Basel Street Photography Sessions

Weekly Focus Walks

Sunday, January 4, 2026

09:30

Unternehmen Mitte, Basel

The Weekly Basel Street Photography Sessions 2026 are a continuous practical format for street photography.

We meet every Sunday at 9:30AM (check the table below for adjusted meeting times) at Unternehmen Mitte in Basel. Together we will work on the week's topic approximately until 11AM/11:30AM. The topic remain open for individual shooting throughout the week. 
 
Core Idea: Each week focuses on exactly one clearly defined aspect of photography. Unlike traditional photo walks, this format is not about free shooting, but about conscious, reduced work with a specific task.
 
The challenges rotate between:
Technique (e.g. focal length, aperture, focus)
Composition (colors, shapes, lines)
Composition rules (e.g. rule of thirds, layering)
Subject focus (e.g. street portraits, architectural details)
 
Goals
Not perfection is the goal, but learning how to see.
Training photographic vision
Conscious image composition instead of randomness
Building a photographic routine
Exchange within the group
 
Share your images on Instagram ad the dedicated WhatsApp group using the hashtags #BaselWeeklyPhotographySession. If you wish, you can mention my instagram (@thomas.halfmann.photography) and/or add me as collaborator. I will share your images in my story. 

Join the WhatsApp Group (deviation from the plan below will be communicated via the WhatsApp group) and just show up on Sundays (see the table below for date and location changes) at Unternehmen Mitte and join the group.

The weekly topics for 2026 are (if a date is marked with *,I won't be able to join. Please go ahead without me). If no location is indicated, we meet at Unternehmen Mitte.  
Week
Challenge
Description
1 (Jan 4)9:30AM
35mm Only
Photograph exclusively with 35mm (or equivalent).
2 (Jan 11) 9:30AM
Leading Lines
Use leading lines as a central design element.
3 (Jan 18)9:00AM
Low Key
Dark tones, deep shadows (underexposed).
4 (Jan 25)9:30AM
Open Aperture
Photograph with the widest possible aperture.
5 (JAN 31)9:30AM
Silhouettes
Subjects as silhouettes against a bright background.
6 (Feb 8)11:00AM
photo SCHWEIZ, Zürich
Square
Compose images consciously in a square format.
7 (Feb 15)9:30AM
Reflections
Reflections as the main or central element.
8 (Feb 22)9:30AM
One Person
Maximum one person per image.
9 (Mar 1)9:30AM
50mm Only
Photograph exclusively with 50mm (or equivalent).
10 (Mar 8)9:30AM
Minimalism
Reduce the image to a few elements.
11 (Mar 15)9:30AM
Shadows
Shadows as the dominant design element.
12 (Mar 22)9:30AM
Frame within Frame
Photograph subjects using natural frames.
13 (Mar 29)9:30AM
Freeze Motion
Short shutter speed to stop movement.
14 (Apr 6)9:30AM
Red in the Image
Red as a defining color element.
15* (Apr 12)9:30AM
Layering
Consciously use foreground, middle ground and background.
16* (Apr 19)9:30AM
Architectural Details
Focus on details instead of overall views.
17 (Apr 27)6:30PM
Wide Angle
24mm or wider (equivalent).
18 (May 3)9:30AM
ICM
Intentional Camera Movement.
19 (May 10)9:30AM
Rule of Thirds
Clear application of the rule of thirds.
20 (May 17)9:30AM
Street Portrait
Portraits of people in public spaces.
21 (May 24)9:30AM
Thinking Black & White
Photograph with black & white in mind.
22 (May 31)9:30AM
Text in the Image
Text or typography as an element.
23 (Jun 7)9:30AM
1/30 Second
Photograph at 1/30s or slower.
24 (Jun 14)9:30AM
Waiting People
People in a state of waiting.
25* (Jun 21)9:30AM
Symmetry
Symmetrical image composition.
26* (Jun 28)9:30AM
Blue
Blue as the defining color element.
27 (Jul 5)9:30AM
>100mm / Tele
Longer focal length for compression.
28 (Jul 12)9:30AM
Contrasts
Light/dark or color contrasts.
29 (Jul 19)9:30AM
Negative Space
Conscious use of empty space.
30 (Jul 26)9:30AM
Street Scenes without People
Urban space without people.
31 (Aug 2)9:30AM
Out of Focus
Intentionally photographing out of focus.
32* (Aug 9)9:30AM
Yellow
Yellow as the dominant element.
33* (Aug 16)9:30AM
Diagonals
Diagonal lines as the main compositional element.
34* (Aug 23)9:30AM
Patterns
Repetition and patterns.
35 (Aug 30)9:30AM
Portrait Orientation
Photograph exclusively in portrait orientation.
36 (Sep 6)9:30AM
Hands
Hands as the central subject.
37 (Sep 13)9:30AM
High Key
Bright and overexposed.
38 (Sep 20)9:30AM
Public Transport
Scenes around trams, buses and stops.
39 (Sep 27)9:30AM
Open & Close
Photograph very close to the subject.
40* (Oct 4)9:30AM
Green
Green defines the image.
41 (Oct 11)9:30AM
Directions of Gaze
Conscious use of lines of sight.
42 (Oct 18)9:30AM
Pairs
Two people in relation to each other.
43 (Oct 25)9:30AM
Panning
Tracking moving subjects.
44 (Nov 1)9:30AM
Rain & Weather
Weather as a design element.
45 (Nov 8)9:30AM
Centered Composition
Place the main subject exactly in the center.
46 (Nov 15)9:30AM
Street Details
Small, subtle scenes.
47 (Nov 22)9:30AM
Long Exposure
Motion blur using long shutter speeds.
48 (Nov 29)9:30AM
Orange
Orange as the dominant color.
49 (Dec 6)9:30AM
Chaos
Intentionally complex, dense scenes.
50 (Dec 13)9:30AM
Light Edges
Light as a form-defining element.
51 (Dec 20)9:30AM
Favorite Challenge
Repeat your favorite challenge of 2026.
52 (Dec 27)9:30AM
Best of Basel
Personal summary of the year.

JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP

Week	Challenge	Description
1 (Jan 4)9:30AM	35mm Only	Photograph exclusively with 35mm (or equivalent).
2 (Jan 11) 9:30AM	Leading Lines	Use leading lines as a central design element.
3 (Jan 18)9:00AM	Low Key	Dark tones, deep shadows (underexposed).
4 (Jan 25)9:30AM	Open Aperture	Photograph with the widest possible aperture.
5 (JAN 31)9:30AM	Silhouettes	Subjects as silhouettes against a bright background.
6 (Feb 8)11:00AM photo SCHWEIZ, Zürich	Square	Compose images consciously in a square format.
7 (Feb 15)9:30AM	Reflections	Reflections as the main or central element.
8 (Feb 22)9:30AM	One Person	Maximum one person per image.
9 (Mar 1)9:30AM	50mm Only	Photograph exclusively with 50mm (or equivalent).
10 (Mar 8)9:30AM	Minimalism	Reduce the image to a few elements.
11 (Mar 15)9:30AM	Shadows	Shadows as the dominant design element.
12 (Mar 22)9:30AM	Frame within Frame	Photograph subjects using natural frames.
13 (Mar 29)9:30AM	Freeze Motion	Short shutter speed to stop movement.
14 (Apr 6)9:30AM	Red in the Image	Red as a defining color element.
15* (Apr 12)9:30AM	Layering	Consciously use foreground, middle ground and background.
16* (Apr 19)9:30AM	Architectural Details	Focus on details instead of overall views.
17 (Apr 27)6:30PM	Wide Angle	24mm or wider (equivalent).
18 (May 3)9:30AM	ICM	Intentional Camera Movement.
19 (May 10)9:30AM	Rule of Thirds	Clear application of the rule of thirds.
20 (May 17)9:30AM	Street Portrait	Portraits of people in public spaces.
21 (May 24)9:30AM	Thinking Black & White	Photograph with black & white in mind.
22 (May 31)9:30AM	Text in the Image	Text or typography as an element.
23 (Jun 7)9:30AM	1/30 Second	Photograph at 1/30s or slower.
24 (Jun 14)9:30AM	Waiting People	People in a state of waiting.
25* (Jun 21)9:30AM	Symmetry	Symmetrical image composition.
26* (Jun 28)9:30AM	Blue	Blue as the defining color element.
27 (Jul 5)9:30AM	>100mm / Tele	Longer focal length for compression.
28 (Jul 12)9:30AM	Contrasts	Light/dark or color contrasts.
29 (Jul 19)9:30AM	Negative Space	Conscious use of empty space.
30 (Jul 26)9:30AM	Street Scenes without People	Urban space without people.
31 (Aug 2)9:30AM	Out of Focus	Intentionally photographing out of focus.
32* (Aug 9)9:30AM	Yellow	Yellow as the dominant element.
33* (Aug 16)9:30AM	Diagonals	Diagonal lines as the main compositional element.
34* (Aug 23)9:30AM	Patterns	Repetition and patterns.
35 (Aug 30)9:30AM	Portrait Orientation	Photograph exclusively in portrait orientation.
36 (Sep 6)9:30AM	Hands	Hands as the central subject.
37 (Sep 13)9:30AM	High Key	Bright and overexposed.
38 (Sep 20)9:30AM	Public Transport	Scenes around trams, buses and stops.
39 (Sep 27)9:30AM	Open & Close	Photograph very close to the subject.
40* (Oct 4)9:30AM	Green	Green defines the image.
41 (Oct 11)9:30AM	Directions of Gaze	Conscious use of lines of sight.
42 (Oct 18)9:30AM	Pairs	Two people in relation to each other.
43 (Oct 25)9:30AM	Panning	Tracking moving subjects.
44 (Nov 1)9:30AM	Rain & Weather	Weather as a design element.
45 (Nov 8)9:30AM	Centered Composition	Place the main subject exactly in the center.
46 (Nov 15)9:30AM	Street Details	Small, subtle scenes.
47 (Nov 22)9:30AM	Long Exposure	Motion blur using long shutter speeds.
48 (Nov 29)9:30AM	Orange	Orange as the dominant color.
49 (Dec 6)9:30AM	Chaos	Intentionally complex, dense scenes.
50 (Dec 13)9:30AM	Light Edges	Light as a form-defining element.
51 (Dec 20)9:30AM	Favorite Challenge	Repeat your favorite challenge of 2026.
52 (Dec 27)9:30AM	Best of Basel	Personal summary of the year.