To prevent photographers everywhere from having breakdowns over the likelihood of COVID sticking around forevermore I’ve dug into the archives for my favourite photography projects that can be done from the comfort of home. Since creativity is often born from limitations being homebound is actually a fantastic way to develop your photographic problem solving skills and the process and achievement of creating will do wonders for your mental health so here’s a few suggestions for fun projects to stay motivated.
Light painting
With a dark room, a long exposure and whatever light sources you have on hand (use cellophane to create colours) you can create fancy light effects to jazz up a portrait or product shot. For reflections, use glass from a picture frame laid over black cardboard.
Cross polarisation
If you have a polarising filter stick this on your lens and find some plastic objects to place in front of your computer screen. Twist the polariser to bring out the colours in the plastic and vary the background from black to white. It’s like magic!
Storytelling with toys
Everyone has a toy or trinket lying around. Think about creative ways to tell their story.
Rotated perspective
Grab a willing subject (or even yourself) and pose in a particular way so that when the image is flipped it looks as if your subject is defying gravity!
Bursting bubbles
No bubble mixture on hand? There’s plenty of online recipes to help you make your own from household ingredients and a twisted wire coat hanger makes a great bubble blower. A Speedlite set to a low power will help you freeze the bubble as it bursts.
Flat lay
Create a story about yourself using objects from around the house. Find a plain surface to arrange the objects on and place under a large window or flat outdoor light for creative flat lays.
Star trails
If you have a view of the night sky aim for a clear moonless night and set your camera up to take a photo every few seconds that you can combine in post to create star trails! If you don’t have a remote with an intervalometer function you can keep the shutter button held down with a piece of tape.
Refraction
Fill a glass with water and place it in front of various backgrounds to create fun refractions!
Freelensing
Freelensing works by removing your lens from your camera. This sets the aperture to as wide as it will go so you can create crazy depth of field. You’ll need to remove the lens but hold it up close to the opening for this to work. Note this technique works best with Canon lenses.
Smoke
Got some incense on hand? In a dark well aired room, place a light facing your subject and capture the wafts of smoke. In post you can create eerie images by copying the image and flipping its direction.
Portraits lit with lamps or candles
If you don’t have a flash on hand find some other light source to make creative portraits.
Splash product
Try your hand at a little product or food photography. To capture splashes you’ll just need a Speedlite set to lower power or a sunny day with a fast shutter speed.
To learn the specifics of these techniques and plenty of other projects check out Creative Photo Folk.
This blog contains affiliate links. Recommended gear based on use with Canon equipment. Please check for alternatives suitable for your own camera brand.
