Projects

What is a Photographic Project?

A photographic project is a planned body of work unified by a central concept, theme, or methodology. It goes beyond a single image to tell a story, explore an idea, or investigate a subject in depth. It has a clear intent and a defined scope.

The “5 Ws and 1 H”

1. WHAT? (Concept & Subject) Core Idea: What is your project about? Not just the subject matter, but the underlying concept. Example: Not just “portraits of the elderly,” but “Wisdom in Weathered Hands: A study of life stories through close-up portraits of hands and objects held by people over 80. Visual Style: What will it look like? (e.g., Black and white, vibrant color, minimalist, gritty, documentary, staged). Output: What is the final form? (e.g., A photobook, a gallery exhibition of 15 prints, a multimedia website, a zine).

2. WHY? (Intent & Motivation) Personal Drive: Why are you drawn to this? What do you want to express, question, or understand? For the Viewer: What do you want the audience to feel, learn, or contemplate?

3. WHO? (Subjects & Audience) Who is in front of the camera? People, places, objects, abstractions? Who is your audience? The general public, a specific community, yourself?

4. WHERE? (Location & Context) Is it tied to a specific place (a neighborhood, a river, a single room)? Does the environment play a key role in the narrative?

5. WHEN? (Timeframe & Constraints) Duration: Is it a 365-day daily project, a weekend deep dive, or a multi-year exploration? – Timing: Does time matter? (e.g., “The same street corner at 5 PM every day for a month”).

6. HOW? (Methodology & Execution) Technique: What equipment and techniques will you use? (One camera, one lens? Infrared? Long exposures?) Process: How will you approach your subjects? (Staged, candid, collaborative?) Workflow: How will you edit, sequence, and present the work?

Simple Steps to Start:

Pick a Passion: Choose something you truly care about.

Make a Plan: Write a short summary of your idea using the questions above.

Set Rules: Give yourself simple guidelines to stay focused (e.g., “only shoot in black and white”).

Test It: Take some practice photos to see if your idea works.

Stay Consistent: Schedule regular time to work on it.

Edit & Arrange: Choose your best photos and put them in an order that tells your story.

Choose the Final Result: Decide how you’ll share it from the start (e.g., as a photo book or online gallery).