Personal Projects: Let’s Get Inspired

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About a month ago, the inaugural run of the Power of Personal Projects workshop wrapped up and now, with a few weeks of shooting under way, we wanted to take a moment to showcase some of the amazing projects developed by the workshop participants.

As you will see from the images we are sharing below, personal projects come in all shapes and sizes. There is no “one size fits all” option. Over the course of the workshop, each participant was guided through the process of researching, developing and designing a personal project. The goal was to create a project to fit who they are and what they sought to accomplish at this point in their photography journey.  For some, that meant creating projects that might one day lead them to a gallery show and for others that meant a project that would culminate in the creation of a treasured family photo book. Not surprisingly, the topics for the projects were as diverse as the participants themselves. Some examples of the broad range of topics being explored include: gender identity, the visual representation of feeling “stuck”, the subtle interpretations of child literature and the fleeting details of childhood.

For most of the participants, this process led to the creation of two projects. One that involved a longer-term commitment with more complicated shooting or editing considerations and one that was shorter in duration and simpler in execution that would provide them a more immediately gratifying conclusion. One thing quickly learned by all was that shooting multiple projects not only keeps boredom away but also stretches you as a photographer and as an artist.

We asked each participant, who was ready, to share the name of their project along with a brief summary and some initial images. As anyone who has shot a project knows, they frequently morph, grow and change over the course of the shooting. Often intentions for the project become clearer or even head down a different path, as more images are shot. That is part of what makes them exciting and challenging. We are thrilled we get to share these projects as they are in their infancy and hope you will join us in following them as they continue to unfold!

And, if you are interested in learning how to create a deeply meaningful project for yourself, keep your eye out for the summer run of The Power of Personal Projects Workshop. The last run sold out in 48 hours so if you want to be among the first to know when the next run is announced, you can sign up for our newsletter HERE.

Tracy Laulhere’s Three Years, 11 Months: 

I developed a more formal, long-term project in the workshop, but I also wanted to work on something more immediate and time-limited. This project came out of the nostalgia I am feeling at my daughter’s impending fourth birthday.  She is at an age when her personality and all of its quirks are in full bloom, unfettered, and I can foreshadow some of these mellowing or changing as she grows older.  I developed this project to capture the essence of who she is at this specific period of time: not just a snapshot of a moment but a series of images to reflect her.

Gina Cooperman’s Monday Mornings “Rinse and Repeat”:

Tracy Bradbury’s Forgotten Heritage Rediscovered:

My project is a long-term one called Forgotten Heritage Rediscovered about Celtic deities that are all but forgotten nowadays. Celtic mythology covers a fairly large area that covers the UK and into parts of Europe, but these deities are a lot less well known than the Greek/Roman ones. They are fast becoming forgotten legends and that makes me sad, as it’s my heritage. There is an immense amount of knowledge and wisdom, to be gained from reading about these deities, including that they were holistic, loved and treasured nature, believed in honor and the local people invoked them for their protection. For me, they almost provide a sense of where I belong and something to pass onto my children.

Emily Greenfield’s Within Her Team:

What makes a team is more than the wins and losses, the exciting plays and the tiring practices.  It is the friendships and respect that continues to grow day to day from having the same goal.  It stems from depending and learning to trust each other.  This project takes a peek into the bindings of her team.

Elise Cellucci’s Details: The Little Things: 

Details is a year-long photography project dedicated to my daughter.  My goal is to capture the Details that I know will be forgotten.  I want to capture all things she holds dear to her heart in her first year of life.

And there are a few workshop participants who are currently shooting their project but aren’t quite ready to start sharing their images yet. We talk about that in the workshop, too. Having a plan for when, where and how you will share your project is a key component of the project itself. For these participants, sharing their work as a complete group is what they  felt best was best for their project, so we are giving you just a peek their project name and description. Once complete, we look forward to showcasing their full projects as well!

Denise Ward’s It’s a Small World…Adventures in Childhood:

When you’re little, the toys that capture your attention are so much bigger than what you hold.  This is a personal project devoted to my son’s favorite toys as he’s grown and my perception of what those toys felt like in the moment of play.

Dominique Belanger Angle’s “The Fun We Have”:

The Fun We Have is a project inspired by Square Balloons tutorials on how to make “miniatures.”  My project involves my kids and the things they love. I will miniaturize them into a scene that they love.  For instance, my daughter loves her dollhouse. I will photograph her and place her in the dollhouse. I have similar things planned for my son.  This will get the kids involved and excited to be part of the project.

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