user avatar

academy

12 Tips on Photographing the Everyday
Outside Your Doorstep
user-image-56fc48e0489813794c8b456c

It’s easy to be desensitized to the beauty that surrounds us day to day. When taking photographs, it's important to have an open mind. There are fascinating opportunities even in the most ‘boring’ of places. Just outside your doorstep there are plenty of unique and interesting sights.

Below are 12 tips to photographing the everyday scenes around where you live. Also, be sure to share your images of the things you find fascinating to VSCO with #ACADEMY. Cover image by Jodie Thackray

1. Vegetation

user-image-569e7fcf47331ed42b8b456a
Plant life has its own beauty and form. Take a closer look at the plants that are in your environment. Nature juxtaposed against man-made structures can also make for poetic imagery. Image by Thomas Bellanger

2. Shadows

user-image-566f43cf24331e184c8b456c
Shadows can take on personality of their own with the shapes they cast, especially in harsh sunlight. Be on the lookout for shadows that complement the environment or add depth. Image by Erik Herrera

3. Words and phrases

user-image-566f43c148331ebe518b456d
An oddly placed word or phrase can say much more if we consider it in the context of its surroundings. Look for scenes that provoke questions or wonder. Image by Alex Ledford

4. Simplicity

user-image-566f5d9248331e9a6f8b4569
Sometimes the simplest scenes can stir our emotions in ways that are unexpected. Open space, combined with a less-is-more approach, can lead our eye directly to the subject. Image by Paris Mumpower

5. Textures and patterns

user-image-566f43c824331ec54b8b4569
Textures and patterns can give an image more depth. They are common in nature, but can also appear in unconventional ways. Image by Boring Postcards

6. Reflections

user-image-566f43b0208da18d1f8b4568
Reflections can make an ordinary scene surreal. Be on the lookout for standing water, glass, or other reflective surfaces to see what they mirror. If possible, come back at different times of the day to see what has changed in the reflection. Image by Marah Harris

7. Create the unexpected

user-image-566f5d9747331ec70f8b4570
Don’t be afraid to manipulate the environment or change things around you to create a more interesting scene. Whether you’re photographing a person or an inanimate object, slight tweaks can add mystery to an image. Image by Vladimir Miladinović Piki

8. Abstractions

user-image-56743377e7d1f7647d8b4567
There are abstract scenes even in the most seemingly mundane objects. Challenge yourself to take multiple shots — get closer, crop, and move around your subject to help produce images that skew the perspective. Image by Mia Coyle

9. Grotesque

user-image-566f5d8827331ea6078b4567
Take a risk and explore the beauty that can be found in the oddities of life. Look beyond aesthetic norms, and the result may surprise you. Image by Joe Hutt

10. Strange occurrences

user-image-56a01b8c734bbd55378b4573
It’s always fun to capture something that seems out of place. It happens more often than we realize if we pay close enough attention to our surroundings. Image by Corey Chin

11. Lines

user-image-5670828371e2b995198b4568
A line can disrupt a surface that, on its own, can be somewhat ordinary. Play around with the line’s shape, and be mindful of where it leads your eye. Image by Roche Julien

12. Shape and form

user-image-569e7d7c6e331ebf1b8b457a
Rather than looking at a subject literally, try focusing solely on its form or color. Image by Berton Chang
←→
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy