Finding My Voice Through the 12 in 12 Project

I started the 12 significant photos project in late February 2022. You can read here to learn more about why I took this on. The mechanics of the project are straightforward: make 48 photographs in a year showing 12 places at The Parklands of Floyd’s Fork in all four seasons. At the end of the year, I’ll select 12 photos, preferably one from each month, and publish them in a zine.

Despite the straightforward mechanics, it’s quite a learning experience. 

The biggest lesson so far is that while I am telling the Parklands’ story, I need to tell it in my voice. Many people use the park for the youth soccer fields, for exercise on its paved paths, or for bird watching. It’s wonderful for Louisville to have a place for those activities. However, that’s not why I go there. The project and support of other members have helped me realize that my voice involves sharing the intimate details that catch my eye.

I love the spring green and the idea that this seed pod got stuck on its way to the ground. Interestingly, I returned to this spot a few days later and the seed pod was no longer suspended in the branch. Either someone picked it up or the wind helped it complete its journey to plant a tree far from its parent. I love these details. I hope this photograph leads the viewer to think about what they missed while jogging by. Maybe they’ll even realize that the seedpod itself has a story. And that story continued after the photograph was made.

The second big thing I’ve learned is that it’s harder than I thought it would be to get out and photograph each week. As my website says, “I’m a husband and a dad with a day job.” Based on when I started the project, I should be making my 11th photograph this week. I’m behind with only seven. Unfortunately, a busy work schedule this week may keep me from adding to that number. Learning to carve out time is another important lesson.

Some of those seven photographs are ones that won’t make the final cut. For example, here’s one that just didn’t capture what I felt. The almost-white fallen tree really caught my eye, and I wanted to use infrared film to show you the contrast between it and the creek. For me, the facts are there, but the feeling is missing.

Infrared may be better for a broader view of the creek surrounded by leafed-out trees on a summer day with clouds in the sky.

The good news is that experiences like this one are helping me get better. The project is doing exactly what it’s supposed to. It’s helping me:

• discern my voice,

• improve my photography, 

• learn to plan shots,

• make time in my schedule, and 

• create a body of work telling my story about this place that’s important to me.

Look for an update in a few months about how it’s going.