25 Photo Projects for 2025 (Adapted)
A coyote sits alone on a field in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. Photographing some of the wildlife of the region is one of the projects to undertake.|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
Getting my hands on photography magazines has become a major hobby of mine over the past years. From the monthly copy of Professional Photographer (Professional Photographers of America’s publication) to PhotoPlus (a Canon magazine) and Digital Camera World, there is a lot on information and ideas one can get from them.
Although based in the UK, the two latter bring interesting ideas that any photographer would welcome. Not being this my full-time job or primary source of income, I can easily say that these magazines provide interesting suggestions of things any professional of the lens is able to do.
The January 2025 issue of Digital Camera World includes a list of 25 Photo Projects to do in 2025. As the magazine is originally British, there are some things that are not very possible to take on, mainly living in the US East Coast.
So, instead of eliminating some of them, I figured that I could still do 25 of them. For that, I made sure that the corrections and adaptations were made to enable me to do them here in Connecticut or nearby areas. Such include the rest of New England, New York or Pennsylvania, places I intend to visit this year.
I intend to make a post of each one of such projects whenever I take the photos (if I am happy with them), and go about how I did them.
So, this is the adapted/updated list of the projects with a brief explanation of why it is possible to carry out for me. The list is divided by seasons, which Digital Camera World did to provide an organization for its readers.
Winter
Snow and icy scenes: It is relatively easy to do such thing in Connecticut. I have already photographed some interesting things since winter started. With a few more escapades in the snow, the ideal pictures will be available for me.
Christmas lights and markets (adapted): I ended up adapting this one from its original in the magazine. I added lights because Christmas time is one of the liveliest times of the year in this state, and many places (houses and businesses) make sure they join the festivities by ornamenting their façades with interesting lights.
Wildlife in winter: This poses a major challenge, but I am more than happy to try to do it. Bears are some of the most interesting creatures here, but they during this time of the year they go on hibernation. So, that leaves the occasional deer, squirrels and some birds. Again, challenging but interesting.
Candle and fire still life (adapted): This is basic stock photography. I might find the topic slightly boring, but the advantage is that you don’t need to be in winter to do it. Yet, I added the fire because it is relatively easy to capture fireplace photos given the cold temperatures we are currently facing.
Light trails in city: Again, this type of photograph is easy to capture any time of the year. City life, however, is not so available in Connecticut, due to the absence of large cities. As challenging as this may sound, the possibility of making these shots is very high.
Canvas prints: Another project that can be undertaken any time of the year. I have already made prints this winter season, and I of course intend to make some others before the year comes to an end.
Winter portraits: The biggest challenge with this right now is how some people don’t want to be out in the snow posing for photos. Yet, I am more than happy to give it a try and involve some of my friends, asking them to pose with a snowy background. This is a tough one, but it is not impossible.
Spring
Historic buildings: One road trip in a day around the state could be enough to come back with three or four really good photos of historic buildings. Yet, the key will be to capture them with a spring vibe and include their respective gardens and flowers either in the foreground or the background. This one is easy.
Panorama: Panorama photos are always attractive to people interested in landscapes. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II certainly allows for some of these features, and it will be a nice adventure and experiment for me. Finding the appropriate location for a panorama photo might be the biggest challenge, but as a photographer who does his research, this might not be so hard for me.
March bunnies (adapted): Bunny rabbits are commonplace in the area. They are visible almost all year long, and it just takes a little bit of patience and readiness to be able to capture images of them. I have been able to photograph some in the past, so this is a very possible task to accomplish.
Connecticut gardens (adapted): The presence of Elizabeth Park in Connecticut makes it possible to capture excellent flowery images. One or two trips, mainly following the blooming patterns, will be enough to come back with excellent photographs.
Painting with light: This is something I have always been interested in doing. Painting with lights requires mainly a tripod and a long-exposure setting. My only task to do that is finding the color lights in advance and think of what I want to paint. The rest will be history.
Airplane trails (adapted): If I was in Vegas with my friend Hugo Pech, it would be easier to get into any air shows. However, the reality in Connecticut (despite having a helicopter factory) is different. Unless I go to a spot to photograph commercial airliners taking off or make it to an air field to shoot those propeller planes, I have to stick to airplane trails. I will try real airplanes too, but I have no power lens for that.
Summer
Pubs and breweries (completely swapped): I have a very difficult time dealing with weddings and doing wedding photos. So I decided to switch this project from the magazine into something that I enjoy and that is actually available and possible in Connecticut. A true paradise of small pubs and breweries, the state offers a series of image opportunities that you don’t see everywhere else in America. Luckily for me, I have visited and made connections with many of them. This will be a piece of cake.
Purple fields and other local crops (adapted): I don’t know if “purple fields” are available in Connecticut or any of my nearby states. I am anticipating a possible hurdle, although I know that lavender is available here. Yet, I would love to explore other crops, but I’d rather not put all of my eggs in one basket.
Seagulls and other seaside birds (swapped): Even though puffins have been spotted in Connecticut, it is way easier to find them in Maine. knowing how hectic life can be, I think it might be a long shot for me to go there —given the fact that I have been to that state only once. So, I am prioritizing seagulls, and leaving room in case I am capable of actually going to Maine and seeing the puffins there.
Insect macro: No matter where you are, there are always going to be insects. Macro photography with insect will always bring the challenge of not actually knowing insect behavior. So, now, time to do the homework and understand the best way to take pictures of those bugs!
Festivals and celebrations (swapped): Not knowing whether I will have the opportunity to photograph any military parade. So, I got myself into festivals and celebrations that I know will take place in spring and summer and obviously shoot them. The St. Patrick’s Day parade and the Little Poland Festival are two of the events that I have all the intention to photograph this year.
Building bridges: Knowing about the architecture in the state, I can rely on a couple of days of road trips to take this type of photo. I intend to visit New York City and Philadelphia as well, where I will definitely have the opportunity to shoot these photos as well. Yet, Connecticut alone is good enough for me to pull this one off.
Fall
Woodland trails and flowing streams: Here lies another no-brainer for people living in New England. Nothing is more beautiful in this state than the trails during fall, when the leaves turn orange, red or yellow and there are chances of taking long-exposure shots of streams and small waterfalls. I will have NO problem making this a reality.
Wild animals in Connecticut (adapted): Experience has taught me that deer, coyotes, foxes, and (if lucky) bears are commonplace in the state of Connecticut and most of New England. Now I do have a purpose to photograph these animals as they come to my environment, and (why not?) provoke the encounter myself.
Pumpkin carve and Halloween spirit (expanded): If there is a part in the United States where Halloween is BIG it is definitely New England. Connecticut and Massachusetts lead the way, but it is a general feel in the state when it comes to that date. People decorate their houses well enough to make sure others come and take a look at it, so this task (which I adapted from the magazine) is going to be easy for me.
Fall sports action: If you have been reading my writing you know what sport I am actually going to be photographing. Having connections with both professional and travel baseball teams, all I have to do is make sure that I attend any games.
Abandoned and haunted places (swapped): Connecticut is an area full of abandoned places. Structures that go from old houses to abandoned hospitals or schools are commonplace in the state. Some of those locations have the reputation of being haunted, so my to-do list in this particular project will be to make sure they look as spooky as possible.
Rainy day effects: I have already done that since I got here. The chances of capturing rain are available all year long, even in the winter. So, this little task is more than easy to accomplish.
Conclusion
These projects are going to be a lot of fun to carry out. Finding the opportunity to execute them will also be interesting. Even though some of them may pose a little bit of a challenge, I am more than happy to try.
After all, a passion always involves commitment and sacrifice. And I am willing to take on both.
