How To Find New Subjects To Photograph.. (Even If You've Been Taking Photographs For Years)

[@maverickadventures]

Yes - Keep the Chapter Headings. It's nice to have a marker to go back to some of the specific sections you've talked about.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

What 'label' (if any) did you first put on yourself as a photographer?

[@garethjones5068]

I identified as a street photographer for the first 18 months of shooting

[@James-ee1pk]

Event and landscape. But I'm also interested in portrait and astro and fine art so I probably might as well drop the labels 😆

[@alangardner8596]

Diverse would probably be the label for me but portrait/glamour/art-nude make up the bulk of my work.

[@DusanZlatkovic]

I am photographing for 5 months now and I don't call myself a photographer. I just take photos. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@washingtonradio]

I am not sure if there is a good label to describe me. I tend to like candids of people, love nature and landscape photography, enjoy taking photos at events. Not good at portraiture but that is because I am amateur with little formal training and have really done much portraiture to remotely competent.

[@brandbird]

Excellent video for someone like me who's getting back into photography after some ten years of taking hardly any photos. Cheers!

[@TrevorHumphreys-oo5sg]

The psychology of photography. That's what I call your channel. Top drawer as always Alex

[@props651]

I'm so thankful that I found this channel. This brought me right back to center. This channel made dust off an old tlr and spend a roll yesterday.

[@xerobxxx]

Alex gives THE BEST help to beginner photographers. Thank you, Alex.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@bradleyrieger1517]

I remember my first camera, a Kodak Brownie Fiesta. One of the first photos I remember taking was a candid shot of my father cleaning the tires on his DeSoto. When I think of my father I fondly remember that shot, lost in the "foggy ruins of time".

[@ThePhotographicEye]

And there is what photography is all about IMHO...

[@alanburton7426]

Love these exercises you come up with, Alex, they give me direction when I'm in the doldrums. The results always surprise me and I nearly always learn something.

[@Rene-cm6go]

Of all contents about photography.. you give me what I need! Because I love photography, and I like everything aroud me. I just want to take photography of everything.. and all talking about how to find specific type of photography.. but I love so much things.. from landscape.. macro, portrait, city, wildlife.. etc.. And I thought that something is wrong with me.. till I finally found your channel.. Thanks for giving me courage to do what I like..

[@neworleansportraitphotogra9015]

My friend/mentor who is a former NFL player turned photographer of 30 years. He always compliments me on my diversity in range. I never liked the thought of just shooting one type of photography. I have my preferred mediums of course but I find joy in challenging my self with new subject matters.

[@eherrmann01]

You are one of the rare youtubers that actually put a slide up where you are pointing when recommending a video. Thanks for that.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

It's all part of my master plan to take over KZbin :D Thanks for watching.

[@beavans]

Very good! Well worth a watch for any budding photographer. Thank you.

[@tochaltv]

Great video upload and full watching! Thanks for sharing and have a great day.

[@Vk-te4mx]

Yes I find the chapter headings helpful! Nice video!

[@alexanderhanisch2547]

Hi Alex, ich liebe Deine Videos. Vielen Dank, dass Du all Deine Erfahrungen mit uns teilst. Die Idee, 36 Bilder von einem Objekt zu erstellen halte ich für außerordentlich interessant und doch für eine sehr grosse Herausforderung. Wie dem auch sei, ich nehme Deine Idee sehr gerne auf. Ich freue mich auf jedes neue Video von Dir. BB Alexander

[@jhonyshow]

Yogur channel is awesome! Thanks for the inspiration

[@endevorarya]

Thank you for these inspiring videos. These are priceless. I just tried this technic with my mobile camera. And this is a worth practice, who should often do with whichever camera we have. Because we are training our eyes not our camera. So camera doesn't matter much during practicing these things...

[@damien_writer]

Yes, I do find the chapter headings helpful

[@sertee9412]

I am new at photography and wanted to do landscape at first but not anymore. Videos like this one is so grounding. I don’t feel lost about it anymore. I have not decided on my style yet, but interestingly I feel good about it. I feel like I have the universe to play with. We are so lucky to have people sharing the way you do. Thank you.

[@JimRandolph]

yes I find the chapter headings helpful 🖖🏼

[@asok15146]

I do find. The chapter headings. Useful. Please keep on. Doing them. :)

[@grayexperience]

I’ve been going through a metamorphic journey in my photography. This 36 frames practice will be a great tool. Thank you!

[@iaincphotography6051]

That brought some memories back, I did that exercise many years back with a telephone and found it very worthwhile. A lady called Claire Armitage di a book with 365 selfies, bloody amazing and worth a look. I have mentioned Ernst Haas before but after seeing his work many years back it just made me want to photography everything and anything. I never get bored.

[@thevincentpaul]

Thank you! 🙏 I needed this.🙂

[@erichstocker8358]

Beautiful episode!!

[@captinktm]

How strange! I was having a rant on another channel that I follow about folk who label themselves as Landscape or Street and so on. Which I have always thought restricts their field of view (see what I did there). I could not imagine going into the city without something catching my attention and me photographing it. The same applies when I am out searching for Fallow deer or an Otter, I would not walk past a stunning vista. In fact I always walk with my wildlife camera and lens on a strap and another body with a wide angle lens on a quick release buckle. I have no idea how a pro landscape photographer can say "Oh i have no interest in wildlife". I my mind everything is interesting and by pursuing one thing another will present itself, if you have an open mind that is. I love your idea/exercise, it's something I try to do with any static type photos (not wildlife) and that is to take it from many different viewpoints as I can think off, just in case one works better than my original idea. Thanks for posting very enjoyable.

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

Has it struck you that, perhaps, said pro landscape photographer cannot understand why you're interested in shooting things other than landscapes? I'm not saying I understand such a point of view, but it very likely exists.

[@captinktm]

Of course it exists. That's the guy I mentioned who just takes LS and has no interest in anything else, probably including me. I am just implying/suggesting it restricts your photographic experience and growth. I might also be the fact that LS prints sell better than wildlife in my experience.

[@ivardahl-larsen]

Answer: what interests me in my life, and to make those images as best as they possibly can be!

[@MegaWavesMusic]

Thank you for addressing this issue and sharing your thoughts. Loved your examples as well. Your videos are gems✨✌🏼

[@davidmcculloch8490]

Initially I saw myself as a photographer, prompted to study photography after the birth of my first son, then joining a photographic society through the local college. After now specialising in landscape and architecture, I try to keep my mind open and find these videos stimulating.

[@robertdavis1255]

Thanks for sharing...very very true.as I have trouble thinking about what next to photograph...as we are still in lockdown it has been difficult to 'invent' new ideas to photo & your suggestion is very sound...I just love taking pics and holding my camera excites me to start clicking away... cheers 😀

[@miless3450]

I love the chapter headings! It's really helpful

[@peterlieberzeit3138]

Very inspiring, thank you very much! Your channel is definitely top "food for thought" for photography! Going out of the comfort zone is definitely difficult, but your exercise is intriguing! I will try it. And indeed: sometimes genres can be a problem if one takes a photograph that seems very enjoyable, but fits no "standard" category, but e.g. both "person" and "landscape". Neither of the "specialists" will appreciate it ...

[@conchscooter]

I usually don’t do photo challenges but I respect you enough to try this. I may hate you for a while, teacher.

[@Sande1s]

Yes, the chapter headings are helpful.

[@keyu6215]

Andrew “Android” Jones, a digital artist, did 1000 self portraits of him self several years back. Every image was an experiment in how he portrayed him self….1000. And that is just his sled portrait. I think this exercise is a great idea and a lot can be learned from it!

[@GavinDavidson]

Android Jones does some incredible work.

[@byrnechapman8710]

Thank you. I really like your idea.

[@jonathanreid30]

Nice idea. This reminds me of when it was suggested to me many years ago that I try taking a series of photographs depicting the letters of the alphabet. The only rule was that I couldn't use letters either deliberately printed, or written. Each letter had to be found in the natural shape or arrangement of things I found and like this idea, I found the exercise a good way of making me see what I would normally just pass by.

[@onalepard]

Excellent idea!

[@stephenvictor8961]

I am heartened to have found your body of work. Thank you

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Welcome!

[@theresae5362]

Thank you so much for this video. I was led to believe that I should focus only on one category, and hone my skills. Now, I can just relax and take whatever I want again. I usually take five or six shots of the same thing, but they never looked as varied and interesting as what you presented. When I take some fall foliage photos this week, I will try your 36-shot exercise in the manner you suggested.

[@davidbrighten2572]

This couldn’t be more timely. I have spent the better part of this (Canadian) long-weekend thinking on this very topic. I am now grabbing my camera to photograph a maple tree beside my house in 36 different ways. Spoiler alert, the 36th photo will involve an axe.

[@womansworkproductionco]

Thank you for the challenge. I like them and look forward to more.

[@thedarkriver1]

I like seeing your warm-up photos much better than mine LOL

[@aeyb701]

Things in your everyday world; like the Grand Canyon, wales breaching, icebergs, rain forests, attractive models.

[@alcyneidlinger7531]

Wow love your ideas.

[@silvestersze9968]

Okay. I’ll try that! 36 different “ways”… Thx

[@arcanics1971]

So the thing that has worried me- that I have not yet been able to decide whether I am a street or landscape or portrait or urban or (insert category) photographer is not the problem I have thought? That is a relief. Perhaps that's why- as yet- I have not found myself not knowing what to photograph. Or rather I do, but then I go and somehow I always find something. Or usually a host of somethings. The video may not be aimed at me really then, but I found it helpful none the less, as I shall now try to cease worrying about a specialism and just carry on photographing everything that I wish to.

[@qmasterworks]

Yes, chapter headings are useful

[@RichardMaguire110]

Thank you this is very useful. I am going to do the 36 photgraphs of one subject.

[@TheArgos12]

I would love to hear more about the different photography exercises you did in photography school, and I'd really like to be able to try them myself. I've never had any formal training in photography.

[@TimsWildlife]

That's why I started doing time Lapse photography, which in turn evolved into filming. Never want to do regular photography again.

[@kevinroberts1888]

Good video. Even though I have my favorite genre that I like to shoot, I try not to get locked into it. As a side project, I created an album on my Flickr account called 'Dabbling' where I put shots of anything that happens to strike my fancy. It's actually something I really enjoy because I can pretty much work on it any time any where.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

It's so much more fun when you just shoot whatever tickles your fancy.

[@fellowcitizen]

It seems logical that you would proceed with 36 shots of other subjects/scenarios based upon the spinning pattern frame which inspired you. Thanks again🌠

[@marcusdekker]

Wonderfull tutorial, thank you very much!!!!!!!

[@chrispietryga8710]

Another intelligent and encouraging video.... Er, is that a Dansette record player over your left shoulder? Nice touch of nostalgia if it is.

[@Damfotografia]

These exercises are also good to start fresh and try to get out of a creative block (maybe be a theme for a video) and keep our eyes sharp :) I might try it later too. it's been a long time since i did it.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Great suggestion!

[@Rob.1340]

Thank you . 👍😎

[@LSqrd1960]

This is a great exercise. One of the photo site I frequent did a similar exercise a while back: pick a subject and take a new photo every day for a month. I’d recommend everyone try something like this.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Good to hear

[@JamesSharp-t4m]

I love everything you record on these videos😂 i learn so much everytime i hear a viedo old or new. Your the bomb. James Western Oklahoma

[@phillipP8848]

Thank you. That is an interesting excercise, and Well worth doing.

[@ruhanv]

Thanks

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you too Ruhan

[@jwashington]

G rated version of what came to mind at the thumbnail was, "Whatever I feel like photographing." Great idea on the 36 versions I'll give it a go!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That's a great mantra, go for it.

[@FlatWaterFilms]

I 'm being guided by spirit. Not enough time to edit and produce/ backlogged, spending too much time exploring, discovering and capturing the moment. Living and etching in 5D.

[@luis_soares_photography]

I guess I started as "landscape photographer" (amateur, still) then I got bored and started shooting whatever comes across my path. Now I shoot portraits, wild life, nature, ocean, animals, objects, macros, trees, motorcycles, abstracts, streets sunsets; you name it! But also I shoot what I love the most, natural landscapes. If I enjoy the process of shooting and editing and it makes me happy, then why not? It doesn't mater if you don't have to it for someone else. If you shoot professionally (not my case), then you have to choose what kind of photography you are most confortable with, and be sure that you enjoy doing it. Like someone once said:" Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

[@markshamilton]

Great video. I challenge myself when photographing by removing the labels that objects have so a spoon is not a spoon a tree is not a tree. It can open a world of visual possibilities

[@shaunflemingphotography]

What a great exercise! I'm gonna do it. Nice video on taking pictures of whatever and whenever. I think for the hobbyist raking pictures of everything is important to learn and find what you like. As a business I think you need to narrow down to a specific niche. However, even as a portrait photographer as a business I still take pictures of whatever. I took a picture of a Halloween decoration the other day. It keeps the burnout away and it still improves your overall skills.

[@charlesmallo]

"As a photographer who is interested in all that's around us" sums it all up. Professionally there's things I have to do, working at accident or fire scenes. But when I'm just going for a walk in the woods, a parc or in a town it's "oh, that's interesting". So, if you're photographing anyting specific to make a living, keep your eyes for the unexpected. That could even be a tree in fall colours in the middle of a town or a "funny" name on a shop.

[@LawrenceLapitan]

yup super helpful!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for watching.

[@brianrobinson5743]

Thanks!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Brian

[@willstith1]

I love the comparison to lifting. Some bodybuilders consider the last hardest reps to be the bodybuilding reps that's where you truly make the gains I can see similarities in this project. Once the obvious is taken care of when you push yourself is when you can truly learn something and do something new.

[@PhilKoenigBrooklyn]

You are doing a great job. Maybe there's hope.

[@lioneldm5130]

I started to take photos because it allowed me to stop moving for a while. It's a kind of meditation. The subject comes when i'm ready. I also started taking photos because a lot of people think it was better before. Actually, we always tend to keep in mind nice things, and forget about the dirt in the streets in the past. I want my children to be able to tell me that streets were not cleaner when i was young, and that people were not better educated when i was young, .

[@ornino54]

What ever you want.

[@badboy25ro]

When I say to people that I am a photographer (passionately amateur) people are asking me what photography kind am I doing: landscape, portrait or still life? My answer is always: whatever catches my attention.

[@washingtonradio]

I like the idea of 36 photos of something. Also, the point about I am photographer that is primarily interested in x, y, and z or am I an x, y, or z photographer has a very subtle implication. The first says implies a general preference but not an absolute and also allows me to expand my horizons if something new interests me. The other tends to put a mental straight jacket on one and blinds one to other ideas. Most of my photos are taken for me. I will take some photos for others, usually when asked, but these are exceptions.

[@tonycampton4231]

Next..So I was Handed the camera and it was about 2 levels up from the Box Brownie point and shoot, my subject was find a couple and get them to pose and then hope they would go and see the result within 2 weeks and buy a print. As I said it took a while and a twist before it made me a living. Tony Australia

[@thomassantomartino7337]

I'd done the 365 Project for 4 years. In that time I'd photographed everything in the house from every different angle I could think of. I can still find stuff say home to photograph, I'd try to do it in a different way. I must admit taking on that challenge burnt me out a bit.

[@speechlessvideos1591]

Those chapters are very hepful. You should add them to all videos

[@umgameresquisitao]

Thats what i do on my work with conceptual photographs. The first 40 are always a "warm up, photos. The last 5 are the ones i actually keep and choose between them. WHAT photograph isnt a problem to me actually, im on a moment that my question is "WHY photograph". On my job i know why, cuz i need do my job. But as a hobby im having trouble to know WHY. Instagram is dead to me, yesterday i deleted the app on my phone actually, i have a website that actually almost nobody see cuz we know people dont care that much for photography on general. I mean, i love to photograph, and i do with love everytime, but after put on lightroom and finish the photo, i just look at them, show to my gf and family and thats it. And every now and then i catch myself thinking "why do this? What can i do to fell that my photos worth be taken at first place?" Im slowly trying to figure that out, but at the moment i only have "well i do love to photograph" 😅 Great video, this is a really good excercise, i always do and it really works.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I used to find that my warm up photos were actually better than my actual photos. Probably because I wasn't shooting under an expectation.. Thanks for watching.

[@Sven-R]

I don't think people don’t care about photography. 41k subscribers of this channel could possibly argue against this 😉 I think it’s extremely difficult to find an audience nowadays outside of big platforms, except if you already have a well-known name. But even celebrities rather go on Instagram or other social media platforms and don’t try to build their own sites. But the "why"-question is valid. Why do you do it? For yourself? For others? For getting attention? Praise? If you can answer this, it will give you an answer whether you want to continue and how you want to do it.

[@umgameresquisitao]

@@Sven-R i agree. But i said "in general". People here for example are mostly photographers os passionate for the subject. And i dont think even us here go on websites of not famous photographers to see theyr work. But i totally get it what you are saying and i agree. About the Why, i already asked me those questions, and i really dont care for atention or be a famous photographer, so im stil slowly trying to understand the "why", bit for now its just a "cuz i love to do it". And the "why" on theses thoughts arent just "why" they come with a reason to motivate me to keep doing it. Its not a problem yet, but i wonder if in 10years this will not make me step away from this thing that i love, you know?

[@Sven-R]

@@umgameresquisitao I understand what you mean (I think). Photography is not an art form which seems to get a lot of attention outside the photographer bubble unlike other art forms like music for example. Maybe because there is so much "noise", as really everybody can take photos these days and with the right software even mediocre photos can look nice. Although it's quite often more like a McDonald’s menu rather than a filet steak in a good steak house, if I can make this comparison. Let me ask you a question, if I may: Why did you create your own website for photography (oh, and can you share a link here, I'd be genuinely interested to see it)?

[@alangardner8596]

You made a good point right at the end. Am I photographing what I like or what I think others may like? I found this terrible when I was a member of a photo-club where photos were judged by what people thought that others may like?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

It's human nature though unfortunately. We all want to please someone, but at least if we're aware of this drive, we can make an effort to counter it. Thanks for watching.

[@alangardner8596]

@@ThePhotographicEye I left 2 photo clubs after complaints about my photos. I knew by then that I was making good progress and breaking free from 'pretty' photos.

[@valdiskrebs566]

I was about to join a local photo club and then watched some of their YT videos, especially the competitions. Glad I did that… joining would have been worse than a waste of time.

[@ExplainedThroughRap]

I've been thinking of getting into photography and videography to make my KZbin videos pop, I figured learning animation would be easier but maybe not

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Photography would be the better route IMHO. It's more accessible and easier to learn - though I would say that as a photographer.

[@wanneske1969]

I only photograph subjects that interest me, or I feel a connection with : landscapes, mushrooms, trains, concerts, weddings, dogs ... I would never take pics of sports events as I don't care about sports and wouldn't know which moment is important

[@lesliesutherland4080]

I was told anything and everything!

[@cliveeariss880]

This was so interesting again, I love the photograph many subjects, and while in London some street photos were the order of the day, I have a question, is it a good idea to keep photographing lots of different subjects, and its all fun and a challenge, but what about becoming better at one subject you found that really gets you excited, and progress futher?

[@washingtonradio]

Both are valid approaches, I think it is more about what you want to do as a photographer. I find for myself if I take my camera with me I will find photo opportunities around me.

[@cliveeariss880]

@@washingtonradio That's a great reply, and with Autumn coming so my subjects to photograph, being selective, is the key, have a great day.

[@tw9535]

People have had others give them cameras? I have had to buy all of mine ... and generally had to SNEAK to buy even those :-) My advice, like to a writer to "write what you know" is to photograph what you KNOW. Then, keep practicing and lighting, etc until you are satisfied that your technical abilities are improving in your ability to communicate something special and worthwhile about that thing that you KNOW deeply. By choosing something you know it will be hard to satisfy yourself with your ability to communicate deeply and you will keep going and not give up. And thus improve. Just don't pick your kid or your pet, because you will think every picture is the best ever.

[@Notso_Wild_Bill]

Mix it all up #fungalstreetphoto Street portrait nature landscape night Have fun Stay safe.Peace

[@cdgarcia]

Shoot what you feel… simple as that

[@louhautdavid6451]

Certainly something to try. I have another challenging exercise : 36 self-portraits... without getting mad.

[@PetrGladkikh]

Truly odd question, never had it. I thought that first you want to photograph something, then you get the camera?

[@grahamhobbs3501]

It was more the other way round for me - I used to ask 'How can I photograph this without a camera? ;D

[@oneeyedphotographer]

If you don't know what to photograph, why do you have a camera? "What else?" is a decent question. Lots of people buy a camera to photograph their kids and/or pets. For them, asking, "What else?" might lead to portraits in general, flowers in the garden, landscapes, wildlife. Maybe they will even buy a macro lens and hunt the small stuff - ask Google about "peacock spiders."

[@markgoostree6334]

In 1970, fresh with my first camera. A 35mm Konica, 52 mm, 1.8 lens. So, I head out to the yard to burn my first roll. Never left my yard. A bunch of odd ball B&W pictures of interest to no one. Still have the camera but its not easy to find a developer/printer now days. I wish I'd had some sort of direction back then. Maybe I would have/could have made better photos over the years. I had fun but I can't say I grew as a photographer very well... still not seeing really good pictures very often... oh well.

[@jerryriner1891]

The question I ask myself is, "Self (because that is what I call myself), Self, is what I'm about to document going to incriminate me in anything?" If the answer is no, then out comes the digital magic-box. After all, memory is cheap.

[@Sven-R]

I’ve never considered myself to be a special type of photographer. I’m having way too much fun with different things to try out. Sometimes I see photographers on Flickr, who do the same kind of photos over and over and over again. But here comes my weakness: When I take a picture of any kind of object, very often I find myself looking for the perfect composition, press the shutter and move on. A very bad habit I am trying to break. What I need for this is time and patience. Sometimes I have neither the one or the other. 36 photos of one object (or subject) - challenge accepted.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Funny you talk about perfection - when I was taking those photos in the contact sheet, I was worrying about having things 'right' because I knew people would be seeing them on the channel. I worked very hard to try and overcome that hurdle.

[@mjl1958]

A timely exercise when there are limited travel opportunities (Covid and no petrol).

[@joao.s.cardoso]

36 ways is really really hard. Even 10 different ways is a challenge. Perhaps we could have a place to share the results? In any case that's a good challenge :)

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for the suggestion - there is something coming in the pipeline..

[@alanburton7426]

@@ThePhotographicEye Cool.

[@moilami1]

I remember that and I photographed a sunset :/

[@macallanvintage]

👏👏👍👍

[@bardoteachings]

🙏

[@marchonore]

I use chapter headings when they are provided and you are relatively wordy……

[@innstikk]

My question is: Why am I photographing (this). I like the exercise, it is a challenge to train creativity. Task: Take 36 different photos of object A. Engineer: Ok, that fits with 10 degree increments around A 🙈