Have you ever woken up with an idea that you absolutely wanted to realize? I have, and sometimes it’s been something very simple; other times, it’s been a little more complex… For example, when I felt the inspiration to shoot portraits with a gold leaf background and I decided to create the backdrop myself.
I started my Ori series before the pandemic and never finished it. It is a project that I will resume sooner or later. But what do I mean when I talk about a photography project?
What is a photography project?
When you make a group of photographs that have an overall harmony as subjects and/or style, it’s a good start. Often, the photos in a project also have a certain purpose. For example:
- To document facts and highlight a particular aspect of a situation (e.g., daily life in a refugee camp).
- To tell the story of one or more people who have something in common (e.g., the day of a master violin maker or five artisans doing very different things).
- Making a place known (e.g., the ice cream stand in a tourist resort and its customers).
- Promoting something that is good to create awareness (e.g., research on the source of polluted water in a river).
- Highlighting something that may not be obvious (e.g., by pairing portraits that together take on another meaning, as Mark Laita did in his Created Equal project).
The images must have a consistency with each other because they will be presented together. When I shot my Boxers Procreators series, not only was there a consistency between the subjects (boxers with their children), but I was careful to maintain a certain uniformity of style in terms of lighting, backgrounds and framing.
How to choose a photography project
Often it is not the photographer who chooses a project, but… a project that chooses the photographer! It happens when an exciting idea comes along and there is also a chance to implement it. Or, when an opportunity is so tempting that it would be strange not to take advantage of it. Such was the case with Dutch pilot Christian Van Heijst, who – thanks to his work – was able to shoot a series of aerial or aviation-related images that were impossible for other photographers to achieve. It has become a second job for him, and prints and books can be bought on his website.
Something similar happened to Swiss photographer Arnold Odermatt, who, after giving up a career as a pastry chef because of a flour allergy, joined the police force and took many striking images. Several books grew out of his shots, including On Duty, published in 2006. Today, his photos are exhibited around the world and he is represented by Galerie Springer in Berlin.
Where to shoot a photography project?
While some photographers shoot a photo project in parallel with other assignments that allow them to travel extensively or be present in situations inaccessible to most, others choose to document something much, much closer to home. But no less interesting. Have you seen the film Smoke?
A corner of one’s neighborhood is close enough to be photographed, and… some projects are even closer. For example, 365 days of self-portraits. There are several examples on the Internet, and if this is what appeals to you, why not?
Why do a photography project?
Perhaps you want your images to expose a problem, or you want to inspire those who will view them. Or maybe yours is an aesthetic quest. Either way, it is good to know why you are shooting: it will help you focus better and also help you imagine how to share the fruits of your efforts. Some projects lend themselves to an exhibition, others to a book, or they find their best place online.
If you feel enthusiastic about making a photo series but are not quite sure why, start shooting. Seeing your idea take shape and materialize will help you focus your motivation and more. I have given up on projects after I started shooting. I had a very clear idea of what I wanted, but I hadn’t considered what the shooting would entail.
Another thing you can do is ask yourself, “What kind of impact might my photos have on the viewer?” At that point, you may realize that you don’t know who you want to address, who your audience is. Or what you want to communicate. That’s why, in addition to shooting, it’s important to stop and look within ourselves from time to time. If we know what our purpose is, it will be easier to choose what to shoot, to select photos and to create sequences.
How long does a photography project last?
There are projects that are completed in a few days and others that may last a lifetime. Sebastião Salgado has undertaken a years-long photographic exploration of remote communities and indigenous cultures untouched by modern civilization. Through his extraordinary black-and-white images, Salgado invites viewers to reconnect with the natural world and emphasizes the need for environmental conservation.
The Humans of New York project began as a blog in which photographer Brandon Stanton set out to portray 10,000 New Yorkers. Once he started, he felt the need to interview his subjects, whom he met on the streets of the Big Apple. His intimate portraits and accompanying captions are now followed by 20 million people.
Other projects have a more delineated time frame, such as Edward Burtynsky’s series which often deals with exploring the environment. One is Water. Why did he undertake it? “I wanted to understand water,” the photographer explained, “what it is and what it leaves behind when we are gone. I wanted to understand our use and abuse of it. I wanted to trace the evidence of global thirst and threatened sources.”
What about you, do you have a photography project you want to pursue?