Photo Projects - How to Find Direction, Subjects, & Creative Ideas

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In this video, I'm talking about my two current long-term photo projects and some things that helped me find direction and clarity with them after they both started out as very loose ideas. These are approaches and ways or working that also have helped me to find subjects and things to photograph, as well as creative ideas.
I hope this video gives you some food for thought, and helps you take action on your ideas.
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[@RobbieMaynardCreates]

I find it really compelling to hear you talk about balancing two projects at the same time.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Robbie. Something that I wouldn't have done in the past, but now I'm actually finding it to be really helpful-just giving myself a break from one, and going to work on the other. It's helped me avoid getting burnt out.

[@EYDIMUSIC]

Excellent guidance, excellent work, excellent channel 👍

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you.

[@kuzmanator]

Love that you’re making videos like this. So so valuable. More than any technical video. As someone whose personal work focuses on long form projects this video really hit home and is a good reminder of the value of work and dedications of time and openness to change.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed it. And yeah, I much prefer making these types of videos. They aren't as popular to the masses, but to me, feel much more helpful.

[@whosjozikolnik]

I have to say lately I've felt really connected to the work you put out here on youtube. no one else does something that resonates so deeply. the videos feel intimate and flow very naturally. you have way more influence than it may seem, I really appreciate the work you put into these videos. cheers!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Appreciate the kind words. Thank you!

[@SamMcGhee]

This video was so perfectly timed in my life. I have been trying to identify the core personal meaning of a photography project I am developing. The moment I pushed play on this video the title came to me and I’m feeling inspired. This video was very impactful.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Sam. Happy it helped.

[@jaredashtons]

great video man! love the insights and sweet spirit with which you talk about and present it, brother!!!!!❤

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙏

[@BryanBirks]

So true about talking with people and taking your time. Can’t wait to see that portrait.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Yeah man, I'm sure you can relate with your work. So important to get to know your subjects.

[@robbiemurrie7562]

Your transparency on how long it takes to formulate a clear idea for a project is good to hear. I feel a lot of people love the idea of a project but not so much the long development of one or even just putting boots on the ground and going to make it. I thought when I started my current work I had it figured out but it’s taken a year of trips, using different cameras, a workshop and mentoring one on one to realise it’s only just getting started now with some clarity.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Robbie. Yeah, I think it's important to talk about this kind of stuff, especially nowadays where everything is so instantaneous. I'm learning to love the long, tedious, and slow process of project work. And am trying to embrace all of it-not just the image-making.

[@adamcarter6649]

Really interesting Kyle and so good to hear about your processes. It's easy to get a bit lost with gear videos, but actually I think a lot of our imagery will end up looking the same regardless of what gear one uses. For instance I'm always considering whether I want to change up something, but when I look at my website I realise that all my imagery looks the same, regardless of what I used to create it. So for me, the best research is to challenge my own working process, not my equipment, and when I watch your videos I think about my normal processes with retrospection.

[@Larpy1933]

Almost every one of your photographs is a visual poem. As I watched your video for the 2nd and 3rd times, your narration fell on me like light rain. It is your work that I couldn’t get enough of. And: you’re working sometimes in digital. That’s reassuring as I’m thinking of adding that to my repertoire. Others (in other YTs) have noted the very high level of your videography. I agree. Completely.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I appreciate the kind words. Glad you enjoyed this one. Cheers.

[@dmay1100]

Hey Kyle; great video, it helps to be reminded that not every time a photograph has to be created. I struggle with the mind set regularly, as well as direction of a project. I have a tendency to wander aimlessly at times and find other things to spark my interest. Thanks again for the video have a great week!

[@thiagobnla]

the picture of the door saying "please close.." reminded me of the explosion in the sky's take care album.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Great band.

[@magnusrasmussen6128]

Im so excited to follow along with these projects. Love the vlog style videos you do on your projects

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks. More of those to come.

[@RussWeymouthPhotography]

Parallel to this, I've also been visiting the slate Quarries in Snowdonia over the past few years, photographing Dinorwic, Diffwys, Rhosydd, and Dorothea Quarry. I'll be returning later this year, taking in Cwmorthin Quarry and others, building up a body of work. It's a good idea to have a project to focus on. It gives a sense of purpose, something to aim for.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Russ. Yeah, one of the big things a project gives me is a framework and sense of purpose with images.

[@Shmooexe3440]

This was really helpful to find motivation to go out and shoot, thank you Kyle. Also for your WWII project, you might want to check out some places in South Dorset, there are a few Airfield buildings and pill boxes hidding around in the forests, hope this helps

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers. I'm actually heading down that was at the start of March!

[@LandonWhitsitt]

Thank you for taking the time to explain this. Perfect timing for me.

[@KyleMcDougall]

You're welcome. Cheers.

[@phvrvohxo]

thanks for this video, made me figure out how to tackle a project i am currently working on here in jamaica

[@lukemerrill1272]

This is so helpful. Thank you for your generosity in taking the time to share this Kyle. Thank you!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SlavaVeres]

Wonderful video! ❤ Kyle, thanks for sharing your projects and your thoughts and tips. In my experience it does take some time for ideas to develop and crystallize. I do follow your advice and I just go out and shoot and let the project to unfold at its own pace. It also teaches me to be patient with my ideas. Regarding your abandoned airfields project… a thought came to my mind about defence installations and battlefields in my home country of Ukraine 🇺🇦 One day many decades into the future some photographer will find an abandoned military outpost and will make a project about it. I wish for my nation to put the war behind them sooner than later. But not before we liberate our entire county from the Russian aggressors…

[@dan.allen.digital]

Thanks Kyle. Your videos have encouraged me to think about taking on my first photography project. I think a video about deciding what camera to use for a project (film vs digital) would be helpful.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Dan. Maybe something I'll talk about in the future. But what I will say, is use whatever fits your way of working the best, and will allow you to just get out and make the work. At the end of the day, the success of the project/images won't be based around if it's film or digital.

[@ChrisW.Fuji_Canon]

Wonderful Project😍

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@devinpense]

Love An American Mile. I proudly display it in my office and look through it often. Thanks for the inspo. I work in the film industry and the development process is key to the success of the end result. Sometimes even developing something for a while and letting it go because it doesn’t have the juice to get across the finish line. I actually never thought about developing a photo project 🤦🏼‍♂️ I get wrapped up in taking too many pics. Thanks again for the tips! Looking forward to your new project. Cheers.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Devin. I can definitely relate to your thoughts with the development process for film/video.

[@speliotis]

Thank you for the inspirational video.. I noticed the way you frame your video is pretty much how you frame your stills... Would you please explain how you manage to shoot video & stills.... Your working relation with video & stills.... Thank you

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers. Maybe something I'll talk about in a future video more in-depth. But long story short-I shot and directed outdoor television for seven years at the start of my career, usually as a one-man crew. So most of my approach is based off of how I worked then.

[@Drew_1983]

Needed this video. Had a project in my mind a while back after watching another video of yours. Wrote down some ideas and left it at that but after watching this I’m going to dive back in and see where it takes me. Thank you!

[@KyleMcDougall]

You're welcome. Glad it resonated.

[@BraveNewWorldAH]

great video mate

[@Larpy1933]

Damn! That was fascinating and useful to me. I think I’ll watch it twice more - RIGHT NOW! Thx and GOOD LUCK.

[@James.5703]

really good video.

[@ralfschoeneck2089]

Thank you! It helped me very much for rethinking how to approach my project. Especially to involve people who to get not only more background but provide also a emotional aspect to me and the project I am starting soon.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad to hear that. Cheers.

[@ikechadmedia3116]

Thank you for sharing. I’m currently developing my first photography project. This was much needed advice

[@I-SelfLordAndMaster]

Yet again an inspirational video and for anyone out there as undertaking or even thinking of undertaking a project this video will be good for thought. I personally am about to begin a project which along with the last video and now this one has helped me modify what was originally going to be shot solely on 5X4 sheet film, now I am going to incorporate Roll film shot from a 120 film holder for my 5X4 camera so the message of being open to modifications was an enormous help. Thank you we await your next installment.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you found it helpful, cheers.

[@liveinaweorg]

I have enjoyed your 'An American Mile' book but am finding your exploration of Britain to be eye opening. I'm familiar with some of the places and topics having lived close to an American Airbase in Suffolk and hiking through North Wales but the attention to detail and insights you bring are all so new to me. In answer to your question about approach to a project, my experience on one project is quite different. I suddenly became aware that I kept being drawn to taking pictures of chairs when I stopped on an outing and took a few minutes to take a picture. Being in a farmshop restaurant at the time with my wife, son and a couple of friends made me think to myself: why is this shot important? I realised when I got home and started to look through my five star images (yeah, there aren't a huge number of those) that chairs in one form or another featured often. A project about chairs? Well, I think it's about more than just the inanimate object just as your image of the wall painting of the US states is about much more than a bit of WWII 'graffiti'. Wow! Haven't written a comment this long since someone claimed Freddie Mercury wasn't the best frontman ever

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks for sharing your, experience. For me, I'm becoming very interested in images that have a deeper story or history, but without knowing the context, may seem like nothing.

[@constantinestewart7416]

Thanks Kyle for sharing, this is good advice for me because I always feel I need to be out making images. But taking the time to explore, observe and learn about a subject is equally important.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers. And yep, as mentioned in the video, lot's more to do other than just making images. It all adds up!

[@mattbray_studio]

your videos are always so helpul mate. appreciate what you do. all the best!

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙏

[@MakersTeleMark]

Good food. Thanks for sharing the meal.

[@Doutchy]

Many thanks Kyle, these videos really help me feel i'm not a total photographic failiure! Hopefully i'll bump into you one day around Blaenau, an area that means a lot to me. I've been photographing above and below Blaenau for years now.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed! And yes, I try to get up there as much as I can!

[@AntoineGeorgelin]

As always, incredible video! Thank you for this deep dive in your process.

[@coreymagz3145]

I'm in the very beginning stages of planning my first massive project which I hope to eventually turn into a book so this is probably so sort of sign that I'm on the right path in terms of this video coming into my life. Thank you!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad to hear that, Corey. Cheers.

[@jamesbarnes3063]

Great tips, I get into photograph and get there and done itis that afterwards I sometimes forget why and what, thanks for the reminder

[@bengibbardofficial]

great video, appreciate the insight and invaluable to see your approach to these projects -- just fyi can hear every smack of the hand on the desk when wearing headphones fwiw :)

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers. And yeah, my mic holder broke, so had a bit of a shitty rig setup for this video.

[@AlexDimopoulos]

Great advice 😀

[@Chrsflks]

Such a great video, I’ve been wanting to sort of do a photobook project and I think was some much needed inspiration, also my family are from Blaenau Ffestiniog and I remember going there as a kid (I’m north east wales based) and it has always had this village in the most vibe to it and your shot of a misty Blaenau hit me in the feels, so thank you for that

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers! Yeah, there's something special about the Blaenau area.

[@simonberry1977]

Always inspirational Kyle, thanks

[@tobycunningham797]

Hi Kyle, great video, enjoy the channel, but keep out of the Churches, that’s my project - where the light falls - visit my local churches on sunny days and wherever the light falls I take images, mostly still life and details rather than vista of the interiors. But it’s mine! I promise to keep off the slate quarries (but not the east coast airfields!) take care, Toby

[@Sunday_Jazz]

There is enough to share man. Are you seriously telling another photographer to not shoot a subject? Every photographers work will be different even if they capture the same or similar subject. Relax 😂

[@KyleMcDougall]

I'm assuming he was joking.

[@spincity850]

@@KyleMcDougallodd joke as no part of it was even remotely humorous

[@nightjedi1026]

What a strange and unnecessary comment

[@davidh8258]

Another great video,very informative. gave me ideas for a old church project in my province of Saskatchewan ,Canada

[@KyleMcDougall]

Happy to hear that. Cheers!

[@vproven]

Awesome post. One of the best.

[@carbonejack]

Another informative and inspiring video.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed. Cheers.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Love it!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Mike!

[@jaewalken]

Great work Kyle. What camera and film are you using for this slate project?

[@KyleMcDougall]

A few different ones due to indecisions-GFX100S and 4x5 with HP5 and FP4.

[@cjwomack]

Good stuff here man!

[@liamivarsson]

Such a valuable video

[@rangotastic]

I wouldn’t mind having more videos where you just show you taking pictures in the field

[@xzzxxxxzzx]

5x6 would be great

[@KyleMcDougall]

More to come. I enjoy making those, but they're difficult for me (balancing video + image making). All of the Wales footage in this video was from a trip video I shot, which didn't end up working out.

[@JohnnyMcMillan]

Ace video but the audio music seems a little loud in this one?

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Johnny. I'll have a look at it.

[@Olyvia..]

Why did you call it UNTITLED (TITLE)? Not so untitled now, is it