Photography is supposed to be fun. But somewhere along the way, as we get better at it, acquire more gear, learn more techniques, and start expecting more from every photograph, some of that original excitement can fade.
In this episode, Court explores how to bring some of that playfulness, curiosity, experimentation, and excitement back into photography. This isn't really an episode about taking technically better photographs. In fact, that's sort of the point. It's about enjoying the process, trying things without worrying whether they'll work, and occasionally giving yourself permission to make some genuinely bad photos along the way.
From simplifying your camera kit and creating photo assignments to breaking your own habits, printing photographs, shooting with friends, and sometimes leaving the camera at home altogether, Court shares practical ways to reset your photographic brain and rediscover some of the excitement that probably got you hooked on photography in the first place.
In This Episode
- Simplify your gear. Try heading out with one camera and one lens. Removing choices forces you to work a little harder creatively and spend less time managing equipment.
- Give yourself a very specific photo assignment. Photograph only shadows, reflections, textures, one color, things in motion, or subjects less than a foot off the ground.
- Limit yourself to one focal length. Even with a zoom lens, pick something like 35mm and don't touch the zoom ring.
- Pretend you're shooting film. Give yourself exactly 24 photographs, or tell a complete photo story using only five images.
- Make photographs you never intend to share. Take Instagram, portfolios, competitions, and other people's opinions completely out of the equation.
- Break your normal photographic habits. Photograph wildlife wide, landscapes with a telephoto, moving subjects at slow shutter speeds, or scenes at apertures you'd normally avoid.
- Learn one small new technique. Try focus stacking, panoramas, intentional camera movement, exposure bracketing, astrophotography, macro, or black-and-white photography.
- Try a completely different genre. Wildlife photographers can photograph architecture. Landscape photographers can try street photography. Travel photographers can spend an hour chasing insects and wildflowers.
- Stop waiting for perfect conditions. Instead of asking whether the light or weather is "good," ask what kind of photography those conditions make possible.
- Spend more time with fewer subjects. Pick one tree, flower, bird, landscape, or street corner and photograph it for 15 or 20 minutes. The interesting photographs often start after you've exhausted the obvious ones.
- Observe wildlife instead of simply collecting photographs of it. Once you've "got the shot," keep watching. Behavior, light, composition, and interactions can change quickly.
- Print your photographs. Even a simple 4x6, 5x7, or small collection of prints can completely change your relationship with an image.
- Photograph with other people. Seeing what catches another photographer's eye can reveal compositions and ideas you would have walked right past.
- Occasionally leave the camera at home. Experience a hike, sunset, wildlife sighting, or beautiful place without constantly evaluating it as a photograph.
- Remember why you started. Photography becomes a lot more interesting when you start asking "What if?" again.
Mentioned in the Episode
Court Whelan on YouTube
Search "Court Whelan Photography" on YouTube for photography tutorials, editing videos, techniques, and photo-travel content.
https://www.youtube.com/@courtwhelan
FoxPrint
Small Polaroid-style photo prints and other easy ways to turn digital photographs into something physical.
https://www.foxprint.com/collections/square-prints
Court's Websites
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