How to Photograph Boring Places

[@adrianmorera8996]

There is no such thing as a boring place, only boring moments. When one takes the time time to find those magical moments it’s such a good feeling

[@malemyr2]

I would argue: “…only boring photographers” hahaaha😅

[@Koji-888]

That’s why I just stay home with my gear. Photograph ants in the backyard. Dust on my window sill.

[@callmeil]

maybe boring for him, not for us :)))

[@russellrichard5773]

There are ugly places. American suburban hellscape, for example. What do I do? Take a picture of the trash in the gutter by the Wendys? It's a space not meant for humans and I'm trying not to be despondent.

[@jacrispybbq]

White flat wall with nothing around thats boring

[@markgoostree6334]

At 74, I'm looking back and thinking I should have taken pictures to be prepping for possible "then and now" series....fifty to sixty years ago my home town looked a bit different. Everywhere looks changed now. Maybe I need to dig through my fathers pictures and revisit those locations. Maybe he did the groundwork for that series. Maybe this will make some of these boring days feel different.

[@sevensorrows2595]

Great plan! Do that.

[@mikefoster6018]

About 15 years ago I was doing a PR (not photography) job on an Edinburgh University project called The Disconnected Mind. It was amazing. On 4 June 1947 in Scotland, 70,805 11-year-old school children born in 1936 sat the same intelligence test in a standardised way as part of the Scottish Mental Survey 1947. And it included all kinds of other survey questions about background, eating habits etc. We had the chance to run the same study (plus advanced brain scans etc) on the same 'kids', now in their old age. To find out about long-term brain development, dementia, lifestyles etc. It was amazing, getting tons of the same people together. I remember me being a bit scared because the bossy/confident national newspaper photographers lined them all up on steps of a big building in Edinburgh and I was worried they might all come tumbling down like bowling alley pins! But yeah, it was a great example of a story about people in either half of their lives. I was chuffed to get a big card from the scientists thanking me for promoting it all to help with donations. I still have that card.

[@mixamalik]

"how to photograph in boring places". shows most beautiful seaside with neat buildings and wonderful nature..... Well, time to go photograph thrash cans

[@jtakesnols]

Literally lol. My carbon copy, low-middle class suburb is BORING

[@edwardmiller4562]

All about perspective. One person’s boring location is another person’s wonderland.

[@kobeboyz6255]

@@jtakesnolsthis sounds really great tbh hahah

[@JJ_Photo]

I see boring light here - not boring places. For me it is always the light that makes the difference.... As you can see in the end of this video, the light gets more interesting, and so do the images. ;)

[@Gr8GooseYouTube]

Very good outlook!! I agree!!!

[@YoSpiff]

Interesting and boring are relative. I live in a major city in Texas and would find a sleepy little English village to be a fascinating subject. Your friend would probably love the change of seeing a modern city that combines cowboy culture.

[@SivertAlmvik]

This video summarizes why I take photos: I do it for me, and I can do it anywhere at any time. It is the process that is interesting. Looking for good frames. Problemsovling on the fly to get the best composition.

[@Petitephysiquebarre]

None of these places are boring though, lol. This place looks like a cute cozy lil' slice of heaven on earth!

[@EMC2recordings]

"How to photograph boring places" *has a thumbnail at a beach

[@Koji-888]

Exactly.. Beach. Pier. Rides. Clam Diggers. Shopping town. Food. People. Brings a Leica. hehe. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@mollie6578]

@@EMC2recordingsas an Australian, the beach is in fact a very boring and run of the mill location lmao

[@frusenko]

@@mollie6578 come to grey and boring ohio. that beach looks like a paradise compared to what im working with on a daily basis lol

[@koobs4549]

I absolutely love this video. I follow a lot of UK photographers & it seems like there is always something interesting to shoot there. I always think, ‘if I were there, I could do that too’ but what I should be thinking is, ‘if they can find something interesting to shoot where they live, then so can I’.

[@MikeChudley]

Love this take, definitely agree

[@Ayoosi]

Boring places are some of the best places to take photos because they make you as the photog stretch yourself! They force you to come up with a story, an idea, a concept, a perspective, a way to see something mundane in a new way. One of my favorite exercises when I'm in a rut is to pick a boring location or a specific item or topic and shoot a series of 10-15 photos of that single thing, make each one unique in some way, and try to find a new perspective for each one, then present them as a series like a mini exposition. It helps my mind to open up and see things in a new manner

[@MCFinest2013]

It’s so interesting to hear you all say sleepy English towns are boring as an American. We have rustic Americana, and the big cities. The real challenge for those of us on this side of the pond is without a doubt: the suburbs. Soulless strip malls and long stretches of just road. I definetly don’t have the artistic skill to capture something interesting from that, I’m sure someone is. But man it’s hard, bc everywhere u talk about the video was made for people: abandoned towns, sleepy villages, big cities. What’s human about the parking lot of Costco?

[@ReceiveMusic]

Yeah I feel there could be a photographer up to the challenge to specifically go after parking lots. Maybe have cool car if your lucky. But I'd rather see an old cabin with peeling paint for that rustic vibe.

[@gavinrich5445]

I think the interesting part of those places you can find in either human interactions, or graffiti/ kind of that corporate feeling hit with a little rebelion. Not sure if that made much sense but focus on the out of the ordinary in places like costco where everything is ordinary.

[@JustinKreule]

I feel like part of it is the novelty. I would love to go to the USA and do some shoots of suburbia, strip malls, urban decay, old cars etc. But if I lived there yeah maybe it would get boring. I live in a small British town and a lot of it feels dull or generic to photograph, but I lived in another country it would seem quite cute and exciting to go there for a little shoot.

[@MakeTheShots]

“The world has a funny way of showing up!” 👌🏻

[@davejolley6869]

Mike you just depicted what fun photography can be where ever you go. Such an uplifting video, I thank you!

[@talbotcd1]

The bait diggers shot was top notch.

[@MikeChudley]

I loved those snaps 🙌 glad you liked them

[@AndG463]

Great points you make here. I live on a small farm in Australia with no passing traffic and only one road in walking distance. It’s pretty picturesque and constantly changes with the light and seasons, but I still get a bit bored of it. I tried restricting myself to a prime to add in some challenge. Recently I’ve bought a super zoom so I can mix up the perspectives on any walk. Now I just need to grow some of that British weather resilience - I’ll be out in the fog but if it’s windy or wet, forget it!

[@RolandKaufmann]

As photographers we sometimes get stuck in the “grass is always greener” fallacy. The truth is there’s no better spot than your own backyard to take photos. No one knows it as well as you.

[@ZagelMedia]

These photos are just absolutely incredible. You give the images motives, and that's so much better than snapshots that just look good on Instagram. Fire.

[@MikeChudley]

Ahh thank you so much!

[@charliejg]

Again, as you mentioned, the point is to go out and notice things and have FUN! I think looking for detail shots is another way to find interesting shots in "boring places". I think my favorite shot here was the broken fence shot. I love the simplicity and every day feel. Thanks for taking us along!

[@MikeChudley]

@@charliejg thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed those moments ✌️

[@junkyardmagic]

I've photographed a bit in both these locations - it being in my back yard - almost exclusively street. This video really helped me think about the same locations in a new way. So a big thank you.

[@tompoynton]

Boring places are the most fun to photograph

[@harper222]

Thank you for the continuous inspiration and motivation. I recently went to London (from the US) and I left not satisfied with my photos. I constantly feel defeated, but your videos give me hope and drive to keep going. Please never stop making your art.

[@Koji-888]

“Boring places”. ? 🤣 He’s literally driving to an amusement park on the beach.

[@TraceMcLean]

Cheers for a wonderful video. We all struggle with the mojo of "boring" places... But you're helping us look, to truly look. Thank you. Subscribed!

[@emphoenixcat1110]

I’ve notice since photographing, that I’m more present when I go out. Like more aware of my surroundings, which is absolutely wonderful for someone who zones out as much as I do lol. People talk about how taking pictures isn’t allowing you to fully enjoy the moment, but I’ve honestly felt like I’ve been more in the moment lately because of taking pictures. Tho to be fair, I’ve been getting into film photography, so I don’t see the image after taking it. I think that helps me not get too caught up in staring at multiple images and instead to just focus on composing and exposing it properly

[@VyktorK20A1]

Sometimes is not about the location or the final result ... Is the freedom of taking pictures , visit locations old Or new , and see with different perspectives from other people, explore some details... Is the Joy of taking photos ...

[@goldendoggy8904]

Luv this video Mike. You are spot on. Moments present themselves unexpectedly and it’s being alert to those moments that is the key. And the best camera is the one you have with you at the time. Even a phone camera 😊

[@yulbdv]

watching it reminded me how I love Mike’s interviews, wish to see more of them😊

[@gnorth5110]

What a fab video. Beauty can be found anywhere, which you just proved to be true.

[@LuisAngel-e5u]

My job doesn't allow phones so we use computers. I love watching videos like this all day instead of movies. Very inspirational and informative!

[@jamie.goodson]

0:04 is just breathtaking

[@MikeChudley]

Thank you!!

[@dlee.photography]

These are not boring photos. These are inspiring photos. Subject matter isn't the most important aspect, the framing, composition, tonal range, lighting/shadows, balance/imbalance, plays a huge roll in each and every photo.

[@paulfederici1012]

Very inspiring stuff and I love your compositions :)

[@ccoppola82]

Devon raised some of the most spectacular photographers and cinematographers in history. Sleepy towns can produce giants. James Ravilious, Brian Griffin, Roger Deakins, David Tatersall. Sort of amazing that these visual masters were inspired by the same small region.

[@rodrigomadrigal9346]

kinda crazy that i discover your channel yesterday, and today you upload this just as i was overthinking about going out and shoot. I live in cancun and used to live in mexico city where i was pretty used to chaos and a lot going on which was great for photos, here i tend to think that everything feels touristic. But with this new perspective you are giving i feel like i can observe cancun differently now

[@MikeChudley]

Hope you enjoy the channel! Thanks

[@ACNH_streamer]

It's a good thing we all love different things. That location is amazing to me for photos, while a busy street would be hell for me.

[@mrniffels]

Was so confused when I clicked on that video and didnt see james popsys. I love how the whole style of the video is basically exactly the same as james' videos

[@philipsmith1465]

Nice pics at the Humber Bridge - would contest that Cleethorpes is far from boring the 200 metres from the Pier to the Big Wheel (thats quite small really) is Mecca for Street Photos I would much rather go there than wander round London any day. Nice video I really enjoyed it.

[@danny84gee]

You need to come for a trip to the Wirral in such a small peninsula we have everything from lush country side, long beaches & promenades, rustic country villages to bustling town centres and plenty of unique places to visit. We’re nestled right in the middle of Cheshire, North Wales and Liverpool. Would be well worth a trip for you.

[@jonsmith7650]

i like the warm colors and tone on the pictures, especially the red awning. do you sell the preset you're using? can you share?

[@MikeChudley]

Thank you, a lot of those pictures were editing with my preset pack ‘authentic streets 3.0’ but also i recommend Dan Bakers preset pack ‘st Ives’ which I used a little here as well

[@ChrisBrogan]

Exciting to see, Mike. What a fun way to look at it. It's not always an award shot. Sometimes, it's just the practice.

[@MikeChudley]

Precisely this - it’s always practice

[@ScottSpear-qn9uk]

Great video. Not boring! The empty carnival rides seemed interesting. Colorful and evocative of abandoned leisure activities. I would like to have seen a few more shots of them.

[@MikeChudley]

Definitely check out Dan Baker on instagram he shoots down there all the time 👌

[@SnowmansApartment]

i think people that complain about boring places do so because they are stuck in boring places for a very very long time. I have been mostly stuck in this small boring city for 2 years due to constant injuries. Sure you can take some pictures in boring places, but there is just so much interesting stuff to see..

[@scrptwic]

Always try to look at a place as a tourist would try to make it new and exciting like you have never been there before and you will find subjects to photograph

[@juliewerner1553]

Thank you, Mike!

[@philipvernon_photography]

Fantastic video and great to meet and chat to you. I admire your creativity not just in your photography but how you present it on KZbin. Dans work in Cleethorpes is sublime and I completely agree to how people will enjoy his decade of capturing this small seaside town. Thank you again for all you do.

[@MikeChudley]

Thank you! Great to meet and chat last weekend.

[@philipvernon_photography]

@@MikeChudley👌

[@deastman2]

Greetings from San Francisco! Personally, I find sleepy English towns incredibly picturesque. Wherever you’re from, you’re likely to view it as boring and commonplace, but there are interesting subjects to be found anywhere if you can only view them with fresh eyes.

[@aidanhuxford6537]

Some of us were named after a church in Cleethorpes (St Aidan's). Thank you for gracing my part of the world with your fine photography/videography!

[@stevekingswell9143]

Nice video, completely agree with you on the boring part. I do think coastal towns are very photogenic.

[@colonelcougar7901]

this video really gave me a new perspective on things nice vid man

[@MikeChudley]

Love this comment, thanks

[@tomscott4438]

I love photos with no people in them, trees without leaves, empty park benches... It means you have to create the interest with our observations and point of view. FYI, I find nothing "boring" about this location, it's just not a city.

[@sophrapsune]

There are no boring places, only boring photographers.

[@agyarhardjasudjana7804]

As a city dweller, I feel that the photos I take in my parents' hometown look better... I guess "sleepy towns" just has the right amount of people on top of its vintage street signs and shop blocks... Imo the beauty of suburbs are the most difficult to capture 😅

[@TheUrbandilema]

Thanks for the vid mike..I used to say this so much times .I live in small island 🏝️ and love street and documentary photography. I just carry the camera with me all time..one side note if you living a quiet area starting projects help you out in fixing your creativity scratch... kudos and cheers mate

[@horiabodeanu7641]

Every photo holds a story. Its up to you how you present that!

[@independentmind1977]

That spot was really interesting, but then I’m in the Canadian wilderness, so it’s all about perspective. Also, sunshine and blue skies can be highly overrated. We just came back from Hawaii and some of my best shots were in the mountain cattle ranches with limited palette on semi cloudy days, in B&W

[@csisbw]

I see a video series coming out of this mate - shooting peoples sleepy English towns and making them interesting. You could just tour the UK and meet up with people who say that their town is boring and show up realise it is boring, you've wasted £100 on petrol and you got no bangers hahaha but honestly if I had a chance to do that, I would!

[@ianbaker3678]

Yep it can be dull in Hull but Cleggie is just nostalgic place. I live in Hull and spent many days in Cleethorpes during my early childhood. I follow Dan on Instagram and my personal camera of late has been the Fuji Xpro3. Love the film sims. Was nice to see Little Swiss and Hessle foreshore featured.

[@Ianyinzihe]

Love your photo! Amazing work

[@russwillis9287]

Your "boring" photos are actually quite cool.

[@MikeChudley]

Thank you! Haha

[@derCrummel]

It is just boring to you because you live there and have seen that place every day for however long you live there. Just go over to the next village and suddenly you see new things. It is a head thing, and that means you can just as well photograph the old, well known things.

[@cfperwil]

It is not always the pictures. It can be about the process and the moment 🙂

[@jemandvondort1585]

well actually it is about the pictures. If it was not, you could just walk with piece of soap and pretend to make pictures.

[@MikeChudley]

😂

[@MikeChudley]

The process is very important

[@johnwaine56]

Agreed but there does have to be some modest point to it otherwise why bother taking a camera. I’m sceptical about being able to take great photos in boring places. Rather, I agree with Scott Kelby who said “if you want to take great photos, stand instead of something great” That said, it doesn’t stop me from always taking my camera with me to maintain muscle memory ready for more interesting opportunities.

[@Montykoby]

Great video mate

[@MikeChudley]

Thanks!

[@dvdolima]

Leaving a comment just to acknowledge the ‘puntograph’ of the tree’s place of passing. 10/10

[@aliblake4739]

Love this video, you got some lovely shots. What bag are you using?

[@MikeChudley]

Thanks! Belroy 9L :)

[@Nettai]

I think a key element is story. What kind of story do the things around you tell? How did things end up that way? The world around us has been designed and shaped by humans. Every person around you is living a life as rich and complex as yours. Find the things around you that reflect that, and you'll always have something interesting.

[@wilfs1196]

Great video, Mike!. At 13:41 of the video I saw your zipper top bag. Looking for a bag like that for my 2 scheduled European trips in early & mid 2025. I normally do not carry a camera bag, just camera with lens & a prime in my waist/fanny bag or coat pocket, depending on the weather.Thanks from Ontario Canada.

[@m29matt]

Looks like a Bellroy 10L Venture Sling. 😊

[@SnowmansApartment]

it‘s very interesting that people that try to explain why boring don’t exist, seem to never have been stuck in boring place for an extended period of time. The problem isn‘t the boring place itself, it‘s being stuck there and having no other places. Is the place you are stuck at has millions of possible subjects, compared to 10, that is a huge and valid problem.

[@keviaaar]

Also, I live in a small town and everyone knows each other, so the social pressure is larger in this boring place

[@SnowmansApartment]

@@keviaaar 100%

[@josypete]

Great video, Mike! Thank you for all the explanations and taking us along with you on this shoot. I am curious about the camera bag that you are using in one of the scenes (black w/ top zipper it looks like). Great job!

[@binksdave]

Cleethorpes ain't boring! Sorry i missed this year's meet up, looks like it was a good day!

[@indydecember5379]

Interesting topic and inspirational. Thanks for the VDO.

[@MusabTahaTarik]

trying b&w in boring places always works for me

There’s a funny difference between boring places and being bored with a place. I personally live in a beautiful and vibrant town, that has a good amount going for it. (Boulder, CO) But I’m pretty bored of it recently. Like REALLY bored of it. I can go to a 1 horse town in the mountains of Colorado and be totally inspired by old rubbish, old posts, and barns. So I feel a lot of this is mindset. At least for me, finding something interesting in boredom is my personal practice. Without letting my candy-brain neurons constantly seeking novel things

[@markkane7185]

Maybe the thinking process is not boredom but something that is visually exciting eggleston freidlander is a prime example

[@hudsoninbury]

really nice video - friendly and down to earth - thank you

[@MikeChudley]

So nice of you

[@malcolmdillaway8274]

Very interesting and thought provoking must try it out myself see what I see! Thanks very much

[@ReceiveMusic]

You're surrounded by nature with trees and beaches. Those places actually look fun to shoot whenever. I wish I had places like that. The only high traffic area in my town is a sketchy gas station and I'd rather not have my camera out for that. There was literally a violent robbery near there just a couple days ago. 2:50 Even that graffiti looks like a straight up Banksy.

[@katerose8393]

I had a proper LOL when you opened to a shot under the Humber bridge. I really think North Lincs is right up there with the dullest places in England…and i grew up in Hereford, so i’m starting from a very low bar 😅

[@pniehusde]

I really like the graffiti in the beginning of the video, looks a lot like banksy.

[@NDakota79]

A world class photographer can probably make amazing photos of your average Joes boring messed up living room

[@MikeChudley]

Absolutely

[@RohemN]

I'd like to think that your boring old town is an exotic new place for someone that's never been there, even if they themselves live in a similar place. Trying to see your everyday mundane places with new eyes is hard but once you do you can start taking amazing photos. Or you can be like me and take the most mediocre photos of the most interesting places lol.

[@SenorGancho]

I enjoyed the perspectives but I think I disagree with the premise. I don’t think it is a matter of being in a ‘boring’ place with nothing to shoot, but a familiar place where we are surrounded by things we take for granted. The challenge remains the same be it boring or familiar, to see the opportunities through ‘new’ lenses. I know whenever I travel I ‘see’ so many opportunities, but when in that familiar environment it’s a challenge. What I like to look for is the light, and the magic it creates in and around those ‘taken for granted subjects/objects/things. Not unlike your example of the red and white building with the shadows. So for me, finding a unique or special angle of light, that has a unique or special result created by the light, gives me a new ‘lens’ to see new opportunities. Thanks for sharing

[@yaffulwoodpeckerpresents7784]

Good video and advice. I live in the most boring place in the UK - I've only managed to take, and upload, 242 photo's (so far).

[@Silverfoxgy1]

You didn’t travel to Fitties Beach! There are so many photo opportunities in and around Cleethorpes.

[@EhvanTea]

Id like to see you try this in the midwest of the United States. A whole new level of boring

[@tuongmac2263]

A boring place will never be boring to a stranger

[@bamsemh1]

I always laugh at photographers who brag about the camera performance in low light. But they live in cities that it brighter than a Xmas tree after sunset 🤣 yes, that's also London 😉 But after getting a fisheye lens, I find boring spots much more interesting 😊 and I don't straight out the fisheye look! I bought the lens for the purpose! 😉

[@jecyong1391]

I wonder when do you usually use the black and white or what are the reasons do you usually make it b&w

[@lemonjoe8482]

can you make a guide for 85mm ? i know what you'v said about it, so it would be interesting to see them being used well

[@killa-kitty]

Hello, I also uses m11-p for photographs. do you capture the scene exactly as you intend it? I'm curious how you predict and account for the slight delay between pressing the shutter and the actual moment the shot is taken with the m11-p.

[@JamesParsons1]

Big coat is August is peak UK summer

[@MikeChudley]

Ridiculous

[@tonyw.6813]

I have to ask, how much post editing did you have to do with these images? They are incredible images and I congratulate you on them.

[@67comet]

August in a thick jacket? You're mad Mike! It is still 31.7*C at 6pm here ugh .. (89*F) .. All the ocean front stuff seems pretty capable stuff ..Now I know to visit northern England in late August for the best weather :) .. So good .. Nice video ..

[@MikeChudley]

Tell me about it, awful for August 😂 it’s normally pretty nice

[@joshwatson802]

I clicked on this video as someone looking to move from London to Hull and a bit worried about shooting street here, so when the video starts arr you ar standing bext to the Humber bridge... Well guess yhe algorithm anit half bad sometimes

[@MikeChudley]

As if haha

[@stickyle]

I live in cleethorpes, and i always thought it was cheating having the seaside photos to take right there, and the sunrise comes from the perfect angle over the beach

[@hanifsans]

Really like the shots of the ice cream stand! Just subscribed yesterday and really like your contents mate. Anyone know what focal length of the lens? Most of the shots look really pleasing in the eyes, frame wise.

[@davidskinner274]

Enjoyed this, Mike. What I like to do too 😊

[@El-ey]

Do faceless photography next time 🫢 KEEP SHOOTING! 🥰

[@lphilpot01]

I'm a hobbyist landscape photographer -- Try finding "interesting" landscapes in Louisiana (US) ... ouch ... no hills, no mountains, no valleys, no cliffs, no waterfalls, no photogenic coastline, no sea stacks, no good forests, lots of decrepit but nothing ancient, just lots of dull flatness. Kinda difficult to find landscapes, grand or otherwise. Guess I'll keep on in quiet desperation. 😕 But good on you for finding subject matter in unlikely places!

[@EldritchWildWings]

I live in boring place i did photography for 8 years and i quit it because of how boring these places had become i just can’t find the beauty in this world anymore like nothing to take a photo of so now it’s been 9 months since my last photo i hope i get back to it soon

[@ActualCounterfactual]

Yeah.. that's exactly my problem...to have fun... I just take myself too seriously every time I step into my photography... having to perform and create good photography.... I wish I could just relax more and enjoy the art + life. Besides that I live in a sleepy countryside village... literally nothing to take photos of.... especially since I am a people photographer.

[@vodkanarancs1]

Try Grantham then 😂 you can take exciting photos of Morrisons or Gregg's or maybe the council estate if you still have your camera in your neck there.