Interest in a Project 52 for 2023?

[mollyc]

This project is now official, and themes have been announced!

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In a recent thread there was a question and detour about working on a P52 for next year. If you are not familiar with it, it is the idea of taking at least one photo a week, typically around an assigned theme, as a way of committing to shooting regularly, and stretching your skills and genres.

Is there any sizeable interest for a project like that on this board? I have already come up with a list of themes and would be happy to post them and work with people who are interested in completing a P52. No themes require a human subject, although you are of course welcome to use the themes to work with portraiture if you desire; I know we have a lot of photographers here who prefer not to have human subjects for a variety of reasons (or at least to not post photos of people publicly).

Depending on the level of interest, it may be a single thread for the whole year, or we might break it out into regular intervals. You would also be welcome to come in and out of the thread if you can't commit to a theme for the week. In reality, if you want to shoot off theme, I'm completely fine with that as well. 🙂 Obviously the point would be to share at least one photo a week from your project, however you end up defining it.

Before I get too much further into developing a plan, I just wanted to see if there would be enough interest at all. I am tagging @PhilBoogie, @Freida, and @kenoh, all of whom expressed interest in the original thread. (But no worries if you have changed your mind.)

 

[bunnspecial]

I think this is a project I would benefit from and would be interested in doing...and would benefit from actually sticking to it so yes I'll express my interest.

 

[Clix Pix]

I think I'll pass.....I'm still recovering from the last one I did! LOL! Also I am not keen on the idea of assigned themes, as I find that it can be somewhat hampering to spontaneity and creativity. That's just me, though -- I know others appreciate having some concept from which to work.

Have fun, everyone who participates! I think you'll all benefit from it in a lot of ways.... Looking forward to what everyone shares!

 

[mollyc]

I think I'll pass.....I'm still recovering from the last one I did! LOL! Also I am not keen on the idea of assigned themes, as I find that it can be somewhat hampering to spontaneity and creativity. That's just me, though -- I know others appreciate having some concept from which to work.

Have fun, everyone who participates! I think you'll all benefit from it in a lot of ways.... Looking forward to what everyone shares!

I have never completed a P52 because I also get hung up on shooting for a theme. I have been intentionally broad with the themes I've compiled, and many are technique based, rather than say, a specific color, or location, or "mood." I also have a running list of alternates if someone wants to swap out something that doesn't interest them.

Assuming we get enough interest, I will publish the list before year end so people can consider fully. And again, if someone wants to just hop in on random weeks because a specific theme really appeals to them, that's fine also; I am setting this up as an encouragement for regular shooting, and there are no penalties for making the project personal to someone.

 

[Clix Pix]

I think that is one reason that at Nikon Cafe they don't set up specific themes for their projects -- sometimes participants find them too confining. Thing is, even without themes, people still drop out anyway. In the Cafe's "Collective Shoot" project, which is done each week and anyone can join, members don't need to post every week, they can hop in when a theme interests them . In the Collective Shoot there is a specific theme set each new week and different members volunteer to be "the host" of each week, and they choose the theme. The primary rule is that the images must be shot within that week, and only three images can be posted at a time (three separate posts), but one can put in another three posts, too -- they are trying to prevent people from posting ten or twelve images in individual posts all in the thread at once. The Collective Shoot has been running for quite a few years now and differs from the other special year-long projects or seasonal projects.

The way the Cafe handles the year-long projects is that there is a specific subforum for all projects, and each project has its own category. Someone usually starts setting things up in the beginning, about two or three weeks in advance, inviting people to join and setting out the specifics of how the project is run. Each participant does make the commitment to do the entire 52 Weeks but of course there are allowances for when life interferes and such. Each member starts his or her own thread: for example, "Clix Pix's 52-Week Project, 2020, Week 1". Then in each week when the participant has the next week's images ready to post, they simply change the subject header to read "Week 2," or whatever the new current week is. The reason for that is so that there isn't one long massive thread. That can easily become problematic, especially if there are a lot of participants and they all are sharing a lot of images.

By each participant changing the title to reflect the current week, that shows up on the list of new posts and new threads so that others are alerted that, say, Clix Pix has just posted her images for Week 23. I know some 52-Week projects only want one image posted per week, but at the Cafe people can post however many images they shot during the week and that they want to share. Another site I'm on only wants one image each week.

I like that you're starting this up, Molly, and I think everyone will appreciate the flexibility you're building into this. I do hope that there is good participation here!

 

[bunnspecial]

Personally, the idea of themes appeals to me a lot.

I sometimes fall into a rut of doing the same things over, and am my own worst enemy on trying new things or even thinking of new things to try.

A theme, even a loose one, makes me think and probably come up with things I wouldn't have on my own.

 

[r.harris1]

I’m in!

 

[Freida]

1 pic a week? I think I can do that.

 

[oblomow]

mmm, tempting. Might be a good stick to get me out of the door with a camera.

 

[casperes1996]

I have never completed a P52 because I also get hung up on shooting for a theme. I have been intentionally broad with the themes I've compiled, and many are technique based, rather than say, a specific color, or location, or "mood." I also have a running list of alternates if someone wants to swap out something that doesn't interest them.

Assuming we get enough interest, I will publish the list before year end so people can consider fully. And again, if someone wants to just hop in on random weeks because a specific theme really appeals to them, that's fine also; I am setting this up as an encouragement for regular shooting, and there are no penalties for making the project personal to someone.

I get way too little photography done. As photography is a small side hobby for me with work and other hobbies competing for time, and I can get intensely busy with other stuff I would probably be in the "popping in and out" camp, but I think having list of theme ideas could be a fun way of encouraging myself tot take out the camera and get something done.
Consider me interested

 

[kenoh]

In a recent thread there was a question and detour about working on a P52 for next year. If you are not familiar with it, it is the idea of taking at least one photo a week, typically around an assigned theme, as a way of committing to shooting regularly, and stretching your skills and genres.

Is there any sizeable interest for a project like that on this board? I have already come up with a list of themes and would be happy to post them and work with people who are interested in completing a P52. No themes require a human subject, although you are of course welcome to use the themes to work with portraiture if you desire; I know we have a lot of photographers here who prefer not to have human subjects for a variety of reasons (or at least to not post photos of people publicly).

Depending on the level of interest, it may be a single thread for the whole year, or we might break it out into regular intervals. You would also be welcome to come in and out of the thread if you can't commit to a theme for the week. In reality, if you want to shoot off theme, I'm completely fine with that as well. 🙂 Obviously the point would be to share at least one photo a week from your project, however you end up defining it.

Before I get too much further into developing a plan, I just wanted to see if there would be enough interest at all. I am tagging @PhilBoogie, @Freida, and @kenoh, all of whom expressed interest in the original thread. (But no worries if you have changed your mind.)

I love the idea. I think it differs from the weekly competitions in that is is not judged other than for critique purposes.

Also the themes at least initially would I assume be loose and more of an aspect of composition or genre rather than a specific absolute topic.

 

[robhoward]

Am up for it. Is it only shot on iPhone or can I use my camera? I am sporting an iPhone 11 hence the question

 

[mollyc]

Am up for it. Is it only shot on iPhone or can I use my camera? I am sporting an iPhone 11 hence the question

any camera you have!

 

[SamRyouji]

Count me in, man!

 

[hirshnoc]

Yes, great idea, I'd be in for that.

 

[PhilBoogie]

Wow Molly, sure, we can obviously do that right here. Not need for me to search for a P52 site and try to make new friends. I will be committed to posting weekly, but a theme might be confining for me. I’m already having trouble at the weekly contest thread, and skipped out once or twice whilst being the newbi here. However, @bunnspecial makes an excellent point: “A theme, even a loose one, makes me think and probably come up with things I wouldn't have on my own.”

So, count me in. And please excuse me when I don’t post on a weekly basis.

Thank you for starting this thread @mollyc!

PS nikoncafe is up again, and had a gander at @Clix Pix 2009’s P365 thread. Oh dear, reading the whole thing will become too daunting, but seeing the photos posted I must say: even 13 years ago you were really great already!!

 

[cthompson94]

I also would be interested. I don't know if I would be able to do every week, but I would certainly do my best

 

[oliverades]

I’m definitely interested!

 

[TechRunner]

While I would certainly participate some weeks, I'd definitely be interested in following/interacting with all of you on the thread. Always enjoy seeing the work of others!

 

[JW5566]

I like the idea, would love to see an example of themes though, in case some are way over my abilities.

 

[VampyricGentleman]

Sounds tempting to me

 

[mollyc]

I like the idea, would love to see an example of themes though, in case some are way over my abilities.

i will post the themes a week or so before the project starts; i’m still finessing the list a bit.

however, there are no special abilities or gear required. the entire thing could be done by a 10 year old, an iphone, and some creative thinking. 🙂

 

[fauxtog]

Great idea! I've considered a 52-week project before but never made the commitment. I would love to participate, but if I can't complete the theme can I post whatever photo I want?

 

[mollyc]

Great idea! I've considered a 52-week project before but never made the commitment. I would love to participate, but if I can't complete the theme can I post whatever photo I want?

Yes, absolutely! My goal with this project is to encourage people to shoot (and hopefully also share) regularly. Some people find they work better within a structure, so I am providing a framework of prompts. However, at the end of the day, you have to be happy with your images, so if you really don't resonate with a specific theme one week, then just photograph something that makes you happy. 🙂

I have 52 prompt slotted in for specific weeks, but also a list of 17 alternates (I'm trying to get to 26 alternates, so you could theoretically swap out half the assigned prompts for alternates) if something is particularly egregious to someone (I know there is one specific week people will object to). And if none of the themes are to your liking, then please just share one photo a week of your choice.

But at the same time, there is merit in stretching just a bit beyond your comfort level, in order to grow and learn new stuff, so I really hope people will be open-minded with what I've compiled. ❤️

 

[PhilBoogie]

Yes, absolutely! My goal with this project is to encourage people to shoot (and hopefully also share) regularly. Some people find they work better within a structure, so I am providing a framework of prompts. However, at the end of the day, you have to be happy with your images, so if you really don't resonate with a specific theme one week, then just photograph something that makes you happy. 🙂

I have 52 prompt slotted in for specific weeks, but also a list of 17 alternates (I'm trying to get to 26 alternates, so you could theoretically swap out half the assigned prompts for alternates) if something is particularly egregious to someone (I know there is one specific week people will object to). And if none of the themes are to your liking, then please just share one photo a week of your choice.

But at the same time, there is merit in stretching just a bit beyond your comfort level, in order to grow and learn new stuff, so I really hope people will be open-minded with what I've compiled. ❤️

Oh wow, you're really working on this! That is just great Molly, thank you for your commitment.

I already started yesterday....and failed. Had to run some errands and brought my camera, gave myself extra time to take a photo...of anything really. But the result was crap, viewing it at home on the big screen, and didn't bother to get out again. Which isn't good...fortunately it's not a P365 ;-)

Some weeks will turn out to be 'complicated' so I hope to be able to post something from 'the archive'. In the end, it's about photos. But in order to get better I will simply need to shoot...a lot!

Cheers,
Phil