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Hey guys, I joined this class VERY recently after the FPEA convention in Florida and took a class with James (It was great!) but I don’t know what to take pictures of… I don’t get to go much farther than my home, and there is a good amount of outdoors… but it is Florida… where I am, there really isn’t much stunning scenery, or even nice. Do you guys have ideas on how I myself can get ideas?
Welcome to Lenspiration, @racedude8! That’s so great that you enjoyed the photo class at the convention!
This is a neat question. My first thought would be, look right around you for things that catch your eye. If you step outside your house, what things are there you see to photograph? Plants? Animals? Shapes? Textures? Architecture? People? Cars?
What are things that stick out to you?
Chicken (They are everywhere), we have 15 acres, but it isn’t like scenery that is pleasing to the eye because everything is so dry and dead, and lots of dirt, so the dirt sticks out!
I know how it can be discouraging to see all the pictures of grand landscapes and epic locations, and think that you’re pictures don’t look like those.
I’d encourage you to try find beauty in your own backyard! Become familiar with how the light plays on different “macro sceneries”. Go out in the early morning or evening- golden light can really add beauty. Become good at photographing what You have around. Sometimes it’s the niche that’s in your area that people need pictures of. (The pictures of a famous landmarks are a-dime-a-dozen). Photography your chickens! I’ve sold a lot of chicken pictures on stock.
And an example of mine, it can be discouraging for me because some years we don’t get much snow, especially around Christmas time. But do you know what one of my top sellers is on stock? A Christmas wreath with No snow! (https://stock.adobe.com/stock-photo/id/240400254)If you can take nice pictures in your own backyard, you’ll be able to take nice pictures anywhere!
-HannahThis is excellent advice, @blessingscaptured! I was thinking along the same lines. 🙂
@racedude8, the example that came to mind for me was from a few years ago, during the month of March. Around where I live, this is a brown, dead-looking time of year. One day I went out and took pictures of dead twigs and branches – but during golden hour, when the sunlight was illuminating them. And suddenly what I normally would have looked at as ugly or boring became beautiful. I’ve attached a picture from that experience.God is so gracious to give beauty in places we wouldn’t normally think to look. We just have to be attentive and seek it out at times! If you live on 15 acres, I just KNOW there are some treasures out there for you to find!
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@racedude8 Macro and abstract photography are going to be your friends. For abstract, look for patterns, textures, weird lines/shapes. Macro photography can be great indoors. If you don’t have flowers to shoot, find something else in your house that is interesting or buy flowers from the grocery store. Photographing eyes is something that I find fascinating too and they can be a BLAST to edit to pop the colors. It sounds like you’ve got some land with a bit of sky… ever shoot clouds?
Are you near a road, or city (or even a small town)? Shooting cars at night can be interesting to get some light trails. Old buildings and houses are loaded with texture and stories.
Just some ideas for you… practice, practice, practice around your locale… and then, when you do a little internet research, drive 3 hours, and go backpacking for the epic shots, you’ll find all the compositional and technical skills you worked on while shooting things that were “boring” will serve you well. You’ll grow to be way more observant. … and your shots will stand out from the walk-up-and-shoot-the-scenic-vista smartphone shots that everyone has too many of.
—Logan
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Thanks for sharing, @loganlamar! Great thoughts, and well said.
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