What started in the summer of 2011 as a fun little project has turned into quite a thing these many years later on. I am talking about my backyard photo project—a project familiar to regular readers of this blog.
The backyard project is almost a no-project. It was meant as an outlet for my experimentation and for me to push myself beyond my regular ways of seeing and photographing. Here I could step out of the all so infamous box and not have to worry about the result—because it is all about fun and playfulness, without any pressure or performance needs that have had to be met.
Doing this project, I have deliberately broken all the “rules” in the book. It’s been a way for me to keep my vision fresh. And after eight years, it has actually turned into a visually interesting and personal photo essay of sorts.
Last time I wrote about the photo projects, I took the approach as far out as possible. By swinging the camera forcefully when triggering the shutter and using a long shutter speed, I captured some unusual and abstract photos—to say the least. Last week I came around from the other direction. This time I tried to photograph as straight on and standard-like as possible, and challenged myself to see if I could still come up with something different.
This may not be the most thought-provoking result or even captivating at all. But I have still chosen to display a handful of images from this shoot, to show that not all we do have to be all that touching or appealing in order to work within a larger body of work. And even if the result isn’t as spectacular as one maybe would have liked to, there is always learning in every twist and turn of shooting—as long as we keep shooting.
If you haven’t seen my previous photos, here is the links to post about my backyard project: Backyard Frenzy, Backyard Abstraction, Shooting Sideways, Backyard Bliss, Experimental Backyard, My Photographic Retreat, My Backyard Project, My Personal Challenge, The World from the Backyard, Instagram my Backyard, Out of Comfort Zone and Challenge and Expand.
In Flow with Otto 
Rules are made specifically to be broken! Bravo on the project. I watch, read, enjoy, not always post, but love these photos most. I know!! Cuba pics are also grand, but these are intriguing. Forced, but not forced at all. To me, pure creativity. Hence, my kind of ART. 🤗
I am very happy you think so. And appreciate your feedback. Thank you, Carmen.
I think your backyard project is a great way to extend or expand your photographic vision. The small area forces you to ‘think outside the box’ in order to capture something a little different.
I really enjoyed viewing the images especially the last two.
…..and it’s not as easy as one might think to find subject matter either.
I challenged myself to photograph something in black and white indoors with my Last Light project and living in a small studio apartment and having no ornaments (I hate dusting) or flowers etc indoors made it a very hard challenge indeed 🙂
Yes, you have made yourself a challenging project too. Which I think is reflected in the result being so creative.
All of your work is exceptional, particularly your people work. But this is my favorite work of yours, because so often we overlook what is right around us. Beauty and art are everywhere.
You are right, it is very easy to overlook the beauty of everyday. It’s really everywhere,
I live it. Making the everyday and mundane, incredibly interesting.
Yes, you do. But I also think you live an extraordinary life. 🙂
I love the way the greenery is swallowing the outdoor furniture. The end result is a photo more interesting than a well-manicured landscape. I like this project, Otto, and I do recall when you first introduced it. Glad for the update. 🙂
Of course all this greenery, shows that we haven’t put enough work into our backyard so far this year. 🙂 A little embarrassing, maybe. Nevertheless, I am glad you like result in terms of photos.
Very atmospheric. You inspire me. I think I also take a few pictures in my backyard today!
I look forward to seeing the result. Have fun!
I like those lantern flowers and remember that bench. Do you sit in it as well?
No, I don’t. As you may see, the bench is pretty covered in greenery.
I love projects like these, ones that make you think creatively. Of the ones in this post, it is that first photo that really appeals to me. I like the tones in it but also what is in focus and what isn’t hits a very nice balance in my opinion.
Thank you for the feedback, Maranto.
Your back garden is always interesting to see.
Like any garden, it’s always changing.
Great photos!
Thank you, Nuno.
Fascinated me all of them… Great photographs. Thank you dear Otto, Love, nia
And thank you for the comment, Nia.
You’ve discovered the small gems inside your “backyard” challenge. And I do agree that it’s the ongoing discovery while looking through the lens that builds our own way of seeing.
And for me part of the beauty of this project is the easy accessibility. Whenever I have a spare minute I can just head out into the backyard.
Yes, that’s what I adore doing. I have a rather large gardening are for city living. It’s almost a half acre, so I have various exposures and habitats. Also I am fortunate to have protected parks within a short walk or drive. Many opportunities to meditate with Mother Nature.
I like these quiet, atmospheric glimpses of a garden-realm, in part as an illustration of the inexorable-seeming changes in the natural world, when we’re no longer there to constantly cut and prune and shape things our way – – personally, I find it reassuring when nature reasserts itself.
And I find your words reassuring. Like you, I like the idea of nature reasserting itself – particularly in times like these – but also knowing that gardens aren’t “suppose” to become completely wild.
I find your photos very evocative, Otto. Evocative of nature’s slow yet unstoppable marching on, no matter what stands in its way. Nature will find a way, even if we don’t.
I so hope you are right – both here and in a grand scheme of things. 🙂
I, too, hope I am right, Otto. 🙂
You are simply creative.
Thank you.
I really do like this approach you took for your backyard project. In my opinion, they are good decorating pictures to create atmosphere for restaurants.
Thank you. I am glad you like the approach.
all excellent shots!
love how they each have much character and tell a story by themselves
Thank you.
Nature is at it’s leisure in your chairs 🙂
i quite like these photos, but you know me
Yes – and thank you.
I enjoy your backyard project. It feels more intimate and personal than your other projects, and the images speak to my own experiences.
I am happy their do. Thanks, Linda.
I am so curious to know what kind of camera you use and whether you still develop film or have gone full digital? Your pictures are beautiful. I haven’t had my camera out in a long time and it is inspiring to see your photos.
For this shoot, I used Canon 5D IV and a 24-105 mm lens. I do use film every so often, but for most of the time I am all digital. 🙂
captured so beautifully as you worked with the sunlight
Thank you, Sherri.
I think this is my favorite in your Backyard Series Otto. I love the natural growth and the autumn colors in these.
I find it interesting that this is your favourite installment of my backyard project as I was somewhat reluctantly showcasing it. So thank you for the encouragement, Holly.
I really do love this one, it is perfect for fall.
What a testament your project has also been to the changing landscape of your backyard over the seasons. I’m enjoying the way you’ve framed these photos as if we were getting peaks into the human-made through nature’s structure.
Yes, the backyard certainly has changed over this many years. I like your thoughts around what you see in this series. Thanks, my friend.
The first three feel both autumnal and deeply nostalgic. They’re filled with the kind of sweet ambivalence that seems to come as the season turns. My favorite photo is the last. It reminds me of old barns, old houses: tumbled down with the vines and grasses encroaching. Old cemeteries, too, with half-hidden stones — nature softening our constructed worlds.
I enjoy your response to the series of images. Thank you so much, Linda.
Ah, come on. Even straight on, standard, and you see color pop, you use dof to direct our eyes, you find beauty and amplify it. Dang, you’re good.
And you make me smile. Thank you, Linda.
Good! You should smile.
nice your done realy good jog i like it
Thank you.
We learn with experimentation. It’s good to try to expand our view of things and the way we do things. I’m sure your backyard exploration can and will lead to some interesting work.
It’s always fun to experiment and see where it can lead, isn’t it.
After the will of Men its done, Nature, or some may call it entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. The total entropy of a system and its surroundings can remain constant in ideal cases where the system is in thermodynamic equilibrium or is undergoing a (fictive) reversible process.
In any case Otto, you took advantage of it , with some good shots. 🙂
Thank you for that philosophical view of the project, Here it looks like entropy has increased, doesn’t it.
Its only a view from our too human mind, the real essence of Nature and life its change, made by us, or not.
I really like these … mind you I’m a garden person. The combination of plants, furniture and colours are super
I am glad you like them. Thank you for the feedback, Julie.
hello Julie!! how are you doing well Pretty Julie? please to see you… It has been a long time since … 😉
Seems like the front and back yard have made up a substantial portion of my shooting this year – especially the macro. Your shots here are a lovely collection of colors and textures – they feel very autumn.
I happy that you like them. Thank you, Dave.
A project which is not a project…love the idea…total freedom….we all need sometimes moments of total freedom in our creative activities…
I like very much the last photo with something mechanical lost in the nature, it gives me a decadent feeling…
I so much enjoy the complete freedom this non-project gives me. It’s fun from day one.
I certainly remember the project and can imagine the challenge as year follows year. I love the last image here – the way the perspective is flattened and the colors. It really looks more like a collage than a photograph! The second and third photos also have that feeling of mixing up the planes of perspective. Cool!
I am happy you like the result. Thank you, Lynn.