What is the starting point for photography themes and ideas?

 

Are you feeling overwhelmed by photography? 📸 Want to take amazing photos, but don't know what subject to choose or where to start? This article will teach you how to find photo ideas from everyday life and plan your own unique photoshoot concept.

"What should I shoot this weekend?"... This is a question that every photography enthusiast has probably asked themselves at least once. I've all experienced that: ambitiously setting out with a beautiful camera, only to come back with nothing to shoot, just clicking the shutter, right? 😅 It seems like discovering great photo ideas in the mundane is harder than you think. So today, I'm going to talk honestly about how I usually get my photography themes and ideas, and where they start.

1. Find inspiration in everyday life: Believe in the power of 'observation'! 👀

Photography ideas aren't far away. They're hidden all around us, very close to us. I recommend keeping a "daily observation journal." Don't write anything fancy; just jot down "unique things you saw today."

• Light and Shadow: Morning sunlight streaming through a window, long afternoon shadows, neon signs on a night street, etc.
• Color: The red of a bus handle, the blue paint of an old building, the colorful fruits at the market.
• Texture and Pattern: The rough surface of old wood, the repetitive patterns of a tile floor, rain-soaked asphalt, etc.

If you make a habit of capturing these everyday moments, your mind will soon be filled with images you want to capture. Even my commute, which I used to think was the same every day, often turns into a new photo subject.

2. Keyword Expansion: One Word Can Create Infinite Ideas 💡

If you're having trouble coming up with photo ideas, choosing just one keyword and starting from there can be incredibly effective. For example, let's think of the keyword 'solitude'.

• Location: An empty park bench, a window on a rainy day, a convenience store at dawn, a deserted alley.
• People: A person with only their backs visible, a silhouette standing blankly, staring out the window.
• Objects: A lonely coffee cup, a seemingly forgotten old book, an unoccupied chair.
• Colors: Cool blue, black and white photography.

What do you think? Just the word "solitude" alone brings to mind countless photoshoot concepts, doesn't it? If you practice visualizing abstract emotions with concrete elements like this, you'll naturally develop your own unique style.

📌 Tip! Create a keyword list

💡 Create your own 'emotion/word dictionary'!
Make a list of words or emotions that impressed you in your favorite movies, songs, and books. Later, when you're stuck for a subject to photograph, you can look at this list for inspiration.

3. Learn from others' perspectives: 'Imitation' is the beginning of creation! 🖼️

Seeing other people's work is also really important. I personally frequently use platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Behance. When I look at various references for photo concepts, colors, compositions, and more, I often get the realization, "Wow, I can take photos like this!"

However, the key here isn't simply copying the exact same thing. It's analyzing "Why is this photo so great?". What composition was used, how was the light used, what colors are dominant, etc. Through this process, I practice incorporating others' work into my own, which ultimately helps me develop my own style.

Example: Analyzing a Photo 📝

Look at a photo and ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the main subject of this photo?
• Which color stands out the most?
• Where does the light come from, and what are the shadows?
• Is the camera looking from top to bottom or bottom to top?