As we wrap up 2021 today, it is also the final day of Project 31. Every time I take a month-long photography workshop or issue a challenge for myself like I did this month, I come away with a fresh gallery and new perspective on my visual voice. I always remain true to myself, but the flavors and variations are fun surprises. Today I want to take a deeper look at what our photos say about us. What do my photos say about me and what do your photos say about you?
Project 31
Did you participate in this project with me? In some form or other? I created way more than 31 images, most days several. I gave Mason an entire day for his work to shine on its own. Some images I absolutely love, many are mediocre because I pushed myself to be ok with them rather than spending forever and ever on a single image, and some are terrible. But, they are all true to the day or moment and speak to the variability we all have as humans. So, I published them just as I do with my daily writing – the good, the bad, the ugly. Full transparency, here you go.
What Do My Photos Say About Me?
Here is a bird’s eye view of my images from the month. Before reading further, spend a minute absorbing the entirety. What do you see? Notice? Feel? What are the connections or themes?
I see…
…that I love to experiment, explore, and play. I see that I love color – rainbow is my favorite color. I’m drawn to creating abstract images, interesting effects, surreal feelings rather than tactile and concrete objects. I favor single subjects. Light and shadow drive how I see and are the foundation of every image, often being the primary subject of the image. I have always described my visual voice as dynamic. While most of my images are macro or abstract, so perhaps not representative of a wide range of styles, there is dynamism in each. I enjoy process over product, journey over destination.
Now, reread that last paragraph from the viewpoint of how I might describe mySELF.
It 100% aligns.
What Do Your Photos Say About You?
Go to your own photos. Create a gallery of your intentional images – from Project 31 or whatever timespan you like. Cull out the things like pictures of the serial number from the oven, stuff the kids put in, etc. Stand back and look from afar and see if you can decide what your images say. Then see if that aligns with what you say about yourself? Is there a match?
What Our Photos Say
If you are interested in exploring this further, here is an excellent exercise from Greater Good In Action, titled Meaningful Pictures. It requires just a few minutes over the span of a week but the results can be profound. We see our world and lives all day long but they pass right by. It isn’t possible to gather and spend time with moments that have passed unless we capture them as photographs. So to do this and then be able to go back and slowly review and assess is literally eye-opening. It is also a beautiful way to reflect on what has mattered most to each of us over a given time span.
Try it. Commit to beginning the new year with fresh eyes, new perspectives, and a new look at yourself.
Happy New Year’s Eve to you! May you be safe, healthy, and happy.
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