The Impossible Project

The Impossible Project

You may have heard of the work to revive the defunct Polaroid processes, but I need to tell you that it’s a long-standing British tradition for Bank Holidays… The essence is to begin a large project in the house or garden, without any significant planning. Those of a political turn of mind may have examples on a larger stage…

Is there a photographic equivalent that I can suggest for you – preferably, something that is either a realistic job to complete today, or with a realistic prospect of completing before lockdown ends? Well…
I’ve done more close-up and still life pictures since this time last year than in the whole of my life before, and I’ve encouraged others to do the same. Often, though, I think that readers have thought that ‘it’s all very well, but I haven’t got anywhere I can do that!’



So today’s project is to identify part of your living space that you can turn into a small still life studio, and can take pictures in quickly and easily before returning it to its original state and purpose. For me, this is going to be the part of the kitchen where the kettle is – so I have a vested interest in restoring normality before very long.

Part two will come tomorrow, and there will be two pictures, taken in different lighting conditions and at different times during today, and I will explain what I do and how well it works. Please note that while I’ve posted two or three ‘found’ still life images from the area, these were shots of what was there anyway: this project is about making something entirely different.

And no, I haven’t tried it. I do know that it will involve a camera on a tripod, a sheet of cardboard, and some cutlery as subject matter. Though I’m not actually planning to do it all without telling Mrs D.