I don’t know about you, but around this time every year—when work dies down (and for me in the Southern Hemisphere, the summer light gets harsh and less appealing)—I find myself completely unenthusiastic about photography in general.
I remembered a friend’s suggestion about taking a non-movie-related photo, which is a tough challenge since most of my work already falls into that category. Anyway, enough rambling!
For the last few years, I’ve found a great solution: I search the net and grab 30-day photo challenges. They’ve been brilliant for FORCING me to pick up my camera and take photos I’d normally avoid.
This year is no different, but I did two things differently:
- I used AI to analyze my portfolio and create a custom challenge.
- I decided to post the shot list here!
The list is set up for hot weather (Southern Hemisphere), but you can just change “hot” for “cold” or “heat” for “frost” and it should still work perfectly.
The Rules
1. Walking Distance Only: If you have to drive beyond where you are going anyway.., you’ve gone too far.
2. Daily Deliverable: You must keep the best shot of the day.
3. No Archival Photos: You must shoot it that day.
4. OPTIONAL: B'cus I came from film... Shoot 100% manual and limit to 5 shutter activations and don't look till home .. This is to increase challenge and to go back to the roots of planning shots,with iso, f-stop, shutter speedThe List
Hills & Heat: 30-Day Photography Challenge
Start Date: 09 Dec 2025 | End Date: 07 Jan 2026
Week 1: Light & Texture: Re-training your eye to see the details of the environment.
[ ] Day 01 (Dec 09): Harsh Noon. Shoot high-contrast shadows/shapes in the midday sun.
[ ] Day 02 (Dec 10): The Floor. Full frame texture of the ground (gravel, asphalt, leaves). No horizon.
[ ] Day 03 (Dec 11): Drone — Canopy. Top-down shot of abstract tree patterns.
[ ] Day 04 (Dec 12): Backlight. Shoot directly into the sun (rim light/halos) on a subject.
[ ] Day 05 (Dec 13): Decay. Weathered wood, rusted metal, or peeling paint.
[ ] Day 06 (Dec 14): Negative Space. Subject takes up <10% of the frame; use the sky.
[ ] Day 07 (Dec 15): The “Ugly” Subject. Make something unappealing (bin, verge) look beautiful.
Week 2: Composition & Geometry, Finding structure in the bushland/suburbia mix.
[ ] Day 08 (Dec 16): Frames. Shoot through a gap, fence, or branches to frame a subject.
[ ] Day 09 (Dec 17): Drone — The Commute. Roads or Railway Reserve Trail from 50m up.
[ ] Day 10 (Dec 18): Leading Lines. Use power lines, gutters, or fences (no roads).
[ ] Day 11 (Dec 19): Artificial Light. Twilight mix of blue ambient light and warm streetlights.
[ ] Day 12 (Dec 20): Minimalist Color. Pick ONE color. Shoot a monochrome-style image of it.
[ ] Day 13 (Dec 21): Reflections. Windows, cars, puddles, or sunglasses.
[ ] Day 14 (Dec 22): ICM. Intentional Camera Movement. Slow shutter pan for abstract blur.
Week 3: Storytelling & The Holidays, Capturing the atmosphere of the season.
[ ] Day 15 (Dec 23): Summer Heat. Capture the feeling of heat (shimmer, harsh light, sprinklers).
[ ] Day 16 (Dec 24): Drone — Long Shadows. Golden hour top-down. Quiet shadows before the big day.
[ ] Day 17 (Dec 25): Festive Suburbia. Christmas in the heat. Discarded wrapping, family chaos, or tinsel on a gum tree.
[ ] Day 18 (Dec 26): Worm’s Eye. Camera on the ground shooting up. (Great for a lazy Boxing Day).
[ ] Day 19 (Dec 27): Silhouette. Black subject against a bright background (bird, branch, walker).
[ ] Day 20 (Dec 28): Still Life. Arrange found objects (gum nuts, rocks) into a composition.
[ ] Day 21 (Dec 29): Motion Blur. Tripod steady, subject moving (cars or wind in trees).
Week 4: Technical & New Beginnings Pushing your gear into the New Year.
[ ] Day 22 (Dec 30): Drone — The Horizon. Max altitude. Sky meeting the hills/city haze.
[ ] Day 23 (Dec 31): High ISO. Pitch black darkness. Grainy, gritty street or party photos. Perfect for NYE.
[ ] Day 24 (Jan 01): Diptych. Two unrelated photos side-by-side. (Theme idea: Old vs New).
[ ] Day 25 (Jan 02): Barriers. Fences, gates, and hedges.
[ ] Day 26 (Jan 03): Portrait. A local bird, pet, or neighbour.
[ ] Day 27 (Jan 04): Macro. Extreme close-up of a texture or small detail.
[ ] Day 28 (Jan 05): Architecture. A specific detail of a local house (roof, post, brick).
[ ] Day 29 (Jan 06): Drone — Patterns. Repetition from above (roofs, solar panels, trees).
[ ] Day 30 (Jan 07): Light Painting. Go out after dark with a tripod and a light source (torch/phone) to “paint” abstract light trail in the scene..
GOOD LUCK!
