In 2017, we created a Photography Challenge with 52 subjects to photograph throughout the year. Some of you took on this challenge and shared all your shots with us. We loved seeing your creativity, dedication, and cool photos, so we decided to do the same thing for 2018, only with a twist.
Instead of photographing specific subjects, the 2018 Photography Challenge focuses on places. What you decide to photograph in that location is up to you. The main goal is to get out, go somewhere, and experience the world through your camera.
We’ve tried to make the list as accessible as possible, allowing for a range of home bases and budgets. In other words, you don’t have to be rich or live in a city to visit all 52 places. You can adapt them to your situation, choosing places that best fit each idea.
Download our printable list and check off every place you visit. It doesn’t matter how, when, or what order you visit them. Simply visit all 52 places by the end of the year to complete this challenge!
As always, post your photos in our Flickr group, tag @thephotoargus on Instagram, or share them with us on Twitter and we’ll repost our favorite shots.
Click the image below for a printable PDF.
For inspiration, check out these ideas and photos, selected from our amazing Flickr group.
A Forest
Some photographers go out in the woods every week, while others feel lost or uninspired in a forest. If you’re not sure where to begin, check out our post about capturing hidden natural beauty. If there aren’t any forests in your area, try visiting a garden center or finding a mini-forest with a few trees.
Jaromir Hron – Autumn
An Old Building
Just make sure it’s safe to enter first.
Darren Sethe – Fort Stevens
A Creek or River
A dry riverbed or creekbed could also work.
R Casey – falling down the river
Someplace You Love
A favorite restaurant, theater, or corner of your home could all work. Anywhere, basically.
ninasclicks – The table is ready
Someplace You Hate
Ditto, only opposite. Maybe you’ll discover a small part of the place you can appreciate, if only as a picture.
Fistfulofpowder – Henday
A Zoo, Aquarium, or Nature Reserve
We’ve included “nature reserve” as an option in case zoos/aquariums are uncommon in your area. You could also try visiting a pet store with aquariums or a grocery store with fresh seafood in aqauriums.
jordan parks – at the zoo
A Big City
You can decide what “big” means.
Lidija Bondarenko – Manhattan from Edgewater
A Tiny Town
Aim for really small–the kind of place where everyone knows or recognizes each other. A Chinatown, Koreatown, or other ethnic neighborhood could also work if you’re limited to a city.
Ahmad Syukaery – Farmers, Vang Vieng, Laos
Someplace Foreign
You don’t need to visit the other side of the world (though that’d be cool, too). Anyplace unfamiliar could be considered foreign, even if it’s close to where you live.
Ahmad Syukaery – Going to Market, Banjarmasin
A Friend’s Home
Giving you a good excuse to visit.
Lindsey – Windows to the Soul….
A Porch or Balcony
Bring out a chair and a cold drink, and you’ve got a perfect summer evening.
Darren Sethe – Brownsmead
A Library or Book Shop
Books and readers are so photogenic, you might end up with dozens of great photos.
Runar Eilertsen – Lise @ the Tromsø Library
A Carnival or Amusement Park
They can be festive, fun, or creepy. Whatever the atmosphere, you can get cool photos.
Wanlapa Tantiprasongchai
Someplace Weird
What “weird” means is totally up to you. It could be a weird museum, a weird store, or even a weird part of your neighborhood.
{Flixelpix} David – The Giant’s Causeway
A Family Member’s Home
With or without them present.
Jim Smith – cousins
A Desert
The word “desert” has several definitions. It can be a dry region, a lifeless part of the ocean, or any place that’s missing something, like culture. Use any definition you like.
Tristan ‘Shu’ Lebeschu – The Storm
Wherever the Rain Goes
A street gutter, a river, the ocean… Even a water treatment facility could be interesting.
Slavina Bahchevanova – Fallen
A Parking Lot
Or “car park,” if you prefer.
Lindell Dillon – Scissor-tailed flycatcher
Someplace Dogs Love
Think really happy, beyond average dog happiness.
Hammerin Man – Smiling Face of Fiore
A Sidewalk
Any sidewalk will do. Although, obviously, some sidewalks are better than others.
°phibo
A Bridge
If you’re really ambitious, try visiting one of the best bridges in the world for photography. Then again, not all beautiful bridges are famous. Maybe you’ll discover an incredible local bridge to photograph.
Giovanna Tucker – London Tower Bridge Light Trails
Someplace you want to go
Venice? Peru? The restaurant down the street? Near or far, it doesn’t matter.
Zed The Dragon – Busy Morning in Paris
A Grocery Store
Turn a mundane shopping trip into a fun photo shoot.
Matthew Coughlin – ESPN The Magazine – Alabama Face Guy
A Farm or Garden
Endless farm fields, a windowsill garden, a backyard strawberry patch… All can be beautiful.
Andy Farmer – Farm Scene
A Fountain or Swimming Pool
Just make sure you have a good camera strap to protect your camera from accidental drops.
RaffaLUCE – Retro Swim
A Playground or Sports Field
Both locations are great for action shots and candid portraits, but even empty playgrounds and sports fields can give you plenty to work with.
Yane Naumoski – Damaged
Someplace with a Good View
Climb a mountain, drive to a nice viewpoint, or take an elevator to the top floor of a tall building. If you’re lucky, maybe you already have a fantastic view from your home.
Dave Allen Photography – Smoky Mountains Sunrise
Someplace with a Stunning Night Sky
If you’re struggling to get a good shot, check out these tips for photographing the night sky.
Rebecca – Birth of Dragon
A Pub, Bar, or Café
Have a favorite place you like to hang out? Try capturing what you like about that place. Or, for something fast and simple, go for the classic drink-on-table shot.
ninasclicks
A Dark Place
Going out at night is an easy way to check off this one. For inspiration, look at this night street photography or these magical cityscapes at night.
maria izaurralde – dandelions of the urban jungle
Someplace Secret or Hidden
Need ideas? Try searching for historical or natural sites in your area. They might have interesting stories that involve secrecy or unexpected discoveries. Caves, coves, and attics are also good places to consider for this one.
grazynaphotography – Dewstow Gardens and Grottoes….. Monmouthshire
A Popular Tourist Destination
You can go big (the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, etc.), but a local tourist spot is fine, too.
Matthew Johnson – Tourists!
A Public Park
From massive national parks to tiny city parks, all have interesting scenes and subjects to capture.
Robert Felton – Sunburst Embankment
An Airport or Airstrip
You don’t have to fly anywhere, per se. You can get cool shots even without a plane ticket.
Lidija Bondarenko – Airplane and Rainbow
A Grassy Field
Photographing the grass, green or brown, is an obvious first choice for this location, but don’t feel limited by it. Morning dew, a lost toy, or a gorgeous skyline are a few other subjects you could photograph in a grassy field.
Mariana – Kissing the sun
A Local Landmark
Depending on your hometown, this landmark could be a world-famous tourist site or a weird statue all locals know about. If you’re not sure what classifies as a landmark, try looking at some local postcards. Or ask yourself how you’d give directions without Google.
Nimit Nigam – Blue Just Started…
Inside a Car
One subject for our 2017 Photography Challenge was cars. This time, we want to see your cool shots from the inside.
Donnie Nunley – Rail Crossing
A Train, Tram, or Bus Stop
Rapid transit (i.e. metro or underground) also counts.
Michele Lazzarini – Lost metro
Someplace Peaceful
For some, peaceful could mean a sunny beach, while others prefer a windowsill on a rainy day. Use your own definition of peaceful.
Mariano Colombotto – Peaceful haven
Someplace Sad
If you’re used to photographing joy, this one might be a challenge. It’s also an opportunity, though. By visiting a place that saddens you, you’ll have a chance to experiment with a mood that’s powerful and, in its own way, beautiful.
Ferry Noothout – Berlin(Berlijn)…There is always light and life in the darkness.
An Ocean or Puddle
If you live in a desert far from the ocean, try going somewhere you’re likely to find man-made puddles, like a swimming pool or ranch.
Christoph Hetzmann – Puddle Mirror
A Castle or Mansion
Old or new, elegant or run-down, private or public. It doesn’t matter.
Howard Ferrier – Overlooking Stirling Castle
Someplace with Delicious Food
This could be a street vender you love visiting, a classy five-star restaurant, or even your own kitchen.
Cat Girl 007 – Baked
Wherever You’d Fly a Kite
You don’t need to bring a kite along, but if you’re there anyway…
Richard Watkins LRPS – Camber Sands
Someplace Abandoned
Never tried urban decay photography before? Here’s your chance!
James Drury – picture this
A Crowded/Cramped Space
If you get claustrophobic easily, find a place that’s on the edge of what you can and cannot tolerate.
Marco Romani – Underground Path
On Top of a Building
The building doesn’t have to be tall or have a nice view. But it doesn’t hurt.
Christopher – City Heights
Under a Tree
Strange insects, sun-streaked leaves, and gnarled roots are a few examples of what you might find to photograph.
Serge Skiba – Angel Oak Tree
Someplace Colorful
The options are endless. Markets, festivals, gardens, butterfly conservatories, costume shops, anyplace with balloons…
Nina – Colorful Rebellion
A Field of Flowers
If you’re stuck in a desert the whole year, make sure you get this location in the short period when cactus flowers and other desert plants are blooming, usually early spring.
Shamini – Sunflower Garden
A Religious Building
Temple, synagogue, church, mosque, cathedral… There are a lot of options. Some places don’t allow photos, though, so check before you go.
Zed The Dragon – St Eustache roof
A Party
Not invited to any parties? Throw one yourself!
jordan parks – turning 5
