It’s not my desire to copy another photographers work but to create my own unique images. However, there are those assignments we can give ourselves that will copy or at least be very similar another’s images. That’s what this is all about. It’s my version of the all familiar studio image of the kitchen fork on a white background. With this exercise I experimented with some lighting and got more hands on time with my macro lens, a lens I don’t use often. My question for all you gurus out there who happen to find my blog is: How often do you give yourself assignments or projects? And, what are some of those? What’s their purpose? Are we wanting to learn something specific or just copying someone’s work?
6 Comments
Ray Ketcham
I’m not one of the Gurus but I do give my self assignments and projects. I believe I have at least 3 going at anyone time. If I a not shooting for work I am working on one of the projects or at least planning a shot for one of them. I also will do lighting experiments to see how things look and what I like or don’t like about a certain setup. Most of a lot of the learning or self test images get deleted as they are just signposts for something that is going on in my head. I will cut images I like out and save them to learn from them but rarely try to copy an image.
One thing I have found on self learning assignments is to set it up just like a real assignment with a certain requirements as to subject, use, size, shape etc. This helps focus me and sometimes the limits help focus a creative idea.
Although I do have to admit sometimes I just bang my head against a wall until I think of something to do.
Earl
Assignments…I’m not very formal about it but I sometimes do set specific specific goals or parameters. It may be done simply in the selection of a lens I use for a photo walks — such as, only taking a micro, ultra-wide or a long zoom. Other times I’ll focus on one subject and see how many different ways I can shoot it. I think for me assignments are fairly short term while projects are usually more long term.
Monte Stevens
@Ray: I guess we’d have to define guru because we all will see it differently. I like your idea of making assignments to be like real assignments and not just a quick testing.
@Earl: I’m not sure I’ve even called my exercises/experiments of the past as assignments. Yet, the idea of setting goals really does interest me.
Paul L.
I come up with ideas for ‘assignments’, but if I don’t follow through, it’s no big deal, but I just like to let those creative juices leak out every once in a while.
I, like Earl, will use a single lens for a while. Right now, all of the film cameras that I have have a standard lens on them. 50 mm for the 35mm cameras and 80mm for the 645e. I want to shoot with these exclusively for a year. Also, on my D300, I keep the 50mm lens, which is equivalent to 70mm, but I’d really like to have a 28mm or 35mm lens.
These are not really assignments, so to speak.
Monte Stevens
@Paul: I use the new 35mm f1.8 DX and really like it. LIght small and I think takes good images.
@All: Thanks for your input, you have all given me some ideas. Now to go and follow up on those ideas.
Chris Klug
Hah, sometimes Monte it’s all I can do to give myself the assignment of capturing at least one image today! But, seriously, yes, I try to work with ideas that in the past I have resisted. Lately I’ve ben trying to ‘get the camera in a different place’ quite a bit.