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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Have you ever done a big project?
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 10/08/2004 11:43:53 PM · #1
I'm toying around with the idea of starting a large-scale photography project - to the tune of photographing 30+ people over the next 12 months. The project would have a theme like "hands" or "great smiles" or something on that order.

I'm most worried about maintaining my motivation. Taking that many pictures for that long a period is a big undertaking for me, but I feel like I need to set a goal for my photography. I also want the opportunity to build a stronger portfolio and improve my technique when working with models.

Has anyone ever done anything like this? If you have, do you have any stories to tell, advice, cautions, etc.?

Thanks in advance everyone. I appreciate any help you can give me.
 10/09/2004 12:01:44 AM · #2
Not quite to that scale but I am planning on an interesting photo assignment that is still fairly complex. I am a pencil artist and often I will be asked about the process of creating a drawing. My plan is to photograph the entire drawing process from sketch to final completion in order to creatively document the drawing process. I would do this by photographing the drawing at exactly the same angle and lighting at numerous stages so that when the photos are viewed in quick succession it will appear as if the drawing is magically being drawn by itself. If it is possible I might even try positioning my drawing pencil so that it looks like it is drawing by itself. I would need a very controlled lighting setup that I could keep in place through the course of the drawing project. I did this on a less than perfect and smaller scale many years ago but I no longer know where the photos are. If this current project is a success I will share the results with everyone.

I think everyone can benefit from creative photography projects like these. They are a lot of fun and there are endless possibilities. I would also love to here other people's ideas of photography projects they are going to do or have done in the past.

T
 10/09/2004 12:04:54 AM · #3
Oh yeah, you asked about advice or precautions? Not much except that you should really think through the entire process as completely as you can. It is so easy to miss something important if you rush into it. It is not going to be easy to repeat the project so it is important that you do it right the first time. Just be as creative as you can be. And please share the results with us and what you learned from it.

T
 10/09/2004 12:06:28 AM · #4
The first thing you need is a genuine interest in the subjects as individual photo shoots and not just as a large project. Most collections people put together just happen and come out of another project and are not necessarily for that sole purpose. Having that interest will really help with your motivation. If you are only counting down the time before the project will end, ie the bigger picture, then you will likely be disappointed or fed up long before time.

That said, go for it. If you dont end up finishing the project or it changes direction then you still have the individual shots or a smaller collection of images. The only pressure on completing it is yourself. If you do finish the project you'll have a lot of fun and a greater understanding of your subject.

One of my long term projects has been photographing the chimps at my local zoo. We have a chimp that had an allergy problem, a two year old that is growing up fast, and various chimp political and social interests. I've been doing it for about 10 months so far and I've managed to get a nice little collection that hopefully tells a story. It has helped with my photography and also I have earned a lot from it personally too.

If it's something you want to do and think you can do then there should be no reason to not do it. Good luck!
 10/09/2004 12:11:37 AM · #5
Originally posted by timj351:
If it is possible I might even try positioning my drawing pencil so that it looks like it is drawing by itself.

Try wearing a tight-fitting blue glove/sleeve (or color not appearing elsewhere in the setup) to allow to you efficiently replace your hand.

You might look into something called a copy stand -- basically a platform with two lights and a camera mount, designed for archival photography of art and books and stuff. The big advantage is you can restore your physical configuration if you have to take a break in the project.

It sounds great! I have an idea to do something like that with a kid's story, where the letters or words appear across the page.

For photographing people for a "large-scale" project I'd advise obtaining releases, and coming up with some kind of numbering/naming conventions to let you keep track of stuff. Also, make two backups.
 10/09/2004 12:19:21 AM · #6
Originally posted by hlswilson:
...I'm most worried about maintaining my motivation. Taking that many pictures for that long a period is a big undertaking for me, but I feel like I need to set a goal for my photography. I also want the opportunity to build a stronger portfolio and improve my technique when working with models.

Has anyone ever done anything like this? If you have, do you have any stories to tell, advice, cautions, etc.?


I have done this, not only in this medium, but also in several others. The way I work and am, it is only a matter of time before I have accumulated a sizable store of work, some of which seems to have its own life and form(s), but often doesn't 'fit' the usual, available contexts.

The aim is to provide that context by placing these shots into a series, which, in my case, are usually of an explorative nature. Having already one specimen (a beginning!) of that series helps to determine the direction of the project (or a part of a larger one) without limiting it to a mere idea or concept. To create a series which merely conforms to a preconceived idea of it, would not excite me sufficiently to sustain any effort over time. It is therefore interesting that you ask about 'maintaining motivation'.

I believe it is advantageous (in this respect) to be open to change, mystery, perceived 'faults' even, so you may experience a series of photographs as a single organic form, not of your own making but as something that evolved in a partnership between subject and camera or, if you will, between October and, say, May.

If this makes as much sense to you as today's weather?
 10/09/2004 12:23:37 AM · #7
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Try wearing a tight-fitting blue glove/sleeve (or color not appearing elsewhere in the setup) to allow to you efficiently replace your hand.


Interesting idea but it may not be neccesary to use a blue glove if I just take one shot with the pencil being held lighty someplace in the middle (so I can easy clone in the small area where I am holding it)and then one photo of just the drawing so I can easily combine the two images. I will be able to use the drawing only photos if I decide later that I don't like the pencil idea.

T
 10/09/2004 03:55:04 PM · #8
Thanks, everyone, for your comments and advice. You've all given me some good tips and a lot to think about. As my project progresses, I'll be sure to add a note once in a while. Thanks for your support and encouragement.
 10/09/2004 04:59:16 PM · #9
Originally posted by hlswilson:

Has anyone ever done anything like this? If you have, do you have any stories to tell, advice, cautions, etc.?

Thanks in advance everyone. I appreciate any help you can give me.


Artist's Hands

This is a series I have been working on recently...

The great thing about a series is that you can work on it whenever you feel like it. You don't have to set any deadlines unless you need a project completed for a showing or something. Even then, you can continue to add to it over time. This series of mine is 'in progress' and some of these images will survive for the final series while others will be trashed... I'm just collecting thoughts and photos at this point...
 10/09/2004 06:11:52 PM · #10
Very cool John. I would love to see this when you are finished, also in regard to how you decide to display the images.

T
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