Don’t assume you know (because you really don’t)
Sunday afternoon. Gray sky, cold and windy outside. Why going out? It’s the usual small town anyways, nothing new to see.
These were the thoughts going in my mind when I decided to pick up my camera and go outside, even if only for a short walk. What’s the point of staing inside rotting on the sofa anyways?
Having taken the most difficult step (get out), what I usually do is just turn on the camera and take a first shot just to get warmed up. After that it’s much easier to pay attention to the details of the surrounding environment and look for interesting compositions and subjects.
After walking for a bit I noticed an old wheelbarrow sitting in front of a semi-abandoned building and the placement felt just right. I shot the image wide open to have a nice blurry foreground and background. I was pleasently surprised by the outcome.
Burrowheel - f1.2, 1/500, ISO 100
Continuing walking on the narrow street getting cold gusts of wind in the face I noticed a window frames by ivy. I included a bit of the foreground to add more depth and snapped another photo.
Windows - f1.2, 1/800, ISO 100
Given the cloudy, grey February afternoon, there wasn’t much color going on so when I came across some vibrant heather bushes I felt compelled to stop and find a decent composition. Again I looked for a plant that had some interesting elements both on the foreground as well as the background. Overall the result is simple but pleasing.
Heather - f1.2, 1/160, ISO 50
On the way back I came across an abandoned mirron on the side walk (the small surprises you simply can’t plan in advance). I crossed the road, position myself on the right side as to include the reflection of a tree on the left and took a self-portrait.
Self-portrait - f1.2, 1/1600, ISO 200
I left home being sure that it would be a waste of time and that I wouldn’t find anything interesting but coming back I was yet again surprised by the impredicatability of life and my narrowmindedness.
Moral of the story: don’t assume you know what you fill find, pick up your camera, go outside and look at the familiar places with new eyes, you’ll be surprised by what you can discover.