Welcome to Project MCP: Develop Your Skills as a Photographer
You know what they say, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!”
Today, Project 12 officially becomes Project MCP. As a faster-paced, challenge-filled project, Project MCP is sure to inspire, teach and get you taking more photos.
What is Project MCP and how will it work?
Project MCP is designed to push your creativity, improve your photography skills and help you capture images and memories to last a lifetime. Beginners, hobbyists and professional photographers are all invited to share in the journey.
On the first Saturday of each month, the Project MCP Team will offer up four, or five, challenges; one for each week of the month. The challenges might be a theme, technique or inspirational. Complete all, or just a couple. Take your photos in one shoot or in multiple sessions. This way you can fit Project MCP into your schedule and your life.
To keep you motivated, each Saturday you can check back on the MCP Actions Blog to learn more about the challenges, see other photographer’s work and learn new techniques.
Where to upload your images:
You spoke, and we listened!
Submit your Project MCP photos by uploading your images to the Project MCP Flickr group (formerly known as the Project 52 Flickr group) or on the MCP Actions Facebook page.
- You can upload five images to the Flickr group for each set of challenges posted.
- Important: When posting your images to our group or page, tag them with the project name, month and challenge number. For example: Project MCP, March, Challenge #1.
How to participate in Project MCP:
- Comment below and let us know you are on board. There is no timeline, so you can feel free to join anytime. The project is flexible; you can complete as few or as many of the challenges as you would like. Photos must be taken specifically for this project and within the time-frame indicated.
- Join the Project MCP Flickr group and/or our The MCP Facebook Page, take your photos and upload your images.
- Visit our Blog on the first Saturday of each month to find out the new challenges.
- Bookmark this page: http://projectmcp.info – this will help you find the posts each month.
- Remember, you can share unedited or edited images, iPhone, point and shoot, or SLR photos, anything goes. If you edited with MCP Actions, we’d love you to indicate what you used.
- Spread the love – Everyone likes praise. Visit the Project MCP Flickr group and the MCP Actions Facebook page to view submissions and leave comments for your fellow photographers. Please only give constructive criticism if asked for. Remember many participants are non-pros and are just looking to have fun. If you want detailed feedback and critique, indicate that.
- Spread the word – Share on Facebook, Twitter, your blog and photo forums all over the web. The more participants we have, the more we will learn from each other as photographers and the more fun it will be. Grab a Project MCP Banner here.
A few guidelines:
We would still like to keep things as relaxed as possible for 2012, but to help things run smoothly we will stick to these guidelines.
- Photos need to be taken in the within the noted time period and fit the challenge requirements. Do not use old photos which happen to fit a theme. You will be cheating yourself.
- Photos on the Flickr Group will be moderated. It make take up to 24 hours for your photos to appear.
- Collages fitting the topics and time-frame are welcome. You can use tools like our Blog it Boards to display these.
- No pornography, nudity, violence or any content deemed illegal by the United States Government. MCP Actions and its designees reserve the right to remove any photos deemed objectionable.
- Images must be taken by you. You cannot submit images from another photographer.
- By uploading to our project, you maintain copyright, but give us permission to use the photo on our Blog/Facebook, in the context of Project MCP. If we want to use a photo for any other purpose, we will contact you and obtain permission in writing. Please consider watermarking and branding your photos using tools like our Finish It actions or Free Facebook Fix Photoshop actions.
- Most importantly, have fun!
We hope that you will participate in Project MCP. We truly appreciate your feedback regarding Project 12 and hope that Project MCP is a change in the right direction. See you Saturday for the first challenges!
The Challenges Box: Current and Past Challenges
March, Challenge #1 - Take a picture from a high vantage point, from above your subject
March, Challenge #2 – Capture a photo using natural light.
March, Challenge #3 - Express the following word in a photo: Transition
March, Challenge #4 – Create a “guess what” photo – this is a photo that is so close up that the subject becomes abstract.
April, Challenge #1 – Illustrate the following in a photo: Showers/Wet
April, Challenge #2 – Take a picture using a shallow depth of field
April, Challenge #3 – Interpret the following in a photo: Blooming
April, Challenge #4 – Get Low. Lie Down on the ground and shoot above
May, Challenge #1 - Illustrate the following word in a photo: Neighborhood
May, Challenge #2 - Sunny Day - Capture a photo with sunflare
May, Challenge #3 - Illustrate the following word in a photo: Friend
May, Challenge #4 - Get moving - Take a photo using motion blur
May, Challenge #5 - One click – Don’t cheat. Think twice, click once - Show us your first shot
We want to thank our corporate sponsors for Project MCP:
Next Post: The Importance of Looking Back At Your Old Photography
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[...] the weekend, I attempted to shoot some photos for this week’s challenge - Create a “guess what” photo – this is a photo that is so close up that the subject becomes [...]
I’m late to joining the game but excited to give it a try. I’m hoping this is just the kick in the pants I need to do more photography!
I’m in! I’ll probably wait to start until April, but I’m looking forward to the challenge!
I’m in!!! B)
Hi
Just found you via Flickr – looking forward to the challenges!
Glad I found this.
count me in!
I used to follow along while we were living in Japan, but since leaving after the earthquake and us having twins…well time has been a a premium. I also merged everything to a new flickr account. So slowly emerging again and hope to start back on some of the challenges as time permits…you may remember our crazy hairless kittehs
Glad to be back.
C
I would like to join in the fun!
Just found this site thanks to The Pioneer Woman’s website. I love the idea and look forward to joining in on as many as I can!
I am joining late put I want to be a part!
I am seeing uploads to the Challenge that do not fall within the scope, either time wise, for instance on is there now from September 2011, or that do not follow the theme.
I am confused how these entries are getting approved and what is the point of the rules the rest of us are trying to follow.
thank you!
Hi,
The Project MCP Team has been working very hard to moderate each and very photo, unfortunately, sometimes a photo or two slip through the cracks. We are pretty liberal in the moderation, as the challenges are open for interpretation. We hope you will continue to be patient as the team works towards more closely moderating the photos posted for each challenge!
Thanks!
Trish
I’d love to join in on the challenge! I need to try some different techniques/angles. Thanks!
I think this would be great to join. Please include me in on the challenge.
I think I will join in on the fun. If not this month, certainly next. Happy shooting!
I’m In
This should be fun. Count me in!
Hi! I’d love to try this out!! It sounds like an awesome oppurtunity to learn and grow!
well im a little late in the game but i want to be on board for may
Joining at last! Can’t wait to see the May themes!
I just found you… I’d love to join in. These challenges look fun!
I’d like to re-join. I did some of the 2011 challenges, and I think I’ll love the month-long challenges. So I’m in, beginning in April! Thanks for your work in running this group!
Just discovered your site. Looking forward to trying some of the challenges!
Im very excited about this! Looks like a great way to keep the creative side going!
count me in!
I love a good challenge!
I’m on board! Do I have to link my photo from the facebook page to this blog, or just leave it on facebook? Just want to make sure it makes it to the project board!
I’m in. Not sure I can play every week, but I’ll do what I can.
I want to join in!
I’m in. http://www.flickr.com/photos/studionineportraits/7176738060/in/pool-mcp-project52
I have decided to start participating in Project MCP
Excited to explore my creativity!!
I’m a little late to the game but I’ll play!
Challenge 3 http://www.flickr.com/photos/64103627@N08/7018950331/
I’m in! Better late then never!
Gonna try this! Challenges have helped improved my photography. I’d also LOVE to win that lens!
I’ll put my photo up on your FB page!
Thanks!
On board!
I would like to participate , maybe this will help me think outside the box.
I’m on board! Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!
This sounds like a great challenge! I wish I had begun taking part at the beginning of the year. Oh well, better late than never. I will be doing the May Challenge and can’t wait to get started.
I found your challenge a few weeks ago and am excited to try to join in from time to time. Thanks!