Do you want to be a better photographer? If you are like me then the answer is, yes!
Having the chance to travel around Japan and photograph some truly awe-inspiring locations was truly a pleasure and it is something I hope to continue to do in the future. It was in Japan and shortly after the new year that this article popped up on my Pocket news feed. The challenge itself looked interesting.
The Dogwood Photography 52 Week Photography Challenge is simple. 52 weeks, 52 photos. Each with a unique topic.
Each challenge falls under one of three categories: composition, inspiration, or storytelling.
Composition: In past challenges, we have explored the rules of composition. This year we push the rules even further by using them in specific ways to train your compositional eye.
Inspiration: In this wide-open category, we start with a simple inspiration. Use this inspiration as creatively as you can. There are no rules so feel free to think outside of the box.
Storytelling: Good photographers can take beautiful images of something. Great photographers can tell a story with an image. In this category, you will take a prompt and turn it into a photographic story.
About Dogwood Photography
Dogwood Photography is a “Shoot & Share” Durham, North Carolina photography studio. Shoot & Share is a way of doing business that puts the focus on the client, not print sales. We shoot the images, and we share the images. Simple. Based out of Durham, NC, Dogwood Photography has been photographing weddings in North Carolina for over 7 years. Dogwood Photography is named after both the tree which is the state tree of Missouri where we are originally from, and the flower, which is the state flower of North Carolina. The name Dogwood Photography perfectly captures our journey (source).
The complete challenge list can be found here!
*** This post will be updated each week with my newest submission***
My Gear
I don’t have a fancy camera, all my photographs are taken on the iPhone XR.
If I need to take photos at night, I tend to use the Blitzwolf Selfie Stick. Yes, it’s a selfie stick but it’s portable and also backs up as a tripod. It folds down into a manageable compact size, perfect for travelling.
Camera Apps
Stock Camera on the iPhone
Halide (allows the iPhone XR to use portrait mode on any object, the stock camera only allows it to be used on human faces. Check out the subreddit based on this camera)
Slow Shutter (for those times you want to take low light shots, blurred motion, or tail lights)
Spectre (from the developers of Halide, I haven’t used it yet but for $2.79 I felt like supporting the developers. It also allows you to remove people and traffic from busy photos!)
Photo Editing Apps
Snapseed (made by Google and it is a powerful free photo editing tool)
Darkroom (some features are locked behind a paywall but for most people, the free tools will be plenty)
The Challenge
Week 1: Story Telling: Self-Portrait
Take a picture that tells us who you are, without actually showing your face.
Week 2: Composition: Rule of Thirds Motion
You already know what the rule of thirds is, now is the time to use it. Use Rule of Thirds to show motion in your picture.
Week 3: Inspiration: Black and White
Your inspiration this week is to simply take an amazing Black and White photograph of any subject you want.
Week 4: Story Telling: Warmth
Tell a story that makes us feel warm inside.
Week 5: Composition: Symmetry Landscape
Landscape is one of the most practiced types of photography. Use symmetry in a landscape to create a new viewpoint for this week’s image.
Week 6: Inspiration: #NoFilter
No limit on what you shoot this week, as long as the image is pure. No filters, presets or other edits. Basic exposure corrections only this week.
Week 7: Story Telling: Love
Make us feel the love in this week’s photo. Tell a love story in one image.
Week 8: Composition: Leading Lines
It is easy to use Leading Lines to show depth in an image or guide the eye to a specific spot in the image. Instead, this week use leading lines to show the concept of infinity.
Week 9: Inspiration: Mood
Your Artistic Inspiration this week is the mood you are feeling today. Take that mood and use it to create art.
COMING SOON! (Challenges do not need to be completed in order, you can go back at any time to complete them).
Week 10: Storytelling: Hometown
Tell us the story of your hometown. It could be a famous landmark, something the town is known for, or even just your favourite place to relax.
COMING AT A LATER DATE, WHEN I GET BACK TO MY HOMETOWN!
Week 11: Composition: Fill the Frame
Using Fill the Frame is a great way to isolate your subject and create interest in your photo. Can you do it with only one colour in the frame? Fill the Frame with one colour.
Week 12: Inspiration: Trash
Trash is your inspiration. Tell a story or create something beautiful.
Week 13: Story Telling: New Beginnings
Our world is full of circular patterns; as some things end, others begin. Tell us a story of a New Beginning.
NOT YET COMPLETE!
Week 14: Composition: Center Frame Portrait
Center Framed composition is a great way to isolate your subject. Use this knowledge to create a portrait that exhibits loneliness.
NOT YET COMPLETE!
Week 15: Inspiration: Anonymous
This week’s inspiration is Anonymous. Interpret this how you wish.
NOT YET COMPLETE!
Week 16: Story Telling: Shadow
Tell a story. Make it compelling while only using shadow.
Week 17: Composition: Balance
Balanced composition is pretty straightforward unless you are trying to shoot in the “Accidental Renaissance” style. So shoot a balanced image in the Accidental Renaissance style.
NOT YET COMPLETE!
Week 18: Inspiration: Weight or Mass
Heavy as a stone, light as a feather. Find inspiration and shoot an amazing photograph.
NOT YET COMPLETE!
Week 19: Story Telling: Aging
Love it or hate it, ageing is something we all experience. So tell us the story of Aging in a single photograph.
NOT YET COMPLETE!
Week 20: Composition: Negative Space
Create a powerful landscape using Negative Space.
Week 21: Inspiration: Serenity
What does Serenity mean to you?
NOT YET AVAILABLE!