Many photographers advocate having projects. This makes sense: it focuses your work and makes your intentions clearer. A bunch of random shots will not have the same impact as some photos having the same elements, especially if the object is to show others something specific they may not notice otherwise. Having many shots of nice cars in front of dilapidated houses can show the discrepancy in priorities, for example. It might be much more difficult do show the same thing with a disparate group of shots without the same elements in each one.
I find projects a bit lofty in my own work. I group my photos in various albums because I find some things need pointing out. I mean, I started out this blog as an outlet for a 365 Project. A few albums in my Flickr account contain samey photos, and I suppose those can be considered projects, though I probably don't take them as seriously as more serious photographers would consider projects. I go out and shoot, and if I remember to take a shot of someone with a cell phone, or of a piece of clothing on something, then, I suppose, my project goes on. I sometimes forget to take shots of these things, given I don't take them too seriously.
I have no end goal with these albums, which is why I wouldn't consider them projects. Projects can last years, and so my idea is to add/take away shots whenever new ones come up. I don't think these albums with ever be 'done'. Maybe with time they'll develop a focus or more a meaning, but for now they're just for fun. I'm documenting a few things that catch my eye.
How should a project start? As you take photos of things you find interesting, or simply as you walk around and look at things (being a photographer, I assume looking at things interests you), you notice patterns. For example, my for clothes on things album, I simply noticed one day that there was a few pieces of clothing on various objects. I happen to photograph them because I thought the scene looked funny.
You have a certain interest: cars, beards, pretty people, cats, games, football, hockey, tattoos, whatever. That's a good starting point. Go out and shoot these things.
I've found some inexplicable things I enjoy shooting: front doors, with their addresses. I don't know why. I've just put up a new album on Flickr that is just that: address photography, I suppose. It's pretty strange, and, again, I can't really explain why I started shooting these things. As I've said before, you notice patterns in what you shoot after looking back at your photos.
Here's where you can find what I'm talking about.
