nterest. Am I really interested in this project? Am I
willing to spend energy, time, and resources on it?
Am I willing to make an internal pact with myself
to see the idea through to completion?
■ Selection. Am I familiar with this subject? Narrow
down your choices and be specifi c about what
you are going to include. Once you have begun,
do not be afraid to change or expand the project
according to the situation.
■ Audience. Will other people be interested in this
subject? Can I engage and retain the audience’s
attention without violating my personal integrity or
that of the subject?
■ Visualization. Does the subject lend itself to a
strong visual interpretation? Subjects and themes
that portray action or strong emotions are
generally easier to visualize than intellectual
concepts. Think of fi lms you appreciate and
stand-up to multiple viewings. Generally their
message and story are delivered primarily
through the use of images, with sparingly used
dialogue.
■ Accessibility. Is this a practical project? Can I
photograph at times that are accessible to the
subject and me?
■ Research. How can I increase the breadth and
depth of my knowledge about the subject? Look at
the work of other artists who have covered similar
areas. What did they do right and wrong? What
would you do differently? Discuss the subject with
people directly involved. See what they are
thinking and feeling. Research what others have
discovered. Write out and/or diagram your
thoughts to help expand and clarify your
understanding of the project. Think about all these
different ideas and approaches and how they tie
in together. Use these bits of information to
generate ideas of your own that can be visually
expressed.