How to wake up after winter - 5 photo assignments
Congratulations. If you’re reading this, it means you managed again to make it to spring (at least the astronomical one).
For me, this winter was long and not very active photography-wise. Busy with different things, I often couldn’t push myself to go out. In my free time, I mostly fed myself with books and photo albums.
I did take some photos, but it could have been better.
Returning to regular photography with the first spring sun can sometimes be tricky.
A several weeks long break almost guarantees a lack of inspiration.
Often, getting back into a routine only becomes possible after a proper “warm-up.”
When this state hits me and I feel out of rhythm, mini-assignments come into play. They give me direction and purpose to go out again.
It’s much easier for me to return to my usual, regular photo walks after completing a few tasks like that.
If this post-winter problem has caught up with you as well, and it’s hard to motivate yourself to return to your photography routine, I’ve prepared five assignments that will help you rebuild your creative habit.
They’re 5 out of 100 prompts from my “100-Day Photography Practice” programme.
5 photo assignments to wake up after winter
Feel free to approach them in whatever way suits you best: you can do them day after day, week after week (or weekend after weekend). Complete them in any order you like, depending on what works for you or the time you have.
The whole idea of the challenge is to make the return to routine (or the introduction of a new habit) as painless as possible. When it feels that way, the chances that the new habit will stick - or that the old one will return - grow much higher.
There are no shortcuts here. The work still needs to be done. But it can (and should) be enjoyable.
That’s why most of the assignments in the “100 Days Photo Programme” have a light and fun character and can be treated like a game.
But don’t let that fool you - this game leads to serious results.
Assignment no 1
Go out with a specific mood in mind (calm, joy, nostalgia) and photograph only what matches it.
Assignment no 2
Choose a random word or phrase from a book or newspaper and interpret it visually.
Assignment no 3
Take one or more photos using juxtaposition, where elements exist in contradiction to each other (e.g. nature vs. civilisation, calm vs. chaos, old vs. new).
Assignment no 4
Go out with your digital camera and imagine you’re shooting film. You have only 24 frames. Use them wisely.
And the classic no 5:
Choose one color and photograph scenes containing that color throughout the day.
Photography habits don’t return overnight. They rebuild slowly, frame by frame. A short walk, a small idea, a simple assignment - that’s often all it takes to get the rhythm back. Choose one exercise, take your camera out, and let the process guide you back into the practice.
I hope you’ll enjoy them. Feel free to reach out and tell me how it went.
And now - go out there and make something that matters to you.
These five assignments are just a small taste of the exercises from my 100-Day Photography Practice programme.
The challenge is built around 100 daily prompts designed to help you develop a consistent photography habit and find inspiration in ordinary places.