Photowalk Challenge: Finding colour in February

Hello

I cannot believe that we’re at the end of January already! It feels like I just posted the first photowalk challenge last week. If you have no clue what I’m talking about, I’m doing a 12-month photowalk challenge to encourage you (and myself) to go outside more and photograph just for yourself, not for social media, likes or projects. It’s just you going on a photowalk every month with a new ‘assignement’ to give you some inspiration. An opportunity to slow down, create and practice your photographic eye. You can read everything about the challenge in this post.

Last month

To be honest, I haven’t been feeling really inspired or motivated to go out and shoot. I really thought that 2026 would feel like a ‘new year, new me’ type of situation but it’s kind of the opposite. I feel stuck on multiple levels in my life and I can’t find a way out of it. I try not to dwell on it but with these short winter days, a new job and a body that keeps disappointing me (with having the flu, coughing for 3 weeks and neck pains), I’m not really in the mood to get creative. Every evening is a battle with myself. Do I want to read? No. Do I want to be productive and grow my photography business? No because what’s the point anyway? Do I want to go climbing (which I normally really like)? No. Do I go outside to get some fresh air with or without my camera? No. Do I want to watch netflix all night? Not at all. But that’s eventually what happens and I’m not proud of it.

I tried to do the January challenge (my own challenge, for god’s sake!) but I didn’t feel inspired AT ALL. I have been taking my Lumix Panasonic compact camera with me on walks and I’m starting to like the feel of it. It makes photography easier and I try not to care about the size of my images or the quality of the lens. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Sony alpha camera. But it’s nice to be able to carry my camera in the pocket of my jacket for once instead of carrying around heavy gear, just on a walk around my neighborhood. Taking this camera with me for this photo challenge actually is the thing that inspired me to capture the following photographs.

Challenge of the month: Finding colour

The challenge of this month actually came to me while I was writing this blogpost (a week before the deadline, a little applause for myself!). January sucked. I didn’t put enough effort in my photo challenge or in photography in general. The days are dark. I leave for work in the dark and I come back home in the dark. The weather is not that bad but certainly not great either.

This feeling of the winter blues inspired me for the next challenge of February: finding colour. Winter photos can be dull and dark. There’s not a lot of colour, the trees have no leaves, the sun has to try really hard to get through and most people long for longer, warmer and brighter days.

But we don’t have to wait. We can’t waist our days waiting for better ones. We can’t keep complaining about the weather, the darkness, the cold or the lack of energy. But we can try to find a way to just roll with it anyway. That’s why I picked the challenge of February to be one where we go out and purposely look for more colour in our lives. I want you to walk out your door, camera/smartphone in hand and look for colour. It’s as simple as that! What colours draw your attention? Do you notice any interesting colour contrasts in scenes? Are you drawn to different shades of one colour or are you noticing several bright colours? How can you tell a visual story about things in one specific colour?

This challenge itself is again an opportunity to practice the art of noticing. Maybe you’re a photographer who usually shoots people or dogs or travel photos. This challenge will slow you down and make you see the world a little differently. Go on a photowalk and look for the colours around you instead of just shooting frames you like. Make colour the subject of your photo.

I would like to add a mindfulness exercise to this challenge for the people who are invested and want that little extra. During this photowalk or February in general, I encourage you to take a little notebook with you and write down things, people, situations,… that bring colour to your life. Not only in winter but every day. What little things colour your life? Who are the bright colours that lighten you up? Maybe photographing colour will inspire you to answer these questions and practice the act of being grateful. Maybe you will learn to not take anything for granted.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you enjoy this challenge! If you want to share your photos, use the hashtag #12monthphotowalkchallenge or send me an email with your work. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

| Shoutout to my girlfriend for pushing me just hard enough and encouraging me to keep working on my photography and cheering me on even when I don’t feel like it. |