Where to Find Picture-Taking Opportunities
Start with your passion. Besides photography, what else do you enjoy? Perhaps you love to play sports, listen to music, or collect antiques. Maybe in your spare time you like to read a bestseller, shoot hoops with your kids, or dance the night away at a local club. You can combine other interests with your passion for photography, especially when you're using an easily portable digital camera. Next time you're heading out to the club, take along your digicam. You'll be rewarded with great action shots of people on the dance floor. Bring your camera with you to the next flea market or antique show, and you'll have a means of recording the treasures you decide to bring home plus the merchandise you left behind.
Don't wait for a special occasion. Start carrying your camera with you wherever you go. You'll get more practice, which will help you move faster toward your goal of being a crackerjack photographer, plus you'll end up with some engaging images you never would have dreamed of.
What about carrying your camera to work with you? Even an ordinary workday holds plenty of potential. Don't wait until you reach the office to start shooting. There's no reason you can't take pictures from your seat on the bus or train. If you're commuting by car, you'll need to keep your attention on your driving, but you might be able to shoot out of the car window when you're stopped at a red light. Maybe during your tedious commute you've already entertained yourself by framing certain shots in your mind. Pack your digicam in your briefcase tomorrow, and you can start turning those imaginary images into the real thing.
Most of us take snapshots at the holidays, but consider taking pictures of your favorite people on a regular basis. Your kids, friends, and relatives are all potential subjects. Maybe taking portraits will even become your specialty.
Don't force yourself to choose a specialty. Just experiment and see where your photography leads you. When you see something striking, take photos even if you don't understand your attraction. This is about being creative and having fun, not fitting into any particular mold or following any rules.
Capture your loved ones while they are carrying out their daily routines. What about a picture of the baby having her nightly bath? Your preschooler would be delighted to have you look over his shoulder while he finger-paints his next masterpiece. And your Aunt Isabel would probably be flattered if you asked to take a photo of her in her garden next to her prize rose bush.
