Stand in Front of Something More Interesting

I heard some great photography advice recently: if you want to take better photos, then you should stand in front of something more interesting. This is a terrific suggestion for anyone who has burned out, become lethargic, or otherwise decided that they now hate taking photos despite their $3000 camera investment. You might be top ace at the thing you do most often, but seriously, is that anyway to build up a diverse portfolio? If your neighbors came over and saw the photos on your wall, would they assume you had a certain obsession? Branch out! Stand in front of something more interesting (with your camera, naturally).

Of course, "interesting" to one person is not the same as "interesting" to another. I believe the gut of this advice is essentially this: try something new. Here's some unsolicited advice to get you started.

Go somewhere else. "Travel" first came to my mind when I heard the phrase "stand in front of something more interesting," but that isn't necessarily a requirement. You should probably go somewhere, but it doesn't have to be far. Your own neighborhood or city should offer enough diversity to get you started. (But if you really do want to fly to the other side of the world, please don't let me stop you.) If you live in the countryside or the suburbs, head downtown. If you happen to live downtown, then it's time for a road trip.

Vary your subjects. If you always take pictures of the flowers in your backyard, don't. Try shooting architecture, wildlife, or portraits. And when I say architecture, I mean buildings that you don't normally see such as the skyscrapers downtown instead of your own house. While you're there, try some street photography. Capture some people going about their daily activities. Not sure if your portraits should be candid or posed? Do whatever you've never done before, or whatever you're the least comfortable with. Take pictures of people from the shoulders down, or even just their shoes.

Challenge yourself on a technical level. Explore those strange buttons and weird settings on your camera. Don't read the manual, just press them and see what happens! Try to capture a shallow depth of field or create a motion blur. If you normally zoom all the way in, try the wide angle. And what about night photography? Try to put some "mood" into your photos. Not sure what mood to create? Be creative, and then after that, do the opposite of whatever you just did.

A few examples to get you started

Backyard by Still Burning

This is a pretty generic looking backyard. Don't we all have photos like this?

Backyard trampoline by Kevin Steele

Now this is much more interesting. It has a different angle, an active subject, and the girl's head is cut off. Very intriguing - it makes me want to be there.

Times Square (NYC) by Michael McDonough

Even if you've never been to Times Square in New York you still know what it looks like because it is one of the most photographed places in the world. I'm not saying this is a bad photo, but it's just like all of the others.

extreme 200mm times square, new york by andre stoeriko

This photo has a different perspective and an entirely new mood. It's dark, yet glowing with lights. It's gritty and dirty, yet modern and shiny. I can't stop looking at it. It makes me want to go to New York.

Nauset Beach - Orleans, MA by Chris Seufert

Everyone loves the beach. This is actually a great photo, composed nicely with a good mix of foreground and background detail. However, it is a little too generic for my taste. When I look at this photo I get the impression that the photographer is very familiar and comfortable with this scene. He knew exactly how to make it look good (and he did a good job). However, this is a common perspective that many have seen before.

Shipwreck Zakynthos Beach by AdamosMaximus

Wow, what an amazing place. This is a perfect example of "going somewhere else." In addition to the beautiful location, the photographer got a different angle. Instead of putting the viewer right next to the sand and water he sought out a new perspective and included important details. Again, it makes me want to go there.

In summary, try new things. You don't necessarily have to have a huge travel budget because there should be plenty of inspiration in your own neighborhood. Remember, if all of your photos are perfect, you're not challenging yourself.