How I NEVER Run Out of Photography Ideas!

Three Ways to get you out of the house and taking photos!

I’m a nature and landscape artist by profession, but I’m also one of those weirdos that loves photography so much that it’s also my hobby, my passion, and what I think about all the freaking time.

I used to think that I had to head out for hours to find cool things to photograph, but this year is the first time I’ve embraced this truth: the world contains endless inspiration. Everything can be a “project.” There is ALWAYS something to take photos of.

WE no longer have excuses.

It’s time to stop observing, reading reviews, and trying to find inspiration.

Let’s do this together: we will NEVER say or think these thoughts again: “there’s nothing to take photos of here,” or “I’m bored,” or, “I’ve taken photos of everything, so there’s no point,” or, “I live in a boring place,” or “I’d rather just scroll social media for hours instead of picking up a camera and actually DOING THE THING!”

I live in Nebraska people. If I can do this, so can you!

Below, you’ll find some of my “PROJECT GENERATORS” that I’ve been leaning on. I NEED to get outside and be creative. I NEED to live my life, not online, but with true artistic intention.

I hope these help you get outside to take more photographs. It’s the reason we do this, right?

PROJECT GENERATOR ONE: JUST LEAVE THE FREAKING HOUSE

I’m not kidding. Just leave the house, but do it with intention.

Lately I’ve not been sleeping great. Instead of scrolling the news to find out that humanity is doomed, I leave the house to explore Omaha.

I’ve lived in Omaha all my life, and I’ve barely seen the nooks and crannies until recently.

So I explore - finding interesting things on streets I’ve rarely been, including the single street you see in the series of photos in this section.

AND GUESS WHAT? It’s a project now. I’m going to head back to this area of Omaha to keep exploring the streets.

PROJECT GENERATOR TWO: ASK QUESTIONS

Drive around town, out of town, or down your street. Ask any question you want.

Here’s a random question: What happened to American Malls?

Once the pinnacle of the American consumerism, many malls have become mostly empty, sad spaces.

I was at a mall with my son and wife a few months ago, and we were surprised at how weird it was. I took a bunch of video and published a strange mall video with spooky music… totally not typical for my YouTube channel, but fun nonetheless:

It was shocking how different it looked compared to my youth, so I had to answer my main question: what happened here? I had to go back. A few days later I headed there with my OM SYSTEM OM-3 and Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 (my favorite lens right now) topped off with a black pro mist (to bloom those highlights!).

It was bizarre and surreal..

And you know what? It’s a “thing” now. A project: I’m going to keep finding malls like this as I travel (what a great project to explore on travel days when it rains) to keep exploring the answer to the question: what happened to the American mall?

PROJECT GENERATOR THREE: TELL STORIES

My YouTube video above is another example. I went to a nature trail the other day for some pretty, light-filled grass and fresh air. Instead, I experienced controlled burns, black dirt, and a smoky smell to the air.

Instead of my normal reaction of despair and sadness, I tried to look at things a little differently. Is there a story here?

The burned branches - they look like bones - the rib cages of ancient creatures in a dystopian landscape.

The trees seemed ominous, reaching out with menace:

The land was stark in a way I’ve never seen it. I’ve walked this trail dozens of times, but this was something new. My Ricoh GRIV turned into a portal into another world.

I’m not sure why I made these videos. Just having fun. I love the idea of me finding a portal into another universe, where it’s 1998 or something? I don’t know. I’m watching too much Fringe.

YOU CAN DO THIS!

Each small town - a story.

Each garden - a story.

Each old car you see - a story.

THE WORLD IS INSPIRATION

It’s absolutely wild to see the world how I’m seeing it now. Instead of moaning over there being “nothing to take photos of,” I’m nearly overwhelmed at all the things I WANT to do.

It’s getting ridiculous.

I’ve been to my friend’s studio at an old building in downtown Omaha hundreds of times. But now I’m picking up the camera and exploring the hallways, looking for new light. New reflections. New ways of seeing things. I dial in experimental colors on my OM SYSTEM OM-3 and fire away:

How about a series on this ONE TRUCK I’m obsessed about (also in the parking lot of the above studio). I’m also using it as an opportunity to experiment more with jpeg profiles:

I’ve also come up with the “PIGEON” rule: go find them because they are almost always around. Has it been done before? Millions of times?

Yes. But these are my pigeons - and I love these from a 10 minute therapy photo walk downtown as I experimented with in-camera monochrome jpegs.

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WATCH NOW - SUPER PREMIERE!

My most recent YouTube video (watch it for the sight of a hundred thousand birds alone!).

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What ideas do YOU have? Do you have any “project generators” that work for you? I’d love to know!

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www.jerredz.com