The best way to see new things and people and styles is to walk. A lot and as much as possible. Even walking down a familiar block from the other direction will reveal totally different ways of seeing something so familiar.
Some types of photographers--street and travel photographers come to mind-- obviously have to walk a lot. When I'm out on the street for the whole day, I figure I do about ten miles in a day. I rarely have a schedule unless I want to return someplace to catch certain light, and have only a starting point and end point for transportation. The rest is improv.
But a lot of walking is just as important when, say, scouting for an editorial shoot. Most themes have been done by now. The graffiti walls, the old buildings, the minimalist quads (and of course the beach). But that doesn't mean these types of places are totally played out. Walking around every inch of a location, new angles and lighting and composition might come to you.
And the nuances are crucial, because everyone has to dig a little deeper now with their ideas. There's no such thing a "brick wall" or a "graffiti wall" anymore. There are old brick walls, painted brick walls, art graffiti walls, gang graffiti walls, and on and on.
What's the best location to go with your idea? You'll only find it by walking around.
Some types of photographers--street and travel photographers come to mind-- obviously have to walk a lot. When I'm out on the street for the whole day, I figure I do about ten miles in a day. I rarely have a schedule unless I want to return someplace to catch certain light, and have only a starting point and end point for transportation. The rest is improv.
But a lot of walking is just as important when, say, scouting for an editorial shoot. Most themes have been done by now. The graffiti walls, the old buildings, the minimalist quads (and of course the beach). But that doesn't mean these types of places are totally played out. Walking around every inch of a location, new angles and lighting and composition might come to you.
And the nuances are crucial, because everyone has to dig a little deeper now with their ideas. There's no such thing a "brick wall" or a "graffiti wall" anymore. There are old brick walls, painted brick walls, art graffiti walls, gang graffiti walls, and on and on.
What's the best location to go with your idea? You'll only find it by walking around.
