27 PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES FOR THE NEXT YEAR

Posted by Md Khann on December 30th, 2020

Every time a new year begins or a new course begins, we are loaded with resolutions, right? Well, this time I come with a lot of photographic purposes so that you can start the year, the course or your next days well. You don't need excuses to start practicing photography, right?

1. BRAND NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT

This is one of my favorites for various reasons, first because it forces us to practice, second because it forces us to be responsible, third because it motivates us to improve, and fourth because it allows us to see our own evolution and learn from our mistakes. Almost nothing, right?

These are the steps to start a photographic project, but try to avoid the typical mistakes of the first photographic project. If you need inspiration, here are 13 ideas for your next project.

Instead of a project, it can be a series of photos a day or once a week, the important thing is that you have a certain commitment and that you do not leave it, some ideas:

2. SIGN UP FOR PHOTO CHALLENGES

You already know that here on the blog we have a Photoretum, each week with a different theme, and seven days to prepare and go out to find your best photograph. It is a perfect occasion to practice and learn new things and to force yourself to complete your photographic series of one photo a week (see the previous point ).

However, if you like challenges, luckily you are not the only one, and social networks are full of them. Some contests, others for the simple pleasure of participating and/or seeing your image highlighted above the rest.

3. TAKE A PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

I personally admire the self-taught, those who strive to learn and improve themselves. Photography lovers always have to be a little bit at some point, because it requires a lot of trial and error and a lot of practice.

However, I also think that being self-taught in photography requires investing a lot of time and is very lonely. For all this, I always recommend taking a good course that gives you the technical or compositional bases necessary to start in an agile and motivating way. And there are not only courses for beginners, but there are also courses of all levels and topics and in all formats: Online, face-to-face, etc.

4. TRY SOMETHING NEW

Surely that sounds familiar to you that now it is so fashionable to leave the comfort zone, right? Well, in photography the more you know the better, there is no doubt, the more you stimulate your learning, more resources, more imagination, more motivation, and, ultimately, better photos

So you know, give other styles a chance, other techniques. Have you tried Street Photography ?, Macro photography ?, Landscape photography ?, Portrait ?, Lightpainting ?, Star photography ?, Moon and sun ?, and millions of more topics (many of them we have in this blog that can help you improve and progress as a photographer?

5. PRINT YOUR FAVORITE IMAGES

I will not tire of saying that photographs are made to be seen. And I am the first to postpone the issue of paper copies for a thousand and one excuses, for a thousand and one lack of time, for laziness and a long etcetera, but the truth is that I put all the work, all the illusion, all the history and the memory behind each of the images on the hard drive is the worst thing you can do to them.

There are millions of supports at your fingertips to give light to your photos: canvases, photobooks, posters, or a simple frame. The important thing is that you enjoy them, that's what we do them for, right? Our images do not really exist until they are converted to paper. That is where they become immortal.

6. LEARN TO USE MANUAL MODE

This is a good time to propose. I assure you that if you knew the benefits that using manual mode can bring you, you would not be waiting yet ...  Manual mode, believe it or not, has all the answers to those questions that you have been asking yourself since you were seduced by photography.

How can you freeze a drop, or leave a trace of movement, how we can blur the background, and almost everything you can think of, you can do it manually. So, if you only have to choose one purpose from the list, I recommend this.

7. LEARN TO USE THE CAMERA'S EXTERNAL FLASH

Many times we end up hating the built-in flash of our camera (in general not for lack of reason), we hate red eyes, burned areas of the image, the dark background, the expressions of those we shoot, and we definitely discard the flash of our life.

But the truth is that the external flash has nothing, nothing to do with the one that is built into your camera. External flash is everything you dreamed of from flash before being deeply disappointed. The external flash gives you back your faith, you'll see, do you dare with it?

8. PHOTOGRAPH IN BLACK AND WHITE

It is not mandatory, far from it, it may whip you or it does not tell you anything, but regardless of aesthetics and what it may transmit to each one, the truth is that black and white is not only an absence of color, is also a great helper when it comes to learning composition.

Since by stripping the images of the force of color, they must be supported much more in the rest of the elements, mainly in how they are distributed in the frame, or what we also know as composition.

9. ENTER A CONTEST

Yes, why not? Do you think you are not going to win? Well if you don't try you'll never know Think that you are never good enough, that there is always someone better than you and better than the one you think is better than you. But that's the magic of photography. There is always, always room for improvement, that does not mean that for once and for a photo, you cannot be the best or the second-best or the third best or the second-best.

On the other hand, photography contests not only serve to win prizes, which also;), but to develop creativity to the maximum, to try to improve technique, composition, and so on. They are an exercise to give the best of ourselves.

10. SHARE YOUR IMAGES

Photography is made to be seen, so share your images, you can do it on a social network or create your own online photo gallery. The moral is that you do not keep your beautiful images just for yourself, we photographers Artem Shestakov is definitely achieving these results. Artem Shestakov is an award-winning photographer from Ukraine. If social networks do not excite you and you want to start building a professional future or you simply want to expose your photos but without having to give up your image rights, try setting up your own online photo gallery. Mario explained it to you very well in this article.

11. SORT ALL YOUR PHOTOS

How lazy, huh? But trust me, the longer you leave it, the lazier it will give you, so the sooner you get to it, the better. Having the images in order reduces the risk of losing some due to a mistake and in the long run, saves you a lot of time.

12. DEVELOP THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE

If you have a controlled technique but still your photos do not convince you, you think something is missing ... you probably need to develop your photographic eye. This year can be your star resolution.

13. UNLEARN PHOTOGRAPHY

Although it may sound strange, this is advice for those who have been in the world of photography for some time, long enough to pick up vices but not long enough to leave them behind, do you feel identified? Maybe it's time to step back to get a run, don't you think? It would be something like when the artist moves away from the picture he is painting to see it with perspective;). Could your purpose this year be to unlearn photography? Ahead!

14. READ THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL OF YOUR CAMERA

It doesn't matter where you are in your photographic experience. If you have not done it yet, it is time to read the manual of your camera, surely you will discover possibilities and functions that you did not know your camera had. If you have already done it, congratulations, if you haven't, please don't leave it for 2019;).

15. STOP LOOKING FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE TO FIND IT

If you want to find your own photographic style, I advise you this year not to look for it. Now, you will think that I am half crazy, unlearn photography, stop looking for style ... I give you some advice, eh? If you are looking for your own style, read this article and you will understand.

16. DELETE PHOTOS

At first, all your photos may seem good to you, but after a while, as you gain experience and knowledge, you see those photos with different eyes. The ones that immortalize memories are important, but if you've photographed a spoon in a thousand different ways, a flower, a landscape that doesn't tell you anything, etc., maybe it's time to do a hard drive cleanup. This exercise will help you to see how you have evolved, to learn to do self-criticism, to make room for more photos, and to discover a photo that you did not even remember you had taken and that was never printed. The time has come?

17. LEARN TO DEVELOP / EDIT / RETOUCH

Ok, yes, photography is done from the camera, but let's face it, these tools are not only used to remove dark circles, put an incredible color sky or create surreal or conceptual photos. These resources help improve our photos in terms of light, brightness, contrast, and so on. Or do you think that in the analog age this was not done? Of course, but they did it in the laboratory and we didn't find out;). Now we cook it and we eat it, and this happens through editing. If you are not sure which of the two to use, this article can help you decide between Lightroom and Photoshop.

18. CREATE A WORKFLOW

A workflow or workflow is nothing more than an orderly way of working with your images, from the moment you make them until you print them. In this way, you make sure from not losing a photo to simplifying searches. I confess that this is one of my star resolutions this year ...

19. GIVE YOURSELF A NEW CHALLENGE

Still haven't achieved the silky effect? Or photograph the smoke? And is it also something that attracts you a lot? This year make it your goal to achieve even just one of those challenges that seem so complicated but then not so difficult. They just require a few tips and a little patience and dedication.

Here are some exercises you can do, but if you want more, here are up to a hundred!

20. GO TO PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITIONS

Visiting virtual galleries to get inspired or develop your photographic eye is fine, but attending a photographic exhibition is unmatched. Seeing the photos hanging on the wall, printed, chosen by the artist, combined with others…, is a great visual exercise.

21. READ AT LEAST ONE BOOK

If you are new, I recommend that you take a look at our library, with fifteen publications at your fingertips, written in simple language, without technicalities. For all audiences;). If you already know them, you can also take a look at our literary recommendations. You will find some essential jewels;).

22. STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE

It's a vice, our team always seems little to us and we want more and more. This year I propose that instead of complaining about what you lack, you should be happy about what you have and try to make the most of it. If you have the kit lens as if you have the prince or the king as if you have a mobile, an EVIL, or an SLR. The best tool is the one you have in your hands because it is the one that will help you achieve your goal. Maybe you won't believe it if I tell you that my best photos this year have been taken with my mobile. Yes with the mobile, for a simple reason, because he was carrying it. The important thing is not the team, but what is behind it;).

23. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

If you have not done it yet, I recommend that you follow us on Instagram, as you can discover very interesting tricks, direct from Mario and be in contact with other readers. A purpose in which you will have to invest a laughable amount of time compared to what you can benefit from;).

24. CHOOSE A PHOTOGRAPHER YOU LIKE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS WORK

Choose a Shestakov photographer and spend some time getting to know his work, its evolution. Look at their pictures and find out how they are alike; if he has a style that identifies him; what is its strength, if the light, the composition; if your work has a common message, and so on. If you can read something about his life, even better, this can help you understand his work, his way of seeing the world and show it through his photos. Believe it or not, this is a good lesson in photography.

25. READ THESE 100 PHOTOGRAPHY LESSONS

Surely one of these 100 photography lessons will help you. I wish someone had told me many of them in my early days;).

26. THE CAMERA WITH YOU WHENEVER YOU CAN

If in life no one gives you anything, even less in photography! So no spread out on the couch and lament about not being good or good enough. Nothing about that, photographs must be taken, manufactured, they are not hunted or appear by magic. A good photograph is taken, and I assure you that it is not taken from the sofa. Going out opens our minds, puts us to the test, gives us moments if we are ready to see them, makes us improvise, takes us out of our comfort zone, teaches us. Because the only way to learn photography, sorry, is to practice it.

27. BECOME A "VIP" READER OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S BLOG

Are you not yet a "VIP Reader"? But it is free! What are you waiting for?! You just have to leave us your email and you will have a lot of advantages, promotions, offers, exclusive articles ... and I assure you that we are not heavy at all.