The Importance of Having a Passion Project as a Photographer
Every photographer has one.
That idea that quietly sits in the back of your mind and whispers:
"You should really photograph this again."
Not for a client.
Not for a deadline.
Not for social media.
Just for yourself.
Those ideas often turn into what photographers lovingly call passion projects — and they can become some of the most rewarding work we ever create.
Photography itself might already be considered a passion. Still, most photographers eventually discover that within the vast universe of photography, they gravitate toward certain genres more than others.
You might dream in street photography (F/8 and be there, anyone?), think in landscapes, speak in portraits, breathe in concert photography… or happily jump between all of them depending on the day.
But within these genres, creating a specific project with a set of rules or constants can be incredibly satisfying.
Watching a personal body of work slowly grow over time brings a special sense of accomplishment. You start experimenting, thinking about new angles, new approaches, new ideas. Sometimes you surprise yourself. Sometimes the results surprise you even more.
And the best part?
There’s no pressure.
After all, it’s just for you.
You can leave a project untouched for weeks, months, or even years and then suddenly pick it up again when inspiration strikes. If the stars align and you feel like it — fantastic. If not, that’s perfectly fine too.
In many ways, passion projects can even be a little therapeutic.
Of course, not every photo will be a five-star masterpiece. But that’s beside the point, isn’t it?
As mentioned earlier: it’s for you.
If others happen to enjoy the images along the way, consider it a wonderful bonus.
What makes passion projects particularly fun is that the possibilities are virtually endless. You could decide to photograph only one specific subject, use only one lens, shoot exclusively in black and white, revisit the same location over time, or impose any other creative limitation you can think of.
The rules are yours to make — and yours to break.
My Current Passion Projects
At the moment, I have two passion projects that I’ve been enjoying on and off for the past few years:
Capturing the Aquatower in Berdorf
A project I call “At Our Feet”
Today I’ll talk a bit about the Aquatower project, while “At Our Feet” will get its own dedicated blog post later on.
First things first: some key facts about the Aquatower in Berdorf
The Aquatower is far more than just a striking landmark in the Mullerthal region.
Originally built in 1972 as a water tower, the structure was later transformed between 2013 and 2015 into one of Luxembourg’s most fascinating architectural and educational attractions. The redevelopment was carried out by the team behind Schroeder & Associés in collaboration with the architectural office Schumacher Schmiz.
Today, the Aquatower stands at approximately 55 meters tall and spans 16 floors, which visitors can explore while learning about water, sustainability, geology and the natural environment of the surrounding region.
The building serves several purposes:
• A visitor and discovery center dedicated to water and nature
• A panoramic observation tower with spectacular views over the Mullerthal region
• A venue for special events, including weddings, tastings, workshops and themed evenings
• Occasional moonlight openings and guided experiences
And if you make it all the way to the top, you’ll be rewarded with a truly impressive 360° panoramic view stretching across the forests and rock formations of the region.
Why it became my project
There are so many things I love about the Aquatower.
The idea behind the building.
The architecture.
The stunning location in Berdorf.
The friendliness of the team welcoming visitors at the entrance (seriously — if you have kids, they’ll love it).
And what I particularly appreciate is how the people behind the Aquatower keep finding new ways to bring the building to life through events, activities and creative uses of the space.
Because of this, I try to capture the tower in as many different ways as possible.
Sometimes right in front of it.
Sometimes from the air — it’s an absolutely spectacular drone photography location.
And sometimes from far away, as this towering structure can be seen from villages many kilometers away.
I also enjoy photographing it across different seasons and times of day.
A winter sunrise shot from the air looks completely different from a dramatic nighttime photograph taken from the base of the tower. And interestingly enough, the Aquatower works beautifully both in color and in black and white.
Each visit offers a slightly different interpretation of the same subject.
Which, of course, is exactly what makes a passion project so enjoyable.
A few of my current favorites
Below you'll find a small selection of images from this ongoing project.
Each one captures the Aquatower from a slightly different perspective, season, or mood — and together they form the beginning of what will hopefully become a much larger visual story over the years.
If you haven’t been there yet…
I’ll end this post with a very strong recommendation:
go see the Aquatower for yourself. It’s absolutely worth the visit.
Or…
Why not book a “Beyond the Postcard” experience and add it to the list of destinations? 😉
