Personal projects for 2014

[fast14riot]

Well, with the new year coming quickly I have been really contemplating why I take pictures. Trying to find my direction or compass heading in this art, no longer happy with aimlessly bouncing around and shooting everything. I want to have a goal, a path, and a plan. I don't have ambitions of quitting my day job and opening my own studio or gallery as of right now, but I do want to have the self imposed drive to achieve something on a personal level in this art.

So, for my first personal project of 2014, I chose one that is relatively simple equipment wise (I don't have much) but is very open and difficult conceptually, to me. I want to work on texture/form in fine art style still lifes. Either in monochrome or color. Obviously, Edward Weston's "pepper, 1930" and "nude, 1927" are the immediate images coming to mind, and that's where I will be making my studies. I really want to do a set in the style of those images. I really want to explore the techniques and vision he used when viewing everyday objects.

If anyone has any links, suggestions, images or helpful advice that is more than welcome. Also, if you have a personal project you wish to share, please feel free. I do understand that to some it is personal, and maybe sharing it is not for you, but please don't shy away from offering any help or comments on mine!

Anyways, that's the rabbit hole I chose. Let's see where it goes!


-Xander

 

[djh]

You have set yourself a very admirable goal for the coming year. Any time that you really start to explore a new area of photography you will find many ideas and techniques which apply across the whole spectrum and will help with any other shooting which you do.

I recently met a retired fine art photographer and I am hoping to spend some time with him in the next few months- we have had some great discussions and he is a fountain of knowledge.

As far as my project ideas go...... nothing concrete, but I find myself shooting more and more film and less digital as time goes by. I guess that keeping the film 'fridge stocked could be a goal!

 

[Legion]

I just want to take more pictures. I took hardly any in 2013.

 

[Blooze]

I just want to take more pictures. I took hardly any in 2013.

+1. Just finding something local to shoot is getting difficult, unless I go back to shooting digital close up stuff.

I'm working on trying to find a film and developer I really like. I found two for MF, but still working on 35mm.

I guess the one thing I would like to try is making small 4x5 prints on large mats that actually work. I've seen some contact prints and even digital done this way where the subject was high contrast and they drew me right in. Like little jewels.

 

[fast14riot]

You have set yourself a very admirable goal for the coming year. Any time that you really start to explore a new area of photography you will find many ideas and techniques which apply across the whole spectrum and will help with any other shooting which you do.

I recently met a retired fine art photographer and I am hoping to spend some time with him in the next few months- we have had some great discussions and he is a fountain of knowledge.

As far as my project ideas go...... nothing concrete, but I find myself shooting more and more film and less digital as time goes by. I guess that keeping the film 'fridge stocked could be a goal!

David, it would be awesome if I could connect with someone like that! Always a treat to make friends with professionals in art. I sue hope that this focused study will expand my horizons in photography in general, carrying over to medium and possibly large format as well.

I just want to take more pictures. I took hardly any in 2013.

I do as well!


-Xander

 

[BRuhling]

I plan to focus more on studio photography in 2014. I want to learn to control the light much better. I love low light landscape/architecture work, but now want to learn to shape the image with the way the light is applied. I have access to a studio with all of the lighting/triggers. Now I just need to find the time to get in there...

 

[fast14riot]

So for my initial studies in the style I want to persue, I am looking at several artists. For the classics I am viewing Edward Weston and Imogen Cunningham right now. For modern I am liking Sondra Wampler and Scott Norris.

If anyone has any other suggestions for artists or books to look for please let me know!

Bill, your goal and mine aren't too different. I am just focusing on still lifes, but its all about controling the lighting in the composition how I want it. I have been slowly building up my studio kit this year and now am ready to start my project, I think. Will probably have to make or buy some light modifiers along the way, but I've got most everything I need.


-Xander

 

[BRuhling]

What is your lighting kit, Xander? I've finally gotten an off camera strobe and recently got a light stand and shoot through umbrella, but have only used the Phottix strobe so far...

 

[fast14riot]

I have nikon SB-800, SB-28, Leitz vario-zoom speed lights, three MedaLights with built in optical slave triggers. I also like going wired for triggers.

Btw, how do you like that Phottix strobe? I'm still thinking about it or possibly a Lumo Pro 180 (full manual).


-X

 

[HazyDayz]

I just want to take more pictures. I took hardly any in 2013.

+1. I used to be a working photographer to shooting basically nothing. I need to get out more.

 

[legrandfromage]

I also need to shoot more (instead of thinking about it).

 

[Dad3*3]

I need to finish processing and cataloging all the images from 2013. Then onto the print file. But one goal I do have is doing some scanning of old family photos so that they are preserved and available to more than just my wife and I. Seems like the personal projects always get pushed back behind all the professional obligations. Maybe 2014 will be the year!

 

[djh]

Inspired by conversations on Tuesday morning, I headed out for the day on Wednesday with a friend. The fog was lifting as we made our way into the middle of the country.....

 

[fast14riot]

Nice shots David. Tough thing with that lingering haze after fog burns off is red filters don't really do much justice for the sky. The fog we get here is intense, still haven't managed to get any decent shots of it, though I might make a stronger effort of it this season.


-Xander

 

[HazyDayz]

Those are really nice.

 

[August West]

Nice shots David.

 

[Dad3*3]

Nice shots, can I ask where the third one was taken?

 

[djh]

Nice shots David. Tough thing with that lingering haze after fog burns off is red filters don't really do much justice for the sky. The fog we get here is intense, still haven't managed to get any decent shots of it, though I might make a stronger effort of it this season.


-Xander

Thanks 'Xander. I hear you loud and clear about fog/haze and it can be frustrating. Sadly we don't always have the option of waiting for a perfect day and often want to make a shot even though conditions are not great. I have learnt to try to work with it rather than working against it.

I shot this one last week on a foggy morning near home...

​

Those are really nice.

Thank you.

Nice shots David.

Thanks.

Nice shots, can I ask where the third one was taken?

Thank you and sure..... it was taken on top of Pilatus.

 

[shm]

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They are all very nice

This one reminds me of the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"

 

[Evil4blue]

For those that are struggling for ideas or just want to get out and shoot more, try doing a calendar project. Basically, you want to shoot 12 great images throughout the year that you can then compile into a calendar for 2015. You can go about this many ways, but what I've done in the past is to either pick a theme for the calendar in general (like Cars or Farm Houses, etc) or pick a theme for the month (Jan=Winter, Feb=Love/Valentine's, etc). Then you go out and shoot with that theme in mind.

When I did this, I tried to limit my photo choices for each month to images that were only taken in that month, but that would be up to you. I also found that I would be more critical of my work and what I was shooting because I kept asking myself, "Would this be something that I'd like to look at for a whole month?"

Anyway, when you're done with the project, you'll have an awesome gift for your family and friends. 2 Birds, 1 Stone.

Good Luck.