Photography is often about planning and waiting for the perfect moment, but what if you only had five minutes for each shot? I recently took on this challenge in Sydney’s vibrant cityscape to get out and shoot while pushing my creativity to its limits.
I began my journey at Circular Quay Station, aiming to end up at Milsons Point. With my camera set, I decided that every five minutes, I’d take a photo, forcing myself to be be constantly looking for good compositions
My first stop was the iconic Opera House. Armed with my 70-200mm lens, I captured a minimalist shot focusing on the sails, isolating them against the sky. This lens allowed me to zoom in and create an image that emphasised the architectural beauty without distractions.
As I moved on, I spotted a plane crossing the sky just as my five-minute timer went off. With the 70-200mm still attached, I seized the opportunity for a unique composition featuring the plane flying past the Opera House. It was a lucky moment that added excitement to the challenge.
Realising I needed to move faster, I switched to a wider lens to capture more of the cityscape and started running towards the bridge. The sun was beginning to set, and I needed to get across quickly. My third shot was a last-minute composition of the Opera House and harbour from the south side of the bridge, taken just before the timer beeped again.
With the bridge longer than anticipated, I had to sprint to my next spot. Reaching the north side, I took my fourth photo, framing the harbor with a ferry as the subject. The ferry’s trail created leading lines that guided the viewer’s eye into the scene.
Despite a slight delay, I reached Milsons Point for my fifth shot. The sun had dipped behind clouds, missing the golden hour glow I had hoped for, but I managed to capture the composition I wanted. This experience taught me where to position myself for better lighting next time.
I was incredibly puffed out towards the end. The five-minute photo challenge forced me to be more aware of my surroundings and think quickly. It was an exciting way to explore Sydney and practice my photography skills. In the future, I plan to venture deeper into the city and possibly add more rules to make it even more challenging, such as sticking to one focal length, avoiding landmarks, or focusing solely on people.
This challenge is flexible. You can adjust the rules to suit your style and preferences. It’s a fun exercise that pushes you to adapt and think creatively under time pressure. Give it a try and see how it changes your approach to photography.
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