Photowalk Challenge: Analog in January
Hi there,
As I announced in my previous blogpost, I’m doing a 12-month Photowalk Challenge this year. If you have no clue what I’m talking about, I explain everything in this post. Since it’s the first Wednesday of the month, the first challenge is already here!
Challenge of the month: Analog
No, I don’t want you to buy a film camera and a roll of film for this challenge. Can you? Absolutely! But this first challenge is not about shooting film even though you can definitely try out film photography for this one. But you don’t have to and I’m going to tell you why I chose this challenge.
Shooting film really changed my photography and how I see the world around me. My first roll of film was black and white so the first challenge was to see in black and white. Flat light? The photos will be dull and plain grey. Too dark? My ISO is too low for this moment. Bright colours? How will they look in black and white? How can I photograph contrast and light? This really made me see the world differently. It was a good practice to have more attention for light and contrast in my photos.
Secondly, every photo costs me about €1 when I shoot film (accounting for buying the film, developingt and scanning). That is NOT cheap at all. I have to think before I take the photo. Is this worth it? What makes this image stunning, unusual or worth to shoot? Did I get my composition right? Are all the possible distractions out of the way?
Shooting film in itself encourages mindful photography because you just have to slow down. You have to practice the art of noticing. Seeing the world. That’s why I chose it as the first challenge of January. Go on a photowalk and shoot analog, or mimick it by taking only a maximum of 36 photos on your photowalk. Really think about what you want to shoot. What would you pay your roll of film for? What do you notice in your surroundings? Show the world through your eyes but make every photo count. Instead of just shooting around everything you see or like, instead off trying different angles or perspectives, you have to slow down and look around first before you push the shutterbutton. What draws your attention? Do you notice a shift in how you look for possible frames?
If you want to challenge yourself and go on multiple photowalks in January, you can choose if you shoot ‘one roll of film’ over the course of multiple walks or take 36 photos in every photowalk.
Pick your weapon of choice and just go for it! Try not to cheat ;-) This is not a competition but a learning opportunity to reflect on how you see the world around you, in your neighbourhood. Don’t plan beforehand but just go with the flow and see what your photographer eyes are capable of seeing! I’m sure you will be surprised with what you come up with.
All the photos in this post were taken on photowalks with my Nikon FE2 film camera. If you want to, you can share your photos with the hashtag #12monthphotowalkchallenge or send me an email with the results of this month. I look forward to seeing your work! But remember that the aim for this challenge is to just photograph for you. Not for me, not for the people online, not for likes or followers, just for you and your creative process. Good luck and most of all: ENJOY!
