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