In 2019 I ran a monthly Colour Photo Challenge. It wasn’t about fancy photos, it was about encouraging each other to take time out, be more mindful, slow down, really see what was around them, then when something caught our eye, taking a photo, sharing the shot and starting a conversation. It was fun! And as the year went by, more and more people got involved.
2020 would have been a perfect year to do it again, with all the time we had at home, but lets just say that for one reason or another it never happened. I am starting it again for 2021 though and hope you will join me.
This is how it worked in 2019:
- At the beginning of each month we chose what colour we were going to look out for
- I posted a photo every now and then with that colour and people either added their photos as a comment or visitor post
- A hashtag was used so we didn’t miss anything
- Some people just told us where the photo was taken while others gave us more detail
- At the end of each month I posted our ‘collection’ of photos for everyone to see
So, 2021 and the challenge is back, but shuffled around a little. Its not just about colours this time. Each month will be something different and it will be as a FB Group so we can chat a little more. I am hoping we can share tips, walks, ideas, learn from each other and maybe be able to meet up on PhotoWalks sometime soon!
A lot of the people who took part in 2019 were small businesses, this group will be another way to say hello and then chat privately.
Watch this space, should all be set up in the next few days.
Bye for now, J x
P.S. If you weren’t involved in the JMH Colour Photo Challenge in 2019 here are some of the photos from each month, and some notes on how things developed.
January Greys – February Purples – March Greens – April Yellows
Month 1, January Greys, filled with just my photographs and chat about PhotoWalks. I talked about how walking and looking for something in particular slows your pace, gets you taking in whats around you and noticing so much more and how we all have our little cameras with us so why not use them for a bit of fun and creativity.
Month 2, February Purples, and other people were starting to get involved, they were noticing the purple wrappers on their chocolate bars, little flowers on the sidewalk and and stickers on lamp posts. I got so excited everytime a photo popped onto the FB page!
Month 3, March Greens, more new faces and some photos taken not out on walks but just around home, a green key, box of Kleenex and plate of mushy peas being 3! Families were starting to get involved and were having fun.
Month 4, April Yellows, and I got my first 2 photos from out of England! Wild flowers from Jill on a walk in Spain and flowers from Jan’s garden in Rochester, USA.
May White – June Oranges – July Blues – August Browns
Month 5, May White, and the highlights of this month were the holiday photos. We had 2 photos sent from Judy while on holiday in Japan – that was very cool – another photo from Jill who was in Morocco and a beautiful blossom tree from Rochester, USA. There was a less glamorous one from me, my white mug of tea at the hairdressers!
Month 6, June Oranges, and so many photos came in from all over the world! We had cyclists in Warwickshire and canoeists in Northants, Wallabies in Australia and glass in Venice, Tigger at Disney and streets in Italy, rocks at Both-y-Gest beach and campfires in Northants. It was a very exciting month seeing them all coming in and hearing about everyones holidays.
Month 7, July Blues, the ‘regulars’ were really starting to notice the ‘everyday things’, we had pegs on the clothes line, bags of flour, empty bottles and a new notebook. The holiday ones were still coming in, favourite was the rainy day in Venice. We also had a photo sent in from a little boy called Gabe, taken while he was walking to school with AJ.
Month 8, August Browns, and we had abandoned houses in Spain, an old cinema in France, shadows in Towcester, streets in Tuscany and a Medina in Morocco. Less glamorous, but just as interesting, we had rust, ice-creams and dusty feet! Everyone was really starting to enjoy looking for a specific in their day and then sharing it.
September Pinks – October Reds – November Autumn – December Glitter
Month 9, September Pinks, a quieter month, maybe because everyone was busy getting back to school and work but we still had a stroopwafel in Utrecht, a beach hut in Southwold and a pink suit in London, amongst lots of flowers.
Month 10, October Reds, red caught a lot of eyes! Think this was our biggest month, we had lipsticks from Michael in London and a temple in Japan from Rachel, a wedding from Brenda in Uganda and Nelson in Portsmouth from Anne, plus tomatoes in Portugal, dog blankets in Havant, flags in USA and lots of lovely shots from Northampton.
Month 11, November Autumns, it wobbled a little here, called the colour ‘autumn’ thinking about a collection of leaves and halloween but photos tipped over to orange. Didn’t really matter though, everyone was still doing what this was all about, taking time out, exploring and really SEEING more of their world around them.
Month 12, December Glitter, could have gone for silver or gold but decided glitter was more fun which made the photos all about the Christmas tree, lights and tinsel. It was a quiet end to the year, but a happy one.
