Finding the Beauty Within the Mundane: An Eye for Detail

Sure, not everyone has a great “canvas” to work with, but part of being a photographer is making the best of your surroundings... And the other part is having an eye for detail; finding the beauty in the ugly or mundane. 

It’s always useful to keep a lookout for small details that make an interesting photo, whether it’s composition, texture,  an abstract setting, colour, or something else.

Look around, and you may notice something unique, like a rainbow crossing your path.

Some of my favourite "ugly" things to photograph are old, run-down buildings. Not only are they hauntingly beautiful in and of themselves, but they can have interesting graffiti or other new elements on them, telling a story of change or progression.

This building is so majestic, standing tall- if it wasn't for the broken glass at the top, you would almost think that it's still inhabited (and by a king, no less)!

A closed-down bazaar in Istanbul.

 Nature is always inspiring (and this is coming from someone who isn't the outdoorsy type)! Trees may have the largest number of different angles to photograph, and they make for great composition most of the time. Water, too, whether it's an ocean, lake, or just a puddle, makes great photos- especially when reflections are involved. Use these to your advantage!

Trees swooping down to make some great shapes at this festival.

A simple detail like colour repetition can make an astounding shot.

Always remember to look up or down! There could be some small, visually-appealing aspect you are missing out on by only looking straight ahead.

It's good to remember that making certain photos black and white makes all the difference, too. It can get rid of visually distracting elements (such as extremely bright colours) in the background, help emphasize the focal point, and is a valuable tool for adjusting composition while cropping or learning how much to up the contrast in a photo. 

Playing around with all these tricks can be fun, and help you see those boring, same-old places in a new light through your photos.