PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

Theme for AY 25-26

“A city without art is a city without soul. Art gives a place its identity, tells its stories, and brings people together in ways that nothing else can.” – Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson

PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT THEME FOR 25-26:- “Rhythm, Colour, and Movement: The Art of Our City”

Through this theme, we invite you to explore the artistic heartbeat of your surroundings. Art is not just found in galleries and museums—it’s in the rhythm of a street musician’s melody, the bold colours of a mural, the graceful movement of a dancer, and the everyday expressions of creativity that shape your city or town. Through this theme, capture how music, dance, and visual art weave into the fabric of your community.

But photography is only the beginning. As you document these artistic expressions, take a step further—research their significance in the context of your city. Some guiding questions for your research are given below: 

    • How did this art form emerge in your community, and what local stories does it tell?
    • Does it preserve a tradition unique to your city, or does it reflect a modern shift in culture?
    • How have historical events, social movements, or the city’s geography influenced this form of art? 
    • Consider the people behind it—are they long-standing cultural figures, emerging voices, or everyday citizens shaping the artistic landscape? 
    • What does this art say about the values, struggles, and aspirations of the people who live here? 
    • Think about its impact—does it bring neighbourhoods together, challenge perceptions of your city, or add to its identity in an unexpected way? 
    •  Can you tell us something unique about the art itself? The style, size, duration, collaborations, intended impact, etc.? 

Your project should not only showcase the art but also uncover how it connects to the heartbeat of your city. The narrative your develop should be very interesting and immediately hook the audience. We are not looking for Wikipedia copy and paste type of research. We want you to dig deep, talk to the artists, and document how each of us can connect personally to every photo you showcase. 

There are endless ways to capture the essence of your city’s art. You might photograph grand murals or hidden graffiti, a stage performance or an impromptu dance on the street, a bustling music festival or a quiet moment of a musician practicing alone. Look for contrasts—tradition and modernity, movement and stillness, chaos and harmony. Through your lens, reveal the soul of your city’s artistic expression.

Photos can be a mixture of landscapes, portraits, stills, movement, street, aerial, event, etc. Some ideas for photos that can be captured under this theme are given below:

  1. Bold street art, installation and murals shown by local artists 
  2. Public spaces where artists have painted stories of the city
  3. Colourful signboards, hand painted shop fronts and traditional art work
  4. Performance by street musicians
  5. Energy of live bands, DJs and audience interaction at local music festivals
  6. Dance rehearsals, dance performances
  7. Theatre houses that promote local artists
  8. Drum circles
  9. Local dancers in costumes/ different poses in front of iconic city structures
  10. Any kind of public gathering around art or music that is becoming part of the city’s DNA
  11. Local theatre rehearsals, street plays
  12. Puppet shows in your city
  13. Folk performances
  14. Stations or bus stops with art installations
  15. Lesser-known cafes that promote local artists
  16. Local poetry recitations/open mic
  17. Bridges and underpasses with artwork
  18. Flash mobs if you happen to capture any
  19. Traditional performances on the street
  20. Old storytelling artists that use different movements