digital photography assignment

10 Photo Assignments to Inspire and Challenge Your Skills

Liz Masoner is a professional photographer and she shares her tips and techniques on photo editing and how to photograph nature, portraits, and events with film and digital cameras. Liz has over 30 years of experience and she is the author of three books on photography.

The best way to learn photography is to practice, though sometimes you can get stuck in a rut and not know what to shoot. That is why photographers love assignments; they give us a purpose and an idea of what to photograph. 

Why Are Assignments Important?

Self-assignments are key to any photographer's growth. Even professionals with decades of experience will work on personal assignments that they may never get paid for. The goal of any self-assignment is to spur creativity, solve problems, learn new techniques, and challenge yourself.

As you start out in photography, you're probably filled with excitement and ready to shoot anything you can. That being said, sometimes a little direction and guidance are necessary.

Below, you will find ten photography assignments. Each covers a new topic, skill, or concept and they were chosen to help you learn how to see as a photographer. They are meant to be a personal challenge that you can complete at your own pace and with no outside judgment, simply as a means to practice and improve your photography. Hopefully, you will learn something new with each assignment and be able to use that in every photograph you take in the future.

Remember when composing your images to keep in mind the basics: the rule of thirds,  shutter speed , aperture,  depth of field , and  exposure .

Assignment #1: Up Close

This assignment encourages you to get close and personal with your subject. It is an exercise in viewing a common object in a new way and examining its finer details.

• Choose an object that you see or interact with every day.
• Focus on a small part of it, get as close as your camera will allow you to focus, and shoot away.
• Try to capture different angles and unusual lighting to add to the mystery of this tiny world.

From the whiskers of your cat to a fragile Christmas ornament, and even common soap bubbles, there is an entire world that we often overlook because we don't get close enough.

Assignment #2: Motion

Photography is a static medium which means that it doesn't move. Conveying a sense of motion is often crucial to capturing a scene or emotion and it is an essential skill for photographers to practice.

The goal of this exercise is to understand how shutter speeds can be used to convey motion.

• Choose a subject or series of subjects that will allow you to convey motion in your images.
• It can be slow motions, like that of a turtle, or fast motion, like a speeding train.
• Blur it, stop it, or simply suggest that there is motion in the photograph.

Challenge yourself to capture the same motion in different ways. For instance, you might go to a race track and stop the movement of the cars completely in one image, then leave the shutter open and allow them to blur out of the frame in the next. 

Assignment #3: Shadows

Shadows are everywhere and they are vital to photography because this is the art of capturing light. With light comes shadows and when you begin to look at shadows as a photographer, your world will open up.

• Take a look around for shadows and record them with your camera.
• You could show the shadow as the total focus of the image. Perhaps the shadow is incidental to the subject.
• Is the shadow natural or created by flash?

Shadows are integral to creating depth in a two-dimensional medium such as photography. Take some time to seriously explore the "dark side" of the light.

Assignment #4: Water

Water is everywhere in photography and it presents many challenges. There are reflections and movements to work with and in this exercise, you will take a deeper look at water.

• Find water anywhere: lakes, streams, puddles, even the glass on your kitchen table.
• Pay attention to reflections and use them to your advantage in the photographs. Use this opportunity to get familiar with a polarizing filter (a very useful tool in your camera kit) so you can accentuate or eliminate reflections.
• Play with the motion of a stream or the crashing waves. Notice the difference between stopping the flow of water and allowing it to blur to create a real sense of movement.

Be sure to make water the subject and not an accent to the image. Water alone is beautiful and mysterious and your challenge is to explore all of its potential as a subject.

Assignment #5: Leading Lines

A classic assignment in photography schools, 'leading lines ' is a popular and fun subject. The goal of this assignment is to learn how to direct the viewer to your subject using lines.

• Choose a subject then look around for lines in the scene that you can use to 'lead' the viewer to the subject. 
• Find an interesting line then determine what the subject of your photograph is.
• Remember that lines can be man-made or natural. For instance, the yellow line down the middle of the road or a tree branch. Even a person's arm can be a leading line of their face.

Use this assignment as an excuse to take an afternoon photo excursion. Walk downtown or in the woods and look around you for interesting lines that lead the eye to a subject. There is an amazing assortment of lines out there in the world and once you begin to see them, you won't be able to stop. 

Assignment #6: Perspective

How do you normally stand when you shoot? If your answer is straight up like a 5-foot-something human being then this assignment is for you. The perspective assignment challenges you to view the world from an entirely new perspective, which in turn gives the viewer a new look at the ordinary.

• Take another afternoon or evening for a photo excursion wherever you like.
• This time, every time you find something to photograph, stop!
• Ask yourself: How would a squirrel see that tree? How would a robin view that birdbath? How would a snake view that log?
• Take your photographs from very high or very low angles. Get on your belly or stand on a chair, whatever you have to (safely) do to get the 'right' angle on your subject.

If you pay attention to professional photographs, many of the images that have the WOW factor are photographed from extreme angles. People enjoy these photos because they've never seen an object from that viewpoint. It is new and unique, and you can train yourself to shoot with this in mind.

Assignment #7: Texture

You may have captured a few textural details in the 'Up Close' assignment, but this assignment takes that to the next level. The goal in this one is to study textures and forget about the object itself: the texture becomes the subject. You will also begin to realize how light affects the appearance of texture.

• Find a few objects that have very detailed textures like trees or rocks, even knit sweaters or woven rugs.
• Photograph them as close as your lens will allow.
• Use different angles and capture the same texture as the light changes. Notice how the different lighting directions and camera angles can change how much texture appears.

Textures are all around us and many of the best photographs in the world play up the textural element. This assignment should teach you how to recognize and accentuate those elements in your photos.

Assignment #8: Color Harmony

Color is important to photography because the world is full of color. This exercise requires a bit of study in color theory, which you will then put into practice in your photographs.

Do you remember art class in elementary school? You may have learned that yellow and blue make green, but color theory goes beyond that. There are cool and warm colors, complementary and contrasting colors, neutral colors, and bold colors.

It can get quite complicated, and photographers should have a basic understanding of color so you can use that when composing photographs. You don't have to study color like a painter would but can use tricks used by interior designers to influence your color decisions.

• Once you have an idea of color theory, take another photo excursion and put what you've learned into practice.
• Capture photographs with the primary or tertiary colors.
• Look for complementary colors then contrasting colors to photograph.
• Try finding a scene to photograph that is filled with neutral colors, then one that uses a bold color to 'pop' from the scene.

This is an advanced lesson, but one that any photographer working with color images will find useful. As you practice working with colors, it will become second nature and you will know how to work with color to change the feel of your images.

Assignment #9: Emotions

Take a photo of a person smiling or scowling, right? Not so. The intent of this assignment is to convey emotion in photographs  without  a face.

• Take photographs that express each of the basic emotions: happy, sad, and mad.
• How would you express the feeling of anger with no person? What about happiness? Sadness?

This is a purely conceptual assignment, but it is important to be able to relay emotion in your photographs and you might not always have a person available to do that with. Challenge yourself to think deeper about this one.

Assignment #10: Don't Look!

Are you ready to put your photography skills to the test? In today's world of digital cameras and the ability to see image captures right there on the LCD screen, photographers are losing some of the skills needed to visualize a photograph.

In this assignment, your challenge is to shoot as if you were using a film camera. That means that you will not look at the photographs you've taken until they are downloaded on your computer. Instead of relying on the camera's screen to see if you 'got the shot' you will rely on your instinct and knowledge, just like photographers did before digital photography. Can you do it?

• Plan a photo excursion to a particular location and permit yourself to photograph only 36 images (a roll of 35mm film).
• Turn off your camera's LCD screen so it does not show you the image after you have taken it.
• If you cannot turn off the camera's screen, cut a piece of thick paper and tape it over the screen. Use masking or painter's tape so you don't leave a residue on the back of your camera.
• Go out and shoot your 36 frames, thinking carefully about each image because you don't have an endless number of shots. Bonus points if you turn your camera to completely manual settings for focus and exposure.
• Don't peek at your photos until you get home and download them.

How did you do? Were you able to get good exposures on your own? How did it feel to be 'blind' and not know how your image turned out right away? 

This is similar to what it is like to shoot with film and it does require you to think harder about every image you take. Next time you shoot, slow down and pay attention, pretend that the screen is not there and rely on your own skills to create a great image. You will be a better photographer in the end.

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DIGITAL PHOTO MENTOR

Photography tips, tutorials and guides for Beginner and Intermediate Photographers.

10 Creative Photography Assignments to Inspire You Into Action

by Andrew S Gibson | Last Updated: November 8, 2022

Finding interesting things to photograph can be one of the most difficult things for a photographer to do.

You’re surrounded by potentially interesting subjects, but you might not realize it if you’re stuck for inspiration. I have been stuck, so I know what that feels like.

The good news is that the world is full of interesting ideas and subjects. All you have to do is find the good ones and develop them into personal photography projects that work for you.

Of course, wouldn’t be easier if you could find lots of ideas in one place?

That’s why I wrote an ebook called 100 Creative Photography Assignments . It gives you lots of ideas for projects that you can do close to home, without traveling to exotic locations.

The book is structured into 20 broad themes, with five assignments for each theme.

To give you a taste of what’s in the book, and to help you get inspired into action here are 10 of my favorite assignments. (The theme for each is shown in brackets after the assignment number and name)

Assignment 3: Urban trees (trees)

Humans have planted trees in formal gardens for centuries to bring nature into towns and cities. Photographing trees in urban environments gives you something that is different than traditional landscapes.

How can you explore the juxtaposition of man-made and natural items?

In the photo below, the tree, which is obviously well-cared for fits in perfectly with the historic home. The two go together, as intended.

But in other situations, you might find a jarring contrast between the natural and urban environments. That is called juxtaposition and it can make for some really striking images.

Assignment 8: People and the sea (or a lake)

How do people interact with the sea?

The sea has strong links to leisure, sport, and industry, all of which have plenty of potential photographically. Think beyond simple photos of people on summer holidays. How can you explore the relationship between people and water in more depth?

Another approach is to show scale and photograph people in a way that shows the vast size and scope of the ocean. Yet another is to show people battling the weather, perhaps fishermen at sea.

Assignment 20: Framed by color (frames)

Some frames are visual rather than literal. One way to make a visual frame is to look for compositions where the main subject is surrounded by a solid block of color, as in the photo below.

This is another assignment that tests your observational skills. It also has the potential to make an interesting series. What happens when you group a set of photos that use color as a frame together?

Assignment 24: Weathered surfaces (texture)

Old buildings of all descriptions are made of materials with interesting textures. The definition of old is relative, your chosen building might be hundreds of years old or just a few.

The important thing is that it looks old. That means visible signs of weathering, like the metal wall and wooden door frame in the photo below. Some texture surfaces, like rust, also have interesting colors that you can use to your advantage.

Assignment 31: On the outside (buildings)

One approach to photographing buildings is to include as much of the building as possible in the frame. But what happens if you take another approach?

Have you ever stopped to notice the interesting things that people put outside buildings?

In Italy, I found a shrine on the outside of a colorful red building in Venice (below). In the United States window boxes and mailboxes are commonplace. Nearly everywhere you go you’ll see plants in pots outside people’s homes.

All these items make potentially interesting subjects and have the potential to be turned into an interesting series.

This assignment gets more interesting when you do it in different places, and compare the things you find outside buildings in one place with those in another location.

Assignment 39: Urban decay (your local neighborhood)

Some buildings can look good for centuries if they’re well maintained. But others soon fall into decay, especially if they’re not kept up. Look for the beauty in decayed or run-down buildings.

You expect older buildings to be in a state of disrepair, especially if you live in a country that has plenty of ruins. But more modern, urban decay can be just as interesting.

Why do modern buildings fall into disrepair? What stories do they tell about their neighborhoods, towns, and cities?

Another approach to this idea is to photograph urban decay in other countries, and then compare the results with what you capture in your local area.

Assignment 54: Capture the character of a place (b/w)

The absence of color gives you another way of capturing the character of a place. Yes, it’s true that in some areas color is an essential part of the essence of the place. But in others, it’s less important.

Working in black and white gives you a chance to see through the colors and get to the essence of a place. Visually speaking that’s texture, contrast, and tone.

But in another way, black and white images seem to help you see further and deeper. They’re moody, atmospheric, and timeless. Use these characteristics to create a set of photos that capture the character of a place.

It’s also an assignment you can do when you travel. It’s easier because you get to see everything with fresh eyes. But for a real challenge try it in your local neighborhood, where familiarity can prevent you from seeing things that might be obvious to newcomers.

Assignment 62: Embrace hard light (light and shadow)

In this assignment, your brief is to photograph a scene on a sunny day when shadows are falling across the subject in an interesting way.

Look at the way the sun casts shadows across the scene during the day. How do the shadows move as the sun moves across the sky? Do the shadows make interesting shapes?

For example, in the photo below the shadow falling across the building comes from a neighboring house and you can clearly see the chimney.

Assignment 71: Signs (everyday objects)

We’re surrounded by signs – signs that tell us which way to go, what to do, that advertise to us, state the name of a business, or tell us about roadworks.

Signs are designed to be informative, but they can also tell a story. Signs in the American mid-west look different from signs in New York City. Signs here in the UK look different from the ones in rural France. Old signs have character and tell you something about the place.

What interesting photos can you make using signs?

Assignment 94: People in the landscape (landscape)

Some landscapes are empty or void of visitors. But others are closer to large population centers and therefore you’re more likely to see other people there in the scene. The idea of a pristine landscape untouched by man is appealing, but it’s also interesting to see how people interact with the scene.

One way to approach this assignment is to use people for scale. A human figure can anchor a composition and show the width and breadth of the landscape. A small figure in the frame emphasizes the size of the landscape, and the idea of people being small compared to the beauty of nature.

The photo below juxtaposes two elements of human interaction. The stone pillar is part of a Neolithic settlement, and the people on the right are modern visitors who came to see it.

Taking it further – traveling and exploring your archives

You’ll get the most from these assignments if you make new photos for them. They’ll get you thinking about your local neighborhood – and areas a little further afield – in a new way.

The beauty of these assignments is that most of them are repeatable. You can select your favorites and use them as themes to follow when you’re traveling away from home.

You might also find that you can go through your archives and find photos that match a particular assignment. It’s an interesting exercise because you’ll start to see themes and connections that you didn’t realize were there.

For example, I have photos that fit Assignment 39: Urban decay from Alaska, Chile, and my hometown (see above). And I can continue to explore this theme when I travel to new places as well.

These ideas are explored further in Creative Photography Assignments: Themes & Projects, a bonus ebook that comes with 100 Creative Photography Assignments.

100 Creative Photography Assignments

Buy 100 Creative Photography Assignments now for just $14 USD.

Buy it now and get out there taking photos!

Note from Darlene: This is perfect if you want to get out there doing some photography. But maybe due to covid, finances, or other circumstances you can’t currently travel. Look no further than your front door to get started! To really challenge yourself do the 100 assignments one a day for the next 100 days!

About Andrew S Gibson

Andrew S. Gibson is a writer based in England’s southwest. His interest in photography began when his parents bought him a Ricoh KR-10m camera more than 20 years ago. Since then, he’s taken photos in over 60 countries, studied for a degree in photography, and worked as Technical Editor for EOS magazine. Today, he makes a living helping people make better photos through ebooks and photography courses.

Learn Photography Basics

Yes, you can learn to take better photos! It’s my passion to help you learn the photography basics and take better pictures. It’s also the same reason I teach workshops, do photo travel tours, and have online photography courses available.

Enroll in our free photography basics for beginners course, or 12-part portrait photography course , also free.

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12 Exciting Photography Assignments to Challenge and Inspire

You can also select your interests for free access to our premium training:

Everyone likes a good photo challenge. But photography assignments can also be very discouraging if they’re approached the wrong way. A good photography challenge will strengthen your photo skills and inspire you in multiple ways. A bad one will leave you wondering why you even tried photography in the first place.

12 Exciting Photography Assignments

Here are 12 exciting photography assignments to help you find the right one.

1. Shoot With a Limited Amount of Equipment

2. Take a Photo Every Day for a Year

3. Limit Yourself to X Photos a Day

4. Take Photos With Your Smartphone Camera Only

5. Experiment With a Completely Different Genre

There’s a wide variety of photography genres out there. There’s underwater, glamour , smartphone , landscape , and portrait , to name a few. Trying something new can help you fall in love with photography all over again. So take a temporary break from your main photo genre. If you’re a portrait photographer , take panoramic photos of your neighborhood. If you spend lots of time photographing animals, improve your self-portrait photography skills. When you expose yourself to different genres, you’ll learn many valuable lessons. And they will be useful long after the photography assignments end.

6. Photograph the Same Person or Object Every Day

7. Quit Social Media Temporarily

8. Create a Stop-Motion Video Using Photos

9. Take Creative Self-Portraits With a Friend

10. Crop or Rotate All Your Photos in a Specific Way

11. Include the Same Object in Every Photo

12. Invest in a Photo Book and Complete Every Assignment in It

Conclusion: Exciting Photography Assignments

You don’t need to travel the world or break the bank to improve as a photographer. A single assignment that lasts at least a week can teach you many lessons. And it’ll help you become a better photographer. All you have to do is find photography assignments that work for you. Then, dedicate some time to it, and watch your photo skills strengthen!

Popular Content

11 Advanced Photography Exercises for High School Students

Whew! Eleven advanced photo assignments…did you try them all?

As I explored these photography assignments again, I had so much fun taking new photos and applying the techniques right alongside you!

If you didn’t join in on all the fun, you’ll find the complete list of photo prompts we explored below. Click on each link to see the short blurb with related tips and tricks for each prompt.

Also, if you teach photography, here’s a free lesson plan that goes along with this whole series. Click the button below and enter your email! (You can also  click here to purchase the entire unit, including all the worksheets with keys, test with key and review, a complete presentation, and a project outline.)

Alphabet Photography

ABC! Ready, Set Go! Take your alphabet pictures; you may be surprised at how fun and challenging finding photography letters can be!

Extra Credit

Do you need some extra points? Here are some photoshoot ideas that will get you extra points in the grade book and give you a reason to support your school! So go [insert your school’s name here]!

Built-In Camera Flash

You may need to use the flash on your camera when you’re in a pinch! Check the link for tips to make the light look as natural as possible!

External Flash

If you’ve got an external flash, it’s time to learn to use it! It can come in very handy in low-light situations!

Candid Photography

What is candid photography? Well, it’s a bit like being a spy! You’ll need to take pictures on the sly to capture those authentic expressions you’re looking for.

Story Telling in Photography

A picture is worth a thousand words? You bet! Maybe more! Take thoughtful, rich photos that have the ability to strike emotion in your viewers.

Pattern in Photography

Pattern photography is some of the most artistic photography you can take. Finding a good pattern and then capturing the perfect angle to accentuate it is fun!

High Contrast in Photography

I think most the great photographers thrive on high-contrast photography. These photos pop out and say, “LOOK AT ME!”

Low Contrast in Photography

This type of photo is much more subdued than your high-contrast photo, but if done effectively, it can really set the mood!

Color Contrast in Photography

We live in a world of color, so naturally, we  must  learn how to make the colors look good in our photos! So, using the color wheel and some good old-fashioned simplicity, we’ll get some pictures with great color contrast!

Light Painting Idea

What do you get when you mix a camera (with a tripod), a dark room, and some light sticks? Light Painting! This is one of the most fun photography assignments I’ve ever done!

I hope you take the time to try all these out! Also, don’t forget to click the links above to download the worksheets and view the full articles on each.

Thank you SO MUCH for all YOU do for those budding Photographers out there. YOU are truly amazing, too!

Click here to receive the  FREE lesson plan  that goes with this blog series and be added to my email list so that you don’t miss a thing! (If you want to do the thing right, check out this link to get information about the entire unit! )

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Five Photography Assignments That Invite You to Look Closely at the World

Students, try one of these exercises inspired by the visual series The Take. What can you learn about the world by looking at it through a particular lens?

By Natalie Proulx

How often do you look — really look — at the world around you? Below, we offer five photography assignments that challenge students to do just that, all inspired by The New York Times visual series The Take .

In this series, The Times asks photographers to explore different cultural themes through images — for example, to document what they see when they look up, to capture the sounds they hear in New York City or to find dance in everyday movements.

What can you learn about the world by looking at it through a particular lens? Choose one (or more) of the five assignments below to try out. For each, we’ll guide you through a warm-up activity, a reading of the Take article that inspired the exercise and your own photo shoot. When you’re done, you can create your own visual article by putting together a gallery of your images and writing a short commentary on what they mean to you.

These exercises are meant to be accessible to anyone with a camera or smartphone, whether you’re an experienced photographer or you’re just looking for a fun visual challenge. If you’d like to experiment with some composition and editing techniques, see our related photography lesson plan .

And if none of these projects inspires you, look through The Take’s archives for more ideas.

Assignment No. 1

Most of us spend our days looking down: at our phones, computers, homework, meals. What would you see if you looked up instead? For this assignment, we invite you to photograph what you see when you turn your gaze to the sky.

Warm-up: Wherever you are right now, look up. What do you see?

Spend some time studying the images, shapes, patterns, colors, lines, light, shadows, angles or movements above you. What catches your attention? What have you never noticed before? How is this angle different from looking at something straight on, straight down or from the side? Is there anything you see that strikes you as artistic, that might make for an interesting photograph?

How often do you look up? What does this quick exercise tell you about what might happen when you do?

Read “ When 4 Photographers Looked Up, This Is What They Saw .”

For this assignment, The Take simply asked photographers to look up. View the photos they made and their commentary on them. Then choose one that stands out to you. What did the photographer want to capture in it? Was the photo successful in your opinion? What does the image say to you? What does it show us about looking up?

Your turn: Photograph what you see when you look up.

You might approach this assignment in two ways: 1) You can carry your camera around with you for a day or several days and photograph anything interesting you see when you look up, as the photographer Ali Cherkis did venturing around New York City. 2) Or you might start with a specific place and idea in mind that you want to photograph, as Stella Blackmon did when she wanted to capture the “sense of wonder” she felt from seeing children climbing in the trees at her great-aunt’s home in Ozark, Mo.

Assignment No. 2

Capture the Sounds of a Place

Photography might seem like it’s all about sight, but it can evoke other senses, too. The Take challenged four photographers to try to capture the sounds of New York City in images. How can you show what the place you live sounds like?

Warm-up: What sounds can you hear in this photograph?

Study the photograph above closely. What might you hear if you were in the scene? Which elements of the image help convey those sounds? What senses or emotions does the photograph evoke in you? What story does it tell about New York City?

Read “ Sounds of the City .”

For this assignment, The Take sent four photographers to capture New York’s soundscape in images. Spend some time with the photos and the photographers’ commentary on them. Which images most strongly and clearly imply sound to you? Which ones surprise you or perhaps challenge an assumption you have about life in New York City? Choose one of these photos and repeat the exercise you did in the warm-up.

Your turn: Photograph the sounds of a place.

For this assignment, you might travel around your city or town and photograph the sounds you find. Or you might focus on a more contained space, such as your school, the skate park, your neighborhood or any other place where you spend time. You might try to capture many disparate sounds — quiet ones, loud ones, harsh ones, pleasant ones — as Daniel Arnold did in his photos of various corners of New York City. Or you can try to capture a particular type of sound, as Ike Edeani did in his photos of the subway stations’ “mini concerts.”

Assignment No. 3

Find Art Wherever You Go

Four photographers went in search of candid moments and images that struck them — impressionistically, conceptually or naturally — as art. Where can you spot art in the world around you?

Warm-up: What does art look like?

How do you know when you see something that is art? What elements make it so? What does it do to you, the viewer?

Look around the space you are in right now. Is there anything that strikes you as art? Perhaps it’s the way your jacket is draped over a chair, how light is coming in through a window, the interesting pattens created by a shadow on your desk or the shape someone’s face makes when they smile or frown. What about this thing makes it seem artistic to you?

Read “ Art Is Everywhere. Just Look to the Streets. ”

The Take invited four photographers to look for art in the streets of New York. Spend some time looking at all of the photographs and reading the commentary. Then, focus on one photographer’s images. How does this photographer conceptualize art? How does that idea come through in one of his or her photos? What do you think makes this photo artistic — impressionistically, conceptually or naturally?

Your turn: Photograph candid moments and images that look like art to you.

Where can you find art in the world around you? You might take your camera out for a day and start shooting anything that strikes you as art. Or you might shoot with a particular vision in mind, such as Sabrina Santiago who was “interested in what people are saying from the back,” or Trevor Wisecup who looked for “abnormalities in our day-to-day life, glitches in the matrix if you will.” Challenge yourself to capture candid moments, rather than trying to stage images.

Assignment No. 4

Explore the Ways We Move

The Take asked four photographers to find dance in our everyday gestures, whether reaching for a jug of milk, hugging a loved one or scaling a rock wall. How can you find beauty in how we physically navigate the world?

Warm-up: Can you see beauty in the ways that people move, even when there is no music?

Can you find dance in people’s everyday rituals and routines? To answer this question you might go somewhere crowded — your school’s hallway, a park, a basketball game — and spend a few minutes just observing people. Do any gestures look like dance to you? What is it about these movements that resemble those that dancers might make?

Read “ There’s Dance All Over, No Matter Where You Look .”

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, The Take asked photographers to show how people were physically navigating a world in which awareness of our bodies — how much space we took up, whether we were six feet from our neighbor — had become the norm. What they found was a kind of dance in these everyday movements.

Spend some time with the images and photographers’ commentary. Then choose one photograph to look at more closely. Why does this image speak to you? How does it represent dance? What emotion, experience or idea do you think the photographer wanted to capture in it?

Your turn: Photograph how people move through the world.

For this assignment, you can take your camera around with you for a day or two and snap a photo anytime you see a movement, posture or gesture that looks like dance to you. Or, you can go to a specific place. For example, the photographer Camilo Fuentealba went to Costco to document “the daily rituals we must partake in just to survive,” while Noah Sahady went to the San Bernardino National Forest to capture “the harmony of rock climbers and nature.” You might play with taking both candid and staged shots, or, like Jillian Freyer, shooting the “fragments in between.”

Assignment No. 5

Show Us What Fun Looks Like

Three artists photographed the many forms fun can take. An end-of-day ice cream ritual. Caring for rescued chickens. A bubble bath for an inanimate friend. What does a good time look like to you?

Warm-up: What do you do for fun?

Brainstorm a big list of everything you’re doing for fun these days. Do you play video games? Hang out with friends? Play sports? Make things? Write down everything you can think of, whether it’s an everyday ritual or a special event.

Then go through your list. Which of these activities feels most compelling or unique to you and your friends? Which might make interesting photographs?

Read “ Making Your Own Fun .”

The Take asked three photographers to document how they were having fun during the lockdown period of the coronavirus pandemic. Spend a few minutes looking at the photos and reading the commentary. Then choose one photographer’s images to focus on. What do you notice about their artistic choices — about their composition, the photographic style, how they were made? What do you wonder? What can we learn about fun from these photos?

Your turn: Photograph your fun.

Return to the list you made in the warm-up and choose one or several things from it to photograph. You might consider how you can get creative with your photographic style and composition, as the photographers in the article did. You can stage photos, as Sheida Soleimani did, or you can try to capture more candid moments.

Going Further

Make a Visual Article

Put together your photos with a written reflection to create your own The Take-inspired piece.

Related Article

Once you have completed one of the exercises above, choose three to six photos from your shoot and create a gallery of images that speaks to the theme of the assignment. Then, write a short commentary reflecting on the assignment and what you learned from it, just as the photographers and Times editors do in The Take.

Here are some questions that can help guide your reflection:

Who or what inspired you? Did you stage your photos or seek out candid moments? What composition and editing techniques did you use, and why?

Is there a thread — some theme, emotion or experience — that connects your images? Was it something you set out to capture? Or something you discovered during the shoot or after seeing your finished photos? Taken together, what do your photos reveal about the subject of the assignment?

What is something new you discovered or learned through this exercise? How, if at all, did it make you look at the world or the people around you differently?

How challenging did you find this assignment? Why?

You can put your images and commentary together using a digital program like Google Slides or Canva . Teachers might invite students to share their work via a gallery walk , whether in the classroom or online.

Find more lesson plans and teaching ideas here.

Natalie Proulx joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2017 after working as an English language arts teacher and curriculum writer. More about Natalie Proulx

12 Creative Photography Project Ideas to Get You Motivated

A Post By: Simon Bond

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!

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.

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).

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).

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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).

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!

Read more from our Tips & Tutorials category

is a specialist in creative photography techniques and is well known for his work with a crystal ball. His work has featured magazines including National Geographic Traveler. With over 8 years of experience in lensball photography, Simon is an expert in this field. Get some great tips by downloading his free e-book! Do you want to learn about crystal ball photography? He has a course just for you! Get 20% off: DPS20.

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12 Assignments To Take Your Photography To the Next Level

Sometimes our photographic progress seems to stop, and we need a boost for our creativity. Try one of these assignments to stimulate your photographic mojo.

Stuck in a Photographic Rut?

As with any art, our photography reaches a level and then stops progressing. Learning curves typically show us improving steeply, then reaching a plateau, and there we linger before we can move on again. However, sometimes it is difficult to find a way to climb above that level of stability and start improving again. One great way to improve is to set yourself an assignment.

The Assignments

Have you ever thought about setting yourself a project or assignment? Good assignments are not too prescriptive. They should give the photographer a broad scope for interpretation, so as to suit their location and interests. Here are twelve of my most popular for you to choose from, but use them for guidance, adapting them to suit your favorite genre or style.

1. Observe What You Know

You know the world at your doorstep better than anyone. But sometimes that familiarity leads to us not noticing or appreciating what is there. Look at something that you see every day and think about how you could make it the subject or background of an interesting image. Can you add something to it to make it more interesting? Let your imagination run wild.

Ideas: Put together a collection of photos to entice other photographers to visit where you live, or show the other local residents that there is more to your hometown than meets the eye.

2. Study The Shadows

On some evenings, and only at certain times of the year, the sun reflects off a window on a neighbor's house and shines through the blinds and into a room in my home. As the world turns, the light falls on different objects and casts interesting shadows both from and across them.

Look for shadows at your location and how they project onto other surfaces, or how they interact with the subject itself.

Idea: Choose a building and photograph how is shades the street at different times of day, or how the window frames and doorways are accentuated by their shadows. Look for the shapes and repeating patterns.

3. Natural Light

One of my favorite subjects is just over a mile offshore from the small fishing town where I live. At different times of the year, I need to stand in different places to see the sun or the moon rising behind the island.

Take a series of photos to show how the sun or moonlight plays on and interacts with a subject near you at different times of the day and year.

Idea: Find a spot in a forest that you can visit throughout the day and take the same photo every hour. Or, go to the same spot once a week and take the same photo throughout a season or the whole year.

4. Shoot With Others

Shooting with others helps with motivation and inspiration.

The world is filled with people looking for an excuse to go out and take photos. Many of them would relish the idea of visiting a spot to explore it with a camera, but don’t want to go alone. If nobody you know enjoys photography, there are lots of local online groups, and camera clubs with members crying out for opportunities to go out photographing. Pick a nearby venue and choose a time, then ask around on social media.

Idea: Visit your local park or beach with a friend and choose a theme, e.g. litter, red, tall and short, dogs, etc. Spend an hour just photographing that topic and then compare and discuss results.

N.B. If you are meeting strangers for the first time, please consider your safety and choose a public location during the day.

5. Try Taking Minimal Kit

Before you go on a shoot, decide what you are going to photograph and take just the equipment you need for that shot. Set your camera up beforehand and try staying with those settings. You will find that by using the same focal length, ISO, aperture and/or shutter value, and filter, you will create a series of images that cohere with one another. Afterward, examine the images and ask if you are happy with the results. If not, what would you do differently next time?

Idea: Go out before sunrise with just your camera, a wide-angle lens, and a beanbag. Shoot twenty unique photos using just that equipment.

6. Choose a Different Viewpoint

Lots of photographers shoot the same scene in the same manner. However, the most compelling photos are those that show the world in a way we don’t usually see it. Try something different from holding your camera at eye height. Shoot with it down at knee level instead.  Alternatively, get in really close too and look at the fine details in the subject you usually miss.

Idea: Shoot a familiar location from a worm’s eye view.

7. Critique Other Photographers’ Images

You can learn a lot from looking at other people’s photos, those both shot by experts and beginners. Study each image carefully and decide what you do and don’t like about it. What works, what doesn't? Are there unwanted distractions in the frame? Do you like minimalism, repeating patterns, landscapes with people in them, black and white, etc.?

Try to work out what settings the photographer used. If you are unsure, you can always ask them; the worst they can do is say no. Would you have done it differently?

If you do study others’ work and are critical of it, please don’t share those thoughts with the photographer unless they ask you to do so.

Idea: Find an old photography book in a second-hand bookshop, or dig up an old photography magazine. Over a coffee, look at the images with a friend, find one that you each like, and try to create an image in the same style.

8. Use a different Focal Length

The usual approach is to use a long lens for wildlife.

Idea: get a friend to wear outrageous makeup. Fit a wide-angle lens and photograph them very close up.

9. Be Creative

Combining intentional camera movement (ICM) with holding the camera still for half the exposure, giving the impression of a double exposure.

Creativity is about combining different existing ideas in new ways. For example, The Beatles’ classic album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a mishmash of rock, folk, ballads, psychedelia, and music hall brought together in a way that had never been seen before.

Do the same with your photography. Discover ways how you can combine different techniques or genres in your photography to find something new. Alternatively, seek out disparate subjects that clash or harmonize with each other in unexpected ways.

Idea: Try double exposures, one with a long exposure in color and the other with a fast shutter in monochrome. Some digital cameras have double exposure facilities, but otherwise, you can combine them in layers using photo editing software. Try mixing or playing around with other creative techniques.

10. Listen to Music

All creatives are influenced by artists from other fields. For example, the great Henri Cartier-Bresson found inspiration from the surrealist movement. Poetry is often influenced by art, such as Anne Sexton’s The Starry Night, and The Disquieting Muses by Sylvia Plath.

There will be songs or tunes that mean something to you. Listen to one and then shoot photos inspired by that music. You can either interpret the lyrics literally, or just take the feel of the piece as inspiration, or maybe convey the message of the song in your photograph.

Idea: Listen to your favorite piece of music and write down five to ten words that describe it or appear in the lyrics. Over the same number of days, shoot an image that represents each word.

 11. Give it Time

A nighttime image taken in my hometown many years ago, inspired by feelings after listening to a Chopin Nocturne. Revisiting and critiquing old images helps us to improve our photography.

When you take photos, wait before you process them. Putting time between shooting and looking at images on the screen helps you to become more objective towards them. If it is practicable, and it isn’t always, then that separation can help you choose which images are worth keeping and which you should reject. It also helps you view the subject afresh and decide that a particular processing would suit the image best.

Idea: Revisit your back catalog and find photos you took a year ago. Consider them with fresh eyes. Critique them and recognize how you would shoot them differently now. What do you need to do to them to make them stunning? What would you exclude from the frame? Would you choose a different exposure? Would you shoot it from the same position? Now, go and shoot the same photo again.

12. Share your photos

Everybody wants recognition for their artwork, and photographs are art. In fact, there is little worth in creating art of any kind if it is not going to be appreciated by others. It doesn’t have to be online. Get them printed and glue them to cards to send to people on their birthdays and other celebrations; a gift of original art is both appreciated and means far more than mass-produced, throwaway cards bought in a supermarket.

Idea: Take your best shots, get them printed to a large size, and hang them on your wall. Consider hiring a community hall for the day and running an exhibition of your work as a fundraiser for your favorite charity. Or, why not populate your Fstoppers gallery? However, experienced at photography you are, there will be those who enjoy and learn from your photos.

Earning a living as a photographer, website developer, and writer and Based in the North East of England, much of Ivor's work is training others; helping people become better photographers. He has a special interest in supporting people with their mental well-being through photography. In 2023 he became a brand ambassador for the OM System

Great post, now if you can get anyone to read it..........

I just read it! BTW Terry love your caption on the hot air balloon photo!

Thanks Terry and Gregory. You are right about Terry's balloon photo title, Gregory, Quite a lot of folk have read it! :)

Great article. Nice practicle advice. Makes me realize I'm lazy and need to use my camera more deliberately.

Thank you, Spike.

Has anyone got any assignments they are happy to share with others?

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Book description

This collection of more than 40 photo assignments is designed to help all students—from beginning freshmen to experienced seniors—improve or reinvigorate their work and reach their full potential as photographers. Whether you are building a syllabus for your first photography class, revitalizing assignments for your students, or looking to add DSLR video, workflow, or color correction to your class, you will find a wealth of ideas in this wonderful working guide. The assignments begin with using the camera, and progress through learning composition and lighting, working in genres, building a portfolio and more.

Table of contents

• Introduction
• ASSIGNMENT 1 Significant Photo
• ASSIGNMENT 2 Shutter Speed
• ASSIGNMENT 3 Horizontal Motion
• ASSIGNMENT 4 Panning
• ASSIGNMENT 5 Water in Motion
• ASSIGNMENT 6 Depth of Field #1
• ASSIGNMENT 7 Depth of Field #2
• ASSIGNMENT 8 Selective Focus vs. Maximum Depth of Field
• ASSIGNMENT 9 Foreshortening
• ASSIGNMENT 10 Keystoning
• ASSIGNMENT 11 Compressing Perspective
• ASSIGNMENT 12 Scale
• ASSIGNMENT 13 Subject Placement
• ASSIGNMENT 14 Vantage Point and Point of View
• ASSIGNMENT 15 The Art of Seeing
• ASSIGNMENT 16 Lines and Shapes
• ASSIGNMENT 17 Patterns and Textures
• ASSIGNMENT 18 The Ten-Step Program
• ASSIGNMENT 19 Pure Colors
• ASSIGNMENT 20 Neutral Colors
• ASSIGNMENT 21 Symbols
• ASSIGNMENT 22 Sunrise/Sunset
• ASSIGNMENT 23 360-Degree Light
• ASSIGNMENT 24 Low-Light Photography
• ASSIGNMENT 25 Discovering Light
• ASSIGNMENT 26 Lighting a Cube
• ASSIGNMENT 27 Synchro-Sunlight
• ASSIGNMENT 28 Glow
• ASSIGNMENT 29 Selfies
• ASSIGNMENT 30 Portrait Lighting Styles
• ASSIGNMENT 31 20 Frames
• ASSIGNMENT 32 Event Photography
• ASSIGNMENT 33 A Day in the Life
• ASSIGNMENT 34 Extended Documentary
• ASSIGNMENT 35 Editing DSLR Video
• ASSIGNMENT 36 Prohibitions
• ASSIGNMENT 37 Tribute Photo
• ASSIGNMENT 38 Building a Portfolio
• ASSIGNMENT 39 Camera Phones and Apps
• ASSIGNMENT 40 Building an Online Presence
• ASSIGNMENT 41 Shameless Promoting
• Contributors
• Photo Credits

Product information

• Title: Digital Photo Assignments
• Author(s): Steve Anchell
• Release date: July 2015
• Publisher(s): Routledge
• ISBN: 9781317638490

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Glitch Lab is a photo ‘glitching’ app. It offers a full range of tools and options to destroy your photos. Here’s a series I entitled: FLAWLESS (selfie):

Glitch Experiment

I shot my friend Gray, using my Canon DSLR, lit my two LED lights with gels. I then glitched a cropped version of her face and pasted it onto the clean image. The result being a glitch ‘window’ view of her face. Trying to depict an altered version of oneself via digital/online technologies: Online Self vs IRL Self.

Glitch Video Projections: Signal

Projection mapping project from Russian creative agency Raduga Design uses glitch aesthetics and generative abstract visuals. The work was part of Moscow’s Circle of Light festival last year.

First Assignment: Brainstorm

Digital dissonance//surveillance//electronic identities .

The evolution of the Digital Self is an important issue. As our electronic identities become more central to how we operate in society we need to consider how we keep them safe. We also need to consider the social impact of connectivity, or the lack thereof and its implications for the newly emerging global society.

Perfect Self (digitally curated) vs. IRL Self (humanly flawed)

Is our sense of self (acceptance, esteem, confidence) decaying through the digitisation of our personalities (and appearance)?

Matchbox Pinhole Camera

Pinhole Photography Inspo.

Pinhole – why.

Pinhole photography is objective, however hugely vulnerable and experimental. I think the most satisfying aspect of pinhole photography is it’s physicality. In digital photography, unless their images are printed out, there is no molecular reality to the medium, no tangibility to the product. There is something so fulfilling about the tangibility of the pinhole process–constructing the camera, printing the negatives–it’s organic and wholesome.

GlitchLab: new discoveries

Masking/Blending:

Assignment One: Concept

In my first photographic submission, I will be exploring the reductive–sometimes destructive–nature of identity constructs, especially constructing the self in the digital world. This series represents the self in a state of internalised and externalised perturbation–oppressed, concealed, distorted and corrupted.

GLITCH SUBMISSION: Assignment One:

Destroying archival video footage in MPEG Streamclip – screencap.

Process: open your file in MPEG Streamclip and transcode it to a very low bitrate mp4. Then transcode that to a few other formats, and eventually back to full quality.

MATCHBOX PINHOLE SUBMISSION: Assignment One:

D I G I T A L  D E C A Y – I’d like to explore the phenomena of online persona and the effect this process has on human representation and connectedness.

Digital Cubism

Cyanotype Artists

Gary Emrich –

Christian Boltanski

Annette Messanger

Robert Heineken

Image Transfer – IDEAS

key words/phrases:

digital cubism

emotional decay/physical decay

digital armour

IMAGE TRANSFER GEL MEDIUM

Step 1: materials, personal (alt) image transfer process:, the cyanotype process.

The cyanotype process was one of the first non-silver technologies used to create photographic images . Originated in the 1840’s, it was not utilized in mainstream photography and was adopted as a copying technique, becoming known by the term “blueprint”, with its blue background reproductions of large architectural and mechanical drawings.

To begin the process, two solutions are prepared for the two-part sensitising process. Material sensitised with the solution is then printed by ultraviolet light.

Variations of the original formula involve different ratios of the following chemicals:

Potassium ferricyanide and Ferric ammonium citrate (green). Too much potassium ferricyanide in the solution will lower printing speed; too little may cause the blue colour to bleed into the lighter areas. Basically equal volumes of the two solutions are used.

Below are several more commonly used cyanotype recipes. The chemical names are linked to prices, information, and online ordering. Use appropriate safety measures throughout the process.

Solutions may be stored for several months in amber glass bottles.

My Tutorial Cyantype: 

(ALT) Cyanotype Process

ANALOGUE VIDEO MIXER: A vision mixer (also called video switcher, video mixer or production switcher ) is a device used to select between several different video sources and in some cases compositing (mix) video sources together to create special effects. This is similar to what a mixing console does for audio.

The terms vision mixer and video mixer that describe both the equipment and the device operator are used outside the USA. In the United States, the equipment is called a video production switcher and the device operator is known as a technical director(TD) that is part of a television crew.

BROKEN GIFS: I think the broken gif aesthetic resonates with the concept around “digital dissonance”. Here are some examples:

http://2.media.collegehumor.cvcdn.com/42/39/7b3ddc23d5711b3fd23de56f85f8cdb6-gif-glitch-13.gif

http://0.media.collegehumor.cvcdn.com/51/69/9fc1f4a928590f14202566a5d7749b27-gif-glitch-14.gif

Concept revisited:

Digital dissonance:  the evolution of the digital self is an important issue. as our electronic identities become more central to how we operate in society we need to consider how we keep them safe. we also need to consider the social impact of connectivity, or the lack thereof and its implications for the newly emerging global society., perfect self (digitally curated) vs. irl self (humanly flawed)  is our sense of self (acceptance, esteem, confidence) decaying through the digitisation of our personalities (and appearance), explore: the phenomena of online persona and the effect this process has on human representation and connectedness..

VIDEO MIXER + POST EDIT (results so far):

D I G I T A L  D I S S O N A N C E (further exploration):

If you look for “Digital Dissonance” online, you’ll find lots of references. (Google claims 8,170 hits.) Although many relate to music (and art), none have anything to say about the psychological dissonance caused by the Digital Revolution. Aside from music, my AHD gives this definition for dissonance: “Lack of agreement, consistency, or harmony; conflict.” If I had to pick one synonym, I’d go with disharmony. And you should know all about cognitive dissonance from Psych 101. So what’s the deal with digital dissonance? If it’s such a popular phrase, why are there no definitions or examples? Don’t know, but let me offer one: it’s how digital makes us feel one way when reality is the opposite (hence the dissonance). For example, digital gives us the feeling of anonymity, when in fact our every digital action is documented, tracked, and recorded. These records are maintained and distributed without our knowledge. Digital gives us the feeling of invisibility, when in fact every movement we make in a world filled with cameras and locators is documented, tracked, and recorded—on who knows how many databases. Digital gives us the feeling of being in touch, when in fact many are using the technology to avoid actual interactions with others. As Sherry Turkle put it, digital “provides the illusion of companionship without the demands of a relationship.” Digital gives us the feeling of being in control of this powerful technology, when in fact the technology really runs the show. But you wouldn’t buy the technology if it made you feel it was in charge. Well, it doesn’t, so we buy it—and then buy more. The dissonance that digital makes us feel is no mere minor discomfort. The more businesses use digital to give us feelings contradictory to the facts, the more they manipulate how we live, where we go, what we buy, and especially, how we think.

Presenting Work:

Transferring video files onto VHS:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_JkrXaAOYU

GLITCH VIDEO – FINAL ASSESMENT PROGRESS

Glitch vs Cyanotype??? 

Potentially changing my final project… I have ideas for Cyanotype and I’d really love to explore them/I’m overthinking my glitch work and I’m unsure it will suffice for this course. Hmm…

Further Cyanotype & Image Transfer *explorations* 

FINAL: ARTIST STATEMENT

The glitch aesthetic is generally expressed in visuals that are fragmented, warped, discoloured, and often filled with noise, as a result of technological errors in equipment or digital image codes Artist Clare Chapman , UK-born and based in Adelaide and Melbourne, combines the glitch aesthetic with images taken from popular culture to explore the seemingly infinite mutations of image destruction as deliberate forms of communication. Digital Dissonance explores the reductive–often destructive–nature of identity constructs, especially constructing the self in the digital world. This series represents the self in a state of internalised and externalised perturbation–oppressed, concealed, distorted and corrupted.

• GIF RESOURCES:
• GIFMaker.me
• GLITCH RESOURCES:
• Audacity –  http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
• Text Edit Mac OS X
• Photoshop –  http://www.adobe.com/au/products/photoshop
• Glitch Lab –  http://armorgames.com/play/16042/glitch-lab

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52 Assignments: Black & White Photography (Hardcover)

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