I thought it was high time to post another photo project. This is a favorite of mine and has a primary focus on training your eye. Making the mundane magical is exactly what artists do regularly. This project works on honing that skill.
First you will need to select a mundane object. Mundane simply means everyday or ordinary. Nothing special or particularly defining of this object. I will also say that the smaller the object, the more flexibility you have with your photographs.
Here are some ideas for mundane objects:
- Army Man/ Legos
- Banana/ Apple
- Fork/Spoon
- Soap/ Nail Clippers
- Cup of tea or coffee
- Most random item you carry with you in your backpack or purse
Remember simple is a good place to start and will offer you many options.
Challenge:
Choose a mundane object and focus at least 30-40 images on this one object. You must make your object look like the following:
- Light
- Heavy
- Beautiful
- Ugly
- Tall
- Micro-Small
- Soft
- Hard
Remember these words can have different interpretations for different people. That is the fun part!
After you select your object, consider setting up a home studio of sorts. You will need:
- Light- any type of house lamp or position you studio by the window
- A Surface to Shoot on- Choose something with texture or pattern like a stump or bubble wrap
- Background- Find a simple plain background- this could be a sheet, metal, foam core etc
- Reflector – Grab a piece of white foam core or even white paper to pop the light back onto the subject from the window.
- Objects and Items – Have some plants or other items to highlight your object
Here is my 2 Minute Home Studio when I need to shoot a product or item quickly.
Things to Think About
These are some suggestions to help you get the creative juices flowing.
- Lighting- How can you use this to create drama and emphasis (maybe backlight it ?)
- Shadows- the shadow of the object can also make a photo
- POV – Point of View and angles can make a huge difference in the size of your item
- Fishing Line- Consider a way to stage your object and have it suspended
- Composition- Use the Rule of Thirds and make sure to check out the 8 Basic Composition Styles to help you.
- Destroy it- if you have multiple, manipulate the form and break it apart
- Get Close Up– Use a macro lens and focus on texture
- Motion– drop it, throw it, or slowly drag it to capture the motion.
Results:
Spending this much time with one subject will be beneficial. It will be a challenge to force yourself to look at something for a long period of time. Whenever I do this photo project I am always challenged and inspired at the same time. Let me know how it goes! I would love to see your images, so make sure to tag me on Instagram or drop a link below.