Step out of your comfort zone - a 12 for 2012 Challenge

kelack

kelack

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Step out of your comfort zone

a 12 for 2012 production!

Right here's the thing. I'm not great at doing any photography which I don't usually do. If it's not football or rugby then I'm pretty much in a panic, arms above head waving frantically type motion

I had a thought that many of you might also be in the same boat so here's a challenge for us for 2012

We need to take a small portfolio of pictures [between 6 and 10 images] each month of something that we don't normally take pictures of.

So if like me, it's football or rugby then neither of those themes should appear in my 12 for 12
So, how are the themes chosen?

First off, you need to post here in this thread that you want to take part by 8pm on Sunday - please include the subjects you either specialise in or are already generally experienced at, so those subjects can be avoided for you.

After that, I will draw all the names from a hat, and each participant will be given a partner - well, 2 partners actually - one of them will chose your monthly theme for you, the other will be the person you chose a theme for. So a bit like Secret Santa, but without the 'secrecy' on givers and takers...ooerrrr :LOL:

The idea for this 'round robin' on partners is to encourage everyone to stay on board for the whole year once starting, because if you drop out, someone who is relying on you to chose their monthly theme will be let down. [Blame Yv for that idea! ]


The themes can be quite specific or more general, the only proviso must be that they are not your theme receivers speciality subjects and must be a particular subject/genre, rather than the more 'abstract' ideas used in challenges like the 52's. So, for example, my theme giver cannot give me rugby or football. They CAN give me 'portraits', but NOT 'grunge' or 'love' :LOL:

Once the challenge starts, please post a single thread and add your monthly portfolio to it when you are ready each month, and remember to try and visit other participants threads and offer the constructive critique on their efforts, especially if they have undertaken a subject you are good at or specialise in.

Here are some ideas for general themes but they are by no means the be all and end all, it is up to you to choose really good themes for your partner :

  • Motorsport
  • Cycling
  • Ballsports (football, rugby, tennis, netball - if it has a ball, it goes in here)
  • Athletics
  • Equestrian Sports
  • Transport
  • Portraits
  • Nudes and Glamour
  • Working Environments
  • Pet/domestic animal Portraits
  • Architecture and Urban
  • Landscapes and Scenery
  • Nature and Wildlife
  • Still Life
  • Macro
  • Night-time
  • Creative - timelapse, wool spinning, water drops etc
I know I'm a little delayed with this so if everyone who wants to join in lets me know by 8pm Sunday then I can get the names out and for this month only it can carry over into the first two weeks of February so you may have 2 sets of photos for February iyswim

Any questions, post here and I will endeavour to answer them


Edit: Also, if you are quite inexperienced and have no real specialist areas and still want to take part, that is fine, just put your name down, it will be a great way to learn to plan, execute a shoot and produce a set of images of a specific subject.


(Thanks also to Yv for the rewording so it made sense!)

Here are the people taking part with specialist/comfort subjects in brackets:

  • Kelack (football and rugby)
  • Yv (Urban landscapes, portraits and weddings)
  • Andybod (motorsport)
  • Joe^ (nature/Lansdcapes)
  • Soups (beginner)
  • Big Soft Moose (weddings and zoos)
  • Dhracer (architecture)
  • Commjo (portraits and landscapes)
  • Staceyc (portraits)
  • Wallyboy (no speciality)
  • LadySaslic83 (sunsets, sunrises, landscapes, street)
 
(y) Yep I am definitely in for this one, my 'specialist subjects' are Weddings & Portraits and Urban Landscapes, so none of those for me please whoever my 'giver' turns out to be (y)



:LOL: I just realised this sounds like master mind in reverse - name your specialist subject, then you have to answer questions on anything apart from that!
 
:LOL:
 
I just added a little bit for none specialists, in particular inexperienced or beginners, as I think having a monthly theme that will require a certain amount of planning and execution, plus producing the set of photos to a timescale would be a great learning tool. (y)
 
Thanks Yv :D
 
go on then i'll have a go at this then i have no speciality subjects but i suppose motorsport is my biggest interest and wanting to do more this year so count that out of my challenge ,
 
You are more than welcome to take part. This is for all abilities so give it a go

Thanks Joe. Will update the first post
 
I think I'm going to leave it open til tomorrow then and see if we can drum up a bit more interest
 
damn ive only just seen this ... can i play, pleeeeeeeeaaaaasssseeeee

my specialism's are weddings (though i'm not as special at that as some in this thread) and zoos
 
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Course you can Pete. I'll update the list

At least our 12x12 section of the challenge sharing will be neat lol
 
I'm unable to get to a pc at the moment so will sort the partners out in the morning, this gives others that one last chance to join up :LOL:
 
I would like to be involved I specialise in baby photography so count me out of that
 
No worries. I have put your name down

I'll be sending the partners names out this evenimg
 
You should have all received a pm from me now

So have a look at the themes and give your partner one for January. Remember that I've extended January just a little to give us a bit more time.

So I'll be expecting a pm off my partner with a theme for me to shoot and I'll post in the Sharing section: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=117

:help:

:LOL:
 
Must set my thread up, come on ^Joe, give me a theme :LOL:

Has everyone got their themes now?
 
Yep andy and I have exchanged pms

just got to set my thread up and actually find the time to take some pics now
 
theme's set ,thread set up ,don't think i have ever been this organised just need some time and decent weather to get out and get cracking (y)
 
Thanks Joe

That's everyone has received now so off we go

:D
 
Hi ho , hi ho, its off to get arrested we go ...... (my theme is on dereliction :LOL:)
 
big soft moose said:
Hi ho , hi ho, its off to get arrested we go ...... (my theme is on dereliction :LOL:)
Click to expand...

Now don't look at like that ,your theme opens up lots of opportunities to go exploring without getting arrested, its not like I sent you out into the middle of a field photographing sky rats like I've just been practising my technique on .looking forward to seeing your results all the best Andy
 
:LOL: What are you two like!
 
Seems like a really good idea - Is it too late to join in for this? (happy to wait until Feb :) )
 
Not too late at all and there happens to be a space too. Your partner is Rrains2011 and the January theme that Rrains has set me in the interim of a new partner is Architecture

Unless Architecture is your speciality of course :D
 
Great :D

I don't consider myself to have any speciality - I'm equally mediocre at everything :LOL:

Is there someone I need to set a theme for - or do I only have the one partner this month?
 
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Well, it doesn't have to be a speciality, I'd say you were quite comfortable at shooting architecture looking at your flickr

Rrains2011 has already been given their theme for the month so you will just need to pm them on the 1st February with February's theme

You should get a pm soon with your January theme though
 
Is it too late to join this? If I can join, I don't have a speciality, but I take photos of friends and family, and the odd landscape. Happy to wait for a partner. Thanks
 
Is it too late for me too? I want to do something to challenge myself but I don't feel as though I could keep up with a 365 or a 52. A 12 sounds do-able.

I like people. But I will have a go at anything. :clap:
 
commjo said:
Is it too late to join this? If I can join, I don't have a speciality, but I take photos of friends and family, and the odd landscape. Happy to wait for a partner. Thanks
Click to expand...

staceyc said:
Is it too late for me too? I want to do something to challenge myself but I don't feel as though I could keep up with a 365 or a 52. A 12 sounds do-able.

I like people. But I will have a go at anything. :clap:
Click to expand...

Not at all

you are both welcome to join and have each other as partners, I'll send you a pm now
 
I'm really looking forward to it - hopefully I will improve my skills, and it will give me a chance to try something new.

I've issued my theme to my partner, and when I get mine, I'll get my thinking caps on. :)
 
Not too late at all. For now I'll send you a theme each month and the if someone else wants to join, they can become your partner. I'll send you a pm with a theme today
 
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