National Geographic photographer, Jim Richardson, supposedly said, “If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” 

Ansel Adams supposedly said, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”

So, is the goal to find something interesting and document it or is it to work at making interesting images from whatever is in front of you? Or do we do both?

Are you familiar with Edward Westons still life images? He takes ordinary objects and makes them into (in my opinion) beautiful subjects.  Weston said, “Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph; not searching for unusual subject matter but making the commonplace unusual.”

Personally, I love still life. It is extremely challenging knowing that every little facet of the image is your responsibility. Tiny little tweaks of the light or turning a fruit or moving a crumb have tremendous effects on the resulting image. But then again, I also enjoy landscape photography, using my best technical skills to capture what is in front of me. And then there’s travel, wildlife (especially birds) and don’t forget flowers. Each with its own set of skills and appreciation. The photography that I find most difficult, and frustrating is street photography and capturing that definitive moment.

So, think for a moment. What do you like to photograph and WHY? Do you search out interesting places? Are you chasing light? Are you looking for the definitive moment? What gets you excited about your work. Do you say to yourself, “I wish that I…” Thinking is probably the most important tool in photography.

“It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson