New year projects
January 2024
A creative project whether short (a day or week) or long term (months to years) is a way to focus and find purpose in your photographic or creative work. At every level of experience a project is also good practice and below are a few well know project starters.
For beginners, a project can accelerate your learning.
Dont worry too much about camera settings to start with, switch to auto and concentrate on framing and composing a good image.
As you assess the photographs you have made, note what you would like to change (darker, lighter, sharper, dreamier etc.) and then learn the settings to do so.
1. Spend a day photographing close to home, this could literally be your home or taking a walk in your local area. This exercise is about getting comfortable with your camera and learning to look and see interesting subjects in your everyday life.
2. Photograph a vase of flowers or plant every day over a couple of weeks as it changes. Notice light and structure as you make each photograph playing with settings and the light.
This exercise can be carried out with an object, landscape or even a person and is about practice.3. A classic 365 project of daily practice. Making a photograph a day for a year is a wonderful way to progress in your photography and find your style. This is about play, not being too precious about your images and exploring ideas by taking a small amount of time each day to practice. You will end up with a great series that tracks your year and learning.
These images can be taken on your phone as ‘sketchbook images’ and published to an organized account like instagram or Flickr or simply saved in file.4. Copy your favourite photograph - In all creative practice we learn from those we admire. Look at great photographs and learn from the best photographers in history.
Take one image and learn everything you can by recreating it. Make notes on why you like it so much and how yours compares. This is an exercise in learning technical skills not about copying other artists ideas.
For more confident photographers, where you already take good photos and know your settings but are struggling to make an impact creatively, a project can help you develop your style and find meaning.
5. Photograph the people close to you. Making a series of great photographs of your family or friends is not only a gift for all involved but the extra pressure can help improve your photographs.
This isn’t just family snaps, think and plan the project. Consider how you want to portray these people, could it be formal portraits or documentary style of a day? How do you want to present the images in the end?6. Try something you hate. Pick an area of photography you struggle with technical or creative. For me it would be using a tripod or flash. It could be photographing people or creating abstracts. Anything you don’t feel confident with. Make 12 (or more) images doing this until you feel more at ease with the subject.
And for those who know it all! The day you stop learning something you new is a sad day but if you are consistently producing great images its important to bring those photographs together in curated collections.
To be blunt, we are all at risk of being hit by a bus one day and leaving thousands of images on hard drives to our loved ones to deal with isn’t a gift.
As part of your practice it is important to cull and curate your photograph collections.
7. A Portfolio of 50 great photographs - choose your favourite 50 images from your photographic life. What story do they tell, how do they work together? What order do you place them in? Do they need an introduction? This is an exercise in looking at you work as a whole.
8. A series of 12 photographs - Can you find themes when looking back at your work. You may have 10 great landscapes that need two more to finish the set that will inspire a trip to make those photographs. Or of architecture or people wearing red that just sparks a new set of ideas. Consider the work you have produced and where it can lead to next. Are there images that stand out that you’d like to explore further with print or as a starting point for a new series.
9. The long project - What still gets you excited about photography? Indulge in this idea and make a series of 24 images. Think about what you want them to say and where they will be presented. Study the idea and exhaust it photographically over a period of time. It may be a landscape, animal, plant, human or place over a year. It may be a building or a bug. This is about doing the work.
10. Publish - where will you share these photographs?
Will you make prints? A book, a website, social media account, an exhibition? Consider applying for an RPS qualification? Will it just be for family and friends?
The making of the photograph is only half the work, let them be seen.
EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS / SERIES TO INSPIRE
Robert Frank - The Americans - published in the late 1950s this is one of the most famous photo books of all time. Robert Frank spent a couple of years travelling America to create this document of post war life in black and white.
Jamie Beck - Isolation Creation commercial photographer Jamie Beck started here ‘Isolation Creation’ series during lockdown where she photographed a still life each day recording the process and sharing the images on instagram. This lead to a fine art print exhibition and a published book.
Still - Mary Jo Hoffman is a photographer who has taken the 365 project and has produced still life images of objects from nature, every day for past few years. Sometimes in the field, other days carefully arranged in her home, Hoffman has created an extensive body of work now licensed by many brands.
Simon Moore - Portfolio Simon curates his photographs into collections based on an event or location published to his website. The simplicity of place or time leads to concise photo stories of Simons work.
Philip J Wells - A Walk in Wicklow - Phillip combines his passion for climbing with photography and writing to share with others his experiences on the walks he takes. This style of blog is not only great for the reader but serves as a record of Philips own photographic work as it develops over time.
Gordon Parks - Later Abstractions 1993 - 95 - in later life Parks photographed in his home.
”The dreamlike and impressionistic aspects of Parks’s color landscape photography lead fluidly into his late abstract compositions, which he characterized as “horizons of imagination” (Half Past Autumn, 1997). Combining elements of painting, sculpture, and photography, these compositions often included fl oral still lifes—flower petals and diaphanous fabrics were among his favorite subjects—positioned before brightly colored and dramatically lit backgrounds. Despite his advancing age, Parks made these images at a remarkable rate, claiming he felt compelled to create his own hills, mountains, and valleys. These exploratory works provide a" poetic coda to his career, the last expressions of his singular creativity.”
Joel Meyerowitz - Aftermath - Meyerowitz was the photographer to make sure a record of the 9/11 aftermath at the World Trade centre was recorded for history.
Ralph Gibson - Black Series 1980 - abstract studies in black and white and curated into a series.
Brad Carr - A Year Amongst Trees - Brad spend a year photographing Welsh woodlands to produce a large scale prints which have been exhibited in a solo show and a zine.
My Favourite of all time Irving Penn - Small Trades from 1951 onwards Irving Penn photographed street traders in his studio as a break from his commercial work.
Martin Parr - Last Resort - British kitsch seaside satire in fine art form. Martin Parr creates series for exhibition and book form.
David Hurn - Anti Vietnam Protest - Magnum photographer David Hurn is a respected documentary photographer who has captured life over decades.
Karine Aigner - Wild Dogs - Aigner was winner 0f the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the year with Big Buzz but her series of photographs titled Wild Dogs show more about the lives of these creatures.
Beth Nicholls Photography - Beth is a photographer and writer based in Weston Super Mare. She predominantly shoots bands but shows a range of projects on her website. Most notably to the Weston area is her ‘Downside of the Seaside’ Series.
OTHER IDEAS FOR PROJECTS
A day in the life - pick a subject, a friend, family member, someone you find interesting, your cat and photograph their day. Curate into 16 images.
Through the Seasons - landscape or garden project returning to the same place over the year to produce and series of images reflecting the change in seasons.
Architecture of your local town - Weston Super Mare is great for this, look up and capture the history of architecture.A classic 24 shots - No deleting and no more. 24 shots, just like film. Great for taking your time, working on composition and that all important ‘decisive moment’.
Pick a colour - out and about look for a chosen colour. It may be red or a tone of green and concentrate on photographing that colour where you can to produce a collection of images. This lends itself well to street photography and abstracts.
BOOKS
2 great little text books on photography
Albert Watson - Creating Photographs
David Hurn & Bill Jay - On Being a Photographer
PODCASTS
YOUTUBE
a1 camera club
Its been a while. I joined a local camera club very nervously in September. It turned out to be great.
My local is the A1 Camera Club in Weston Super Mare. When I first walked into the hall I thought Detectorists, which was a good thing! People really into photography of all ages, some have been members since the 80s when it was a group of college students all geeking out over the new A1 canon camera.
40s years on, most are using digital and still meet to share images, get constructive critiques and learn from each other. Some weeks they try out different lighting techniques, others its a competition or talk by a photographer.
So far I’ve photographed a charity event, at the Theatre, entered competitions, got my images critiqued and learnt to use flash. Something that really wasn’t clicking with me from Youtube videos. There’s nothing like being shown in person.
And its cheap. £3 a meeting.
I’d really recommend looking up your local camera club or coming to ours.
Here’s a little of what I’ve made so far. The first image is how I’ve learnt some editing skills too.
I’m definitely out of my comfort zone which is also good.
Red Liberty Print Dress - Colour
The colour version. I used flash in some instances and am enjoying the effect, especially with the red filter.
side note : I’m driving myself mad with editing images. I think I like them and am loving experimenting but over using filters, over editing maybe because I’m not confident. I’m talking myself out of each image I finish.
Why am I adding grain? because I love the look of film photography but can’t afford to use film right now? true. And I like the veiling effect, for this dress which is more romantic, ballet inspired. I think that is what I’m looking for, to make photographs like in the old ballet books. Is it right for this dress?
If I had a million dollars to photograph this dress? - Go back in time, ask Audrey Hepburn to model and have her dance around a palace garden at dusk with a spotlight on her. And a photo with real lilac.
Being the subject has made me stress out these images and has made it quite unenjoyable. I won’t completely give up but will try a different approach until I can afford a professional model again.
fashion, dress, dresses, floral, grain,
I have three versions of this photograph of the dress hanging in my studio, with a clean background and cropped. I keep coming back to this one instead showing the floor instead.
ROSES RETURN
More roses in the dark from 2021. I like the yellow light, the aged blur almost like a print.
Rose season is coming around again for 2022. I’m living a repeat of last year, but its different. I guess the roses will be a little different too.
This was supposed to be the year I focus on work, the year I am so grateful to be alive and creating in. It still can be and I suppose cancer is giving me another push in the right direction.
I’m starting the ‘Artists Way’ (again) and looking at the work of artists I admire Cecil Beaton, Cig Harvey, Suleika Jaouad, Behida Dohlic, Mary Jo Hoffman.
roses, flowers, floral, grain, sketchbook image,
Roses in the Dark
Taken last year in the dark. I really love how artificial light can isolate colour and objects in the dark. Like a lonely streetlamp or in this case a light situated just above these red roses making them luminous.
Nature, flowers, roses
Wild Pea Leaves
This is the last of the images from that day I walked along the lane with a camera. I will do it again, maybe capture some mid winter and spring shoots.
The plant had pretty flowers which turned into seed pods and popped just like sweet peas with a prettier leaf. I liked the pattern they created here. I’d better find out what this plant is.
Nature , Leaves , Hedgerow
Cow Parsely Seed Heads
Dried seed heads of the cow parsley in warm golden oat shades, I love the delicate stars left behind.
Ragwort Poison Flowers
Its such a grey day I thought these bright yellow verge side flowers might be a bit cheery.
Sadly this is Ragwort and not what you want to see in countryside, really pretty but deadly when dry to horses and cattle.
Flowers, yellow, colour, nature, plants
Mr Seedhead
Furry dandelion seeds making a face in the hedgerow. I think quite a sweet little character really.
I love the sparkle the seeds give too.
Nature , Botanical , Still life photography ,
ivy leaves
The next few images will be of a series of photos I took on one of my daily walks, down the same lane I always walk down, I think in Autumn. Walking alone with a camera makes me stop and look for things to photograph and I’m happy with what I found. I need to do it more often.
The ivy leaves, so simple just there in the hedge. Turning them to black and white and playing with the levels I’m seeing more movement and undulation in their form.
Nature , Leaves , Black and white photography , Plants , Botany ,
Photographed with my Canon 5D mk3 but any camera will do.
Swans at golden hour
Today the swans at golden hour last Summer. I’ve ran out barefoot in the early morning and taken many pictures of the swans on the river, keeping the camera by the door ready. Some images are better than this one but the colours really were this golden and there really were 11 swans who swam in a perfect row.
I can’t remember if this was first light or last light but either way it was beautiful.
I have too many photos and they can get a bit overwhelming. I’d like to take a photo a day and share it but I’m constantly playing catch up, taking far too many and only sitting down to edit once in a while. And then not really sharing my best and instead putting the OK images first like I’m scared I only have a few good ones that I should save for when I need them. I do the same with food, and my other work, always doing boring first and saving good things for later. Why? Later may be too late!
I suppose that’s the way I work but its pretty dumb.
Nature River Swans Wildlife Somerset
Bokeh Dress
Happy New Year! Something sparkly and shiny and blurry from the fabulous balloon sleeves of a vintage 70s dress with metallic stripes. I love these colours.
Fashion Colour Abstract
Spots, Dots
I was photographing this new dress and not only do I love the rainbow dots against the black velvet making it neon like, but out of focus its even better at conveying pop era design.
1960s black velvet mini dress with appliqued pom poms by Alexandra King.
Fashion Bokeh Abstract Colour
Film Roses
Going through some film photos from last year and like this one of the roses. I can’t remember which film it was, probably Kodak gold with my Olympus OM1 and desaturated in lightroom. Processed by the great people at Photographique in Bristol.
I still can’t put my finger on why film is different to digital, even when you add grain, but it is different.
Film photography , Olympus OM1 , Flowers , Nature , Black and White
The wise woods
Feeling the loss of someone great, who I never really got to know and wish I had. These woods feel like a wise place to contemplate the quiet cycle of life, growth and eventual death. Spring will arrive with its delicate hope after the mourning.
quantocks forest tree
This tree was full of knots and knobbles and mushrooms and fungi and holes and lichen and a bit of blue rope. Topped with the brightest orange and green leaves. I could spend a lifetime with this tree.
Nature , Colour , Canon 5D , Trees
a/w deadly is the female
Still experimenting with photographing the dresses. I like the clean white background and mixing a texture with a contrasting background to be smooth or dappled.
English Rose portraits
If I don't share these photos now I'll sit on them waiting for the 'right time'.
The main English Rose photograph is the image that means the most to me of the whole set. My studio came with these murals and I had it noted on my shot list to see if the Queen Elizabeth 1st would work as a portrait shot. I had planned for Sophia to do a similar pose to Princess Margaret in the Cecil Beaton Dior dress image, sat with the dress flared all around and looking regal. The proportions and idea of Elizabeth looming over Sophia didn't work.
I asked Sophia sit up on the mantelpiece where she nestled in front of Elizabeth as a successor rather than a subject.
The result portrays An English Rose.
I'm really pleased with them but have been looking at them non stop for the last 7 days and have lost all perspective. I hope when I look back on them next year I will still love some of these shots.
Sophia made every shot beautiful, it was impossible to choose. Usually I get maybe 20% usable images from a shoot. I’m not great at directing or use the wrong settings. This shoot there were 90% usable. A professional model makes a huge difference.
I booked Sophia to model as I had worked with her before and knew she was professional and had the face I needed. Sophia is also a designer maker and creative from London so in this image in particular was fitting not just in looks but in identity. I understand this is very much my gaze and about my own cultural identity being British and needing a way to look at it with hope and pride.
To feel the shame of being English which I had for so long, discounted all the people here who are brilliant and inspiring and just getting on. I gave too much focus to those who hate and need to only give air to those who hope.
I just kept saying to myself, focus on the beautiful. This is what its about.
These are my favorite 11 today
Model - Sophia Brown aka Velvet Jones
Photographs - Alexandra King
