How to create a photo project
A Photo Inspiration / / December 20, 2019
First of all, it should be said that the creation of the photo project will help you focus more when shooting, and a collection of photos will give an opportunity to express more than the individual images.
To date, these online social photosets as Flickr, Paying too much attention to individual images. If you open someone's profile on Flickr, you'll see photos of the stream. It will show a bunch of random images in the order they are loaded to the service.
James Dodd, An influential street photographer (founder of the website Statement Images and co-founder Street Reverb Magazine), Recently closed its Flickr-account. In a farewell note he especially noted the inconvenience of the submission is the photo series.
although such fotoresursy provide an opportunity to showcase their work to millions of subscribers, they are still comfortable enough to represent a series of snapshots.
Personal transformation
The work of many photographers using a digital camera is as follows: take a camera, take a good picture and upload it to the Internet immediately. And so they work for years.
However, the task would be amusing to put itself the following goal:
Do not download any image in social networks throughout the year, presenting the best of them by the end of the year!
Initially, this goal may seem completely unattainable. For each person depending on the social networking, this task will seem absurd.
- If you do not upload images to the Internet, as the same people will then respond to them? Do they lose all interest in my work?
- Is it possible to resist the temptation to upload their work after doing this almost every day?
However, despite these issues, it is worth considering that, when it comes to well-known photographers, you can hardly think of more than a dozen of their shots. In addition, the year - long enough to raise the self-criticism before you begin to edit photos.
After a few weeks you will (not without surprise) will notice that nothing terrible has happened. the Internet not cease to exist, and the people have not forgotten about you, and have not ceased to visit you blog.
In addition, you will feel an incredible tranquility and the absence of pressure, which is due to the obligation to continuously upload their work.
Quality over quantity
Deciding to no longer upload your images immediately, you can allow them to "marinate" before deciding whether they are good or not. Garry Winogrand remarked:
Photographers make mistakes about their emotions, when it is determined whether the picture is good, at the same moment, as do her.
It should distance itself from his work to see it more objectively. Winogrand also waiting up to a year before you start editing your photos, or even just browse them.
The first photo project
Photographer Eric Kim his first photographic project made in the framework of street photography. He noted:
I was not quite sure what he meant, when he started his project, but he knew that he wanted to make a series of 15-20 pictures of their impressions of Los Angeles.
It was a project that Kim was constantly working for about a year. The outcome of it have the following key points:
- To create a cool series of images that would be worthy of publication in a project, it takes at least a year.
- The project is to choose 15-20 shots (less - will be something not to be missed more - lost the central idea).
- The sequence of images in a project makes a significant contribution to the effect produced.
- Getting constant of feedback and criticism is of paramount importance.
- Reports for ideas other concept of the project is as important as the images themselves.
Why projects rather than solitary image
If you beginning photographerThere is nothing wrong with a single shot. But one day you will no longer feel comfortable in such matters as the base composition and exposure, and what type of photos gives you more pleasure. Then you should focus on projects that do not limit the ability to tell a story.
Of course, you can express yourself with one image, but a series of photographs will have a much more powerful impact on the viewer.
A few tips for beginners own photo project
I. Great concept
Come up with a great concept is quite difficult. However, this is what will be the basis of your project. The clearer and more precise will be the concept, the Focus will be your project. This will lead to the production of images that are better suited for your project.
The vision should be of interest to you personally.
Possible ideas for photo project:
-
The place where you live and which is already submerged.
Not necessarily live in Paris to get a good series of shots. Martin Parr It has a great ability to make great pictures in places where they are least expected by (tourist beaches, snack bars, supermarkets). -
A reflection of who you are exactly.
advice from Bruce Gilden: "Take the same as you," Gilden often takes pictures of gangsters and tough guys, inspired by his upbringing and his father. Eric Kim - a sociologist, so often removes that reflects issues such as obesity, capitalism, greed, technology, fashion. Try to dig deeper and to create a series that describes you as a person. Make it personal. Not try to create a dark and gloomy number, if you are a happy and cheerful person. Also, do not shoot the homeless, if you yourself from a happy medium.
II. Decide on the equipment
Although this rule is not strict, but it is better still adhere. Why? Selecting a particular camera, Lenses, film type (b / w or color) creates a great connection of your shots.
For example, selecting a specific focal length, you get a series of photos, which will be less confusing the viewer, rather than in the case of switching distances, say, from 28 to 200 mm. This constancy of hardware performance will give a uniform appearance of the image and lets you focus on the photographs themselves, and not have to worry constantly about the change of the transmission.
III. Shoot for a year
Work should be no less than one year, although in general, the longer you work on a project, so it will be better. More images - more time on their understanding of, and collection of feedback editing.
Most photographers who have published books, it took just such a time.
IV. Do not publish the project to its full completion
Although there are some advantages for uploading photos in the course of the project (motivation, feedback, criticism), it's better to submit a draft only when it is completely finished.
How to determine that the project is ready? You can either set a deadline (week, month, year, etc.), or to feel that he is ready (more subjectively).
V. Accumulation reviews in progress
The decision not to publish the project to the end does not mean that you will not be able to receive feedback. Feedback can be obtained not only through the Internet.
Show off photos on a laptop, iPad or printed directly. When referring to the man personally, you get a much more complete and meaningful assessment than when using Internet resources. In an extreme case, imagine a series of images in private blogs and ask people what they think about the project concept, images, sequences, and so on.
take criticism close to my heart, but remember, you only have to make the final decision when editing.
VI. edit project
This is the hardest part of the project - selection of the best shots. Less is better. 15 images that tell a story, rather than rambling 100 pictures.
Is there a limit on the number of images in the project? In general, no. It all depends on the goals.
In case you want to submit a project for an exhibition or on the Internet, should be limited to 15-20 photos. If you plan to publish a photo book, you will probably need a 60-200 images.
VII. Bring your project in order
As soon as you have enough images, you need time to organize them. This is another very important part of the project.
Determining the sequence of photos in a project akin to the alignment of the plot of the story: plot, climax, denouement.
Although you do not need to strictly adhere to this structure, Ultimately you have to have a clear understanding of why the photo was built in this order.
The most important are the beginning and end of the project. The first image is the cover of the book must coerce the viewer to view the project further. The final image, you have to give the viewer a "parting word." It was the last picture in the end the audience will make of the project.
There are many ways of building a sequence of shots. Here are some of them:
- by shooting time (chronologically);
- on a plot (landscapes - at the beginning of the project, action and portraits - in the middle);
- on the emotions (from happy to moody people).
In addition, looking at other people's photo projects, ask yourself why the photographer arranged the photos in this order?
VIII. publication of the project
There are many ways to present your project: Flickr, Facebook, Google+, 500px, personal website, a blog, a book exhibition in the gallery ...
IX. Get inspired!
To begin with study gallery mentioned in this article photographers. In their blogs you will find other useful links. Do not stop to explore! This will allow you to create an excellent photo project.
Based on the data blog Eric Kim