Shooting what you Know

This is a phrase I suspect nearly every photographer has heard over time. Perhaps I’m alone but I find this incredibly difficult to actually realize.

For me I tend to struggle between two states. Being overly interested in minute details that I find interesting or unable to find a single thing that interests me.

Trying to find a middle ground is a struggle that I fight nearly every time I go on photowalks near my house. Walking is something my wife and I do on a nearly daily basis so I know every step very well.

While I do think there is beauty in that walk, it’s also easy for my eyes to glaze over everything.

The one trick that gets me out of that mode is trying to look for interesting shots when I’m not carrying a camera. It’s one of the better exercises that I’ve found to get my eye going in familiar spots.

The other thing I’ve found that helps is a change in season or circumstance. A particularly colorful sunset, the changing colors of leaves, the blooming of trees in the spring, snowfall in the winter or even rain can all change the way you view the world.

If you’re lucky enough to live in a city, this is a lot easier as the scenery changes constantly due to the people and traffic in the area. However, if you’re like me and live in the suburbs, sometimes you need more to spark your eye.