The Journey

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People are endlessly fascinating. As individuals we exhibit a unique response to any situation, a response that may be similar to those around us or wildly different. This is true too for us as photographers. Just think of the range of different images we produce from our photowalks. Extending this idea though, how do we affect each other when we're in a situation, how many photos do we take that are impacted by the presence of another person or the ideas of another photographer?

 This unique response and interpretation is the basis for our new weekly photo chase, The Journey. This isn't a competition, the images can't be judged against each other and there are no prizes. The value is in us all taking part, to bring our own interpretation and to impart our own influence on what happens next. Intrigued?

Ok, so how does it work ?

So here's how The Journey works. An image will be posted on Wednesday 5th January interpreting the theme of 'journey'. One week later, the next photographer will post an image which takes inspiration from the first, related only by whatever link the second photographer chooses. This could be a strong link, say another image around 'journey' or it could be based on a small element of the first image; a pair of boots, maybe the colour green, maybe the notion of movement, maybe a photographic element such as an image being in high key or maybe something more abstract is conjured in your mind's eye. Whatever the link, it's your interpretation as the photographer. There are no rights and no wrongs, this is purely subjective and I hope it provides a space to be creative in our thinking and in our picture taking.

So what do I need to know?

The Journey images will be posted to a group on WhatsApp and to take part you'll need a smartphone capable of running WhatsApp. You'll also need to provide your mobile phone number to join the group and you should be aware that your phone number will be visible to everyone in the group. This is only open to Tollesbury Photographic Group members and will never be a public group.

Images can be shot on any form of camera whether that be a dedicated camera or a Smartphone and the pictures can be in any genre; landscape, urban, portraiture etc. Your interpretation and the interesting connections you conjure up between images are far more important than image quality. This is all about our creative thinking, joining the dots, allowing ourselves to push the boundaries without having to worry about producing a brilliant picture too. It would be great if good pictures do coincide with great interpretations but that's not the prime goal here.

Each week, one nominated photographer will take a single photo and post it to WhatsApp on the Wednesday. You can include a title, an explanation of your connection, an obscure piece of poetry that may indicate your connection or you can leave us to interpret the picture without any embellishment at all. Again, it's up to you as to how you want to present your interpretation.

As only one person will post each week, you will only have to shoot once every 15 or 20 weeks; it all depends on how many of our group join The Journey.

So how do I take part?

To register for The Journey, please send an email to tpg@paulaldred.com, including your mobile phone number. I'll setup the WhatsApp group and I'll post a calendar of who needs to shoot on which weeks. This is a group effort, so if you can't shoot in your given week, please post in the WhatsApp group to ask to swap weeks with another photographer.