So, I’d been feeling like my photos were all looking the same. You know, snaps of the family, the dog, the usual holiday pictures. Got kinda boring. I felt stuck. I figured I needed to actually do something different, not just think about it. So, I decided to actively hunt for some fresh photography ideas and actually try them out.
Didn’t really start with a big plan. No fancy courses or anything. I just started carrying my old camera around more, even my phone sometimes. And I started really looking at stuff. Ordinary things. Like, how could I make that boring street corner look… well, less boring?
Trying Out Shadows
First thing I got hooked on was shadows. Sounds simple, right? But I spent about a week just looking for interesting shadows, especially late in the afternoon when they get really long. I’d walk around the neighborhood specifically looking for them. Fences, trees, even my own shadow.
- I remember trying to get this shot of my shadow looking super tall and stretched out.
- Had to stand in some really awkward ways on the pavement. Felt pretty daft doing it.
- Most shots were rubbish, just dark shapes. But a couple, especially one of a bicycle’s shadow, looked kinda cool. It was more about the act of hunting for them, you know? Made walks more interesting.
Playing with Reflections
After the shadow phase, I started noticing reflections more. Especially after it rained. Puddles were suddenly fascinating. Shop windows too. So, I started trying to take pictures of the reflections. It’s tricky! Trying to get the reflection sharp, without catching my own goofy face looking back, or loads of distracting stuff around it.
I spent a good half hour crouched by one particular puddle near the park. Trying to get the reflection of the big oak tree in it. People walking past probably thought I’d lost something. Most attempts failed. The water wasn’t still enough, or the angle was wrong. But I did get one decent shot of clouds reflected in a puddle on the pavement. Felt like a small win.
What happened in the end? Well, I didn’t suddenly become some amazing photographer. Still take plenty of boring pictures. But forcing myself to try these simple ideas, like shadows and reflections, it changed how I look at things. It made photography fun again, not just something for special occasions. The main thing wasn’t finding some revolutionary idea, it was the doing, the experimenting. And I got a few pictures I actually like out of it, which is a bonus.
