One of the things that I’ve been thinking about lately is, when is it a photography project? After several years, I’ve reached my goal of over 50 found bikes for my Found Bike Project. I’m continuing that project onward. I’ve also formed another project idea in my mind, but I’m not sure when it becomes an actual photography project.

The project idea is to shoot the same spot with approximately the same composition every New Year’s Day. Thinking this over though, there are some New Year’s Days were I’ll likely be out of town and there are a few other obstacles, such as what if someone beats me to the spot and sets up in the shot, or what if one year’s picture is terrible, or there’s a snowstorm so big that I can’t get there, etc… All photography projects have struggles, so we can’t let those define the project.

The first three years of this photography project

The biggest question is how will I get enough shots to make it a project in a short amount of time. With one shot a year possible, it becomes a long-term project. In 10 years, I’d have only 10 shots. That seems light for a project, but if you subscribe to LensWork, you know they often publish six-image portfolios. During my photography workshops, I ask the students to produce a five images for review. My goal when visiting a new location is to come away with five good images. So, maybe five or six images are enough for a project.

Or maybe it is once you commit to the project and start doing the work it becomes a project. If this is the case, the final outcome isn’t important and only the commitment and work is. That’s an idea I can get behind.

If a photography project becomes a photography project when you commit to do the work to produce the results, then it’s easy to start a project. All you have to do is imagine an idea and start.

When do you think a photography project becomes a project?