52 Weeks is a year-long photo challenge. Each month has its own theme with four prompts, and you make a new photo for each one. Each month also has an Artist Spotlight, a bonus prompt built around a photographer to draw inspiration from.
It started in 2019 as a personal Instagram project and has grown into a community of photographers at every level, all over the world. 2027 is year nine.
Yes, completely. There's nothing to pay for and nothing locked behind a paywall.
If you want to support Focal Point, there's a Ko-fi, but it's entirely optional and doesn't unlock anything.
The January prompts go up on the 52 Weeks page on January 1, and each new month of prompts follows at the start of that month.
No. Everything is on the 52 Weeks page and you can start whenever you like. If you'd like a reminder email when each new month of prompts goes live, you can sign up for free. Those reminders and the occasional update are all you'll get.
Yes. Start with whatever month you're in, and go back and do some or all of the earlier prompts if you'd like. There's no need to catch up before you join in.
Every level. The prompts are open enough that a beginner and someone who's been shooting for twenty years can take the same one in completely different directions.
No. Photoclass is a structured course with units and assignments that runs in cohorts. 52 Weeks is a year-long prompt challenge. Plenty of people do both, and they work well together.
Each month opens with a short intro to its theme, then four prompts, all posted at the start of the month. You can do them in any order, at any time during that month.
They all go up at once because life gets busy. Some weeks there's no time for photography at all, and other weeks you can knock out several prompts in one go. However you work through them is fine. It's a personal exercise, so do it in whatever way works for you.
The purpose of the challenge is to make new photos with the prompt in mind, not to dig through your archive for something that fits. Going out and shooting for the prompt is where most of what you get out of it comes from.
No. Despite the name, there's no weekly schedule. Fit the four prompts into the month however works for you, and if a month gets away from you, pick back up whenever you can. There are no deadlines, and nobody is keeping score.
A bonus prompt built around a photographer whose work connects to that month's theme. It includes a short introduction to who they are and links to see more of their work. Shoot something inspired by them, or just spend some time with their photos.
Post your photo in the 52 Weeks channel on the Discord, where you can see how everyone else took on the same prompts. If you're not in the server yet, join here first. On Instagram, add @focal.point.co as a collaborator on your post. Starting in January, you'll also be able to submit your photos right here on the site.
No. Sharing is encouraged, because seeing how other people take the same prompt is half the fun, but plenty of people do the challenge just for themselves.
Yes, in the Discord. Share your photo with a little context about what you were going for, and the community is happy to weigh in.
No, you can do 52 Weeks without it. We do recommend joining, though. It's where everyone shares their photos for each prompt, gives feedback, and gets to know each other.
You don't need to download anything to join. Discord works in your browser at discord.com, and the app is only handy if you want notifications on your phone. New to Discord? Here's how to get around.
Whatever you have. Phones, DSLRs, mirrorless, and film all work. The prompts are about how you see, not what you shoot with.