7 Simple Photography Project Ideas

When I’m lacking inspiration in photography, I like to work on mini projects. Here are some ideas that I’ve used, that you can use too:

REINSPIRE YOURSELF

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1. Make photos inside your home

Your assignment: you’re only allowed to make photos inside your home.

2. Photograph inside a bar

When I did a Magnum Workshop in Provincetown with Constantine Manos and David Alan Harvey, my assignment was to do a documentary project at a local bar called “The Old Colony”. Chat to some of the locals at the bar, offer them a beer, and make some photos.

3. Make dramatic portraits of your friends

Shoot with -1 or -2 exposure compensation, under fluorescent lighting, or use the flash.

4. Make portraits of people at the gym

I’m really into powerlifting (deadlift, squat, bench) and there is a great gym in Emeryville, California called “Team Tufunga”. I had a hard time finding inspiration to make photos, then I thought:

What if I just photographed my hobbies?

Therefore, I brought my RICOH GR II to the gym, shot in RAW with ERIC KIM MONOCHROME PRESETS, and made this mini series of some of my gym friends:

5. Photograph hands

By only showing the hands of someone, you make them a mystery. These photos of hands are more open ended, because you wonder:

Who do these hands belong to, and what is their life story?

6. Photograph the color blue

In color theory, the color blue is associated with calm, peace, water, sky, and tranquility. Shoot looking for the color blue, and make a set out of it.

7. Photograph the color red

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The color red is symbolic of love, death, passion, anger, blood, and lust.

Red is the most powerful and bold color — my theory is that it is because it is the same color of blood, something we as humans have evolved to beware of.

Conclusion

Never run out of inspiration. Just keep it simple. Just keep shooting, work on mini projects, but most importantly — have fun.

Shoot like a child, and shoot until the day you die.

JUST SHOOT IT.
ERIC

REINSPIRE YOURSELF

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For more photography inspiration, buy the HAPTIC PRESS BOX TRIFECTA:

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