The best photographers are the ones who have something to say.
At its best, photography is a way of sharing our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. And sometimes, we cannot say everything that needs to be said in a single photo. We need a project.
If we are considering starting a photography project of our own, here are three questions we should ask ourselves before we start.
1. Why Am I Doing This?
The truth is, creative people start more projects than we finish. That is just the way things are.
To complete our project, we'll need the commitment that comes from knowing that we serve a higher purpose. As the Dalai Lama put it, "Our prime purpose in life is to help others." Whether is it to educate, inspire, or entertain, it is important to be clear on who we are creating our work for.
In recent times, I have become frustrated by how landscape photography is dominated by photographs from our National Parks. But most people do not live within easy reach of the Lake District, or Snowdonia, or the Cairngorms. So I want to inspire them to focus on showcasing the beauty of their local area.
2. What Am I Going To Do?
Having determined why we want to start our project, the next thing we need to do is work out what we are going to do. Every project needs a scope that defines how we are going to achieve our objectives.
Defining a clear scope helps us remain focused on our ultimate goal. If we start work without a clear scope, we run the risk of producing photos that do not serve our purpose and will ultimately confuse our intended audience.
For my latest project, I have decided to focus on the area surrounding the village where I live in Cumbria's Eden Valley, an area I feel is overshadowed by the Lake District National Park. Titled "30-Minutes from Home", the project will be limited to places I can reach by car in under half an hour.
3. When Will I Be Finished?
By our very nature, many landscape photographers are perfectionists. There is always the belief that we can improve on our work. Our best photograph is the one we are going to take tomorrow.
Unfortunately, perfection is the enemy of progress. If our project has an open end date, we risk never finishing. So the final thing we must do before starting our project is set a deadline.
I want "30-Minutes from Home" to be my largest project to date. I aim to produce 48 photographs in 2 years, so the project will run from 1st September 2024 to 31st August 2026.
Projects are important for photographers. Combining photographs can help us tell bigger stories and have a bigger impact. But before we start, we should know why we are doing it, what we will be doing, and when we will be finished.
