Do you ever find yourself walking away from a potential photo opportunity – a subject or a scene – because you already have a photo of it? Once you’ve captured that one classic or definitive image that sums it all up for you, you may think there is nothing more to say, visually speaking. This is a typical travel strategy because of time constraints: you get that picture-postcard photo looking up at the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal with its reflection, and then move on to the next shot on your bucket list.
But, if you are like me and don’t travel more than once or twice a year, you end up taking the majority of your photos near home. When I look through the images in my photo library, I find a lot of repeated subjects – the red door on Grannan Lane, the view from Fort Howe, or the giant shipping cranes from a vantage point under the harbour bridge, for example.
One thing I have discovered is that, although the subject may be repeated, I never take the same photo twice.
And another thing: the more I explore a particular subject, the more I have come to realize that there is no one definitive image. There is always another angle, a different time of day, a possibility of catching some activity or an interesting juxtaposition. Choice of lens and perspective can also tell a completely different story about a subject.
Returning to the same place or the same object can be a fantastic way to learn about how to make the best of the light or use your camera in a more effective way. Sometimes the best photo insights come in hindsight. When I take the time to critically examine a photo that really pleases me, I can always see some way I could improve it. And that might just mean taking a few steps to the left the next time, or using a different depth of field.
So here is a small gallery (click on a thumbnail to enable the slideshow) of some of my favourite images of the same subject, those two big blue cranes (and their predecessors, the red cranes), taken from my fave spot under the bridge. I hope this will inspire you to look through your images and put together your own collection. Enjoy!
Yes. I’ve felt that way. I felt I had more ducks, squirrels and blue jays to last me a lifetime and more. It wasn’t that, that made me quit though … can’t really say I’ve quit either, but I haven’t used the ‘real’ camera for a long time.
I look at my pictures at times, and every now and then I see one I like.
Loved the slideshow, the one with the sea smoke in particular.
Thanks for your comment, Rebekah. I understand how easy it can be to lose interest – every now and then I seem to lose my spark of enthusiasm and I can’t seem to find anything to photograph. Looking at photos by other photographers is often what gets me going again; they challenge me to think about different ways to photograph a familiar subject, or inspire me to try something new. Maybe looking at someone else’s squirrel or duck photos – or even a completely different subject – might inspire you to get out your camera again – I hope you do! And I’m glad you liked my slideshow, the sea smoke one is special to me as well, partly because it took a a lot of effort to get that cold morning photo!
Part of the problem, I think, is also the big, bulky and heavy camera. In the long run, I might have to re-think that … the interest is not totally lost. I miss those early mornings in the park, in the spring and early summer …
Oh yes, a full DSLR kit can feel like a bag of bricks! Have you considered switching to a mirrorless camera system? They provide excellent quality for much less weight and a more compact size. I used to have a Canon 5D and several heavy lenses, but carrying it around got to be quite a chore. Then I switched to Fujifilm and found my mojo again!
The two night/dark shots are completely different in mood. One sees the natural landscape, the other resembles a fairground midway scene. Good choice of subject for this post.
That’s an interesting observation, Janet. In comparing the images, they may have similar objects, but much different subjects. The night shot is “about” the lights of the ship and port and their reflections. The dark morning shot is “about” that glorious sunlight breaking through the cloud. In fact, none the images in this collection are “about” the cranes directly, though the cranes and the harbour provide context.