The new year is a great time to take stock of your goals and ambitions for the year. We are here to help you think about what you want to achieve from your photography as well as thinking of the personal changes you want to make. We have a selection of 24 fabulous photo projects for you to try throughout the year, and the aim is to tackle one project every fortnight to explore different genres and use different skills to grow as a photographer. To make it easier to follow, we have themed the projects into seasonal categories, starting with winter, but mix and match as you see fit, and you can also adapt our suggestions to suit your own shooting and editing style. There are creative photography projects for winter.
Project 1 is about flora.
The winter garden has plenty of opportunities to be photographed, and you can use dead thistles or cow parsley as your main subject. Bring along a bag or cushion to prevent your knees from getting dirty and wet. Your winter garden shots should be about the form and structure of the plant, as this style of photography is all about the composition of the plant. A double or triptych is a good way to present your image.
The dull weather this winter is ideal for shooting landscapes with negative space. The project can be shot in both rural and urban locations, so wherever you live, you can achieve great results. The works of Hilla and Bernd Becher and Josef Koudelka can help inspire you to make your image black and white. A wide-angle lens is useful for this type of photography. Project 3: Light the way.
The best time to shoot light trails is during the winter months. The final effect will be influenced by the number of vehicles and the speed of traffic.
You can make a simple still-life setup if you find some household objects. In our example, we used some candles as our main subject and draped a household plant around to add some interest to the shot.
The project is easy to do at home, but it will require some planning, milk, a model and flowers, although these are optional. If you don't want to use fresh milk, you can also use milk powder. If you want a clean look, bounce the flash and avoid heavy shadows. The water cools quickly once you add the milk, and you should be ready to shoot.
Bokeh is a blur or haze and is achieved using a lens that can be opened to a wide open setting. Christmas trees are perfect for this type of effect because they have small lights.
Project 7 is called Bring spring indoors.
When the first signs of spring appear, we all feel a sense of relief, but we are aware that April showers can go on for a long time, so bring the spring indoors. A flat lay can be done in a few easy steps.
You can make your image bright and vibrant by placing a piece of colored card next to a window.
If you want to reduce the shadows, place a reflector on the opposite side of your main light source.
You can either use a tripod or a handheld camera if your shutter speed is too slow.
The best time to make a characterful animal portrait is in the spring when many animals are born. Animals can be difficult to work with, so be patient and keep shooting to ensure you get a winning shot.
One of the first to invent this popular technique where you layer images on top of each other is Sandra Bartocha. To achieve this, shoot multiple images of your subject at different focus points and then build your image using an editing software program such asPhotoshop, where you can blend multiple layers together.
The spring garden is a perfect location for a lifestyle project. Placing items such as a blanket and a magazine on the table adds that lifestyle element to the scene and enables the viewer to picture themselves in that setting.
By late spring, many different butterfly varieties are starting to hatch. If you have children, you can do this project if you order some caterpillars from Insectlore.co.uk. We were able to spend time getting the butterflies into a good position because they were completely submissive. A macro 100mm prime is a great lens to use for best results. For our butterfly images, f/8 was the perfect setting as it softened the background while keeping some of the butterfly sharp, which was the effect we were after.
When we shoot a wide-angle shot, our instinct is to set the camera to a narrow setting so that the scene is sharp from front to back. If you have a lens that can go as wide as f/2.8, you should blur the background and foreground on this occasion. If you don't have an f/2.8, shoot as wide as you can and exaggerate the blur effect at the editing stage. The flowers of Tulips or lines of flowers are the perfect arrangement for this technique. The best time to shoot is at the beginning or end of the day.
Project 13: Splash and shoot.
You can get some eye-catching photographic results at the same time if you jump into the sea or large body of water. If you want to follow your subject, set your camera to fire in the fastest burst mode you have, and make sure your settings are set to the tracking feature. You have to let your model know where they need to jump so that you can get the action shot. Protect your camera with a waterproof cover and keep it clear of splashes.
Cold drinks on a hot summer's day make the perfect combination for a winning photograph. In the summer, an outdoor setting such as a garden is the best place to shoot. Bring in additional props to add interest to the side of the frame but make sure they don't become the main focus.
The best time to shoot summer scenes is when the sun is setting. If you want to get the most out of your images, shoot in raw format and bring warm tones back into your image at the editing stage. Use a wide-angle lens to see curves and shapes in the landscape to help you with your composition. The shadows need to be warmed up at the editing stage as the light is cooler there.
The long summer days are blissful and at the start and end of the day, the light begins to fade meaning you can achieve excellent results with your portraits. In our example, the girl's blue flowery dress matches the flowers on the ground perfectly. If you are working with children, you need to be quick because they won't stand still for long. If you want to engage with them for longer, you need to find out their interests first. Project 17: Capture fun at a festival.
There is nothing better than taking pictures of a music festival.
Look for light.
Natural or ambient lighting can be used to your advantage so look for opportune moments with your subject in the setting.
Capture the moment when people are unaware of your presence for a more candid and natural result.
The winner is always the person who shakes the head or jumps in the air. Project 18: Shoot big group photos.
Shoot a large group of people and think of fun ways to engage them. The bridesmaids formed around the bride, creating a perfect lineup for the group picture. Make sure you have a good setting for your camera.
Project 19: Fall close-up.
The small details of the season are a joy to photograph, as they offer plenty of opportunities for wide-angle shots in the fall. We chose to use this program because we think it is one of the best image-editing software programs.
Use the Whites, Blacks, Shadows and Highlights sliders to tone your image after adjusting the controls in the basic tab. The Tone Curve setting can be used for further effects.
Profiles and preset are a great way to tone and style your image. You can adjust the amount applied by any profile or preset, and sometimes a hint is all you need.
The Color Grading feature allows you to color-tone the mid-tones, highlights and shadows separately. Pick your color and click further out on the circle to adjust the amount added by clicking. Project 20: location portraits.
Portrait photographers do the same things as landscape photographers when they are out on location, and they also use a setting sun in autumn to bring about an image. If you want to keep the focus on your subject, shoot into the light and knock the exposure meter down. The red jumper is perfectly matched to the light conditions.
The contrast of the patterned orange tiles placed against a clear blue sky is what makes it such an effective result. You don't need to go far to find this type of image, so use a search around your area to find what you can find.
You can still take great photos at home if you need a day off. If you have a busy surface, it is a good excuse to have a clean and sort out household items at the same time. If you want to keep your ISO low, use a tripod indoors. Unless you have a library of beautiful old books that all match in color and style, turn them around so you can't see the spine to create a neutral look. If you have a big difference between the highlights and shadows of the image, try merging the shots at the editing stage.
If you want to take pictures of food, look for fiery conditions, as they are perfect for food photography. The action of the flame and the hand stayed sharp because we set ours to 1600 and the aperture at f/2.8.
Take time to reflect on your photography, organize your photos, and adjust your photos as you please. Try printing out some of your images, thinking of different ways to present them, and if you need to share images with a client or a friend then find a pleasing presentation method, such as the wooden box in our example.