1. Watch films. Hard work I know. Films have an infinite amounts of ideas for inspiration with different concepts for lighting and composition. With 30 images per second, you’ll have some great ideas in no time.
2. Enter online photography competitions. These can give you inspiration as they assign topics for your photos. The pressure can motivate you to shoot your best, and who knows, maybe you’ll win a fantastic prize.
3. Plan a trip to your local botanical garden. Plants are great for experimenting with light and tone. If you can’t find a botanical garden, go to a garden shop and snap away. There are some really beautiful flowers to take photos of.
4. Frame your photo with thought. Think about the composition of your photo. Shooting the same thing from a different angle will produce an entirely different photograph.
5. Learn about art history. Visit art exhibitions featuring photography and discover how different people have portrayed the world. Reading about photography will put your work in context.
6. Learn about visual arts. Visit art galleries that have photography shows. Read about art history and learn how artists have developed different and exciting ways of depicting the world around us.
7. Shoot in different conditions. E.g. if you shoot in early morning, late in the afternoon or in sunset, the available light will add more depth, create interesting shadows and color changes for your convenience. Try to photograph places in fog - it will hide distracting background elements.
8. Explore the web. The internet is an amazing resource for visual inspiration. Type anything you can think of into the search engine and see what comes up. The internet gives you access to lots of amateur photographer’s work, among them some hidden gems, which will surprise you.
9. Carry your camera with you everywhere you go. Often a great photo opportunity will present itself for only a moment. Take advantage of what life throws your way by being prepared.
10. Join photography forums. It’s free and fun. You can discuss photography, post up photos and meet some cool people who love photography as much as you.
Leave a Reply