26 by 26 is a year-long series of photo-challenges set by renowned photographers. Every two weeks a new challenge is issued and group members are invited to interpret it by submitting a photo to the Flickr Group.

The project follows on from the success of 52 by 52 which attracted some of the world’s leading contemporary photographers including Edward Burtynsky, Nadav Kander, Simon Norfolk, Terry O’Neill, Martin Parr and Alec Soth.
26 by 26 aims to stretch its members creatively, encouraging experimentation in terms of approach as well as aesthetics.

You can keep up-to-date with the challenges by subscribing to our Mailing List or follow us on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.

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Challenge #6

Decide upon an emotion you wish to convey, use that as your guide to build your story.
— Ian Teh

Ian adds…
“One of photography’s greatest strengths is its ability to emote through its ability to suggest. How would you frame your image based on the emotion you have decided upon? What colours will you use (or not)? What details will you include (or not)? What elements will be a constant recurrence in your story? These are just some of the thoughts that you could ponder upon. This reductive process helps define a framework that will guide you into capturing that distinct emotional note you are looking for in your story.”

The current challenge is set by Ian Teh and started Thursday 16th May 2013. Upload your response to Flickr and add it to the 26 by 26 group pool, putting #6 at the start of the title.

Challenges Shortlink
Challenge 5

Be inspired to be brave.
— Spencer Murphy

Spencer adds…
“Photography can often be a very solitary pursuit and an excuse for the shy to hide. Do something you wouldn’t usually do, photograph someone or something in a different way and subvert the pictures meaning, approach a subject that you’ve been putting off because you’ve been afraid”.

The current challenge is set by Spencer Murphy and started Thursday 2nd May 2013. Upload your response to Flickr and add it to the 26 by 26 group pool, putting #5 at the start of the title.

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Challenge 4

Make a photograph in collaboration with a subject, that enables the subject to get their message across.
— Tom Hunter

Tom adds…
“In my work I feel that the representing my subjects is extremely important, they are real people and need to be treated with dignity and respect not playthings of an photographer using images to further his own career. I see my work as a collaboration between myself and the subjects, trying to make images which tell stories of a real world for the world.”

Tom Hunter  |  Member’s submissions for #4

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Challenge 3

Pretend you are an animal (earthworm, cat, bat, sparrow, etc.), imagine what you would perceive and take a photo from this perspective.
— Michael Reisch

Michael Reisch adds…
“It is a question of trying to identify with another being in a maybe emphatic way, although it is totally different from us. Also what I find interesting is that actually the photographers view on things is analogous to the animal view, watching mankind’s strange behavior and projects very much from the outside.”

Michael Reisch  |  Member’s submissions for #3

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Challenge 2

Photograph an image which exemplifies the essence of altruistic behavior.
— Steve McCurry

Steve adds…
“Neuroscientists believe that there is a neural basis of altruism. The findings, published Dec. 23 2012 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, may shed light on why many animals (including humans) exhibit kind, unselfish behavior that doesn’t directly benefit them.”

Steve McCurry  |  Member’s submissions for #2

Challenges Shortlink
Challenge 1

Take a subject as far out of context as possible.
— Andrew Zuckerman

Andrew Zuckerman  |  Member’s submissions for #1

Challenges Shortlink