Monday, March 18, 2013

Are Project 365's a Help or a Hinderance?

Marine Services Office

I was going through this week's images with an eye to picking out my "Photo of the Week" and what I realized that they were all pretty much crap.  Since I am not looking for an amazing, phenomenal image of the week I was able to pull something out of the pile (see above), however, in general I was disappointed with everything I've produced this week.

I'm not sure if I'm just not trying hard enough or if this project 365 that I'm trying to do is bringing down the overall results.  What I'm thinking is that I spend so much time just trying to get something, anything to fill in a shot for a particular day that it sucks the creativity out of me.  If I spent more time thinking about what I wanted to shoot rather than forcing myself to make sure I get a shot every day I think the quality of what I do end up with would be better.  Or maybe I need to force myself to be more creative with each and every shot to raise the bar of EVERY shot I ever take.

All I know right now is that I am not super happy with the previous week's photos.  It might also have to do with the fact that it's the tail end of winter; the most depressing time of the year for me.  I'm anxious for spring and I'm tired of the grey and rainy days.  I'm not going to give up on the Project 365 yet, however, I'm leaning heavily toward it tonight.

3 comments:

Marko - Photography.ca said...

I hear ya Glenn - sometimes the muses are out for a beer while we are left holding our lenses in the wind.

I find restrictions can help - going out to get 'something good' is far harder because it's so wide so general...it can be daunting.

RESTRICT yourself and you will find this task way way way easier. make 1 day a red day, make another day an f2.8 day, make another day shooting up while lying on the sidewalk, make another day long exposure day, make another day 1/2500 minimum day, make another day where you shoot only cars, only dogs, only yellow, shoot from high places down, play with perspective, juxtaposition etc. etc.

The only limit is your imagination. perhaps every sunday, map out 7 themes for the week.

Hope that may help dude!

best!Marko

Tim Lingley said...

Glenn, I understand your frustration with the project. In the time I spent doing it (I think I got to 290 or so) I didn't find myself getting better with every shot, but I was being rewarded by shooting every day. I did notice a gradual improvement all around.

Marko's tips are pretty bang-on, and I'd suggest even doing themed weeks if you want to take it a step further. I'm thinking of heading out to Peggy's cove again at night to do some long exposure star trail photos out there, you should come with :)

TeresaA said...

I haven't done one of these for just this reason- once i feel I have to I start to rebel. However, I have been thinking of doing a photo a week.