our red neck town and it's not just the straight women who want boudiour shots for their partners.
i had a small studio, downtown, many years ago for a couple of years, and did some very nice portrait sessions with men, women and families. most kept their close on but occasionally i was lucky enough to find some brave souls who were wanting to shed their clothes.
and i only say lucky because it afforded me the opportunity to try working at nude photography.
it a tough shoot, trying to make nekked people look good.
there were a couple of women who would have looked good in noon light and a throw away camera but most needed some well placed shadows.
ah, for the old days...
joe
in fact, my next phase was to start in about the photographer being nude.
but maybe i'll pass on that.
afa nudes, i have done a few. both men & women.
we have a lively gay community in our red neck town and it's not just the straight women who want boudiour shots for their partners.
i had a small studio, downtown, many years ago for a couple of years, and did some very nice portrait sessions with men, women and families. most kept their close on but occasionally i was lucky enough to find some brave souls who were wanting to shed their clothes.
and i only say lucky because it afforded me the opportunity to try working at nude photography.
it a tough shoot, trying to make nekked people look good.
there were a couple of women who would have looked good in noon light and a throw away camera but most needed some well placed shadows.
ah, for the old days...
joe
S
sfaust
Guest
I'll be doing a lot of work for stock, but for my personal stuff, I had at one point though about doing a PAW series. But the more I though about it, the more I decided to try something different.
I had stared on a few other projects, so I will contine with them and put my effort there. One is to do a study on Boston at night. I've got quite a few good images from it, and will continue on. I like going into town at night, and its rich with photographic opportunities. I tend to shoot 35mm digital as 'recon', then go back in and shoot either medium format or large format images of the nicer compositions.
Its nice too that at 2am when I finish up, I can still find a half dozen places to get coffee, pizza, chinese, or whatever tickles my fancy!
I had stared on a few other projects, so I will contine with them and put my effort there. One is to do a study on Boston at night. I've got quite a few good images from it, and will continue on. I like going into town at night, and its rich with photographic opportunities. I tend to shoot 35mm digital as 'recon', then go back in and shoot either medium format or large format images of the nicer compositions.
Its nice too that at 2am when I finish up, I can still find a half dozen places to get coffee, pizza, chinese, or whatever tickles my fancy!
Hi Paul, I can relate to the situation. You might go back over your entire photo history looking at contact sheets, enlargements, slides, etc. Get an overview of what you've done in the past and see if that triggers any ideas, either to work more on or avoid.
A few years ago I computerized all my old filecards containing notes on rolls of film shot back into the 60's. In the process I had to deal with incomplete records, so I also looked at contact sheets and some neg file pages.
In all these photos of the past, the ones that struck me as most interesting had to do with people directly. Pondering this, I decided to concentrate now on people-oriented shots and stretch my social skills in that direction!
I've started by targeting people I encounter in the course of their business. Sort of a captive clientele, though some prefer not to get shot. I think I've now covered the easy ones and am wondering how to refocus the project, refine the idea, for the coming year.
This is just an example of how I found a new direction, and not to suggest you'd necessarily find the same solution... just that the methodoligy may suggest something to you!
A few years ago I computerized all my old filecards containing notes on rolls of film shot back into the 60's. In the process I had to deal with incomplete records, so I also looked at contact sheets and some neg file pages.
In all these photos of the past, the ones that struck me as most interesting had to do with people directly. Pondering this, I decided to concentrate now on people-oriented shots and stretch my social skills in that direction!
I've started by targeting people I encounter in the course of their business. Sort of a captive clientele, though some prefer not to get shot. I think I've now covered the easy ones and am wondering how to refocus the project, refine the idea, for the coming year.
This is just an example of how I found a new direction, and not to suggest you'd necessarily find the same solution... just that the methodoligy may suggest something to you!
RObert Budding
D'oh!
I've enrolled in a zone system course at the New England School of Photography. Time to get back into the darkroom - I've had no time since my kids started arriving 8 years ago! But now my wife has agreed that I can have Wedneday nights out!
This should be fun!
This should be fun!
W
wlewisiii
Guest
I have two series that I'm thinking about seriously working on. One is my flag studies - flags in front of houses especially, but in other contexts as well. And also my barn studies. I'm thinking for the latter of doing them predominatly with a longer lens (J9 or J11) and in TriX.
I also have a co-worker at the book store who wants me to take her portrait for use on dust jackets (she's an author/poet) and doesn't want it "pretty" but rather "interesting"...
William
I also have a co-worker at the book store who wants me to take her portrait for use on dust jackets (she's an author/poet) and doesn't want it "pretty" but rather "interesting"...
William
kuvvy
Well-known
Thanks for your replies guys. I know it really is down to me to find something that interests me. Franks idea to shoot musicians something I tried once and enjoyed. Took pix of a local rock band and they liked the shots. My brother-in-law is currently practising with his new band so I could probably attend some of those and try some shots there.
Also thought of enquiring at a local music recording studio to try a few shots, possibly with the Hexar AF and fast film.
Another idea is to shoot a kind of A-Z of folk in my town and their occupations eg: A-artist, B-butcher etc and to put them on display in the hope of raising money for charity.
Looking at my pictures now I find that I don't take many people shots. Odd really, when I spent a number of years shooting weddings every weekend.
Thanks again
Paul
Also thought of enquiring at a local music recording studio to try a few shots, possibly with the Hexar AF and fast film.
Another idea is to shoot a kind of A-Z of folk in my town and their occupations eg: A-artist, B-butcher etc and to put them on display in the hope of raising money for charity.
Looking at my pictures now I find that I don't take many people shots. Odd really, when I spent a number of years shooting weddings every weekend.
Thanks again
Paul
I am taking more pictures at Nikki's little school, about 200 students from K-12. They have never had a yearbook, so the thought of putting together one in PDF format and having it available on lulu.com is appealing. At work, I am a "Powerpoint Ranger", so it can't be that bad...
If successful, I can turn the template over to the older kids for subsequent editions. I like nothing better than taking pictures of Kids, and these kids make very willing "models".
If successful, I can turn the template over to the older kids for subsequent editions. I like nothing better than taking pictures of Kids, and these kids make very willing "models".
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