I’ve done a 365-project before and something seems to happen in mid-October. It’s that part of the year when the days get shorter and the rain gets more intense. Because I am a photographer who prefer to work with daylight, this time of the year always is unexpected. Until mid-October hits me the light has been my friend.
During work days
During work days, I photograph the kitchen with flash as a light source. During the project mid-October meant mer than the fact that I had to find the flash. I also realized that my ideas and my lack of attributes make the images feel predictable. And a bit boring to do. Many days this project feels like one other thing I have to do.
My doubts are high and I wonder what this 365-project will give me…
My 365-projects
My first 365-project gave me invaluable knowledge about technics. Doing an image a day made me find my language or at least the beginning of what would become my language as a photographer.
My second taught me to develop my style, my expression and to work with the flash, a controlled light as a tool.
Some insights
This is my third, what have I learned more than October means that the light disappears and with that also the desire and the will to creat. I do not yet see what I have learned, but I have some insights:
The first one is that ”a lego-figure” is a tough toy to vary a story around. I would say that as a toy for a story it requires attributes. Many legophotographers like to use attributes like faces to enhance their story. I use a bit of attribute but my toy box is limited, by choise. I prefer to let the viewer read emotions / mood in the image via the light and the choice of location, time, angle and composition.
In my first 365-project the lego-figure was an attribute, and looking back at that I think the next toy-project will be with another sort of toy – no more – lego for me… When I do a new toy-porject I’ll probably choose use lego-figures be just attributes. I am currently doubting that I am a pure lego photographer.
I also doubt what the value of a 365-project. To take a picture a day is not really a challenge, it’s mostly a matter of planning.
A 365-project makes me attached to my motive
But there is one thing that I have realized. My feeling for the toy that is my motive has changed with all the dirt and the scratches that the project has given it. I didn’t feel anything for my choice of toy when I started, now I look for it and talk about the toy as one of mine. I value it – as my motive. I have grown in to liking the toy, the scratches and the dirt on the toy because they make it mine, and only mine.
Kristina
I share Your thoughts about Autumn. I chase the light during more or less sunny days and try to take as much photos as it’s possible, without going into quantity over quality [it means 3-4 photos of different ideas]. Luckily I have now few ideas, that can be executed only in my modest studio, so I’ll have an occupation during dark and rainy days.
I can’t use flash yet, and I didn’t make a 365-project. I don’t think I’ll pursue this, not with my really tight lifestyle and because I’m not good with schedules 😉 I also think that it would lead only to fulfilling obligations: oh my, it’s another day, I have to shoot something to mark another day. Or at least that’s my apprehensions about this project.
I wish You strentgh and perseverance during current and future projects!