52 Weeks with C. London : 2025 Edition
Welcome to the seventh iteration of 52 Weeks with C. London!
What started as a small project of self-motivation has grown to an incredibly supportive and engaged community of photographers of all levels and genres, spread out across the world. I am incredibly humbled by the path this little project has taken, and am so appreciative of the continued support from all participants!
If you haven’t joined the discord yet, please do! You’ll find an incredibly supportive community there ready to engage with your submissions, answer questions, or even just chat photography. Join the discord here!
Subscribe to the YouTube channel where I’ll pop on with quick chats about the prompts. I genuinely appreciate anyone who follows along. Subscribe here!
So, how do you submit? That’s up to you! Here are the options:
Discord. This is the best way to partake, as we have real-time conversations throughout the year. Join via this link.
Instagram. Use the hashtag #clondon52 and #clondon52_01 (where ‘01’ equates to the month we’re currently working through.)
Flickr. Join the group 52 Weeks with C. London. Be sure to title or subtitle your image with the month and name of the prompt we are currently working through.
Reddit. Join the subreddit r/clondon52. Be sure to title with the month and name of the prompt we are currently working through.
Email. Don’t do social media? No problem! Email me your submissions to chelsea@clondon.me. Please put 52 Weeks in the subject headline.
Remember: The purpose of the challenge is to make new photos with the prompt in mind, not to just find photos you already have which happen to fit the prompt.
June : Time
June is about time. Not in the sense of clocks or calendars, but in the way time shapes what we see and how we feel. After a month of working with color, we’re shifting toward something quieter. These prompts are meant to help you notice motion, pause, repetition, and anticipation. You’ll photograph things as they change, as they hold still, and as they wait to become something else. It’s not about perfect timing. It’s about paying attention to how time shows up in your everyday surroundings.
Rush Hour / Slow Lane. This prompt is about contrast. Capture two opposing ideas within the theme of time: one image that shows urgency, movement, or chaos, and another that feels quiet, slow, or suspended. You can pair them as a diptych or focus on just one side. Think about how pace changes the mood of an image. Where do you see speed? Where do you see calm? Use your camera to measure the tempo of your surroundings.
You can submit both as a diptych, or just the one you prefer.
Not Yet. There’s power in the in-between. This prompt asks you to photograph anticipation. Find a moment before something begins—a meal about to be served, a hand about to knock, an unopened envelope. You’re not showing the action. You’re showing what comes before it. Look for tension, stillness, or quiet excitement. Let the viewer imagine what happens next.
Full Circle. Some things loop. Seasons shift and return. Plants bloom, die, and bloom again. We get caught in routines, in habits, in the small cycles that shape our days. This week, photograph something that repeats. It could be literal or symbolic. Show how time curves back on itself. Show the rhythm of return.
A Moment of Stillness. This week is about pause. Take a photo that feels suspended—like time has stretched thin or stopped altogether. Stillness can show up in early mornings, quiet transit stations, someone deep in thought, or the lull before something begins. Let your image hold a sense of breath. Strip it down and let calm take the lead.
Check back next month for the next set of prompts!
May : Color Theory
Color theory is something I’m extremely passionate about - so this month is all about color. Instead of breaking it down, and arguably beating it to death (no such thing!), we’re going to look at color with broad strokes. For this month, I want you to focus on color as an abstract, that isn't to say to make abstract photos, unless you want to. What I mean is just have it in the forefront of your mind. Look through the link below for an introduction into color theory, as well - you’ll need it for next week!
For more information about color theory, see this blog post on color theory.
Color Temperature. Colors on the warm end of the spectrum tend to read as energetic and passionate, conveying a sense of vibrancy and intensity to the viewer. They can also create a sense of warmth and intimacy, evoking feelings of comfort and coziness. On the other end of the spectrum, cool colors tend to read as calm and soothing, creating a sense of tranquility and relaxation for the viewer. They can also convey a sense of distance or spaciousness, making them ideal for creating a sense of depth and dimension in an image.
For this prompt, choose whether you’d like to focus on warm or cool colors, and create an image that entirely sits within that side of the color wheel. When making the photo, think about how the warm or cool colors enhance the scene and subject, and how the image may read differently if on the opposite side of the spectrum.
Color Schemes. Referring back to the introduction to color theory, this week you should pick one color scheme and utilize it in your image. As a reminder, some basic schemes include: complementary, analogous, and monochrome. If you want to get a bit more advanced, use this helpful tool via Adobe to explore some other schemes such as compound, triad, or split complementary. (See the above link for more on color schemes.)
Color Symbolism. Color symbolism is the use of color to represent different ideas, emotions, and concepts. Different colors are often associated with specific meanings, such as red for passion or danger, blue for calmness or sadness, and green for nature or growth. Color symbolism is commonly used in art, literature, and design to convey deeper messages and create specific moods or atmospheres.
To start this prompt, read up a bit on how different colors have different meanings. (This Wikipedia article can get you started.) Keep in mind that these vary by culture. Once you’ve chosen a color to work with, find a way to showcase what the color represents. For example, blue can represent calmness - like that of a still body of water.
Monochrome. While you may be familiar with monochrome referring to black and white, it actually refers to anything which uses solely one color value. Those images you see where there is overwhelmingly one color present are monochrome, for all intents and purposes. We see this technique often in those hazy sunrise/set shots, but it is also a very impactful technique for street shots.
April : Visual Narrative
Photography is a powerful storytelling tool. Every image holds the potential to suggest a plot, introduce a character, or evoke an emotion. This month, work with intention—what do you want your viewer to see and how do you want your image to be read? Choose your subject, setting, and details with narrative in mind.
Implied narrative. A good story doesn’t always need words. Try capturing an image that makes the viewer ask: What just happened? What’s about to happen? Focus on moments full of tension, ambiguity, or quiet drama. A single frame should leave space for interpretation.
Found fiction. Look for visual elements that feel like they belong in a storybook or film scene. A foggy street, an oddly placed chair, a forgotten note. These everyday discoveries can become story fragments when framed with care.
Sequenced moments. Tell a short story using a series of images—2 to 4 photos that work together. Consider pacing, rhythm, and transitions between frames. Your goal is to make the viewer linger and connect the dots.
A Day in the Life. “It is time.” - Rafiki. Everyone’s (least?) favorite - A Day in the Life! For this prompt, you will choose one day this month to document fully - from the moment you awake, until right before falling asleep. Aim to take one photo an hour, at the least. If you’re documenting a day where you’re sitting at your work desk for 8 hours, for instance, try to find new viewpoints for each photo (close-ups of your keyboard, mug, wide shots of your set-up, etc). In the days following documenting your whole day, cull those photos down to no more than 10 photos that sum up your day. Then choose one which will be your hero image, fully encapsulating your day.
March : Perspective
Photography is all about perspective—how we choose to see and frame what we see. This month, look beyond the obvious and capture scenes in a way that shifts perception, reveals hidden details, or transforms the mundane into something interesting.
Hidden in plain sight. So much of what we overlook in daily life can become compelling when given attention. Seek out subjects that blend into their environment, objects that disguise themselves, or patterns that only emerge when you stop and look closely. Your goal is to make the unnoticed impossible to ignore.
Unconventional angles. Perspective can drastically change the way a subject is perceived. Shoot from a low angle, an extreme high view, or an unexpected side to make something familiar feel fresh. Experiment with distortion, forced perspective, or framing to break away from predictable compositions.
Reflections & refractions. Mirrors, water, and glass offer opportunities to create layered, abstract, or surreal compositions. Use reflections to alter the viewer’s sense of space, or incorporate refractions to bend and distort reality. Play with focus and depth to emphasize how reflections change what we see.
Before & after. Photography can to freeze time, but it can also illustrate change. Capture a subject that evolves—shifting light, movement, decay, growth, etc. Consider diptychs or single frames that imply transformation through composition or contrast.
February : Light and Light Accessories
Light is the most crucial aspect to photography — we control it to make the image we have in our heads a reality. We also can find ourselves at it’s mercy. I’m looking at you, mid-day harsh light. For February, we’re really going to push those limits of what late winter/summer light gives us.
Found natural light. For this photo, you will use whatever natural light you’re given. Try and highlight natural light’s beauty, even if it’s through overcast grey skies. Consider how the light shapes your subject(or maybe it is the subject) —soft and diffused on a cloudy day, warm and directional at sunrise or sunset, or sharp and high-contrast at midday. Use shadows, reflections, and highlights to emphasize the quality of the light. Adjust your composition to make the most of what’s available, whether it’s a gentle glow filtering through a window or dramatic streaks of sunlight breaking through the clouds.
Found artificial light. For this photo, you will use whatever artificial light is available. Work with the glow of neon signs, the warmth of a lamp, or the stark brightness of overhead lights. Notice how different sources create unique moods—soft and inviting, harsh and dramatic, or cool and sterile. Use shadows, reflections, and color shifts to highlight the character of the light around you.
Manipulated light. For this photo, you will take control of natural or artificial light. Use reflectors, diffusers, or even simple objects to shape and direct the light. Adjust your angle to change how the light interacts with your subject—softening harsh midday sun, bouncing light into shadows, or filtering sunlight through a curtain or leaves. Experiment with how small changes can dramatically affect the mood and texture of your image.
Harsh shadows. For this photo, embrace strong, direct light and the bold shadows it creates. Use it to highlight contrast, shape, and texture—whether it’s the sharp edges of a shadow on a wall or the way sunlight carves out details on a face. Play with positioning to control the drama, letting deep shadows add intensity or shifting your angle to use backlight for a glowing rim effect. Instead of avoiding harsh light, use it to make a statement.
January : Setting Goals
As always, we start out the year considering why we’re committing to this challenge. Whether personal or professional, identifying goals makes the following year more meaningful and intentional. For this month, the prompts are all focused on helping you to identify how to make the most out of the project. So, this month make your new photos while consciously thinking about the challenge and your own personal goals for photography.
Past experiences with photography. Every participant comes to this challenge at a different stage in their photographic journey. Show us where you are with a new photo showing what you’ve done and where you are. Maybe you’re particularly interested in wildlife, portraits, street, automotive, sport, or anything else. You really have free range here to intentionally photograph what you like, how you normally would.
Recreation of an old photo. You probably have a photo you’ve taken in the past that you’re either really happy with, or feel like you could approach differently. For this prompt, I want you to choose an old photo and re-take it. When doing this, think about what it is you like about the photo and what you dislike. Use those ideas to approach it thoughtfully.
Introduction. Introduce yourself to the community! You can do this through a self portrait, photo of another hobby or passion you have, showing something about your day to day life, et cetera. Really this can be any way you want to say hi!
A main photographic goal for the year. What do you hope to get out of this challenge? Take some time to really consider why you’ve decided to join in. Identifying the ‘why’ will help keep you motivated and engaged throughout the year. For this photo, I want you to address your goal in whichever way you believe will support you in achieving it. We will revisit this goal twice more throughout the year, so keep it in the back of your mind.
