There’s nothing interesting to photograph!
I heard that a lot on a few of the photo walks I’ve led over the years. Sometimes people would even want to leave and go home because they saw nothing that inspired them to take a photo. I find it’s a common question from my students in my classes and from you – my valued readers – here on the site. So I wanted to give you a few tips for how to get the muse working for you and how to find photography ideas and subjects anywhere.
Photography ideas for when there’s nothing interesting to shoot
- Try a new technique
- When you’re traveling, or away from home, it’s easier to find interesting subjects because everything is new. So if you’re bored with your surroundings and can’t go anywhere try a new technique you’ve never done before. When you’re traveling is not the time to experiment, do that now in your free time. I’m sure there are tons of things you’ve been itching to try out and haven’t had the time – well now you can do just that.
Pick one and find some articles, books, or tutorials on that topic – then give it a go. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Shoot or process in black and white
- Try some HDR photography
- Do some panning to add motion to your images
- Set up a silhouette portrait
- Night photography or light painting
- A new processing technique, plugin, or style
- Get really close – do some macro photography
- Closeup or macro photography requires you to look at objects differently. Look for textures, cobwebs, patterns. Find an ordinary household item and really take a good look at it. A wooden spoon, a copper penny, an old shoe, even a doorknob can become an interesting subject when you approach it from the macro perspective.
Becomes far more about light, shadows and textures when you get closer.
- Look for the Light (and the shadows)
- You’ve probably heard this before but in photography light is everything. However – you also need shadows too. The play between light and dark is what creates texture, mood, and depth. Go out shooting one day just looking at how the light falls on everything. Look for interesting shadows and photograph them.
Look at the three images below and see if the shadows don’t give away the location – where do you think these were taken?
Sometimes less is more in photography and a subtle hint of your subject can tell a story, even more so than showing the entire object. So use tips #2 and #3 to get creative.
- Go to a farm, zoo or farmers market
- Even if you can’t get away on a trip or vacation try something a bit more local. Farms that allow visitors, the zoo, or even an outdoor market are great photo opportunities. You might even find something tasty to take home to eat.
- Pick an unusual subject and photograph only that for a day
- If you’re having a hard time finding anything interesting in your area pick something so obscure you have to go looking for it. Something you would normally just pass by without a second thought.
In a photo walk class I ran a few years ago I asked the students to give themselves an assignment to pick one topic and go out and do the walk with that in mind. We brainstormed together and they each picked something – then they picked something for me. I said I’d shoot whatever they came up with and they picked – FEET.
They thought they’d stump me but I actually had a lot of fun with it. Here are some of my favourites from that day.
Notice there are no faces in any of those feet shots. But I’d likely not have seen or taken any of those images without that assignment from my students. Give yourself a tough mission and head out and see if you’re up to the task.
Looking for more photography ideas for things to shoot?
Okay by now the wheels must be turning and you’ve got some ideas. It’s time to get out and try them, no time like the present.
Cheers,
