7 photography project ideas to practice while social distancing

Coronavirus has put most photography shoots on hold for the foreseeable future, including weddings, concerts, corporate headshots, and lifestyle shoots. Apparently the government doesn’t consider photography “essential” when it comes to shelter in place orders. We might disagree, but that’s neither here nor there.

Until we get the “all clear,” we will have to find other ways to practice our craft in isolation and away from others. Thankfully, we’re a creative bunch. A little reframing can turn isolation into an artistic opportunity. Our lives are infinitely interesting. The world is just as beautiful as ever. It’s up to us to see it that way.

I know your finger is itching to hit that shutter button. 

If you’re social distancing and under self-quarantine, here are seven photography projects to last you through these trying times.

Embrace Macro-Photography

 When you’re holed up in your apartment for two weeks, you start noticing details. How many toes does your clawfoot bathtub have? Has the knot on the tree outside your window always looked like Jack Black? Have you said hello to your friendly roach neighbor, Charles?

If you own a macro lens, use it to capture these details we pass by everyday. Check out these awesome macro shots.

 Practice Interior photography

Being home, you have the opportunity to see your living space at new times of the day. At 10am, the light might look especially beautiful as it shines through your curtains. Your ficus tree might be the perfect counterbalance to your reading chair. 

Morning light may filter through the windows of your den. Pay attention to how it dances, across the room. Photo by Drew Jensen

Because of the limited and changing light conditions, interior photography can be quite the challenge. Don’t believe me? Try it yourself. 

Practice Still Life Photography 

Notice a pattern here? Most of these projects don’t involve human subjects. But humans aren’t the only beautiful things.

Everyday objects can be transformed into scenes of stunning beauty with the right lighting and angle. See how you can arrange different colors, shapes, and textures. Notice how still objects interact to create different dynamics.

 Get inspired with this gallery.

Jokes aside, Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

Have a Photo Shoot with Your Loved Ones.Vlada Karpovich

This is a great project, especially if you have kids. Dress up your close friends and family. Capture the many emotions they’re feeling during this uncertain time. Happiness. Anxiety. Frustration that you’ve got a camera in their face. Have fun!

When the quarantines are all over and we go back to normal life, you’ll have a memento that will make you stop, reflect, and hopefully not take our lives for granted.

Pair Photos with Writing

In quarantine, we experience the world in a new way. Personally, I’ve felt loneliness, anger, and restlessness as group events have been postponed and social situations become less frequent. 

Try journaling these experiences and photographing scenes around your house that compliment your entries. Our lives are on hold. Savor this opportunity for introspection and self-expression.

Capture Empty Spaces

Some cities are more barren than others. It can be quite alarming to see a college campus gone lifeless in April. How eerie is an empty shopping mall? The coronavirus pandemic is a unique opportunity to capture these empty spaces.

Or you can record how people maintain social bonds over distance. I love seeing the pictures of Italian violinists serenading neighborhoods or people singing together from their balconies.

Embrace Nature Photography

Even some of the stricter social distancing measures allow for outdoor recreation. You just have to be six feet away from the next person hiking on your trail. 

Take this time away from work and people to photograph the natural world. Focus on the world’s beauty, and if you feel like it, take time to breathe and meditate. Better yet, go off the grid and live in a mountain cabin for two months. I’d do that even if there wasn’t a pandemic – now extreme introversion is socially acceptable!

Did I forget any great quarantine photography projects? Let me know in the comments. Enjoy!

Photos by Drew Jensen Photography and Vlada Karpovich