I learned this very valuable lesson a few years ago when my main stock agency, Getty Images, asked for local content for their collection. They said they had enough imagery of all the popular tourist spots, and there was a demand for imagery from different out-of-the-way places around the world. After all, who better knows how to photograph a place than the people who live there?
I live close to the beach, so many of my shots included beach scenes, but I also photographed parks, architecture, food, nature and people – anything that gave a flavor of the place I call home. Each shoot I did focused on one particular aspect, and that is what I suggest you do.
You could focus on the architecture, the flowers, the trees, the people, the traffic, shadows, mailboxes, road signs etc. You can be as detailed as you like, or you could focus on an area - walk down one street or visit your local park and photograph what you see there.
Try to look through the eyes of someone visiting for the first time. What would they see, that you might overlook?
This morning, armed with only my iPhone 8, I took a walk in my local park, Bird Island Park, just two miles from my house.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Bird Island Park was the vision of some local residents who worked with St. Johns County to make a local park a reality in our community of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The County provided some funds for the park, but over the course of seven years the rest of the funds were raised through the generosity of local businesses and individuals. The park was completed in 2010. A stroll through the park is like taking a stroll through the different ecosystems of Northeast Florida, featuring local wildflowers and native trees.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
The entrance to the park features a gazebo where you can relax in the shade.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
The first thing you see when you enter the park is a maze.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A butterfly house provides shelter for butterflies from the rain, wind and cold.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A boardwalk with intermittent gazebos stretches around the lake.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
The local library is on the right.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
The weather vane on the library roof.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
The firehouse can be seen at the end of the boardwalk.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A couple of turtles can be seen swimming on the lake.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Bird Island, where the larger water birds nest and hang out.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Birds hanging out n a tree on Bird Island
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
No lake is complete in Florida without a fountain.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Canada Geese
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Cabbage palm trees line this pathway in the park. The cabbage palm is the State Tree of Florida.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A volunteer watering the plants.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A birdhouse offers a place for shelter and for nesting for small birds.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Interesting concrete animal shaped seats dot the park. This bench is in the shape of a turtle.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A turtle sculpture made by schoolchildren.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A collage of wildflowers found growing in the park today.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Local wildlife! This black racer did not move an inch while I photographed him. Normally they race off, hence the name!
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A place for the children to play.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
The only magnolia I saw today. It's too early for the blooms yet!
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
A small amphitheater area for storytelling and performances.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
And last, but not least - my favorite sculpture in the park.
Image ©Diane Macdonald. All Rights Reserved. Camera: iPhone8 Plus
Now it's your turn! Take a walk somewhere in your neighborhood and write a post about it. Paste the link in the comments below so that we can all enjoy a trip to your neighborhood! Also, use the tag #photography-101. (Remember the dash in the tag!) I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to share!
Don't compare yourself with other photographers.
Love what you do.
Experiment with different styles of photography.
Your photographs tell more about you than about the scene.
Don't be an equipment snob.
Focus more at first on good composition than on technical skills.
Think of post-processing as the digital darkroom.
Shoot what is in your own neighborhood.
Flip the camera and take vertical shots.
Even great photographers are remembered for only 1 or two GREAT shots in a lifetime.
Avoid the SVS (Standard Vacation Shots) as much as possible.
Use cloudy and rainy days to your advantage.
Get up early.
Capture city shots just after sundown.
Travel light with camera gear.
Don't be afraid to include people in travel shots.
Photograph architecture with the full sun on the building front.
Experiment with all kinds of software.
Use on-camera flash on sunny days.
Take many photos of one thing that excites you, and edit.
Submit images with strong concepts to stock agencies.
