I remember talking to a photographer that I know back home in Newfoundland once about how he felt that where he lived offered no interesting opportunities for photos. I was floored. I go back to Newfoundland each summer and I’m overwhelmed sometimes by the potential opportunities. I say ‘potential’ because a huge part of being an outdoor photographer is being in the right place at the right time, which can be hard when you have limited time or the weather doesn’t co-operate (it is Newfoundland after all). So I couldn’t understand how somebody who lives there and has many more opportunities to be in the right place, could say that. Then it occurred to me, that I say the same thing about where I live in Ontario. There are no oceans, no cliffs or fjords, no quaint fishing villages, no mountains… nothing. Poor me. It can be hard to make photos in your own backyard.

Perception Is Reality

All of this got me to thinking about how one perceives their surroundings and how seeing something every day can make it seem mundane or ordinary. There might even be photographers who live in The Rockies who don’t think twice about the beauty that surrounds them and long for prairies or deserts to photograph. You know, crazy people. I’m kidding of course, I’d love to shoot in a desert. Except for all that sand. My point being that it can be hard to see the beauty in things that surround us every day.

No Mountains For You

So here’s the thing: If you want to take iconic photos of amazing locations, the reality is that you have to travel to amazing locations. You simply cannot shoot mountainscapes if you live in Manitoba. This is no secret, but it can be a hard pill to swallow for somebody who does not have the ability to travel all over the world to take photos.

You Own Backyard

If you are unable to board the private jet to France, you still have a choice. You can either sell all your camera gear (let me know if you have any deals on Nikon gear), or you can find ways to look beyond what you perceive to be the mundane and find ways to photograph the things in your own backyard.

Those things are all boring, mundane, stupid and uninteresting. Not worth the space on your memory card.

This is certainly something that I struggle with every day. I feel like I’ve taken too many photos in certain locations, or that I have visited all of the interesting spots within a short drive. Been there, shot that. I long for the ability to go to (no so) far away locations but even a three or four hour drive can be out of reach. The reality is that I often look out my window after eating supper or getting my son ready for bed and take off in a mad rush to catch the sun before it’s dark. That often means re-visiting the same old locations.

I’m Always Looking For New Gear

Sure, there may be a lighthouse in front of you, but it’s been photographed a million times (or more) before. How simply boring, right? Well, here’s what I’ve learned over the years: Yes, that lighthouse is mundane. It’s been shot a million times by photographers and tourists from all over. It’s just like every other lighthouse. Yes, the lake in front of you is boring. There is no subject of interest. That tree? Snoooooooze. The building down the road? Stupid.

There are no oceans, no cliffs or fjords, no quaint fishing villages, no mountains… nothing. Poor me.

There I said it. Those things are all boring, mundane, stupid and uninteresting. Not worth the space on your memory card. Click the contact button on my blog to send me the info on the Nikon gear you want to desperately sell at rock bottom prices. You won’t be needing it anymore.

Writer’s Block, It’s Not Just For Writers

As you may have guessed by now, I’m not just making up all of these thoughts for this blog post. Luckily I chose not to bargain away my camera gear on Kijiji (but if you want to let me know!), and instead I have worked hard to find ways to get through my creative blocks. When I find myself standing, camera in hand, staring at a downright boring scene and wishing I was in the mountains, I challenge myself to find a creative way to capture my vision. I try a slow shutter speed, switch lenses, change my perspective, or lay in the dirt. Sometimes it works, other times not so much. But that’s part of being a photographer. And when it doesn’t work, I try it again some other time.

At the end of the day, you may not live in the mountains or next to the ocean, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t interesting ways to capture the beauty of the things that are in your own backyard. Get creative and use your imagination. Maybe one day you’ll be standing in front of a mountain and wishing you hand’t sold me your camera gear for so cheap.

I’ll be focusing more on some specific techniques that I use in upcoming posts, so stay tuned. I’m working on setting up a mailing list to make it easier for you to receive updates, but for now you’ll just have to check here or on my social media sites.