52 Weeks of Photography : 2021
Welcome to the third iteration of my 52 week challenge!
We started the 2020 challenge with full of optimism, but as it happened, the world threw us some major curveballs. So kudos to those who stuck with it, even if sporadically! So, here we go into 2021.
You’re in for a year of growth as a photographer and artist. Like last year, the prompts will be a mixture of more guided and abstract. Keep in mind that all have room for interpretation to spark your own creativity. Each week you will be given a prompt aiming to learn or hone a specific skill. Each prompt will build upon the last. Every four weeks we’ll have an abstract prompt which will be up to you to interpret in anyway you want. Seasonally there will be a photographer highlight which reinforces skills from the weeks prior.
So, how do you submit? That’s up to you! Here are the options:
Instagram. Use the hashtag #clondon52 and #clondon52w1 (where ‘1’ equates to the week we’re currently working through.)
Flickr. Join the group 52 Weeks with C. London. Be sure to title or subtitle your image with the week number we are currently working through.
Reddit. Join the subreddit r/clondon52. Be sure to title or comment with the week number we are currently working through.
Facebook. Join the group 52 Weeks with C. London. There will be a dedicated album for each weeks’ prompt to which you will add your photos.
Email. Social media not your bag? No problem! Email me your submissions to chelsea@clondon.me. Please put 52 Weeks in the subject headline and let me know how you’d like to be credited and linked back to in the inevitability that I share your work in the monthly recap.
No matter how you participate and submit, join in our Discord server where you’ll be able to interact with other participants in real time. It’s a great way to get feedback, bounce ideas off one another, or just discuss whatever is on your mind at any given time. Here’s the invite link.
Below you will see each week’s prompts so that you may prepare and brainstorm in advance if you so choose. You can also download a PDF version of the prompts here, or simply bookmark this page to revisit it each week.
Let’s get this show on the road!
Any questions throughout? Contact me:
chelsea@clondon.me | instagram: @clondon | flickr: c.london | reddit: /u/clondon
Week 1 | January 1-8
Setting Goals
In the next year we will challenge ourselves as photographers and artists. Setting goals is the first step in that journey. Right now in this moment think about what you’d like to achieve. Are you hoping to get better at portraits? Maybe you want to be able to document your travels more coherently? Maybe you just want to give yourself a new hobby and artistic outlet.
For our first week, set a goal and make a photograph which shares and documents that goal. We will revisit this midway through and at the end of the year.
Week 2 | January 8-15
One Object
We’re going to start by recalibrating a bit. Whether you just finished out the 2020 prompts with me, or you’re jumping in for the first time, it’s beneficial to begin with a clear mind. So, for this week, I’d like you to choose an every day object - something you see regularly, but maybe don’t put a lot of thought into. Take that object and photograph it in a way which showcases its unseen importance. You can go as far as to stage it entirely, or just take a photo of it in its natural habitat. The main goal here is to look at it with fresh eyes.
Week 3 | January 15-22
One Room
Similar to last week, we’re going to explore a space which is maybe overlooked on any given day. Choose a room in your home and try and show its personality in one photo. This doesn’t need to be a sweeping wide-angle view of the entire space - maybe it’s one corner of the space that sums it up entirely. Want to play this one on hard mode? Choose a less-lived in space, something like the bathroom or kitchen, where maybe there are fewer bits of decoration.
Week 4 | January 22-29
A Day in the Life
This is one of my all-time favorite exercises, but the first time I’m including it in the prompts. It’s a bit involved, so stay with me. Choose one day this week where you will document the entire day - from the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to sleep. Aim to take at least one photo every hour. At the end, cull it down to no more than 10 photos which tell the story of your day. Then, choose just one hero photo which sums it up in its entirety.
Week 5 | January 29-February 5
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Mundane
Week 6 | February 5-12
Artificial Light
Now I know not everyone has studio lights or even an on camera flash. But guess what, artificial light is any light that isn’t natural. That could be your desk lamp, the neons of your local bodega, street lights, anything that isn’t that fiery ball of gas in the sky. For this challenge I’d like you to focus on artificial light you can have some control over, however.
Week 7 | February 12-19
High Key
High Key photography refers to images in which the shadows are bright to non-existent. High key photos are very bright and often have an airy or etherial feeling. They may also be just bright and stark. Using either artificial or natural light, make a high key photograph.
Week 8 | February 19-26
Low Key
As you may have guessed, Low Key photography is the opposite of last week’s prompt. In low key images, the tones are darker and shadows are more present overall. Low key photos may read mysterious, graphic, etc. For this week, manipulate the scene to create a low key photograph.
Week 9 | February 26-March 5
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Stillness
Week 10 | March 5-12
Natural Light
Controlling natural light can be daunting as it is at first thought, well, uncontrollable. But, spoilers! You can control natural light. Find open shade, use a reflector/poster board, create shadows with your own hand. The possibilities are as boundless as your creativity.
Week 11 | March 12-19
Harsh Shadows
Strong shadows can create very graphic and strong images. For this week, I’d like you to find harsh shadows created by natural light, and compose an image around that. You may manipulate the scene in any way available to you to create the image you have in mind, but try and use found natural light if possible.
Week 12 | March 19-26
Flat Light
Flat light creates images with very little contrast. Often we are told to avoid flat lighting in our images, but there is a time and place for everything. Forcing yourself to make an interesting photo with disinteresting light will be a challenge and a learning experience. Focus on other elements like composition, subject, story, etc.
Week 13 | March 26-April 2
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Frenetic
Week 14 | April 2-9
PHOTOGRAPHER HIGHLIGHT: Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova’s images are uniquely her own with her clever usage of color and setting. She often uses the Soviet-era architecture which can be found in and around her home country of Slovakia. Her thoughtful use of color is what really makes her images stand out from other somewhat surrealist portraiture.
For this week, I’d like you to user Maria’s work as an inspiration point for your own image. Whether you feel inspired by her use of color, subject, or setting is up to you.
Week 15 | April 9-16
Analogous Colors
Colors which sit next to each other on the color wheel and share similar colors are known as analogous colors: reds with oranges, purples with blues, greens with yellows, and so on. For this week, I’d like you to make a photo where the most dominate colors are analogous to one another.
For more information and examples of analogous colors, see this blog post on color theory.
Week 16 | April 16-23
Complementary Colors
Contrary to analogous colors, complementary site opposite each other on the color wheel. These pairings are often seen in logos for sports teams, as they just look good together (or - er - complement each other). Some examples would be Christmas colors (red & green), the NY Mets (orange & blue). Complementary colors often help create balance in an image. This week, you should find or create a scene which utilizes complimentary colors as it’s dominate colors.
For more information and examples of complementary colors, see this blog post on color theory.
Week 17 | April 23-30
Monochrome
While you may be familiar with monochrome referring to black and white, it actually refers to anything which uses solely one color value. Those images you see where there is overwhelmingly one color present are monochrome, for all intents and purposes. We see this technique often in those hazy sunrise/set shots, but it is also a very impactful technique for street shots.
For more information and examples of monochrome, see this blog post on color theory.
Week 18 | April 30-May 7
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Color Story
Week 19 | May 7-14
Texture
The next three weeks are based on a little trick I often share with my students struggling with composition. When looking at a scene, if you’re unsure of how to compose for that image, unfocus your eyes - instead of seeing a field with a tree, notice the textures of the scene. That isn’t grass, it’s soft individual elements coming together. That isn’t a tree, but large pointy object made up of smaller pointy objects.
For this week, try this technique out, and find some texture in a scene. Then compose the image to highlight that texture.
Week 20 | May 14-21
Shape
Continuing with the little trick I often share with my students struggling with composition. When looking at a scene, if you’re unsure of how to compose for that image, unfocus your eyes - instead of seeing a cityscape, notice the shapes of the scene. That isn’t a tall building, it’s a large skinny rectangle. That isn’t a street, but a curved line cutting through the scene.
For this week, try this technique out, and find shapes in a scene. Then compose the image to highlight those shapes.
Week 21 | May 21-28
Pattern
Again, based on the trick I often share with my students struggling with composition. When looking at a scene, if you’re unsure of how to compose for that image, unfocus your eyes - instead of seeing a yard with a fence, notice the patterns of the scene. That isn’t a hedge, it’s a repeating pattern of small circles. That isn’t a fence, but repeating lines.
For this week, try this technique out, and find some pattern in a scene. Then compose the image to highlight that pattern.
Week 22 | May 28-June 4
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Unfocused
Week 23 | June 4-11
Balancing Elements
Discussing visual weight can be hard to articulate, but when we are aware of it, it becomes extremely noticeable. Here’s another time when the unfocusing of eyes really comes in handy. Unfocus on a scene, does it just *feel* heavy on one side? You’re going to need a lesser-element to counterweight the subject element. That balancing element should be obviously of lesser-import either by making it smaller or more out of focus than the subject. An intentional balancing element can also create more context in a scene.
For more on Balancing Elements and other compositional guidelines, see this post.
Week 24 | June 11-18
Negative Space
There are absolutely times when what seems like unnecessary empty space is ideal for the photograph you’re attempting. Negative space can elicit a feeling of solitude, vastness, calm, etc. When trying out negative space think about where you are placing the subject very carefully. Do you want to highlight the surroundings? Maybe placing the subject off-center within the rule of thirds is the way to go. Are you more interested in showcasing the emptiness around a subject? Try a more center-weighted composition. When done properly, negative space is an incredibly useful tool for showing atmosphere.
For more on Negative Space and other compositional guidelines, see this post.
Week 25 | June 18-25
Rule of Odds
When the brain processes even numbered elements, it tends to couple them up, which in turn splits the image. But, with an odd number it creates a connecting element and maintains the singularity of the frame. Please note that the word “element” here doesn’t necessarily mean a single object - sometimes an element can be a grouping. For example, a bouquet of flowers, a couple sitting together, a bottle of wine with a glass in tow, etcetc. For added compositional zen, when framing these elements do decide which is the primary subject, and balance the others off of it by making one physically larger than the other or playing with the depth of field.
For more on Rule of Odds and other compositional guidelines, see this post.
Week 26 | June 25-July 2
Reevaluating Goals
We’re halfway through! Congrats on making it this far! How are you going on your initial goal from week one? Often times challenges like this one will lead you off your initial track and make you reevaluate what your goal is. On the other hand, you may have become even more dedicated to your original goal. Both are okay!
The image this week should be a revisit of that original goal. If you want to do a full-on remake of the original, that’s great! If you’d prefer to start over with a whole new vision, also great!
Week 27 | July 2-9
Photographer Highlight: Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus is known for her captivating portraits wherein she aimed to normalize marginalized groups with the end goal of highlighting the importance of representation of all people.
For this week, choose a subject which may be ‘othered’ and showcase what makes it special, beautiful unique, interesting, or any other positive adjective that comes to mind. If you are using human subjects, be sure that you are not exploiting the subject. Diane was extremely genuine in her interactions and capturing of the subjects, and we would like to stay true to that spirit.
Week 28 | July 9-16
Candid
People (and animals!) more often that not freeze up when aware that a lens is pointed at them. Get those natural expressions by photographing a candid moment.
Week 29 | July 16-23
Portrait of a Friend
Let’s do portraits! Find a willing model (yes, your dog will do just fine) and work to capture their personality in the image. Pay attention to lighting, posing, and environment.
Week 30 | July 23-30
Self Portrait
Oh no. The dreaded self-portrait. Listen, I’m the first to hate having the lens turned on myself. That said, years back I forced myself to become comfortable with it by doing a 365 day self-portrait project. And I learnt a lot. For this week you are the subject. Be as literal or creative with this as you’d like.
Week 31 | July 30-August 6
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Personality
Week 32 | August 6-13
Scale
Scale is simply showing the viewer how large something is (or isn’t). By using an element which everyone knows the size of, you can show the viewer the immensity or puniness of an element. Common usages may be a person being completely dwarfed by a large building, thereby showing that building is impressively large. You can play this the other way, as well.
For more on Scale and other compositional guidelines, see this post.
Week 33 | August 13-20
Depth
The part of view that is closest to an observer is the foreground. The background is what’s furthest away from the observer. What’s in between is the mid-ground. Okay with that vocabulary out of the way, we can talk about depth. By showcasing multiple layers in a frame, a photographer can give a sense of breath of a location. If there’s no specific foreground of a scene, you can create one. My go to is my lovely obliging husband’s profile. Be creative and try different angles to get solid differential fore, mid, and backgrounds. When doing this, you should make a choice as to where you’re placing your subject and make depth of field choices based around that.
For more on Depth and other compositional guidelines, see this post.
Week 34 | August 20-27
Fill the Frame
If you’re unsure of how to effectively capture a scene, it may be because there are many distracting elements or unnecessary empty bits. Try filling the frame with your intended subject. This isolates the subject and makes it very obvious to the viewer. Don’t be afraid to get really close, either. Be completely unapologetic about your attempt to fill the frame. Combine this technique with patterns for a really dynamic shot.
For more on Fill the Frame and other compositional guidelines, see this post.
Week 35 | August 27-September 3
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Vast
Week 36 | September 3-10
At Home
Show your home - your immaculate interior decorating skills, your fat cat, a collection you’ve carefully curated, etc. We’re looking for an image here that tells us a little bit about yourself via a piece of your home. Like we did early in the year, try and show the ordinary in a new way, either with angles, lighting, or staging.
Week 37 | September 10-17
Somewhere New
So we’ve seen where your most comfortable (your home), let’s now explore a new space for you. It could be an area of your city where you’ve never ventured, or maybe you’re lucky enough to be going some place entirely new this week. As you’re seeing this place with entirely fresh eyes, think about what it is that compels you about that scene and try and create an image which highlights that.
Week 38 | September 17-24
Your Neighborhood
Whether it be a crowded city street, or a quaint neighborhood diner’s sign, there’s something unique about where you live. Find that element of interest and highlight it with either context or isolation.
Week 39 | September 24-October 1
PHOTOGRAPHER HIGHLIGHT: William Eggleston
medium William Eggleston highlights what many would see as ordinary subjects, making them more complex in his imagery. His work is what some may say as uniquely Americana.
For this week, go one step beyond last week’s prompt. Aim to show a piece of your life that you consider to be ordinary in a way which elevates it to show a slice of life.
Week 40 | October 1-8
Symmetry
Humans love symmetry - something about the balance it creates is just inherently pleasing to the eye. For this week, make an image which utilizes symmetry - either the entire image, or an element of the image.
Week 41 | October 8-15
Asymmetry
o yes, we know symmetry is pleasing, but can asymmetry be as well? But, of course! Try it out for yourself - make an unbalanced, asymmetric image. Same as last week, it can be the entire image, or an element of the image.
Week 42 | October 15-22
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Alike
Week 43 | October 22-29
Stop Movement
Stop a bird, plane, or even Superman in their tracks with just this one easy step*! Using a fast shutter speed will freeze motion. No need to worry about those shaky hands (of which I suffer), nor do you need a fancy tripod/stable surface. *other steps may be necessary, i.e. readjusting other settings.
Find a moving subject and stop its motion with a fast shutter speed. Can’t control your shutter speed? No problem! Take this opportunity to think creatively. How else can you freeze motion?
Week 44 | October -November 5
Show Motion
Light trails, blurred commuters, soft water. Just a few ways to show motion. How do we do it? With a slow shutter speed. You’ll need a steady hand, tripod, or just a solid surface to keep the camera still. A tip: using the self-timer or a remote control for non-handheld shots will take out the risk of camera shake while pressing the shutter button.
Find a moving subject and show its motion with a slower shutter speed. Can’t control your shutter speed? No problem! Take this opportunity to think creatively. How else can you show motion?
Week 45 | November 5-12
Still, Life
I’m going to give you little guidance on this one because I want you to interpret it as you will. Do you read this as still life, the artistic genre? Maybe as life being still. Maybe life still going on. However you read this, you do you.
Week 46 | November 12-19
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION: Different
Week 47 | November 19-26
Out of Your Element
We’ve been at this for almost an entire year. I’m sure you’ve been put in situations which are out of your element already. For this week, I want that to be very intentional. Photograph a genre you aren’t comfortable with or in a style entirely different than what you’re used to. Just push yourself to get out of your comfort zone this week.
Week 48 | November 26-December 3
Your Voice
You may feel that you don’t have a distinct voice just yet, and that’s entirely okay! It takes years to truly nail down your voice, and most artists find that their voice is constantly changing. What do you think is integral to your voice at this moment? Is it how you use color, or the subjects you choose? Whatever it is, show it with this week’s image.
Week 49 | December 3-10
Inspired By
Inspiration comes from countless places. I often pull inspiration from films, for example. Some may find inspiration in nature or music. Think about what’s inspired you lately and create an image that is an homage to that. Share with us what that inspiration was and how you interpreted it.
Week 50 | December 10-17
PHOTOGRAPHER HIGHLIGHT: Dealer’s Choice
Instead of me choosing a photographer for you to work off of, I’d like you to explore the work of another photographer. It doesn’t need to be someone of fame or import - it could even be another participant you met during this year. Create an image that is inspired by their work - and don’t forget to share who it is who inspired you!
Week 51 : December 17-24
Lesson Learned
Explore something new you learned in the past year of weekly prompts and create an image with hat new skill in mind.
Week 52 | December 24-31
Revisiting Goals
We’ve made it! 52 weeks later! Let’s revisit those initial goals. How did you fare? Are you feeling more confident in your own work? More focused in where you want to go from here? I hope it was a year of growth, new photography friends, and inspiration.
For our final image, we’re going to create the image from either week one or week 26 (your choice!) I’d also love it if you accompanied that image with something you’ve gained from this experience. Congrats on making it through!
If you have any feedback on the experience, you know how to find me!
