Finding Beauty in the Ordinary: How My Photography Approach Changed

When I first started photography, I mainly focused on landscapes because I thought that was what most photographers did.

My photographs were never the classic postcard landscapes. They were usually local scenes with water, trees, perhaps a distant mountain, or coastal views with cliffs, shoreline and, when I was lucky, crashing waves.

I soon realised, however, that landscape photography depends on several things: choosing strong subjects, composing carefully, using available light well and, perhaps most importantly, having regular access to good locations.

Unfortunately, living on the outskirts of a city made suitable landscape locations harder to reach, and my photography outings became increasingly infrequent.

This realisation led me in a new direction. Living near an old estate and ancient woodland, I began looking for woodland compositions and photographing the estate buildings. I also became interested in urban landscapes and street photography. Even so, I still tended to choose ‘safe’ subjects—ones that were popular with other photographers and likely to appeal to viewers.

Gradually, I began to question this mindset and focus on subjects that felt more personal to me. I became more curious about what others might overlook, looking for less obvious and less photographed subjects. When I do photograph familiar scenes, I try to find an angle, perspective or interpretation that others might miss, approaching the subject in a more creative and individual way.

This approach may often lead me to subjects others see as too ordinary, or even boring, but the process itself is anything but dull. It can be interesting, challenging, creative, rewarding and fun. It allows me to photograph for myself rather than for approval or likes. It also gives me the freedom to be original, instead of creating my own version of a scene that has already been photographed hundreds of times. In this way, I can leave my own photographic footprints rather than follow in those of others.

My current approach to photography feels right for me. It suits my circumstances, lets me find images close to home, and helps me grow creatively within my own abilities. Most importantly, it allows me to enjoy photography without constantly feeling that I am falling short of my potential.