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12 Creative Photography Project Ideas to Get You Motivated

03 Aug

The post 12 Creative Photography Project Ideas to Get You Motivated appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

12 creative project ideas to get you motivated

Looking for some fun, creative photography project ideas to get you inspired and excited about taking photos?

It’s always good to be involved in a photography project, and in this article, I’m going to share 12 of my favorite project ideas, including 52-week projects, 365-day projects, and more.

So if you’re ready to find the right project for your needs, then let’s get started!

zoom blur technique — Learning a new technique, such as the zoom burst, makes for a great creative photography project.

Before you start your creative photography project

As with anything in life, once you have a project idea, it’s important to think it over and make a clear plan of action. This is a big step toward being successful. So if you have a project in mind, before you actually start snapping photos, consider the following points:

Give yourself time. Keep in mind the amount of free time you have. Is it realistic for you to complete the project? There are some projects that take a real time commitment; make sure you have a good plan in place if this is the type of project you decide to tackle. And ask yourself: Are there any important events over the next few weeks, months, or year, such as a wedding or a house move, that might make it difficult to finish?
Plan out all the details. If your project is long term, perhaps lasting a whole year, then make a plan for how you’ll achieve it. A 365 project is especially demanding, as you need to take a photograph every day. If you can, plan out every day of the project – and make your plan prior to getting started.
Allow for the unexpected. There will be times when you get sick, come home late, or your drive or motivation isn’t quite there. The plan you make for your project should include some easy days. Think of it as cooking ahead and having some frozen food in the fridge ready to reheat. In photography, there are always a number of photos that are very easy to take but still look striking. Keep some easier photos held back for times that you need a break.

12 creative photography projects to energize your work

As a year is 12 months long, I’ve included 12 project ideas (though some of them will take all year, whereas others might only take a weekend). Pick your favorite, or – if you’re ambitious! – choose more than one!

1. The 52-week project

This is a year-long project where you take one photograph per week. Tackling such a lengthy project is demanding, but if you can plan out some (or all) of your shots before the project starts, you’ll be a lot more successful.

Note that you can always customize the project to keep things more interesting and/or cohesive:

You can have a monthly theme. This might be a month of portraits, a month of landscapes, a month of spring, and so on.
You can have a weekly theme. The first week can be shadows, followed by camera rotation, with digital blending after that, etc.

If you want to do regular photography but you’re not quite ready for a daily project, the 52-week project is a great one to pick.

digital blending creative idea — This photo used a technique called *digital blending*. Doing a 52-week project where you learn one technique a week can do wonders for your skills as a photographer.

2. The 365-day project

This is an intimidating project to take on, which is why many people go for the 52-week version listed above. However, like a relationship that requires a major time commitment, the reward for this project is often worth it.

Now, the original 365 project required daily self-portraits, which made it even tougher to complete. But a lot of people simply look to take one good photograph per day, be it a landscape, portrait, or macro shot. If you’re not sure how to get started, here are a few ideas:

The self-portrait 365 project. Take a selfie every day for a year.
What’s on your plate? Photograph your meal every day.
Life at sea. Show the different aspects of sea life. This is a diverse project that can include seascapes, macro photos, fishermen, and underwater photography (if you have the gear).

food photography idea — You eat every day. Why not turn your food into a 365-day project?

3. Follow one consistent theme

Want to really focus your mind (and hone a specific set of photography skills)? Choose a theme, and only take photos aligned with that theme.

This creative photography project can easily work as a 365-day or 52-week project. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

Concentrate on a single technique. Take photos with a crystal ball, using an infrared camera, etc.
Have a topic for inspiration. Look at everyday objects and occurrences, then pick a topic that interests you. You might photograph only Chinese food, for example. Or you could do a clothes-related project – you could photograph only denim, or if you’re in Korea, you could photograph hanbok.
Photograph at the same time every day. Pick a time of the day and photograph only at this time. For instance, you might shoot every day at 6 PM, which will offer plenty of interesting light (plus, it will change throughout the year).

women dancing in the street — Photographing with a theme, such as a country’s traditional clothes, can be a great project. In this photo, all the women are wearing Korean hanbok.

4. Limit yourself to 24 photos

Photographers who photograph film know all about restraint – they will attest to the importance of really considering every photograph. So why not put yourself in their shoes and limit yourself to a certain number of shots per outing, day, or week?

The specific limit is a personal choice, but make sure the number isn’t too large (you want the project to involve some actual work, after all!). Personally, I like the idea of 24 shots – this hearkens back to the days of film – though you can also do 36, 20, or even 10.

To really emulate the feeling of shooting film, try only capturing 24 photographs for one week (no deleting)! With this project, every time you hit the shutter, you need to know you’re photographing from the best possible angle and with the best composition. Learning to successfully shoot with restraint will improve your work in leaps and bounds.

5. Use the title of a song or album

Delving into other mediums can be a great way to come up with a cool creative photography project. A lot of people take a photo, then make a title to go with it – but a better approach for creativity is to know the title of your photograph before you hit the shutter button.

In other words: You determine your photography concept in advance based on your shot title. Then you problem-solve to get the result you need.

You can get your titles anywhere, but I recommend looking to your favorite music album or song. Here are a few additional ideas:

The project could use an artist’s album titles
You could choose song titles, then turn them into photo titles
You can use the lyrics in a song to inspire photos

man sitting on the subway with a phone — “The Passenger” is a famous song by Iggy Pop. Song titles can be great inspiration for photographs!

6. Use only one (prime) lens

Most photographers own quite a few lenses, not to mention zooms with huge focal length ranges. And while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you may find yourself becoming lazy over time – using your zoom lenses, staying in the exact same place, not making a significant effort to really work a scene.

That’s where this photography project idea comes in handy. Simply shoot with a single lens for a day, a week, or a month, and you’ll quickly appreciate the value of careful composition, zooming with your feet, and more.

A really good lens to get started with is the nifty 50 (i.e., a 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4). The fixed focal length will force you to consider composition more carefully, and you’ll get a perspective similar to the human eye.

Of course, you have plenty of options, and any lens you could choose will have its merits. If you want to get really creative, try using a fisheye, tilt-shift, or macro lens.

three Canon lenses — You get to choose one lens. Which will it be?

7. Only use a smartphone

Who says your creative photography project should be high-tech? There’s a lot to be said for stripping your photography gear down to the basics, and your smartphone is perfect for this.

There are plenty of camera apps that can give your smartphone DSLR-like functionality (and you can buy clip-on lenses if you’re looking for added flexibility).

That said, the purest smartphone project will only use your phone’s basic camera app. So don’t be afraid to pack away your fancy cameras and use your smartphone’s native camera app for a week. Focus on what you can do with composition, light, and a perfectly timed moment of capture.

creative photography project ideas photographing with a smartphone — The best camera is the one you have with you, especially when the sky does this! An iPhone 4 was used to take this photo.

8. Find a story

No matter where you live, you can find a story to tell, though it will likely differ depending on whether you’re in a city, the country, a hot climate, or a cold one. Is your local area famous for any type of food? Are there any famous landmarks such as castles or temples nearby? How about an annual festival?

Once you’ve settled on your story, approach it in the way you’d photograph on assignment for a magazine. Try to tell the entire story. Use a variety of techniques and shoot a variety of subjects.

At the end of the project, you should spend some time picking a final set of photos – not necessarily the best individual shots, but the images that best tell a story. If you get a good result, you might even consider pitching it to a magazine!

magazine spread with woman on a rock in a stream — It’s good to practice photographing for a magazine. That way, when National Geographic comes knocking, you’ll be ready!

9. Learn a totally new technique

Once you know how to use your camera, it’s easy to get complacent – to shoot with the exact same techniques, the same settings, the same rhythm. So why not try focusing your project on a new technique?

Learning a new technique can be both exciting and intimidating. It may also require a significant time commitment. There are not many creative photography projects more energizing than learning something brand new, though. Here are some fun techniques to consider:

Digital blending. This technique will improve both your landscape photography and your Photoshop skills. There are aspects of blending that are tough to master, but it will absolutely be worth it.
Crystal balls. Using a glass ball as a type of external lens is a lot of fun, and it’s a great way to create some unusual photos.
Light painting. This is a hot topic in photography. Will you learn to take zoom bursts? How about making light orbs? Will you use a Pixelstick?
Drone photography. This is another photographic genre that’s becoming increasingly popular. Invest in a drone, shoot with it regularly, and you’ll be on the cutting edge of photography.
Hyperlapse. Take a series of photos and turn them into a video. Some of the most creative photography projects out there use this technique!
Off-camera flash. Many photographers struggle to master flash; take the time to learn it, and you’ll go a long way.

photography flash strobe — Learning to use off-camera flash will give your creativity a huge boost.

10. Have a potluck photography party

Everyone’s been to a potluck party – they’re the ones where everyone brings along their own food. And the collaborative nature of potluck parties makes them perfect for getting together with other photographers as part of a creative photography project.

How do you organize a potluck photography party? Each person should bring along the following:

A camera body and one camera lens
One prop or piece of camera equipment

While everyone will use their own camera to take photos, the idea is that the prop or piece of equipment can be shared – so you might end up with one tripod, or one umbrella, for the entire group. And at every event, the available equipment will be different, offering different image opportunities.

You can come up with a theme for the potluck that everyone must follow, or you can have a theme for your own shots. This one’s a very open-ended project idea, so have fun with it!

photographer on the beach with light all around — Photography collaborations are a great way to improve your photos. They give you a chance to bounce ideas off others, which is always helpful.

11. Follow an A-Z photography list

This type of project can be extremely fun. All you do is photograph the alphabet!

You might start by writing out a list of topics you want to photograph (one for each letter). Or you can take a more spontaneous approach and photograph each letter as you encounter it.

This is a fun game that can be used for group photowalks, or you can play it on your own – when traveling, or simply when out with your camera.

people swimming in rooftop pool — “K” is for “Kuala Lumpur.” Are you a frequent traveler? Consider making your project about photographing places with an A-Z list!

12. A day in the life

A day in the life is a good, short project to work on – because it only lasts one day! Simply find someone whose life you want to photograph and ask them if you can tag along for a day.

Of course, you don’t have to stop there. You can always do a series covering different people. And the project doesn’t have to be about people; life is everywhere, so you could follow your pet or even photograph a natural area.

That said, the best projects do tend to be about people and their lives (a day in the life that looks at different people’s professions is a great choice).

maid putting sheets on a bed — Following a person for a day and photographing their life can be a rewarding experience.

Apsara dancer creative photography project idea — This woman was a chambermaid by day and an Apsara dancer by night.

Get started with your creative photography project!

Well, there you have it:

12 photography project ideas to get you motivated! Hopefully, you found at least one or two of these ideas compelling – so pick your favorite, make a plan, and then dive in!

Now over to you:

Have you tried a photography project before? Do you have any favorite projects you’d like to share? Also, which project from this list do you plan to do? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post 12 Creative Photography Project Ideas to Get You Motivated appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

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8 Tips to Stay Motivated and Inspired by Your Photography

25 Jan

Taking photos is one of the most inspiring and exciting of pursuits. It can encourage you to have adventures, see the world in a newer, fresher way, meet interesting people – all while creating something that is totally unique to you.

“We are born makers, and creativity is the ultimate act of integration – it is how we fold our experiences into our being.” – Brene Brown

DPS AnthonyEpes 01

But what happens when your well of inspiration runs dry, when you can’t get excited by your images or you feel stuck in a rut? Most photographers, even professionals, have periods when creating feels like wading through glue. You get tired or bored with your own images.

So, why do you (we all) get stuck?

The destructive habit of habit

As most of us, you are probably immersed in habit – you do almost the same things each day, every day. Making your coffee in the same way at the same time, going to work on the same route at the same time, eating the same kind of food each evening. It’s almost like you stop thinking and just do.

“As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge” – Henry van Dyke

Your brain has made a great effort to get you into the state of habit. It makes life easier for you so that you don’t have to make tonnes of new decisions every day. But, if you are lost in habit you aren’t seeing new things, doing new things, or trying things in new ways. Habit will strangle your creativity.

So how do you get out of this cycle?

The way to fill your life with inspiration and motivation will be different than others – depending on how you create and what drives you. Here are some ideas:

DPS AnthonyEpes 02

1 – Leave your camera at home

If you’re someone who is always out and about with your camera, taking lots of photos – abandon it for a while. It’s easy to get carried away. Instead of taking time to see and compose, you are likely just taking shot, after shot, after shot. If you are bored with the photos you are taking – this is probably what’s happening to you.

I would encourage you to start examining the world in a different way – not as a photographer, but as someone who hears, feels, smells, and absorbs the atmosphere around you. Using all of your senses is a wonderful way to help experience the same world, but in a different way. It will help you gain a different perspective.

Sound is a particularly evocative sense for me – the crackle of dry autumn leaves under my feet, the low hum of trains on a railway line in the distance behind me, the vibrating thump of music in a bar, a conversation drifting past me. Tuning in to senses that you usually don’t prioritize (because we photo lovers tend to put our sight first, don’t we) will also help you anchor yourself into the present moment, pulling you away from your busy mind, and into the world so you can eventually see more interesting and unique things.

Challenge: When you are ready to start taking photos again, set yourself the challenge of taking just three photos a day, for 15 days. If this sounds hard, then it’s the perfect challenge! This will help you be more precise and thoughtful in your approach. You will work harder to create a smaller number of better photos. So – what will you take with your three images?

DPS AnthonyEpes 03

2 – Make taking photos a habit

Now, let’s consider the reverse. You are someone who doesn’t take photos very often – maybe you wait for an occasion like a walk in a lovely area, good light, or a holiday – then my advice is the opposite. If photography is something that you pick up only now and again, you’ll never get into the rhythm of creating, you’ll never develop the skills of really seeing the world and composing great images. The act of creating is like a muscle – the more you do it the stronger it becomes.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou

By creating a habit of creating, you are making a declaration to yourself that photography is a very important part of your life. It also helps to get your subconscious organized in a way that it knows you are going to be calling on it more regularly. It starts preparing. I know this sounds strange but it’s like anything you do regularly, your body and your mind get used to doing it. You are in the mood and the wonderful act of creativity starts to energize you in new and exciting ways.

Challenge: If getting into the habit of taking photos is tough for you, then this is the challenge for you – take 50 photos every day, for 15 days. That will kick start your creativity, and imbue your day with the looking and seeing and noticing that is necessary to take great photos.

3 – Take photos not to see the result, but to enjoy the process

DPS AnthonyEpes 04

When you see small children making art there is a beautiful joy that they get by just doing it. From feeling the feathers before they glue them on an egg box, to painting wild splashes of colour on a sheet of white paper. In fact going out with kids, and watching them look at the world in such an open way, is great training on how to be present with the world around you.

With kids there is a complete enjoyment in the process of making – and that is something we, as photographers, sometimes forget. Perhaps because the act of creating is so instant – the click – we forget that it’s our whole creative process which leads up to that click.

“What moves me about… what’s called technique…is that it comes from some mysterious deep place. I mean it can have something to do with the paper and the developer and all that stuff, but it comes mostly from some very deep choices somebody has made that take a long time and keep haunting them.” – Diane Arbus

I do my best work when I am totally present, totally in the zone, not thinking about emails, or jobs, my to-do list, or my kids – but looking with wonder at a beautiful cloud, or some rain dripping off of a leaf. And if you need encouragement – isn’t it just great to cut yourself off from all of your responsibilities and absorb yourself in the wildness, the peace, the craziness, the beauty of the world?

4 – Start a project

DPS AnthonyEpes 05

Sometimes I find my attention gets fragmented – with all of the work I do, my family, etc., so that I’m jumping from task to task, and not getting deeply involved in anything. A few photos here, a few photos there. This is when I like to jump into a project.

Key advice for projects: Choose a subject that you are blown-away passionate about. It could be anything – the colour violet, armpits, salt mines, trees, your kids, men with mohawks – it doesn’t matter what it is, you can bring something new to a subject if you make the effort.

“I wanted to photograph clouds to find out what I had learned in forty years about photography. Through clouds to put down my philosophy of life – to show that (the success of) my photographs (was) not due to subject matter – not to special trees or faces, or interiors, to special privileges – clouds were there for everyone…” Alfred Stieglitz

The key point is that it’s not so much about technique, but the passion. Why? Because:

When you hit a roadblock or life distracts you, you’ll be less likely to abandon the project if you are really excited about it.
Passion will help drive you to create a new and interesting perspective on your subject.
When you feel something when you are taking photos, you are more likely to take a photo that contains feelings. Why is that important? Because you want people to notice your photo, to feel a connection with it. Most images we look at are flat and devoid of feeling. The best photos communicate both a visual idea and a feeling, we are moved in some way by it.

“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” – Don McCullin

DPS AnthonyEpes 06

5 – Do something completely different

I’ve talked about how habit can be a force of good for your photography – by making you commit to a regular practice, and exercise that creativity muscle. But it can also be a negative force – you get so used to your ways of doing things, or your lifestyle, that you don’t push yourself in new ways.

Think about the kind of things you normally photograph. Now think of some you’d be terrified to photograph, and go and photograph them. So maybe you’re great at landscapes. You like photographing the odd person if they happen to be in the shot. But the idea of taking a close-up or a portrait of them terrifies you. So do that. Or you’ve always wanted to get up onto some rooftops and photograph your city from up high. But the idea of asking for permission, etc., makes you feel nervous. Just go for it!

“You may never know exactly what you need to do, or exactly where you’re going. But if you are willing to start taking tiny steps, and keep going, the dots will connect over time to create something beautiful and fulfilling.” – Lori Deschene

6 – Remind yourself why you take photos

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It can be easy with your photography to get into that should way of thinking – “I should take more photos! I should be better!” But scolding yourself rarely gets you anywhere (with anything). Instead, I encourage you to think about what photography really means to you, what are the benefits beyond the fun of taking that photo. How does it enrich, energize and enhance your life?

Ask yourself:

What does photography give me?
How do I want to be creative in my every day?
Which of my photos or projects am I really proud of?

When you connect with the reasons why you do things, it’s so much easier to stay committed and motivated.

7 – The trap of perfectionism

Often we stop taking photos, or we start slowing down or moving off on a tangent when we are working on a project, because the feeling of not being good enough starts to insidiously infect us.

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life” – Anne Lamott

Who cares if you try things that don’t work. Who cares if some of your photos aren’t great? Stopping yourself from doing something you love, before you’ve done it, is crazy. Recognize you have the fear, but don’t let that stop you. Fear goes away eventually.

Be aimless and wander. Resist those urges to make your photo explorations productive. Ignore the output and focus instead on what you see. Listen. Follow things that spark your interest.

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8 – Get inspiration – indirectly

I really believe that inspiration for your photos can come from all kinds of places. It just so happens that my favourite photographer of all time, Ernst Haas, agrees (if you don’t know him, look him up). He said:

“Beware of direct inspiration. It leads too quickly to repetitions of what inspired you… Refine your senses through the great masters of music, painting, and poetry. In short, try indirect inspirations, and everything will come by itself.”

So fill your life with creative inspiration of anything that moves you. Beautiful music, looking at bizarre paintings, reading wild adventure books – it doesn’t matter what it is, if it excites and moves you then it’s right for you. The more you remind yourself what feeling excited and creative feels like, the more your body and mind will imprint that into yourself.

Along that vein, I also like to remind myself of times when I have felt super creative, super in the flow, and I was taking great photos. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you’ll never take a good photo ever again (happens to me all the time, especially when I am starting a new book), but just think back to a time when you were taking great photos and in the zone. Remind yourself of that, and it will be easier to get back into that space.

I hope those ideas help. I’d love to know if they do – and what you do when you get stuck. Comment below, I’d love to hear.

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The post 8 Tips to Stay Motivated and Inspired by Your Photography by Anthony Epes appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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PIX 2015: Rick Sammon’s guidelines for getting motivated and staying inspired

07 Nov

Staying inspired as a creative, no matter the discipline, isn’t always easy. Some photographers work through creative droughts by starting 365 projects, while others look to photo groups and peers to help them stay accountable and keep shooting. Pro wildlife photographer Rick Sammon argues that all creatives – especially photographers – need some help staying inspired from time to time. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Reflection Photos to get you Motivated

04 Jul

A puddle in the road, plate glass windows, or a shiny car – what do they all have in common? They provide great opportunities to get reflection photos.

This set of images of reflections is to give you some ideas to go shoot your own reflection photos.

Enjoy!

Photograph Black Lotus by Mathijs van den Bosch on 500px

Black Lotus by Mathijs van den Bosch on 500px

Arc de Triomphe Etoile Water Mirror Reflection by Loïc Lagarde on 500px

Photograph Dawn by David D on 500px

Dawn by David D on 500px

In the Morning Light by Teguh S on 500px

Photograph Louvre at dusk by Tomáš Vocelka on 500px

Louvre at dusk by Tomáš Vocelka on 500px

Reflections by Marco Britto Photography on 500px

Photograph Louvre Pyramid by Night by Csilla Zelko on 500px

Louvre Pyramid by Night by Csilla Zelko on 500px

brooklyn.bridge.two by Robert Pfeuffer on 500px

Photograph St. Peter's reflection by Daniele Forestiere on 500px

St. Peter’s reflection by Daniele Forestiere on 500px

Watercolours by Whatshisname on 500px

Photograph Atmaniksepa by Josep Sumalla on 500px

Atmaniksepa by Josep Sumalla on 500px

Blue Honey by Lorenzo Cassina on 500px

Photograph Who?... by Ewa Frye on 500px

Who?… by Ewa Frye on 500px

Positive Vibes by Josep Sumalla on 500px

Photograph My Sky... by Ewa Frye on 500px

My Sky… by Ewa Frye on 500px

Surreal by Lorenzo Cassina on 500px

Photograph Huntington Beach Pier at Sunset by Nhut Pham on 500px

Huntington Beach Pier at Sunset by Nhut Pham on 500px

illusion by Vasilis Athanasopoulos on 500px

Photograph Dreamworld by Matt Payne on 500px

Dreamworld by Matt Payne on 500px

Couple by Joanna Lemanska on 500px

Photograph Kad?köy Vapuru by Hakan Akkuzu on 500px

Kad?köy Vapuru by Hakan Akkuzu on 500px

The Biking Dutchman by Roeselien Raimond on 500px

Photograph Ride on Mirror by Praveller B.S on 500px

Ride on Mirror by Praveller B.S on 500px

Captured Clouds by Petter Lidbeck on 500px

Photograph Flipping Lifestyles by Drew Hopper on 500px

Flipping Lifestyles by Drew Hopper on 500px

En el calor de la noche by Gemma on 500px

Photograph reflection in the water by Ali ilker Elci on 500px

reflection in the water by Ali ilker Elci on 500px

Back to the HotRod by KAMERAKIND on 500px

Photograph two ropes by Brian Denton on 500px

two ropes by Brian Denton on 500px

trio . . . by Brian Denton on 500px

Photograph 'Cuda by Brian Krouskie on 500px

‘Cuda by Brian Krouskie on 500px

Hot Air Reflection by Gladner on 500px

Photograph Reflection by Gavriela Marantidi on 500px

Reflection by Gavriela Marantidi on 500px

Morning Glory by Samuel Sharpe on 500px

Photograph Car Reflections by Simon Cresdee on 500px

Car Reflections by Simon Cresdee on 500px

GT Sunset by Simon Brown on 500px

Here’s some ideas on using reflections:

How To Photograph Reflections In Water
5 Reasons Why Bad Weather Days are the Best Times for Photography

The post Reflection Photos to get you Motivated by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Don’t Know What to Shoot? These 4 Photography Exercises Will Keep You Motivated

19 Jun

Whether you’re just getting into photography, or if you’ve been at it for years; you can keep yourself rejuvenated, and keep the creative juices flowing by always trying new things.

If you’re feeling uninspired photographically, that’s a sign that you need to shake things up by trying something completely different, or at least something that isn’t your usual style. You might be surprised at how small exercises can boost your creativity while teaching you new techniques and solidifying old principles in your mind.

Who knows, you might even discover a new passion!

To give your brain a little kick in the butt, challenge yourself to try some of these photography exercises. Even if they aren’t new to you, going out shooting with a new purpose feels refreshing and may lead to something completely new.

Fire Wave at Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, by Anne McKinnell

Fire Wave at The Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, taken from a high perspective on an opposite hilltop

1. Change your perspective

Photographers often get in the habit of shooting at eye-level which tends to make photos repetitive and somewhat common. We know this, and so we take the odd shot on our knees or even occasionally lying on the ground.

But is this really enough? Aren’t there other vantage points?

Challenge yourself to go out shooting and never shoot from eye-level for a whole day. Instead, find a new vantage point any time you take a picture. Get yourself up high above your subject, and crouch and shoot from a low angle. But that’s just the beginning. Ideally, you should try shooting your subject from a variety of angles.

Take one shot from below and one from above. Then, take one even lower, and one even higher, if possible. Then, step back a bit. Then step forward. Move to your right, and move to your left. Taking the same picture from many positions adds variety and will help you understand it better. Plus, you may discover a way of seeing something that you didn’t expect.

If you resolve to do this with every picture you take, you’ll begin to really understand the subtle effect that perspective has on an image, which points of view work for which subjects, and how this can inform your shooting style from here on out.

Another perspective on Fire Wave, this time taken up close, from a low angle.

2. Create a story

Rather than trying to capture your subject in one single image, try doing a series instead. Create what LIFE Magazine coined a “photo essay” – a series of images surrounding a single subject or group of subjects, each of which pinpoints a different aspect of its nature. This can be as simple as zooming in on its finer details, or photographing it in different contexts. This method of doing things defines the subject not only by how it appears in a single moment, but also by the way it changes (and the way it stays the same) over several moments. It also helps to craft your visual storytelling abilities.

Choose one subject and cover it completely, the way a journalist would. Do this either by photographing every aspect of it you can think of, photographing it through the course of a day, or by revisiting it over and over throughout a week. Include shots at different distances and using different focal lengths – include some close-up details and some wide compositions – and whittle all the shots down to around ten final images, making sure that no two photos are alike. When you have your picks, try to organize them in an order that tells a coherent story, whether it’s narrated or implied.

Terlingua Ghost Town Texas by Anne McKinnell

These three photos are from Terlingua, a ghost town in Texas.

3. Shoot in Black and White

For a whole day, turn your camera to Black and White mode and don’t take it off. Of course, you can convert your RAW images to black and white after-the-fact in post-processing, but as an exercise, try shooting them in Black and White.

At first the limitation may seem frustrating, but Black and White photography requires a completely different way of seeing the world in terms of shape, form, and contrast, rather than through the common visual cues that you’re used to. Composing your photos in this way will invariably improve your compositions in colour photography, too. You can play with contrast settings in-camera or in post-processing to perfect the highlight to shadow ratio which defines a good monochrome image.

Bandon Beach, Oregon.

4. Make manual long exposures

For this exercise, you’re going to take full advantage of digital photography’s instant feedback, and use it to play with making manual long exposures.

With your DSLR mounted firmly on a tripod, set the ISO to 100, set the aperture to the smallest opening (the largest f number like f/22 for example), and set the shutter speed to Bulb mode. When the camera is to Bulb mode, the shutter will stay open for as long as the shutter button is held down, but it’s a better idea to attach a wired remote shutter release to prevent camera shake.

Once you have your composition and your focus set, press and hold the button on the remote to hold the shutter open for a few counted seconds. Just guess how many seconds will be required based on the light level. Then, check your results. If the image is too bright, try again, but count half as many seconds. If the image is too dark, count twice as many seconds – or more, if necessary. Do this over and over again, in different scenarios and lighting situations. This practice will hone your ability to read the levels of light present at any given time.

You’ll get the most interesting results if there is a certain amount of movement in your frame, such as drifting clouds in the sky, crowds of people, or running water. The longer your exposure is, the more blurred that movement will appear to the point where water may seem like nothing more than mist, and people will disappear from the image altogether. If you have a solid neutral density filter your exposures can be even longer, creating more extreme effects.

Folly Beach Pier, Charleston, South Carolina by Anne McKinnell

Folly Beach Pier, Charleston, South Carolina – 2 second exposure.

Folly Beach Pier, Charleston, South Carolina – 30 second exposure.

Don’t wait until you start feeling uninspired to try these exercises! Keep your photography energized and creative by trying something new on a regular basis. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be your “thing”, it’s fun and you’re bound to learn something.

The post Don’t Know What to Shoot? These 4 Photography Exercises Will Keep You Motivated by Anne McKinnell appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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How to get Motivated to do more Photography

23 Apr

Are you one of those photographers who finds there’s a million other things that demand your attention and get in the way of pursuing your passion for photography?

You’re not alone. The work/life balance is a delicate dance and it’s easy to get sidetracked by the endless tasks of day to day life, even when things are going well. As a professional photographer you’d expect I spend a great deal of time out there shooting, but the truth is that I don’t get to shoot anywhere near as much as I’d love to.

There are a few things you can do however, that ought to help you scratch that creative itch and satisfy your photographer’s heart.

Let’s get motivated!

1 – Take your camera everywhere

Sounds like a hassle right? But you don’t need to have it on your person at all times, just leave it in the car and maybe carry a spare battery so that when inspiration strikes you’re not cursing yourself for leaving the camera at home.

2 – Stop for that shot

I’m guilty of this all the time. While driving, I often see lots of cool and interesting scenes along the road. I sometimes tell myself ”Oh, I’ll shoot it tomorrow on my way back”, but often you’ll find that this might be your only chance. Pull over, take 10 minutes and get that shot, more often than not you’ll be glad you did.

3 – Butter up your spouse

If your spouse is not that into photography, you’ve no doubt had to endure a grumpy ride home after making your beloved wait in the car for an hour while you get caught up in a sunset shoot. Plan ahead and build up some brownie points with the other half so that you can cash in those chips when you need it most. Some preemptive grovelling can go a long way.

4 – Get a photography buddy

If you have a friend that loves photography, it’s much more fun to go out and shoot together or plan short little shooting trips on a semi-regular basis. Join camera clubs or meetups to find like minded souls that share your passion. You’ll feed off each others energy and maybe even have a little healthy competition.

5 – Take a photo vacation

Dedicate a one to two week trip at a tremendously epic location and shoot as much as your family, friends or partner will tolerate. You can even become the official ‘trip photographer’ and if you get some great shots you’re more likley to have the family appreciate your need to do photography. Getting your loved ones ‘on side’ will give you a lot more freedom to dedicate time to your art.

6 – Rent a lens – see with new eyes

There’s nothing better than slapping a new piece of high end glass on your camera and seeing things with new eyes. If you’ve got an interesting trip planned, it doesn’t cost that much to rent a top notch lens for a weekend or a few days. It’s like getting a new camera that you already know how to use.

7 – Go running to find new locations

I’ll admit that I don’t have the patience or time for going on long hikes to discover new locations. I prefer to put on my running shoes, hit the trails and burn some calories. I can cover lots of ground in a fraction of the time it would take to hike and I’m always finding new beauty spots that I can revisit when the conditions are right. If you run daily you will also discover the best times of day for beautiful light.

8 – Follow your peers on social media

I don’t know about you, but nothing motivates me more than seeing the amazing work of my peers and thinking ‘I could have shot that’. The old adage of ‘right place, right time’ is so true in photography, so the more time you spend shooting, the more chances you’ll have at getting some amazing shots that will inspire your peers.

Landscape Photography

9 – Procrastinate and perish

I’m starting to sound like one of those awful life coaches here but seriously, procrastination will only lead to frustration. If you’re a complete beginner, it might take a while before you nail your first unbelievable shot, but when you inevitably do, it might just be the catalyst that kicks your photography into overdrive and once you’ve been bitten by that bug, there’s no turning back. Just don’t let your spouse read this.

What suggestions do you have for getting motivated to do more photography? What motivates you? Share with us some of your tips in the comments below.

Some other articles to read to get you fired up include:

Photography projects that make you feel alive
Jumpstart Your Photography: Start a 365 Project
8 Photo Projects in Your Own Backyard
Photo Project: Why You Should Create a Photo Inspiration Corkboard

The post How to get Motivated to do more Photography by Gavin Hardcastle appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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