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dicko
20th January 2009, 01:34 PM
I was pondering just now on how members have, gestate, and execute ideas for projects. I haven't been very project driven in my photography, except last year I started to pull together a collection of images on the outer reaches of the Metropolitan Railway. This particular idea came as a result of travelling on it every day to a client for my daytime gig (IT Consultant). Unfortunately, this pre-dated my return to film, and I've only recently started actively shooting this area on film, to find that the muse has passed.

Moving on, I've done enough since my return to film to want to get my head around some self-imposed projects, and since my photography is usually opportunistic (carry at all times) I suspect my regular day to day environment will play a part in that; I do not drive, which is both a plus and a minus from a photography point of view - I'm now wondering where my next client assignment will be, and what photography opportunities it may offer.

Er, I think I've just rambled...

Roy_H
20th January 2009, 02:35 PM
Well JD, I think about a lot of projects a lot of the time, but the ones that end up with any kind of practical execution are usually not the ones I think about!

I've always found that, for me, series of pictures and ideas evolve from the kind of opportunistic approach you favour. Over time, I discover that I'm drawn to certain similar subjects or environments. Then I'll maybe try some 'focussed opportunism', putting myself in situations or locations that may produce more work in a similar vein.

Trevor Crone
20th January 2009, 02:57 PM
Jon, I tend to work on two fronts, one is more controlled and preconceived where I gravitate towards subject matter that interests me, and this interest could be on many levels.

On other occasions subject matter finds me. By going out with a camera and an open mind I find I'm more receptive to a location and what it holds and hopefully eventually reveals. Sometimes of course I go home empty handed, but I put that down to failure on my part for not being intuitive or receptive enough to the moment.

Rob Archer
20th January 2009, 06:58 PM
I find the 'projects' seem to just set themselves! I gravitate towards certain subjects anyway, and without any deliberate decision (although may be a subconcious one), I build collections of negatives that fit themes. Current ones are old boats (see my albums!), abandone bicycles, and boundaries (fences and walls etc.) One of these days I'll get around to printing them thematically!

Rob

photomi7ch
20th January 2009, 07:17 PM
Im a bit like Rob in that project find me. my projects tend to run over extended periods build up several themes at once.

dicko
21st January 2009, 10:25 AM
Ah, so I'm not alone! I tend to have to hang around certain areas, or types of areas, for themes to develop. Interestingly, when I was taking a lot of photos of the Metropolitan line, after a while I realised that what I was interested in was the line, it's buildings and infrastructure, but curiously not the trains themselves. They just aren't a part of what I naturally thought to photograph.

Rob, I like the theme of boundaries, I was looking through some of my pictures and noticed a subliminal them of gates developing, I may consciously pursue that one now and see what sub-themes come out of it.

I do like this forum, it's very useful to bounce ideas off others, especially with the amount of experience embodied by the forum membership. I have relatively little experience to offer, but I do hope at least some of it is of use to other members.

Dave miller
21st January 2009, 10:39 AM
I for one learn just as much from questions; since they promote thoughts of subject that perhaps I may not otherwise explore, as I do from answers that may tabled to them. The strength of a forum such as this, is the interchange of ideas, as well as the contra-flow of advice.

toffeezebra
23rd January 2009, 08:55 PM
I seem to share the same methods for developing projects as most of you which is reassuring. For example, I was walking around my usual patch yesterday which includes quite a "subject rich" area called Stokes Croft near my home. I found myself photographing unusual cars and vans again (campers mainly) and an old Bristol Motors car parked in side streets; all low angles and odd perspectives but also trying to capture the quirkyness of their style. I suddenly realised that I had an interest in this subject and there are still a lot of these cars about if you look carefully. I've captured a couple recently and also I've started sketching from the photograph. I had a brain wave, "Why don't I start a project called 'Idiosyncratic vehicles and their owners?' I could leave a card on their windscreens and ask the owners to call me if they were interested in taking part in my project. Then I got cold feet and thought about the consequences of the information falling into the wrong hands, etc. Is that a daft thought or what?

Anyone got any thoughts on this or tried something similar?

Andrew Bartram
24th January 2009, 08:54 AM
JD, I can but echo much of what has already been said. When I flick through my filing cabinet full of contacted neg sheets going back to 1986 I see themes I have constatntly returned to. Out of season seaside shots constantly draw me - I was born and dragged up in Great Yarmouth you see - I think it's the somewhat forlorn look of beach huts on big empty beaches, no people, glowering clouds. It's empty piers with closed down stalls all promising something new and bright to come.....if only the summer would come.
Other themes include wooden fishing boats on shingles, street shots of people an buildings. Very few traditional landscapes however.

I guess you are on the right line, it's clear you already have sub-concious themes to follow if you choose, if not carry on as you are and don't worry too much.

Andrew

dicko
24th January 2009, 02:25 PM
I like deserted places that are usually busy, they make for interesting scenes, especially by the sea, and also large railway stations.

I think reviewing periodically to look for subsconscious themes developing is probably the way forward for me, then a theme has a natural foundation without being contrived.

kennethcooke
3rd February 2009, 09:57 PM
With the demise of the specialist retailer I am proposing to do a project around those that are left. Leeds, where I live, like most cities is just a mass of blandness shop wise due to high rent and rates driving the specialist outlets out of business. I have already earmarked an interesting s/hand bookshop and a tobacconist for starters. I just feel it would be nice to document these specialist before they are no more

Argentum
3rd February 2009, 10:43 PM
Sounds like a great idea for a project. Very documentary and of historical value.

Dave miller
4th February 2009, 07:48 AM
With the demise of the specialist retailer I am proposing to do a project around those that are left. Leeds, where I live, like most cities is just a mass of blandness shop wise due to high rent and rates driving the specialist outlets out of business. I have already earmarked an interesting s/hand bookshop and a tobacconist for starters. I just feel it would be nice to document these specialist before they are no more

Good idea, but I'm not sure that you should tell them why you want to do it. ;)

Trevor Crone
4th February 2009, 11:14 AM
Indeed a nice idea. The specialist retailer is in slow decline (too late in some areas). It will certainly be of historic value.

I hope someone managed to document Woolworth before it was too late?

kennethcooke
4th February 2009, 09:15 PM
Good idea, but I'm not sure that you should tell them why you want to do it. ;)

Funnily enough I have, and the reaction has been sympathetic. I guess they feel that I am on thier side. There used to be 6 really good photographic shops in Leeds and 4 Leica main dealers. Now my nearest Leica dealer is in Harrogate. I worked for one in Leeds who was a main agent for Nikon- Leica- Hasselblad- Linhof- Exacta- Rolleiflex and Alpa.

Dave, on a slightly different point can I say what a pleasure it is to belong to this group. It is so refreshing to be able to post comments without other members trying to score cheap jibes at our expense which in many cases ruins the flow of the thread

Dave miller
4th February 2009, 09:34 PM
Funnily enough I have, and the reaction has been sympathetic. I guess they feel that I am on thier side. There used to be 6 really good photographic shops in Leeds and 4 Leica main dealers. Now my nearest Leica dealer is in Harrogate. I worked for one in Leeds who was a main agent for Nikon- Leica- Hasselblad- Linhof- Exacta- Rolleiflex and Alpa.

Dave, on a slightly different point can I say what a pleasure it is to belong to this group. It is so refreshing to be able to post comments without other members trying to score cheap jibes at our expense which in many cases ruins the flow of the thread

Thanks for the complement, but it should be directed at the group as a whole rather than to me.

kennethcooke
5th February 2009, 01:00 AM
Thanks for the complement, but it should be directed at the group as a whole rather than to me.

Sorry Dave, I thought I was directing it at the group

Dave miller
5th February 2009, 06:52 AM
Sorry Dave, I thought I was directing it at the group

So you were! :)

Gary Holliday
17th February 2009, 12:00 PM
I don't like one off shots; if it happened, I would be looking for ideas for the next shot to develop the theme. I believe it started when I did my A level all those years ago, the 12 photos for submission all had to follow a theme, so it has been the basis for my photographic approach.

My longest project has been a cultural project and I look forward to the day when they are all finished. I have one or two shots to take before it's ready so that will be a while.

I tend to pre-visualise most of my photographs, so the hardest part is finding the photograph that fits my idea. This keeps my enthusiasm going, knowing that there are potential shots to add to the theme.