Pretty frequently, I hear photographers lamenting that they can’t find anything interesting to shoot. The best advice I ever received as a tog was ‘don’t look for interesting things, make things look interesting.” – Joel Sartore in his Fundamentals of Photography courses.
Fundamentals of Photography II
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When you’re out shooting and not finding anything that jumps out at you as interesting or photo-worthy, here are a few tips to use to Make them interesting:
(Photos featured in this article are a few of my stock photos available on Dreamstime.)
Reflections – mirrors of course, and find reflections in windows, puddles, rivers, any shiny surface like a vehicle outside or tv screen indoors.
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Angles – get up above and shoot downward, get low and shoot upward.
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Up close – get in close and show some fascinating detail of your subject.
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Far away – wide landscapes offer a feeling of vastness; foreground objects help define the field. Try getting low to the ground and shoot at a slightly upward angle, or any other position that offers a unique perspective.
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Contrasting colors – find layers or sequences of colors that make each stand out, red/green, blue/yellow, etc. Often fall foliage shoots will be a good opportunity for this with the reds, golds, and greens, but you sure can do it indoors with household objects!
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Shadows – can be fun indoors using lights or the sun through a window, or outdoors using light from sun, moon, street lamps, etc.
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Patterns and textures
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Lines – leading lines, zig-zag lines, contrast of parallel and vertical.
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Shapes – interesting, overlapping shapes are fun, circles, squares, triangles.
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Dim light – you can get some soft, romantic, even spooky looks in dim light.
© Photographer: Michelle K Wood | Agency: Dreamstime.com