A new year brings thoughts of new beginnings and new opportunities. Resolution is common this time of year. You definitely plan to join a gym this year, but why not make it a goal to do a new photo project? There are a number of projects you might consider working on in 2023, from those that require you to create something unique every day to those that will be successful with less frequent donations from your side.
The classic project to do when you get tired of seeing your expensive camera just sitting on the shelf day in and day out is Project 365. It can be defined in many different ways and ways. A common approach is to create and share a new photo every day. You can add additional constraints, such as shooting an entire project on film. Perhaps your project only involves shooting a single frame per day. You can use a specific brand of camera or even a specific lens for the entire project. You can also change the parameters of how you take photos as each month or season passes. The point of this project is to practice your craft every day. You should feel free to establish or remove any constraints that feel more restrictive than inspiring.
I was initially inspired to complete Project 365 a few years ago when I attended a photographer talk Ruddy Roye. He asked the attendees: “How many of you carry cameras everywhere?” I didn’t raise my hand, but his question prompted me to become the person who always carries a camera with me. In practice, this was difficult because the camera I chose was quite heavy. Leica distance meter. You always know that this camera is on you and you have to be extra vigilant not to misplace it throughout the day. I have discussed some troubles related to the implementation of Project 365 in How to Succeed at Completing Project 365. It’s a job that requires real commitment, but if you’re making 365-degree photos in 2023 that you probably wouldn’t have taken otherwise chances are there would be photos out of many. that you will cherish many years from now.
Taking pictures of family members is something you probably already do on a semi-regular basis. One photo project you might consider is being intentional about how you photograph your loved ones and extended family members. Whenever a family member dies, I’m asked to search my archives for pictures of that person. In most cases, I can find powerful images appearing in funeral brochures. Family members are happy with the photos, but I’m often disappointed that I didn’t take more pictures of the person. If I had posed for a photo in my archive, I would have wished I had taken more realistic pictures of that person smiling widely at a family event. If there are good candidates, then I regret not taking the time to get a clear portrait of the person with the right lighting and uncluttered background. No matter how many photos I have of a loved one who has passed away, I always wish there were more.
We don’t know when our time will come, but today, if I were standing in front of an elderly family member, I would try to create the strongest image possible of that person. I am acutely aware that I am capable of taking what may well be the best photograph this person has ever taken. The creation of this image was well worth a few minutes of my time. Many people focus on cute kids at family events, but I’m interested in photographing older people. Your project in 2023 can be as simple as capturing impressive images of older family members every time you meet. Whether you focus on nature or pose, you can be confident that the photos you create today will be treasured by family members decades from now. You may have a theme in mind, such as taking pictures of parents with their children. Or perhaps you take pictures of couples together. Maybe you create a black and white family photo so that your photo stands out from the color photos taken by other family members on their phones. You can set up a single ring light to create consistently styled photos across all the different family events throughout the year. Documenting your family as a personal photo project is something that won’t feel overwhelming since you only need to do it during the family events you attend every year. The number of events varies from person to person but is probably between 10-20 events total for most people.
Another project you might consider is revisiting the same place, subject, or person over and over again over the years. As a portrait photographer, I am not very interested in places and things. However, I was impressed with the work of photographer Michael Pach, who photographed the same tree every day for an entire year: Same tree / Different date. His approach to this project was to photograph the tree from the same spot every day, but at different times. Your approach might be to shoot your subject at different distances and angles, using a variety of cameras and lenses. Either approach will provide insight into the different claims we can make about an object. If you take on a project like this, you can tell the story however you see fit. For Michael, that means shooting the same tree every day. For you, that might mean periodically taking pictures on a city street as the seasons change throughout the year.
Photographers Frans Hofmeester created a project that is similar in concept but different in theme. He regularly took portraits of his daughter using the same lighting and background for 21 consecutive years. The final images are put together into a video that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Maybe only parents will understand, but the speed at which the years go by in videos is the speed they seem to be going by in real life. It’s worth noting that this project takes little time to create and doesn’t require any special cameras or lighting equipment. If you’re a photographer, it’s hard to justify not doing something this way, especially if you have a new pet or child in the family. You have a camera, and if you work hard enough, you can find the subject, but are you committed enough to watch a project like this until it’s done?
In 2023, I will be working on Project 365. For the past two years, I have started the project on New Year’s Day and finished it before Valentine’s Day. But at this point, I am inspired and I hope you are too. If you have other ideas for personal projects, feel free to share them in the comments.
