Personal Project Discussion and Brainstorming

One of the common recurring themes I have seen is that personal projects are critical to development in photography - both for pros to fall back in love with photography and for beginners looking to develop skills and portfolios.

I am creating this thread to be a think-tank to help you figure out something to work on but also to be a resource if you need something to help achieve your project via the knowledge, skill and personal networks of members here on PoTN.

For example I think I want to do a project involving our military service members. I am not sure what I want to do other than offer a free Christmas card shoot. However that really isn't a "project" so much a service to them. I was thinking of doing a "Coffee with Comrades" series where I get a cup of coffee with a service man or woman and do a sort of "Humans of New York" sort of thing but that didn't feel original because HoNY already exists.

Ben

P.S. This is NOT a place for your 365/52 week projects.

I think first for your personal work to be really successful it has to be something that yu really care about and you need to say something visual about. Without a personal connection then the work will probably not be as successful as it would have if there was a real connection. Look at those that have done amazing work.

See books like The Americans by Robert Frank not to copy or to even shoot like but to see how a project like that come together.

Ask yourself what do I care about and how can I say that visually?

Don't worry about if it has been done but if it has been done try a different angle.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #17279341
I think first for your personal work to be really successful it has to be something that yu really care about and you need to say something visual about. Without a personal connection then the work will probably not be as successful as it would have if there was a real connection. Look at those that have done amazing work.

See books like The Americans by Robert Frank not to copy or to even shoot like but to see how a project like that come together.

Ask yourself what do I care about and how can I say that visually?

Don't worry about if it has been done but if it has been done try a different angle.

That is kind of the point of this thread - coming up with that "different angle" or small twist that you need help with. I know I am passionate about this idea/subject etc. but I am not 100% where I can go with it, nor do I know the people I need to know in order to get it done. That is where people here may know some one, or may suggest an idea or product or service that can help you achieve what you want to do. It can also serve to bring people together if they want to team up on a project or something.

Basically a lot of my good ideas were sparked by someone mentioning something and then my brain just ran with it.

I think those are issues that you need to work through and figure out for yourself. I certainly can't tell you what is valid for you. If it is something that is going to real for you that's where it has to come from, you. Not someone else showing you what should be for you. And truly creative and honest projects are usually very solitary.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #17279513
I think those are issues that you need to work through and figure out for yourself. I certainly can't tell you what is valid for you. If it is something that is going to real for you that's where it has to come from, you. Not someone else showing you what should be for you. And truly creative and honest projects are usually very solitary.

It doesn't have to be your life long project that you are soul searching in. Let's say you have a weekend free and want something fun to shoot but are unsure of exactly what to do and need some creative inspiration.

Or you want to kill an afternoon and you see in here that someone did something cool and it gives you an idea.

I don't know I just figured people could benefit from people talking about fun things they have done or ask questions to figure things about their projects out. If no one sees value in it then the thread well just fade away anyway.

I think we can benefit from it. Maybe throw out your ideas and state why you want to do such a project and see what others have to say?

benji25 wrote in post #17279868
Or you want to kill an afternoon and you see in here that someone did something cool and it gives you an idea.

For this kind of inspiration, I found the "show us your set up" thread (https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=984150) invaluable.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #17279877
I think we can benefit from it. Maybe throw out your ideas and state why you want to do such a project and see what others have to say?

Then again, sometimes it's best to ignore the naysayers and pursue your vision. Is groupthink conducive to creativity?

Don't assume there is a commercial or profitable end for your project. Assume that there isn't. Then there is no tendency to change your vision on the basis of what you think might sell. I've been shooting protests since about 1987 and took the work to a portfolio review recently. The comments were very positive from the reviewers but it was the reaction of the public who came by the show that evening that was most interesting. There is a world some people will never see if you don't show them. I may show this work in a more formal setting but I don't expect to sell any images from it.

I think creating by committee is creating safe and creative suicide. Shameless plug and not created by committee..
Scroll down to March 6th
http://www.tamarkin.co​m/leicagallery/upcomin​g-shows

Now all I have to do is mount, mat and frame. But the good thing is I have until March....

Interesting thread. I highly recommend this book to those looking for good ideas for projects. Tons of very interesting photographers provide their ideas for projects from small to large. This is the real deal in terms of boosting your ability to get out of your comfort zone and move to a different phase in your creative trajectory.

Also, For me, I just pick something very mundane and require that I take a good picture of it. It has to be something I can get to easily and something that really doesn't lend itself to being a good photography subject. In my case I picked an ugly old shed in my backyard. Ended up taking me two years to get a cool picture of it but I tried a hilarious amount of different styles in all different lighting/weather conditions/lenses/etc. Learned a lot in the process.