Just out of curiosity, do you go out shooting with a project in mind or just go out and shoot simple "one of" images?
I usually just shoot single images which could in theory become a project later on if they were grouped by location. Say for example, "Images of the Canadian Rockies". I've never actually gone out to shoot a project per say... I'd really like to get more in to project based photography though, because I think the discipline will ultimately help me improve as a photographer.
Right now, I have a few project ideas but I worry that they are too vague and unspecific so I'm wondering if you are doing or have done any projects in terms of landscape photography, and if so, what are/were they?
I've never really thought about it that way but in retrospect I guess I kind of do projects. But I don't plan them in advance, they just kind of form in my mind once I'm on site. I tend to be a bit of a contrarian on most things in life and I guess that spills over to photography. For example, when I visit a national park, I rarely photograph the iconic scenes. Rather I tend to come away with a series of intimate scenes and only one or two broad landscapes. But as a whole they tell a story. Then again, I'm not a pro so am not capturing what is marketable. I'm capturing what interests me and reminds me personally of the place.
Tom,
Up until fairly recently, my answer would have been 'no'. All my shots, landscape or otherwise, were single stand alone works. With my increased exposure to galleries and presentations, I've become aware of the value of projects at about the same time that I started developing them on my own. I just completed one that relates to landscape/nature called 'Organic Films' that I will be submitting for publication. I have another ongoing project about New York City and just completed a project based on a spur of the moment inspiration: "Life in the Serenity Lounge". I just recently uploaded it to my web site:
There is no commentary uploaded yet, but you will see what I've been up to.
The latter two are not landscape/nature based, but I plan to post at least one of the 'Organic Films' images to NPN soon, possibly even tonight.
Projects do have a particular value. One is that it will give you a consistent theme for a gallery show or publication. Second, when doing commission work, it helps to show that you can work a consistent theme for yourself or a client. Third, I find it helps me be more proactive in seeking out certain types of images, rather than relying purely on serendipity and chance. I'm on this sort of project mindset at the moment and it is fun coming up with varous ideas and then going out to seek the images for the project. Others, such as 'Life in the Serenity Lounge' and 'Organic Films' were ideas that sprang up on a moments inspiration. 'Serenity' took place over the course of a week - resulting in 45 images trimmed to 26 finals, 'Films' was shot in less than an hour - resulting in about 50 images trimmed down to 14 for presentation.
I recommend trying the process to see if it suits you.
Hi Tom,
Not necessarily in landscape work per se, but two years ago I started a broad theme "historic Hudson Valley" that has spun off into more narrowly focused projects, some of which have taken me beyond the Hudson Valley--e.g., one I call "Seen Better Days" with dilapidated and/or abandoned buildings, some of which are in Rhode Island and the Delaware Water Gap as well as my home region. As the other posters above have said, if you want to get into publications, galleries, etc., it helps to show that you can do a consistent theme--I'd say that even for a serious portfolio review this is true.
The short answer is "yes", most definitely. they can either be started as projects (i.e., think up a concept and go to make the images that fulfill the concept) or gradually a body of work grows, takes shape and becomes a project - and once it has, one continues to pursue images that improve it and fulfill it. I like the process. It forces one to think and seek ways of improving on previous images. It forces one not to duplicate and to find coherence among all images. All these things are good, methinks, if one is an image maker of any kind.
After reviewing my images from last year, I made up a plan for photos I would take this year. After visiting a few locations around Arizona a few times I have decided to document them in a series of images that showcase the landscape that many people overlook, never see, or just take for granted. My latest project (which I began to post a few photos of recently) is of the lower salt river. There are very few parts that have been photographed extensively and some not even touched. Hopefully I can fulfill this project and begin on my next, the summer monsoons. I think having a project definitely makes you visualize scenes better especially going back and back again to the location. George Stocking had a great article on Ian Plant's dreamscapes blog about sitting on a location until you get what you are looking for. I have found that to be one of the most useful tips while trying to find that "new" image.
As a full time professional I work ONLY on projects. Random acts of photography, just for photography sake, isn't a good business model, especially these days. I usually pitch my projects in advance, get them funded and start working. Projects are great motivators and a great way to get you out of a rut. Best to set a rigid deadline and then get others involved, that adds some pressure, but that is often exactly what people need.
I wish I could just photograph what I want, whenever I want, but if you trying survive this market, that just doesn't work.
Yes. Some I've been at for years...decades... and know I'll never complete. Some I shoot in an afternoon. Some I've thought, and thought a lot about ...for a long time about the epitome of a particular imagined image... and when I finally succeed in its capture the project is complete and I feel like a free man!
In the final analysis, when a particular scene or subject is perceived as having potench as an image worthy of capture, each exposure can be considered a project, if you're of a mind to....and if you're not, why squeeze the shutter? Maybe better to just go home watch a football game and put the whole damned kit on eBay.
Just my tuppence worth of perspective after 60+ years of photography. I'm convinced everyone must believe in something...and I believe that in this waning evening I'll now have my second wee dram of a fine single malt !
That's a good topic to bring up Tom. When I first started out in digital photography I read a lot of books and magazines about photography, and one magazine in particular I really liked was Lenswork, created by Brooks Jensen. The magazine and Brook's podcasts opened my eyes to how to create and edit your work in projects. I don't subscribe to the magazine anymore, but you'll find the latest podcasts here. His sites are full of info, and you can now subscribe to exclusively online content.
I found that working in projects has focused my creative processes and helped me learn and improve my technical skill as I work towards a theme. I develop my projects over time to reflect my favorite subjects and aspects about photography. For example, 'Coastal Colours' and 'Granite Landscapes'. My gravitation towards the subject I liked spawned the idea for the project. The more I photographed it, the more the concept for the project formed. Refinements to it's scope and style then formed over time as I move through the project. My ideas have taken years to refine, and they will continue to be refined, but the basic project has stayed the same.
Most of my projects are on-going and include series (Eg Colors I, Colors II, Colors III etc). I like to limit each series of the project to around 12 images or so. This not only gives me a scope to work in, but also allows me to explore specific field and post-production techniques over a range of images so they form a coherent body. When the series is completed, I start a new numbered series and explore new techniques. I find that this approach has focused my learning considerably, and keeps me motivated and excited about new learning, new compositions and new processing and presentation techniques.
I recommend thinking about what you like most about what you photograph. Is it the location?, the subject?, the light?, the mood?, the spirit?... whatever it is, start to build some project concepts around those things. These topics will mean the most to you and keep you motivated and excited about working on them. Once you have the basic ground work done, you'll probably find you can start to group some of your existing images into the project and think more about new ones for it as well.
It really is great fun and very rewarding to complete a project (or a series as part of an ongoing project), and it'll keep you motivated to try new things. The hardest step is the first, but once you start to move forward and the momentum picks up, you'll be off and running!!
Give it a go!
(Click on my WWW icon below and you'll see some of my projects).
I moved to Scottsbluff in the western panhandle of Nebraska two years ago. There is an area south of here call Wildcat Hills. One part of the hills called Cedar Canyon is a wildlife management area and open to the public. There are no improved facilities at all. I feel in love with it and took a year, going out once or twice a week, sometimes more, to document the canyon. I shot everything from grand panoramas to heads of grass. It did challenge me, because after a while I had to work to find different views, angles and light to shot. It did cause me to expand my vision. Beside it was fun. The canyon has become an old friend. I have started to expand to other areas of the Wildcat Hills now, but still go back to Cedar Canyon from time to time.
Posted by Tom Nevesely on July 20, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Discussion
10 repliesI usually just shoot single images which could in theory become a project later on if they were grouped by location. Say for example, "Images of the Canadian Rockies". I've never actually gone out to shoot a project per say... I'd really like to get more in to project based photography though, because I think the discipline will ultimately help me improve as a photographer.
Right now, I have a few project ideas but I worry that they are too vague and unspecific so I'm wondering if you are doing or have done any projects in terms of landscape photography, and if so, what are/were they?
Up until fairly recently, my answer would have been 'no'. All my shots, landscape or otherwise, were single stand alone works. With my increased exposure to galleries and presentations, I've become aware of the value of projects at about the same time that I started developing them on my own. I just completed one that relates to landscape/nature called 'Organic Films' that I will be submitting for publication. I have another ongoing project about New York City and just completed a project based on a spur of the moment inspiration: "Life in the Serenity Lounge". I just recently uploaded it to my web site:
http://www.essentiallightphotography.com/#serenity-lounge/1
There is no commentary uploaded yet, but you will see what I've been up to.
The latter two are not landscape/nature based, but I plan to post at least one of the 'Organic Films' images to NPN soon, possibly even tonight.
Projects do have a particular value. One is that it will give you a consistent theme for a gallery show or publication. Second, when doing commission work, it helps to show that you can work a consistent theme for yourself or a client. Third, I find it helps me be more proactive in seeking out certain types of images, rather than relying purely on serendipity and chance. I'm on this sort of project mindset at the moment and it is fun coming up with varous ideas and then going out to seek the images for the project. Others, such as 'Life in the Serenity Lounge' and 'Organic Films' were ideas that sprang up on a moments inspiration. 'Serenity' took place over the course of a week - resulting in 45 images trimmed to 26 finals, 'Films' was shot in less than an hour - resulting in about 50 images trimmed down to 14 for presentation.
I recommend trying the process to see if it suits you.
Not necessarily in landscape work per se, but two years ago I started a broad theme "historic Hudson Valley" that has spun off into more narrowly focused projects, some of which have taken me beyond the Hudson Valley--e.g., one I call "Seen Better Days" with dilapidated and/or abandoned buildings, some of which are in Rhode Island and the Delaware Water Gap as well as my home region. As the other posters above have said, if you want to get into publications, galleries, etc., it helps to show that you can do a consistent theme--I'd say that even for a serious portfolio review this is true.
I wish I could just photograph what I want, whenever I want, but if you trying survive this market, that just doesn't work.
In the final analysis, when a particular scene or subject is perceived as having potench as an image worthy of capture, each exposure can be considered a project, if you're of a mind to....and if you're not, why squeeze the shutter? Maybe better to just go home watch a football game and put the whole damned kit on eBay.
Just my tuppence worth of perspective after 60+ years of photography. I'm convinced everyone must believe in something...and I believe that in this waning evening I'll now have my second wee dram of a fine single malt !
Best t'yall,
Dave Graham
East River, SD
I found that working in projects has focused my creative processes and helped me learn and improve my technical skill as I work towards a theme. I develop my projects over time to reflect my favorite subjects and aspects about photography. For example, 'Coastal Colours' and 'Granite Landscapes'. My gravitation towards the subject I liked spawned the idea for the project. The more I photographed it, the more the concept for the project formed. Refinements to it's scope and style then formed over time as I move through the project. My ideas have taken years to refine, and they will continue to be refined, but the basic project has stayed the same.
Most of my projects are on-going and include series (Eg Colors I, Colors II, Colors III etc). I like to limit each series of the project to around 12 images or so. This not only gives me a scope to work in, but also allows me to explore specific field and post-production techniques over a range of images so they form a coherent body. When the series is completed, I start a new numbered series and explore new techniques. I find that this approach has focused my learning considerably, and keeps me motivated and excited about new learning, new compositions and new processing and presentation techniques.
I recommend thinking about what you like most about what you photograph. Is it the location?, the subject?, the light?, the mood?, the spirit?... whatever it is, start to build some project concepts around those things. These topics will mean the most to you and keep you motivated and excited about working on them. Once you have the basic ground work done, you'll probably find you can start to group some of your existing images into the project and think more about new ones for it as well.
It really is great fun and very rewarding to complete a project (or a series as part of an ongoing project), and it'll keep you motivated to try new things. The hardest step is the first, but once you start to move forward and the momentum picks up, you'll be off and running!!
Give it a go!
(Click on my WWW icon below and you'll see some of my projects).