My 30-Day Photography Challenge: Rediscovering the Beauty of Everyday Life
The 30-day photography challenge
In the middle of August, during a train ride to Germany, I had a spontaneous idea: to embark on a 30-day photography challenge. With no internet access on the train, I was “forced” to sit with my thoughts. That’s when I realized I wanted to challenge myself by documenting my surroundings daily using only my cellphone. As I reflected on the many photos I’ve taken with my phone—most of which never get shared—I felt it was time to showcase these often overlooked yet remarkable images.
The challenge turned out to be more difficult than expected. There were days when I had to push myself to go outside and take photos, even when I was feeling unwell or exhausted. Editing images late into the evening, when I would have preferred to relax, was also a test of my dedication. However, this experience taught me a lot. I rediscovered the beauty in everyday life and reconnected with the reason I fell in love with photography in the first place: a curiosity for the ordinary.
Completing this 30-day photography challenge boosted my creativity and motivation. I felt inspired with new ideas and perspectives, and it rekindled my passion for capturing the world around me. Although I’m not sure when my next challenge will be, this journey has shown me what I am capable of achieving.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the results of this challenge!
30 days phone photography
Day 1 - Train Journey from Amsterdam to the Harz Mountains, Germany: On the first day of my trip, I took an exciting train ride from Amsterdam through Hanover to my hometown, nestled in the beautiful Harz Mountains in Germany.
Day 2 - Exploring Blankenburg, Central Germany: I made the most of the beautiful summer weather in my hometown of Blankenburg, Central Germany. I took a photo walk, capturing some unique and interesting spots around town.
Day 3 - Exploring the Picturesque City of Wernigerode in the Harz Region: On the third day, I took a short city trip to the charming and picturesque town of Wernigerode, located in the beautiful Harz region.
Day 4 - Photo Walk in Blankenburg Harz: I went on another photo walk around my hometown of Blankenburg in the Harz region. I visited Thiepark and explored the historic Regenstein area, which features numerous former GDR socialist buildings.
Day 5 - Attending the Klosterfest at Kloster Michaelstein in Blankenburg Harz: I visited the Klosterfest at Kloster Michaelstein in Blankenburg Harz. Although no longer functioning as a monastery, this historic site offered a unique cultural experience during the festival.
Day 6 - Exploring Nature in Blankenburg: I spent another wonderful day in my hometown of Blankenburg, enjoying the natural beauty of Schlosspark and taking in the stunning views from the castle.
Day 7 - Exploring the Heers Forest: I spent one more day in my hometown of Blankenburg Harz, immersing myself in the natural beauty of the Heers Forest and the scenic route leading to it.
Day 8 - Returning to Amsterdam After a Week in Germany: After spending a week in Germany, I took a short photo walk in the morning before boarding the train back home to Amsterdam.
Day 9 - Overcoming Low Motivation for a Photo Walk: My first day back in Amsterdam after visiting Germany, I pushed past a lack of motivation and ventured out to capture some new photos around the city.
Day 10 - Exploring Amsterdam by Bike: I spent the day cycling around Amsterdam for various appointments. As a result, my photos capture scenes from across the city, spanning from Oost to West.
Day 11 - Exploring Amsterdam Oost: I spent the day in Amsterdam Oost, enjoying a delightful walk through this vibrant part of the city.
Day 12 - Exploring Amsterdam Oost Despite Low Motivation: I further explored Amsterdam Oost, overcoming motivational challenges of my photo challenge to enjoy a pleasant walk through this vibrant area of the city.
Day 13 - A Relaxing Walk Along the Amstel River: After a long workday on Day 13, I enjoyed a peaceful walk along the Amstel River in Amsterdam Oost, taking in the serene views and relaxing atmosphere.
Day 14 - A Busy Day Ending with a Beautiful Walk: I spent a busy day exploring various parts of Amsterdam, ending the evening with a relaxing and scenic walk in Flevopark.
Day 15 - Capturing Amsterdam: Despite a busy schedule, I managed to capture some photos in Amsterdam's city center and in my local neighborhood near home.
Day 16 - Exploring Amsterdam’s East: I started my day in the city center of Amsterdam and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon walk in the eastern part of the city.
Day 17 - Recovering at Home: Due to feeling unwell, most of my photos were taken at home, with a few captured during a brief walk in Flevopark.
Day 18 - West Amsterdam and Oosterpark: I started my morning exploring West Amsterdam and ended the day with a relaxing evening walk in Oosterpark.
Day 19 - Cycling Tour to Waterland: I embarked on a scenic bicycle tour to Waterland, exploring the beautiful northern region of Amsterdam.
Day 20 - Overcoming Motivation Challenges: I faced some motivation issues with my photography challenge but still managed to push through and capture new photos around Amsterdam.
Day 21 - Capturing New Shots for the Photo Challenge: On Day 21, I took a long walk around Amsterdam to capture fresh photos for my photography challenge.
Day 22 - Capturing Photos in Amsterdam Oost: I snapped some photos while commuting to various appointments in Amsterdam's east, exploring the vibrant scenes of Amsterdam Oost.
Day 23 - Experiencing Typical Dutch Weather: The Dutch weather lived up to its reputation with alternating rain, grey skies, and bursts of sunshine, followed by more rain.
Day 24 - Enjoying Late Summer Weather: I embraced the late summer weather with a relaxing walk through Flevopark and around the beautiful Nieuwe Diep Lake.
Day 25 - Quick Photography Walk Amidst a Busy Day: I managed to squeeze in a short photography walk despite having an extremely busy day, capturing some interesting shots around the city.
Day 26 - Capturing Amsterdam: I took photos throughout the day at various locations across Amsterdam, showcasing the city's diverse scenery and vibrant atmosphere.
Day 27 - Cycling to Amsterdam City Center: I cycled to the city center of Amsterdam, taking photos along the route to highlight the journey through the city.
Day 28 - Day Trip to Utrecht: I took a trip to Utrecht, beginning my journey from Amstel Station in Amsterdam.
Day 29 - Another Day in Utrecht: I spent another day in Utrecht for appointments and took advantage of the afternoon to enjoy a walk and capture some photos around the city.
Day 30 - Final Day of the Challenge: On the last day of the challenge, I spent my time in Amsterdam, feeling proud and happy to have successfully completed the 30-day photography journey.
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Hi there, I'm Stefanie, the photographer, and author of the blog post you're reading now.
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