Set aside a few afternoons in different parts of town to photograph at least 10 different fire hydrants. This theme may seem simple, but once you start, you'll realize that you may have overlooked the subtle differences between such common objects as fire hydrants. This project serves to highlight the qualities of overlooked, commonplace objects that most people see everyday. Substitute any common object as your subject, such as benches or mailboxes, to build a portfolio of photographs around the theme of common objects.
Choose an object with many intricate parts and different textures or materials. A motorcycle is a good choice because you can take detailed photos of the leather seat, wheels and chrome and create many different images that, together, clue the viewer into what the object is. The purpose of the deconstructing theme is to shoot very detailed, focused photos so that the entire collection of shots leads the viewer to identify the object and, in the end, see it in a different way. A single picture alone would not tell the entire story. You can have fun with this theme by taking closeups of household items, like a coffee maker or a television set, and then challenge your audience to guess what they are.
Some of the best photographs of people are produced from a totally candid moment. Walk around your town, in a store or through the park, and observe strangers as they interact with each other. Try to capture genuine smiles and make the focus of the image the smile itself; in other words, don't fill the photo with the scenery or other people, just collect focused images of people's faces. If you're in a busy area, you can take photos without being noticed by your subject. If you're in a less densely populated area and can't help but be caught, try to capture the smile before they see you and then introduce yourself afterward and explain the purpose of your project and ask if they mind your taking their picture. Aim to capture at least 20 candid smiles, although you won't necessarily need more than 10 to convey your theme completely -- you'll want to have plenty of images to choose from to make the editorial process easier.
Depending on where you live, this task will yield different results. Go into local small businesses, with a focus on specialty shops like butchers and flower shops, and ask to photograph the owner. Have the business owner pose with the goods they sell -- this is the part that you can have a lot of fun with. Make each business owner the focus of the image, but create a pose for each individual that sets his business apart. For instance, a flower shop owner may have a flower tucked behind her ear while standing at her counter while a butcher can proudly hoist a piece of meat at eye level to show off his product. Start the project by making a list of potential businesses, call them up, and ask if they'd be willing to allow a photographer to shoot pictures of the owner. If you showcase your images anywhere, even on a blog, mention that to the owner, and you'll be surprised at how many of them will welcome the free publicity.