Does Familiarity Lead To Missed Photo Opportunities?

[wgerrard]

New sensory input can only stir the creative juices. Old sensory input enters the little gray cells covertly. It doesn't register.

I think familiarity with your environs can stifle more than just photography. Walking in the morning from my hotel to the Tube while in London, I found myself almost instantly reverting to the same head-down hurry-up get-to-work posture I assumed years ago. Very frustrating.

Change, of some nature, seems to be the key to breaking out of this. It might be fostered by travel to a new place, or new patterns of light falling on something you see every day. Or, by a willful attempt to shake off the cobwebs. Or, the acquisition of a new lens or camera.

 

[Lilserenity]

I think it probably can. (Elusive one there!)

A couple of good examples for me. 3 weeks ago I was up in Milton Keynes again for 3 days working on my Impression project. We had a Flickr meetup and met some lovely people; I actually live in Worthing but not a million miles from Brighton (where I used to live for a few years) and the MK residents were saying how much they loved Brighton; it sort of re-awakened me to what is on my doorstep and what I take for granted having so close. I like Brighton, I have done a fair bit of work there but maybe because of its familiarity I'm just not enthused over it in the way I might be if I didn't live near it. Very peculiar.

The second example is this idea I have. Maybe in a few years I might move to MK (seeing as I like it so much give or take its few faults) but then I remember that I live on the coast (10 mins walk from the sea) and the South Downs literally on my doostep -- I would miss them greatly if I moved away; but some weeks I don't go down the seafront at all. In fact I've not seen the sea (i.e. walked along it) for a couple of weeks now. And I eventually return to the thought that I couldn't leave this behind; I'd miss it too much.

But yes, familiarity does breed a lack a certain amount of insensitivity to what is around you. Could I do an Impression Worthing as I am with Impression Milton Keynes, no I don't think I could actually; it just wouldn't feel the same -- although this is somewhat tied up in the fact that apart from the downs and coast, Worthing is to me very very boring in an urban sense of the term and Brighton feels a bit clichéd if I am honest. I like things that challenge me and at times make me uncomfortable, that make me think.

If I moved away I would soon miss it and change my mind, I know that!

But at least I carry my camera every day to work and back, you never know what you will see!

I don't think in my case either new equipment would reignite my interest of photographing my town, I just don't think apart from the coast and the downs it ticks my boxes (it's a nice place to live, but nice is not always exciting!) -- my boxes seem to be inately intwined with thing that enraptured me when I was little: the city, the urban form, the dramatic natural landscape.

I've only got to look at what I plan for future projects to see that the unfamiliar to me is more enticing than what is immediately around me (namely I have some ideas for a project on a certain stretch of the A1 and also a series on the Midland Links Motorways... Oh and the London North Circular...)

Hohum 🙂

 

[johannielscom]

This forum has helped me to have a fresh look. (Thank you all for that!)

One day I found myself studying shots of Far East street signs and street garbage cans. And then it hit me: things I consider to be uninteresting might be very nice for others to look at. I always try to keep that in mind when shooting now.

I act as if I have an audience for my shots, even if I do not. It helps.

 

[marke]

There are probably people reading this that are too young to remember repairable television sets!

Not me, Al. My (late) dad had his own TV repair shop for over 35 years. He raised a family with two boys on that. I can remember scenes so clearly in my mind, but do I have any photos to show for it? No. 🙁 And he was even the one who bought me my first darkroom equipment as a high school freshman back in '73. There are still a few of the old buildings/businesses in that village that were there when I was a kid. I've been intending to begin photographing them, but intentions don't make the pictures. I guess I need to get my rear in gear and just do it.

 

[bmattock]

I've never lived in one place long enough to exhaust the creative opportunities there. There is something to be said for putting down roots in one place and becoming part of the scenery; for me I will forever be looking in from the outside. Not a bad thing, for me at least. I don't actually know any other way.

 

[Roger Hicks]

This forum has helped me to have a fresh look. (Thank you all for that!)

One day I found myself studying shots of Far East street signs and street garbage cans. And then it hit me: things I consider to be uninteresting might be very nice for others to look at. I always try to keep that in mind when shooting now.
I act as if I have an audience for my shots, even if I do not. It helps.

Dear Johan,

Wow! Thanks!

Cheers,

R.