How 10 Extra Steps Can Transform Your Photography

Embracing New Perspectives: How 20 Extra Steps Can Transform Your Photography Often when we're shooting photos, it's easy to get tunnel vision, focusing only on what's directly in front of us. Photography is a wonderful medium, but sometimes we get stuck in our ways. The angles and styles we use are often habits formed over years of shooting. What do you do when you feel like you're in a repetitive mode? One of my favorite techniques is to walk around the subject. Just as our lenses can zoom in and out, we should do the same with our bodies, taking those extra steps to get different perspectives.

Today, as I was driving back from helping a business in Clayton, I noticed a car show. Normally, I would have jumped at the chance to check out the classic cars and chat with the owners. However, today I wasn't feeling very social. I was enjoying the drive, music cranked up, and just being in my own space.

About 15 minutes into the drive, I passed a white farmhouse with a building and a silo next to it. What caught my eye was a bright orange Mopar in front of the farmhouse. Initially, I drove past it, but a few miles down the road, my photographer's mind started nudging me. "Wow, that's a great image. Wouldn't that be a perfect photo?" I tried to ignore it, but the voice got louder. I pulled over, did a U-turn, and headed back.

When I arrived, the property owner was about to leave. I told him I was a photographer and admired the car on his lawn. I asked if I could take some photos, and he chuckled, giving me permission.

As he drove away, I pulled into the driveway and started shooting the first car I saw, a Plymouth Wagon. Then I moved on to the orange Mopar, taking photos from various angles with and without the silo in the frame. While shooting, I felt a sense of familiarity. I began walking back to my car, but as I passed the wagon, I noticed something incredible—an entire field filled with various cars and vans. It was a car lover's dream. The sounds of my camera's shutter drowned out the sounds of nature. I moved around, capturing shots from different angles, and became one with my camera.

I would have never discovered this treasure trove if I hadn't taken those extra 20 steps and looked around. It was a powerful reminder to take your time and change your viewpoint. If you're not inspired by what you're shooting, find a different angle. Move around the subject, even if it's just a few steps. Don't stay stationary. Keep exploring, and you'll find new perspectives that can transform your photography.