Projecting... Projects.

I've mentioned before (though don't ask me to point out the post, given this is the first time I've looked at my blog in some 2 years) about how projects can help you keep your photography going.  Be it something you like doing - a hobby or interest - or something that catches your eye - like the number of For Rent signs on a particular street or colour repitition somewhere - there's always something to focus your energies on.  Sometimes it's not too hard where to put your talents.

This year being 2017, and if you know anything about Canadian history, you'll know this is Canada's 150th anniversary of officially being a country.  (Side note, I'm Canadian.)  As such, you can probably bank on there being a plethora of extra happenings going on in 2017 in celebration of this event.  In addition to all the foodie things, concerts and various other festivals going on, the NCC planned a few extra things to celebrate this milestone.

Unfortunately, I can't attend all the events.  I've already missed one bigger one (because of work): the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition that happened a few weeks ago.  I do, however, plan on attending as many as I can.  There will absolutely be multiple food festivals to celebrate... eating (?) I suppose: Poutinefest is soon, and it won't be long before Ribfest and Dessertfest come along.  In addition, the Latin Block Party, Glow Fest, the Pride Parade, Canada Day celebrations and probably somewhere in the neighbourhood of 3 million other things to shoot will be around over the next months until the year ends.

My project for this year is to try to capture what Ottawa (and hopefully by extension, Canada) is all about.  Today, the third day of Spring, sees a massive snowstorm outside.  That, to me, is what being Canadian entails.  I've already got a few photo sessions in already, and I'm obviously planning on getting a lot more in before the end of the year.

I'm hoping to update this blog as I get more photos in.  Given Canada is celebrating its sesquicentennial, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that 150 proper pictures by the end of 2017 would make a good project.  (Now, technically, the 150th would start July 1st, 2017 and end June 30th, 2018, but let's forget about that for now.)  I'm imagine I'll end up posting more that 150 photos by the end of the year, but I'll cull the best and put them in an album to showcase the best.

As for now, I shall leave you, because I don't want this storm to end, and miss any shots of a cold, snowy, Canadian spring.

Projects

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.