Thinking Outside of the Box with Your Ph ...

Thinking Outside of the Box with Your Photography

Apr 08, 2024

(All images ©Lauri Novak)

Feeling creatively stuck? Here’s one way that by thinking outside the box you can get the creative juices flowing again.

Think of a list of random words, or have someone give you a list. Six to eight words is usually a good challenge. Take those words and create an image for each one. The interpretation of each word is completely up to you and you can create the images in any manner you’d like. Any type of camera and/or post-processing is allowed.

Here are six examples.

Bully

thinking - wheelchair at side of pool

Create an image that tells the story of the word, that makes the viewer see beyond the first thing that pops in their head when they hear that word. Thinking about the different ways a word can be interpreted can bring on even more ideas for photographs.

Freeze motion

freeze motion scrabble tiles in ice thinking

I wracked my brain on this trying to come up with something other than the obvious photographic technique of stopping motion.

Hungover

stocking hung over shower rod thinking

Again, I wanted to think of something different.

Neon

man with hand creating neon sign

Easy right, just go out and find some neon signs and you’re all set. How about digging a little deeper and finding a neon manufacturing shop nearby? Call them, and see if they’ll allow you to come in and take a few photos for a project. This little shop in Chicago was more than happy to let a group of us come in and photograph while he worked.

Color selfie

woman coloring in coloring book in black and white

The selfie challenge for this week as part of a project was a color selfie. I believe mine may have been the only black and white image.

Spicey

the letter e created with spices

Get it?

Challenges, whether created by ourselves or by getting involved in photography groups online or with your local camera club are a great way to push our processes. They make us think to create something different.

What will you challenge yourself to create this week?


(All images ©Lauri Novak)

I am a photographer, educator, mentor & photo tour guide.

If I have to classify my work it’s mostly fine art photography. Based outside of Chicago, I enjoy photographing architecture, traveling as much as possible and just wandering in nature with my camera are my favorite things to do.

You can find more of my work in my galleries.

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