Completing Projects

[Ian Leake]

As some of you know, I’ve had the privilege of working with a model called Libby on a nudes project for the last few months. Our aim has been to create a small portfolio of prints (Glimpses of Libby) which as individual prints are elegant and sumptuously beautiful, but as a group reveal something deeper and more meaningful. I think this weekend we passed the first major milestone and completed the photography: we now have ten fantastic photographs that collectively are my best work ever. All we have to do now is argue over sequencing, possibly make or remake one or two photos, and then find a way to fund, produce and exhibit the final work.

This is my first serious project where I’ve consciously taken a portfolio from the first germ of an idea scribbled in my notebook through to a coherent body of work (albeit a small one). (And OK, I know it’s not complete yet, but I can see the end of the project now.) In many ways it’s come to dominate my photographic life: this is important, while everything else is just for fun.

What’s surprised me is that rather than feeling proud and elated (which is what I expected to feel), in fact I feel quite sad. And this has got me to wondering about how other people feel when they complete projects. Happy or sad? Tired or energised? Thankful it’s all over? Can’t wait to start the next? All of the above?

So my question is, how do you feel when you complete a project? And why?

 

[SuzanneR]

Your work should evolve... and hopefully "glimpses... " will lead you to your next small portfolio, and that one to your next...

I have a deadline of June to complete a portfolio for a show. Though all the shooting is complete for the moment, I am working on processing and printing, now, I fully expect to carry on with the work after this show, and we will see where it takes me.

It feels like Part I will be complete by the summer, but I hope it will lead me to Parts II and III, too!!

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Ian-

you're getting the artist's post-partum depression. It happens to almost everyone at some point or other, when you invest critical emotional energy in a project. In part you're sad because it's done, and now the process is over. It's also the death of the creative, and the start of the WORK (and as we all know, work is a four-letter word). Sometimes you also get that feeling because you've been so focused on a given project that it takes a while before you can re-focus your creative energy on to a new project, and so you get frustrated.

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

I got really bummed out loading the last 10 sheets of film I had dedicated to my Project Pond Scum. I've still got a ton of printing, mounting framing, deciding, scanning, selling and promoting to do which has been a bit of a reality check.... but still there's that sense of melancholy. When you are passionate about your work I think it is a natural thing. I believe the greater worry would be to NOT feel that way. Good luck, Ian. Shawn

 

[wfe]

I'm terrible at completing projects but do have one in the works that I will complete. I can't say that I've experienced these feelings. Perhaps the work itself has been enjoying and fullfilling for you. My suggestion is to enjoy the completed body of work and jump into another project. I also agree with you that this is "important" work. Congratulations on the project and all the best on the next one. I'm looking forward to seeing it unfold.

Cheers,
Bill

 

[philldresser]

Hi Ian

Hope you are well!

Having seen some of these exquisite images I would be proud of them as a portfolio. In fact, very proud. Your hard work and focus has been worth it.

Closure of this project is indeed necessary if you feel it has matured, however to me the fact that there is sadness indicates that your work with Libby is not yet finished. Maybe a new portfolio on a different slant, pushing yourself once again like you have on this project.

I wish you luck and would love to see the finished portfolio after all the end prep work

Phill

 

[Ian Leake]

Thanks all. Interestingly I already know exactly what my next project will be (and it'll be very fabulous and very different!). But although I can't wait to get started, I've promised myself that I'll complete this one first (and to me completion means having exhibited it somewhere).

 

[wheelygirl]

Hello, to all!
As many might know from my other posts, I'm attending classes at my local community college, 2 weeks away from the end of this semester. Yiipppppeee! Anyhow, The last assignment of my Photography level 1, is a "Narrative" of 5 final prints, matted. This assignment has given me an insight as to what I do not like about college classes: the pressure of deadlines! I certainly realize that every one who works, has these horrid things, but deadlines seem to cause me terrible mistakes, such as opening my camera prematurely, causing the last 10 frames of the roll to fog!!! I suspect those were very good and viable shots, too, if I hadn't been so impatient!! Such is life, being an impatient newbie!!!

 

[Ian Leake]

I sympathise with you. A while ago, on my last day in Dublin, I stood on a traffic island for about 20 minutes waiting for the right person to pass a big reflective window in exactly the right way. I finally got my shot and moved on just as it was getting dark. Keen to safeguard my prized shot I opened up the camera to unload - oops, I'd forgotten to rewind the film! I guess that learning to work under pressure is good, but sometimes we have to make mistakes to learn

 

[dpurdy]

I will only say that you should finish the project. I work in series as well. At some point I always feel I am doing my best/most important work then for one reason or another never completely finish the project, the printing or production and then begin to get disappointed and moving on takes a higher priority than totally finishing. Now I find myself overwhelmed with a backlog of work that needs finishing whether in project or individual works and it begins to bog me down emotionally as I begin to feel like I am wasting time and materials unless I finish work completely and yet I am mostly motivated to move on to new work. Just finish it.

 

[Colin Corneau]

The best way to get over one project is to get under way with another one!

 

[Black Dog]

For sure! John Blakemore said that he knew a project was complete when he no longer felt the need to make photographs on that particular theme [that's my feeling too]. It's also important not to get too hung up on finding the next BIG PROJECT -relax and let the images take their own time.

 

[catem]

Some projects reach a clear and decisive end and it's time to move on.

Others continue ... and need putting to one side and then bringing forward again when the times are right. Like putting away an idea or a piece of writing and letting it brew...then it's possible to be working on more than one at the same time

 

[bill schwab]

It is all one, long project to me. 35 years and counting. Although I know better, it is my hope that it will never end.

 

[Ian Leake]

It is all one, long project to me. 35 years and counting. Although I know better, it is my hope that it will never end.

I hope your project doesn't end too Bill. And I hope one day to have some of your work on my wall.

 

[catem]

Some projects reach a clear and decisive end and it's time to move on.

Actually I realise that is rubbish. I have finished with projects, but thinking about it the ending has never been clear and decisive - and in fact I'd like to think I could always go back to anything.

Sometimes I think you probably have to call a halt to something temporarily at least - even if the finishing line is fairly random, if for no other reason than to keep you sane. Other things can go on for ever.

 

[Ian Leake]

Some projects reach a clear and decisive end and it's time to move on.

For me this project has definitely finished (the creative work anyway; production, etcetera still needs to be done of course). There is one caveat, which is that if we find an important gap when editing then we may make something to fill it. But otherwise it’s off to new pastures for us.

Interestingly (to me anyway), I’m increasingly feeling that this is part of a larger project, the shape of which I’m only dimly aware of at the moment. It’s something I find really stimulating about the creative process: everything is connected; one thing inexorably leads to another; and the only real constraints are internal ones…

 

[Black Dog]

Some projects reach a clear and decisive end and it's time to move on.

Others continue ... and need putting to one side and then bringing forward again when the times are right. Like putting away an idea or a piece of writing and letting it brew...then it's possible to be working on more than one at the same time

I find that too-have been working on several things which have reached a natural pausing point so I'm catching up with my massive printing backlog.Still do a few pics when I feel moved to though . Art and Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orland is a must read IMO-really good on stuckness and other fears which afflict artists.

 

[Ian Leake]

Art and Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orland is a must read IMO-really good on stuckness and other fears which afflict artists.

I keep giving away my copy of Art and Fear, then having to buy a new one...

 

[bill schwab]

Very kind Ian. I've gotten to really like your work as well. I didn't mean to be flippant in my first answer, I have just learned that in my case it seems a project never really ends. Maybe it is because in the end, it is all you.

Great project by the way. I look forward to seeing what you come up with next. Careful on those rocks that are, in the words of Clay, "slippery as snot."

Bill

 

[eddym]

Art and Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orland is a must read IMO-really good on stuckness and other fears which afflict artists.

EVERY time I get into a slump or otherwise depressed, I read that book again. It is a life-saver! I also like to take it along on trips for inspiration.

 

[eddym]

I keep giving away my copy of Art and Fear, then having to buy a new one...

I don't give mine away; I just have Amazon.com send a copy to whomever I think would benefit from it.
However, that statement was not intended to be interpreted as an open-ended offer...