They say the routine is the worst enemy of inspiration. Have you ever wondered why when you go on a trip to an unknown place you suddenly can’t stop taking photos at all hours and of everything? Why do you suddenly feel so and so inspired? Very easy, because it is new, because everything surprises to your photographic eye, because your senses are attentive and activated. What’s more, go to the most touristic area of your city and you will see many tourists with cameras in hand photographing like crazy corners, objects and people, which you find so uninspiring that you will even wonder what they see. Very simple, the same thing you see when you do the tourist, pure inspiration in the form of novelty.
Now, there are few scenarios that teach us as much as those close to us. Precisely because it daily It forces us to make an effort, to see beyond, to squeeze our brains in search of inspiration, in short, because every obstacle can become a great opportunity. So, although it is difficult to see, everything that we have close not only provides us with infinite opportunities for to practicebut it is the best ally to train us as photographers.
If you still think that it is not worth dusting off your camera at home, I hope that by the end of this article you will be convinced otherwise 😉 Here are a few ideas to do it.
1. Food photography
Has it never occurred to you to photograph your dishes? There are people who do real tricks with them, why not be one of them? Food photography allows you to play with composition, color, depth of field, styling and light. You can simply photograph the dish or create a story with the ingredients with which it has been made. You have a lot of inspiration online, I wouldn’t miss this opportunity 😉
2. Portraits
I bet that at home you have a victim more or less willing to offer to participate more or less willingly in your photographic journeys. Well, then you have a great, great opportunity. At home you have more than enough to create great portraits. Do you have a window? A curtain? A lamp? Well, you already have the professional photo studio set up 🙂 You can practice with hard and diffuse light, with reflections, with the composition, with the same window frame, with the angle and even, why not, with backlighting. And all this without leaving home.
Of course, remember to set the white balance appropriately for each of the lighting situations you face. Above all, be careful if you mix natural and artificial light.
3. High and low key
The two extremes of portrait lighting are also easy to achieve without leaving home. Just by taking a light or dark background, in a very or very dimly lit room and taking a look at this article where he explains it in detail, you will get impressive portraits.
4. Macro photography
If you like the world of impossible giants, you have patience and you like to calmly prepare the scene, you will love macro photography. But you don’t have to go into the field to get beautiful macro images. A screw, a pencil, a tomato or the computer keyboard can be good protagonists of your scenes. Of course, remember that a tripod will be essential, as well as a macro lens, investment rings or extension tubes, depending on your budget and how fond you can get of it 😉
5. Smoke
Nothing like locking yourself between four walls to see the potential that they contain 😉 Do you have candles? A match? Incense? Well, you already have much of what you need to obtain an image similar to the following.
Of course, for the rest, better take a look at this article before you start thinking that it is the work of some kind of dark magic 🙂 And don’t rush to try to be different, it’s about practicing and feeling the satisfaction of having done it accomplished.
6.Bokeh
If you want to see one of the many benefits of the diaphragm opening, here you can check it out with great results. The bokeh is nothing more than the effect of blurring the lights thanks to a wide diaphragm opening (shallow depth of field). It works very well in portraits of both people and everyday objects and mastering it will be great if you need to make your own Christmas card in a couple of months 😉
7. Flowers and plants
If you are one of those who die even cacti and your house is empty of plant elements, you can skip this point. Wait, you’re not going to get rid 😉 . You can buy a bouquet of flowers in good condition and have a great flower photo session. In fact, surely most buy extra-pretty flowers for these occasions, so there is no excuse. Flowers and plants are a motif that is already pleasant, so you have half a photo made.
Control the lighting, framing, background, and texture of the petals, try spraying them with water to imitate dew, or different backgrounds (can be colored cardboard) to bring out the color. You can get really close, put them in a vase, or make them part of a larger picture, you can photograph their decay or their fullness. You have millions of possibilities, give free rein to your imagination.
8. Still life
In the purest style of Rembrandt, why not make your own photographic still lifes as if it were a pictorial work of art? You will be able to practice the different angles of light, the textures, the composition, the styling of the image, the depth of field, etc. You will also have time to think and consciously solve the problems that arise, and there is no better practice than that 🙂
9. Product Photography
Product photography is another photographic branch that you can practice at home without spending almost a penny 😉 With a light box, which you can even make yourself, you can get magnificent product photographs at the level of a professional (or almost). At least it’s logistically and financially viable, and hey, you never know where all this “extra” knowledge might take you.
10. Drops of water
Or high-speed photography, or freeze a drop in the frame. Does it seem complicated to you? Luckily, Mario explains it step by step in this article: How to photograph a drop of water without dying of despair.
11. Document the everyday
I know that, precisely because it is everyday, it is one of the most difficult things to photograph. It is difficult to think that someone could be interested in something that seems to you the most innocuous. But the truth is that it is right under our noses where the best stories are usually hidden and where we can best practice and express ourselves. Open your eyes wide to what is happening around you; you have magical moments everywhere that deserve to be frozen in time, don’t hesitate. Your son cooks, your dog looking out the window, your grandmother taking a nap on the sofa, life around you is a great stage and you have before you the opportunity to portray it.
summarizing
Any place and time is a great opportunity to practice and learn. We don’t need to go to the other end of the world for this, the best images can be in front of our lens without even leaving home.
Do you dare to try any of the points? Do you want to help others not to miss out on any home-photo opportunity? In that case, share it with whoever you think might be interested. Thank you very much and until next time 🙂