When you are on your travels, it is always a pleasure to take photographs of those faraway and exotic places. It can remind you of your holiday and the fun you have had. But dont forget those places nearer to home!
Most towns and villages have places of interest. It may be an area of parkland or woods. Or churches, monuments and imposing buildings. People and activities.
And, near to home you have one great advantage you can return at any time of day! For landscapes this might be early in the morning or before sunset whereas for cities you might want some vibrant night shots or human activity.
And you can visit in different seasons. The local park might be a place for kids to play, but in winter, when it is covered in snow, it transforms in to a paradise of virgin white, hardly recognisable. Even on the same day, the weather can change and transform a scene.
You may not even have to contemplate going very far for your images either. Your garden can be a rich hunting ground if only you look. Plants, flowers, interesting artefacts. Insects, fruits, leaves, birds, people and even discarded rubbish! Colour and vibrancy, activity and action.
Dont commit yourself to one area. Search around and find new images in new places. Make your camera work for you. Think about your photographs before you take them and always be on the lookout for a new twist or angle on an old scene.
Of course, take your camera on your travels. But photographs nearer to home can also be ones that you hanker to keep.
Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com
