52 Weeks | Week 34 | Symmetry

Features

Sep 2

We rounded out our final week in our advanced composition month in our Project 52 with the theme symmetry. I love how the use of symmetry in photography immediately creates a strong composition, the sense of balance resulting in aesthetically pleasing images. The p52 participants ran away with this assignment and created some truly beautiful photographs. I'm particularly impressed with their ability to find symmetry in unique places and objects, creating such interesting and creative images.

Eight months down, four more to go! Which brings me to another topic we discussed in our group this week. What do you do if you fall off your photography project? Do you give up and call it a loss? Or do you scramble to catch up on the missed weeks? Or, perhaps, you decide to disregard the weeks you missed and start fresh from the current point?

I'd encourage you to keep going, no matter how that looks for you. If you struggle with perfectionism and can't fathom leaving weeks unfinished, then slowly work your way through those themes to catch up. But please remember to give yourself grace and try not to put unneeded pressure on yourself. These kinds of projects are meant to be a fun way to explore photography in a creative avenue, allowing yourself to grow and learn and hone your personal style and voice. They aren't meant to stress you out and send you spiraling into mental chaos.

But...and I highly emphasize this next point...it is ok to leave weeks unfinished. I promise you it's fine. Someone in the group suggested reframing your mind to not see the missed weeks as a failure but to instead see the weeks you have finished as a success. There are many weeks left, which means there are ample opportunities remaining to still get as much out of the project as you possibly can. Hop back in the project today and forget about the stuff in the rearview.

Whether you get an image for all 52 weeks or you manage 17 or somewhere in between, the number doesn't really matter. I always like to highlight that this may be a group project, but it's first and foremost your own personal one. I'm giving you permission--for anyone who needs to hear it--to cater these kinds of photography projects to however they best serve you, no matter how that looks. These projects aren't necessarily a one size fits all type approach, so make it yours, however that looks for you. The important thing is to keep chugging along, keep picking up your camera, keep creating. We can do this--together.xo,

Angie Mahlke

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