Put the date in your diary! Set your alarm clock! Grab your camera!
For…..
Sunday 15th April 2012 at…….4am!
What is the 4am Project?
The 4am Project is a ground-breaking global photography project that aims to encourage worldwide social collaboration to capture a view of the world at the often unseen time of 4am.
Since it’s launch in April 2009, the project has attracted participants from nearly 50 countries, and there is a digital archive of over 6000 images and is one of the biggest world-wide photography collaborations.
Why not flex your photography muscles with other photographers around the world at 4am (in your local time) on Sunday 15th April?
It’s a thought provoking project that inspires and challenges! Experience an often unseen time of the day and be part of a world wide community collaboration!
It was the 4am Project’s 2nd birthday on the 24th April, the date of the last global event, and 100′s of photographers across the globe took part in the birthday celebrations by leaving their beds and heading out into their neighbourhoods to capture their view of the world.
Some photographers had their cameras for company, some got together with friends, and whether solo or in a group, they all contributed to a global photography collaboration. This event alone resulted in over 1000 photographs being submitted, and since the project began two years ago, there are over 6000 quality images from over 40 countries! Amazing!
So, without further ado, sit back and enjoy April 2011 the view of the world before dawn….
I’ll have to kick off with the event I organised in my home city of Birmingham UK. I got together with Project Brutal and the iconic Central Library (which may be demolished) open it’s doors to over 40 photographers! I’ve blogged about it in more detail over on my Karen Strunks blog, but here are just a few of the highlights.
Enjoy some more 4am photographs taken from other parts of the world!
It’s always great to read and hear the stories behind the photos, and why people set their alarms to get up and take part in the project.
I love this video from Andrew Stuart who says of himself….. “The one where Andrew talks nonsense and makes little sense at a time when you are (or should) be asleep”. Great beach setting.
And Andew sums the appeal of the project perfectly in his blog post. “It’s something else the 4am project gives. I very much doubt anyone would say “yes, i’ll drive 100 miles across the country to take photos alongside a person i’ve never met, in the middle of the night, for no genuine reason”. However, the reason of it being in tandem with a lot of other photographers, insomniac or not, busy or quiet, and of different levels of interest, ability and style, even though you are not quite present, means the project thrives.”
There is no doubt that perceptions of familiar day time views change at 4am. Whilst everyone else is asleep there are photographers across the world embracing not just a collaborative project, but the secrets of the scenes that 4am holds.
What’s happening next?!
Well, you’l be pleased to hear that the 4am Project is set to continue! As of now, I am planning the hold the next global 4am event in the Autumn, September/October time, so watch this space or keep on eye out on twitter for announcements too.
I’ve also got a LOT of other plans for the project that I would love to realise. For the last two years, not only have I been working behind the scenes running the project, but also coming up with ideas to help it grow and reach it’s full potential. There is an AMAZING archive of images online and it would be great to see them off line too in a touring exhibition for example. That’s just one (big!) idea, and there’s plenty more. I realise I’m going to need help if I want to develop the project and take it forward, so I’ll be reaching out to companies that are a good match for the project and are in-line with it’s ethos, and have the ability to support the project in it’s development to see if they wish to sponsor the project.
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the project! And for all your enthusiasm and great feedback too. Here’s to the next 4am Project event!
The new 4am date for your diay is 24th April, and the 4am Project will be celebrating it’s 2nd Birthday!
What a fabulous 2 years it has been! With hundreds of photographers from around 40 countries taking part so far, there are nearly 5000 images of the world a 4am – truely a global picture!
Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far!
The 4am Project aims to capture a view of the world at that often unseen time of day. It’s not just a photography project, but a global collaboration built by a world wide community.
Please help spread the word about the project on your websites and blog and tell your friends. You can even embed this snazzy countdown clock too!
Whether you are planning on getting together with friends for some urban exploration, or you want to relish the solitude and quiet that 4am can bring you, enjoy your 4am photo experience.
If I can help put you in touch with other 4am photographers in your area, please let me know, and I’ll put a request out to the 4am network.
I’m really delighted that there are 4am Project photo walks popping up with people wanting to get together at 4am on 4th April! It’s great because it means the online 4am Project community are also meeting offline and in person too!
I am hoping to get something in place to make this easier for people arrange for future 4am Project dates. First thought is a dedicated page on the website where people can add their towns/cities and photo walk details. Please bear with me on that!
In the meantime is a list of towns and people that are holding, or want to get together with other 4am folks, along with their contact details. IF YOU WISH TO ADD TO THIS LIST GET IN TOUCH & I WILL UPDATE IT Tweet Me or email me hello@4amproject.org
You may have noticed that the 4am Project logo has had a bit of a make over! Big thank you to Steve from Debut Creative graphic design studio for coming up with a great design! Lovely to work with you Steve.
The 4am Project also has a twibbon! Thank you Mark! Add it to your twitter avatar & help spread the word about the 4am Project! Have a play around with it, you can position it however you would like
To celebrate the 4am Project’s first birthday there are some great prizes that have been donated by Nikon, Photocreator and Moo!
Not long now until 4am on the 4th April. Get ready to join other photographers from around the world!
Apologies for lack of posting! I haven’t abandoned you or the 4am project. I have just been overwhelmed with your response to the project and I am busy working away behind the scenes to catch up with everything – checking out your photos, collating information and statistics and making plans for the 4am Project’s future. Please bear with me!
I will be featuring some of your photos taken on 4th April at 4am – there has been over 1300 submissions!
To answer the most frequently asked question: Yes, the 4am Project is continuing. In the next week or two I will be asking for you input and ideas about the project.
Thank you to everybody who took part and who has helped in making the 4am Project a success! It couldn’t have been done without you.
I have a made a 3 part video about the origins of the project and how it all happened, and it’s future if you would like to know a bit more about where the idea began and how it all happened.
Normal blog posting will resume very soon! Thanks again everybody
