As photographers, we all need to get out of our comfort zone and experiment with new subjects to refresh our focus, hone our skills, and enhance creativity in our daily photography.
Each of us has a favorite “something” that we love to photograph. For me, it’s the flowers. With the macro lens in hand, I can lose myself for hours in the heart of any flower. I enjoy exploring the rich colors, textures, and abstract shapes found between the petals. My other passion is exploring the farmlands near my home. My favorite time to photograph is early morning and at the right time of the year it comes with the added bonus of fog.
Because I love photographing these two subjects, it’s tempting to photograph them over and over again to the exclusion of everyone else. I think that is a mistake. It is imperative that as photographers we push our limits all the time. We must embrace photography project ideas that push us out of our own boxes. For each of us, the subject that stretches us will be different. For me, it’s the people. For you, it could be landscapes.
What happens when we explore outside of our comfort zone is a kind of magic. Because we’re experimenting with new material, we’re open to seeing it in new ways. The new techniques that we develop and learn during our creative photography sessions carry over into our everyday photography. We benefit from a cross-pollination of ideas and techniques that enhance our photography and develop us as artists.
I’d like to offer you some photo project ideas that might get you thinking creatively. The best project to choose, ironically, is the one that sounds the least appealing. That’s an indication that it’s the furthest out of your comfort zone and the one you’re likely to get the most benefit from.
If you usually shoot at stationary objects, like I do, try something that moves. A couple of summers ago, a friend invited me to shoot at a rodeo. That’s about as far from “yet” as you can get! Did you know? I had a blast and got some great shots. It also opened my mind to a whole new style of shooting, where I had to react quickly to my surroundings. Other ideas for photographing motion include photographing sporting events such as a marathon, a bike, car or horse race, a hockey game or a ballet recital.
If you tend to photograph people, then try still lifes or landscapes. You will find that this is a very different exercise. When your subject is stationary, you have more time to frame your subject carefully. Slowing down this thought process can help you train your eye so you can compose better when under pressure.
If you tend to shoot landscapes, try going to the opposite extreme and shoot up close. You will find that the composition principles are the same; You’re still working with the same building blocks of color, texture, line, and shape, just on a much smaller scale. This can really improve your composition, as it removes your ability to “tag” objects and forces you to see only the basic design elements in the image. Your miniature landscapes are more abstract.
I invite you to choose a photography project for yourself that will take you out of your box. Experiment, have fun and shoot!