The 52 Photo Challenge
$40.00
Product Details:
| Description: | eBook (237 pages) |
|---|---|
| Skill level: | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
| Author/Instructor: | Nicole S. Young |
| Publication info: | Published on: January 19, 2023 // ISBN: 978-1-7323261-5-6 |
| Delivery method: | Digital download |
| Filetype included: | .pdf (Includes both horizontal and vertical PDF formats) |
The 52 Photo Challenge
Weekly photo topics for year-round inspiration
Weekly photo topics for year-round inspiration
Are you stuck in a photography rut and need motivation? Are you a new photographer looking to grow your craft? Or maybe you are looking to expand your portfolio with different types of photography? If so, you’ll find what you need in the 52 Photo Challenge eBook! This eBook contains 52 weekly technique-driven projects to help inspire you and give you the drive you’ve been looking for to get out with your camera and learn more about photography.
This challenge guide is perfect for both beginner and professional photographers looking for new and creative ways to improve their skills. It provides an in-depth and practical inspiration approach, helping you take great photos throughout the year. This photography book is a great resource for improving your photography skills, creativity, and self-confidence. It includes 52 unique and creative photography projects that are both fun and educational that will help keep you engaged and productive for weeks.
Preview the first three chapters:
Testimonials
Read what other photographers have to say about how this challenge transformed their outlook on photography
This challenge had good topics to pursue each week. The participants were worldwide and always supportive. Nicole offered several tutorials along the way that were engaging and informative. Overall, a positive experience.
Paul O.
I found the 52 Photo Challenge an outstanding way to motivate me to get out at least once a week to take a few shots based on the current weekly challenge. It opened me up to different styles and techniques, some of which I would like to dive into deeper. The 52 Photo Challenge also hit the sweet spot of life balance and committing time to improve my photography. Thank you!
A & M from Colorado
The photography challenge helped me make a habit of trying – and learning – new skills and strategies for making the pictures I already take in the day-to-day memorable. I could always find a how-to video online . . . but the chance to learn from a teacher and interact with others is the difference between trying something once and learning how to do it so the next time I can do it again.
Catherine Fedy
I did it! I actually did it! For 52 weeks, a new photo(s) was created, edited, and shared using the weekly topic the best I could. The photo challenge gave me the experience of looking at my scene differently and appreciating that so much can be learned by doing and sharing. A big thank you to you, Nicole, and the kind, supportive, and talented photo community you created!
I believe all photographers benefit from the Nicolesy 52-week challenge! It’s a direct route to being creative and learning to see through the camera lens. It is an opportunity to train your eye. I found the challenge to be a refreshing reminder to pick up my camera more often and exercise my photographic vision.
I’ve been lurking around Nicolesy for a while. Maybe from the inception? At least since the inception of the 52 Photo Challenge. I’m guilty of not always participating by image entry, but I always get to review how others interpret the week’s challenge. Give a shout-out, and mostly, have some fun.
Stephen Costigan
What I liked about the 52 Photo Challenge is that you were sometimes out of your comfort zone, but Nicole provided examples and guidance on achieving the required photo that week. The feedback from the other members on your weekly posted photos was very inspirational and encouraging. I looked forward to the Monday email detailing the week’s challenge, and I’m pleased to say that I submitted a photo for each of the 52 weeks. It was fun learning with a great community spirit.
Jim H.
Joining Nicole’s 52 Photo Challenge was a no-brainer for me as I was recently retired and on my bucket list was to resume my photography passion. Over the 52 weeks, I’ve been inspired to figure out each week’s challenge topic, learning and improving my photography. I really enjoyed the physical, creative, and social community aspects of the 52 Photo Challenge.
I’ve participated in online photography challenges for a while now, some judged, some with popular votes. These mostly have somewhat variable time schedules, but it’s been great having a weekly fixed one, with no reason to fear posting a shot, as everyone participating enjoys seeing what others have done and is happy to comment positively on photos. I’ve been taking photos for over 60 years now, ran a school photography club (well before digital), and currently help run our local u3a Photography Group (which also runs a non-hostile photo review system). The opportunity to feel welcome to ‘have a go’ at showing off an image is important, no matter what level of your experience or expenditure on it.
Neil S.
Are you tired of taking pictures with your camera or smartphone that are uninteresting? Then join Nicole Young and friends on the 52 Photo Challenge. It was a transformational experience that helped me understand the capabilities of my camera. It connected me with many like-minded people from around the world and was a challenging but fun-filled experience. Instructional pieces were not technical but straightforward and designed to draw on your creativity. The challenges taught me to “see” interesting opportunities in a number of different environments for a variety of photos. The members of the Challenge represented a range of folks from beginners to professionals; interaction was encouraged and always done in a positive manner. I can promise you one thing; you will learn and come away from the 52 Photo Challenge a more confident, creative, improved, and inspired photographer.
Ron
I started the 52 Photo Challenge last year and found it to be a great way to make me more “camera active” and not let the camera sit in the bag because I didn’t know what to shoot. I truly enjoyed looking at all the creative ways other folks met the challenge and the “positive” support given by other shooters. I did not complete many of the suggestions or assignments because “life” got in the way. As an amateur, 74, I think it is a great venture for anyone looking to improve their photography skills.
MarcDH
When you want to learn something about photography or post-production, you will find, without any doubt, an overload of tutorials, webinars, videos, ebooks, workshops, etc., on the internet. The problem is to find good quality, correctly priced so that you don’t lose a lot of time and energy (and money) trying to learn something that, in the end, won’t serve you. You won’t have that problem with Nicole Young. The 52 Photo Challenge is full of information, not only what but also how, why, and when, with a lot of ideas and alternatives, I learned a lot, I had a really good time, I discovered many new ways to take pictures, to make a long story short, I am in for the 52 Photo Challenge again in 2023.
G. Fayhee
What a great motivator the Nicolesy 52 Photo Challenge was for me. The weekly topics and tutorials gave me a much-needed push to concentrate on technique and creativity, while the platform for community sharing was full of fun and ideas. I’m looking forward to another year!
S. Sharp
I thoroughly enjoyed the 52 Photo Challenge. The Challenge helped me to think of different types of photos and gave me ideas that I wouldn’t have otherwise considered. And it was really fun to see the photos from the other photographers. Thanks, Nicole!
John C.
2022 was a great photographic year! The 52 Photo Challenge helped us get out with our cameras again. It often got us out of our comfort zone and learn new techniques.
Peter R.
I joined the 52 Photo Challenge in January 2022. I found the weekly emails from Nicole incredibly useful in stimulating my photography throughout the year, and I learned elements that I take forward on a daily basis. Although I was not able to participate each week, I never felt there was any pressure from the community to do so, and the feedback was always constructive. I recommend Nicole’s challenge to every photographer.
When I first heard about this amazing 52 Photo Challenge, I immediately joined this motivating initiative. When you practice photography for a long time, you stay in your comfort zone, which in a way, is not bad, and you end up excelling in your field. But then you have a narrow view of the immense possibilities offered by photography. So I decided to join the adventure and try to push up and broaden my boundaries. I might not have been regular each week, but I have done my best and am sometimes very surprised by the comments and likes of the other participants. I am delighted that Nicole has decided to renew the experience this year.
Soumaya S.
The 52 Photo Challenge in 2022 was such a gift for me; it gave me many opportunities to learn, PRACTICE, see what others are creating with the same prompt, and get inspired by all. It pushed me to look deeper, notice, slow down and get out of my comfort zone. It made the process enjoyable, challenging, and rewarding. I loved the curiosity it created in me to want to try different approaches for each prompt. I looked forward to Mondays to discover what the new Prompt or subject would be, as that’s when they were revealed. Thank you, Nicole, for making this possible and accessible to anyone and everyone.
The 52 Photo Challenge came just at the right time for me. I was feeling in a bit of a slump and had kinda lost my photography “mojo.” For me, participating in the 52 Photo Challenge gave me just the motivation that was necessary to push me to pick up the camera. I’ve been a photographer before digital so I have many years of learning under my “camera strap,” but what the challenge did was to force me to shoot specifically things that I may not normally shoot – taking me out of my comfort zone which, in turn, motivated me to shoot even more – so much so that I’m doing the challenge again for 2023!
Vic P.
The 52 Photo Challenge ‘did what it says on the tin’: It was a challenge, and it got me thinking and learning about new techniques and subject matter. I tried to make a new image every week, which is an excellent discipline and more achievable than one image a day. Occasionally I had to resort to an image I had in my catalogue but this was when the weather did not play ball. The community of fellow ‘Challengers’ were very supportive and shared their difficulties meeting the challenges. I enjoyed it so much that I joined the second 52 Photo Challenge in 2023!
S. Simgh
The 52 Photo Challenge helped in the following ways: Motivation to different areas of photography; use the camera and lens in other ways than before; improved framing techniques; think beyond the square that is what is usual for oneself.
Martin A.
The 52 Photo Challenge in 2022 made me try subjects I’d never tackled before and made me go back to using my SLR and different lenses rather than pulling my mobile out of my pocket. It remarkably boosted my confidence which resulted in many great photos.
John A.
Nicole’s 52 Photo Challenge is not only very educational, but it is also a lot of fun. It allows amateur photographers like me to show off their photos and receive critiques from other photographers. It also challenges amateurs like me to try new techniques.
GS Gilbert
The 52 Photo Challenge forced me to stop just repeating the photography I like while helping me improve that sort of photography, too. We all get into a rut where we like certain types of photography, and we avoid those elements of using our cameras that make us uncomfortable (for me, portraits) or where we are just not that good. Over the 52 weeks, I tried all sorts of new photography, learned more about how to get it right in the camera rather than through post-production, and turned more into a photographer than someone with a camera. And that’s why I am doing it again in 2023.
I loved participating in the challenge as it stretched my photographic boundaries. There were many challenging subjects that I rarely or never photographed. This oftentimes made me think outside of the box and definitely leave my comfort zone, thus causing unexpected rewards and growth.
Gene R.
The 52 Photo Challenge inspired me to further my photography skills each and every week. I enjoyed and learned a lot from viewing other participant submissions and being part of the 52 Photo Challenge online community. Nicole, our host, also offered many learning tutorials throughout the year to aid our photography & editing techniques.
Carol J.
The 52 Photo Challenge was a wonderful opportunity for me to be motivated to get myself out of the house using my camera. My skills improved in using light, composition, and visualization. It connected me to a great community of friendly and caring photographers.
André S.
52 weeks might sound a bit overwhelming, but I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. It is a help to practice your photography and be attentive each week and look for a suitable subject. Try, you certainly won’t regret it.
Bill H.
So often, I find myself photographing the same things in the same way. Not that it is a bad thing to do, but doing so is like putting on blinders. Participating in the 52 Photo Challenge ripped those blinders off (sometimes painfully) and forced me to take a different look at the world. Change is not always a bad thing.
D. Simmons
Joining The 52 Photo Challenge has really motivated me and opened my eyes to capture different styles of photography. Not all my photos were wall hanging quality, but the weekly subjects help me learn. Everyone in the group is friendly and supportive. Thank you, Nicole, for starting this Challenge!
I loved participating in the 52 Photo Challenge. Having “assignments” forces me weekly to think about the upcoming theme, and how to represent it, and then actually go do some meaningful photography. If not for the challenge, it would be easy to procrastinate and let my photography skills atrophy.
Customer Reviews
CYGood to be Challenged
I am enjoying the discipline of trying something new in my photographic journey. The 52 Challenge Book is such an asset. I am trying to master each week's challenge in the designed timescale. The bonus is if you miss a week you can go back in your own time.Good Luck everyone.
GBthe 52 photo challenge
I haven't done anything like this before, but need some inspiration after moving house from a very photographic area to one that isn't, so i am struggling to get enthusiasm back and this challenge has come at the right time,.. have done the 1st week , although i was ill and had to pull up last years photo, am looking forward to having to get out and about in this new area to complete some more tasks... looking forward to whats next... I think this is going to be an excellent challenge for anyone who needs that little spur on to get going again
CAA great and simple way to improve your photography
I was looking for a way to re-energize my passion for photography. I had read articles and books on finding inspiration, but to no avail. I decided to give Nicole’s book a chance. So far, it has sparked my interest in taking photos again. Why? By providing a theme each week with a simple but comprehensive presentation on options to achieve that theme, I again realised that there is a world of photographic possibilities before our eyes and that creativity is never far out of reach. My cameras have been taken out of their bags and are now at the ready for the next weekly challenge.
USGreat Project to Jump Start Your Creativity
doing the challenge last year heled me jump start creativity, and photo skills
USA fun and informative challenge!
I volunteer at the local Senior Center, leading a photography group. I bought the book to give me ideas to share with my students. I love the variety of topics!
CAWide range of interesting challenges
In "52 Photo Challenge" Nicole Young has mapped out an inventory of photographic skills for the student to master and then apply when that technique adds value to the image. The organization of challenges, by technique, rather than subject matter, is a fascinating way to push photographers to play creatively. I decided to begin at the beginning, with bokeh, which to me had been no more than an accidental feature of an image. The challenge asks me to think about how, and why, to create it deliberately as a compositional element. I'm not interested in the "weekly" element of the challenge - I'll park on a challenge as long as I need to.
USRefreshing way to see better.
The 52 week Photo Challenge, Provides a fresh creative way to see around your part of the world to find new and interesting things to photograph and see. By simply concentrating on one aspect of seeing you develop new skills for a new shot. This isn't something you would just do once, by looking over the task a second time, you continue to improve just by seeing.
USI love the challenges!
This is my second year of doing Nicolesy's 52 Photo Challenge. I already know what the challenge will be for each week, and I bought this book, anyway. I like her sample photographs and the descriptions and explanations she gives for each topic. I highly recommend this book!
AUUnderstanding the Weekly Challenges
Nicole has spent many hours putting together a fine explanation of each weekly challenge with outstanding photos. I have included my summary of the topics that I needed clarification on. Her free downloads at Nicolesy.com/free include LR and Photoshop presets, texture and overlays and LUT files. Her Youtube channel includes a huge range of LR and Photoshop videos. I highly recommend the ebook. Patterns - fill the frame with nature elements or manmade architecture Symmetry - in nature or architectural design or smaller scale Sense of scale - add people or common objects to your scene One lens - limit your options just use one lens all week Series - a collage of images with one theme eg flowers Flat lay - table top photo of food or tools or camera gear Behind the scenes - a pull back shot showing the camera and setup Unique Perspective - looking up or down or on the inside of something Starburst - into a light source using a small aperture or special filter Fill the frame - get in close to the subject or crop heavily in processing Spot metering - meter only where the centre of focus is - bright spot? Handheld long exposure - slow shutter speed or intentional camera movement Shoot through - like framing but using a very wide aperture to blur foreground Faces - make the eye (or eyes) the main focus of people or animals Environmental portrait - use a wide angle lens and get people at work or at play Details - a leaf or close-up of a scene (two photos showing a scene and details) Fog and steam - early morning landscape or steam trains in action Overlay - using Nicolesy.com/free to add textures using a blend or screen mode Analog -use a film camera or recreate film with post processing (eg colorise a B&W) A thousand words - a scene that incites emotion involving something meaningful to you Portfolio - display your best work on a website, a calendar, an ebook or a collage
USTrack record of my growth.
I purchased the book to spur me to pick up my camera and get more technical each week. The book has done that with the right amount of instruction and a challenge. In addition, the community for instant gratification and comparison. I have already grown so much. Lastly, the book provides a lasting track record for the techniques I have successfully accomplished.
USHelpful
I found the format and suggestions to be brief and to the point. Very helpful with suggestions and how to use various techniques to get successful results.
USAre you Tired of Taking the Same Old Photos
If you are tired of taking the same old pictures and you need a change then purchase Nicole Young’s 52 Week Photo Challenge where you can enjoy a new photographic challenge each week. This isn’t a typical how-to book but one that gets you to “see” new opportunities for photos that are around you. The challenges are fun, and thought-provoking, and will challenge you to use your favorite camera or smartphone in ways you have perhaps never thought about. The assignments are simple and ways are suggested on how to use your camera to capture those unforgettable photos. It is also filled with photos to support each assignment. The challenges in this book, if you accept them, will make you "see" the world around you in a different way….it has me!
USHow about a 52 Photo Challenge Workshop?
Hi Nicole, The 52 Photo Challenge is great, and pushes us to expand our creative skills. Especially wonderful are the truly superb submissions by a number of students on your site. That by itself is worth the money. But if there's a downside to the course, it's that students are naturally hesitant to be give any opinion on someone else's photograph that might seem harsh. The closest we have to an approval or disapproval rating is the number of likes a photo will collect. With that in mind, I would like to propose the idea of a 52 Photo Challenge Workshop, where each subject would contain a detailed tutorial, and two or three videos and work-along files. The members would have a website where they would upload their own photos, telling other members exactly what they did to capture the shot, and how they processed it. Most importantly, others would be perfectly free to give an honest critique, regardless of how harsh their opinion might be. As you well know, photographers must have a thick skin, or they can't learn anything. The workshop would be a perfect setting for this. The alternative, (and perhaps the one you might choose) is to list at the bottom of your weekly challenges where students could get much more detailed instructions on a particular genre, through books and videos, and then see what progress they might be making by the number of likes their photos earn. Thanks for taking the time to read.
AUPerfect for my current state of photographic lethargy!
I have gone a bit flat in enthusiasm for using my camera of late. This book, plus Nicolesy’s 52-week online challenge, has motivated me to get off my duff and start using my cameras for other than paperweights again!
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