January, 2023
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was going to be embarking on my first serious photography project in 2023. I came to the conclusion that I needed to take this next step in my photography after some extensive reflections on why I make photos and how art fits into my life. Taking on a meaty project will help focus my photographic whims, and I think will ultimately result in me creating better work and being a better photographer.
While reflecting on how to turn this project into a reality and more broadly how to take my next step as a photographer and artist, I developed the following plan for my photography in 2023:
- My main focus for the year is to move my CO-14 project forward in a meaningful way.
- Each month, I’ll read a photo book (either a collection of photos or a book about the photographic process) and write a blog post with my notes and reflections on the book as a whole and also how it relates to my CO-14 project. I’ll specifically choose books that I think will help me with this project in some way.
- I’ll ride my bike the length of CO-14 and take photos along the way. These won’t be the final photos for the book (likely), but rather they’ll serve as visual notes and inspiration for future photographs. I’ll ride my bike instead of driving, since this will allow me to slow down and experience the road more viscerally.
- I’ll do at least two “serious” photograph sessions along CO-14. This will give me a flavor for how the process will work in reality as well as give me some traction to turn this from a theoretical project to a tangible one.
- In addition to working on the CO-14 project, I’ll also be more thoughtful and deliberate about documenting life.
- I’ll shoot one roll of film per month. I won’t develop the film until January of 2024, though, and at that point Elle and I will revisit the year through these photos. These are intended to be anything I feel like shooting that encapsulates our life. I won’t necessarily shoot the same film each month, and I’ll likely switch it up based on the season and my mood at that point in the year.
- At the end of each month, I’ll review and edit all my favorite photos from the month. This will be a continuation of this “Lately” series, and in addition to sharing them online I’ll also print them and scatter them around the house. This is part of a deliberate effort to convert my digital photography into something tangible.
I’ll likely experiment with more photography challenges and activities throughout the year, but these are my primary areas of focus. More to come soon on the January photo book and some additional details on the CO-14 project, but in the meantime I hope you enjoy some of my favorite images from January!
kyle wurtz 