Close To Home: Finding Great Photographs in Your Own Backyard

by Stuart Sipahigil

Taking great photographs does not require traveling to an exotic place. By digging a little deeper and seeing things around you more clearly you can reinvigorate your photography and find new images in familiar territory. Through practical insights and creative exercises you’ll discover that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Your city, your neighborhood, and even your backyard are all full of opportunities for great photographs.

- Craft & Vision

A couple of weeks ago I got notice in my inbox that the most recent ebook in the Craft & Vision series had been released and knew as soon as I read the title that I needed to get it. Titled Close to Home: Finding Great Photographs in Your Own Backyard , this short but beautiful read puts photography in perspective in terms of where you need to be geographically to create stunning and interesting images.

I’ve struggled in the past thinking that I need to travel to places other than London to find interesting and new shots, and although I realize that travel is probably money better spent than buying new gear I’ve often lost sight in the beauty my own city has to offer. I think this ebook is a great read for anyone stuck in a rut and looking to find the beauty in their every day.

Given that the London Photo Walk is all about exploration and celebration of London I thought that I would take time to mention this read in case other photo walkers might be in a similar situation. At only $5 it might just be some of the best money spent to help move your photography from point A to B without leaving home.

Check it out HERE.

“People forget about the surprises. They drive down Oxford or Highbury or Fanshawe Park Rd. and they’re just looking at industry. But if you go into small subdivisions, parks, the Thames Valley Parkway, there are all these surprises about how beautiful London is,”

- James Wilkinson, via London Free Press

James Wilkinson was recently interviewed by the London Free Press about the upcoming London PhotoCamp and about the London Photo Walk.  Not only is this interview great exposure for PhotoCamp and the Photo Walks, letting amateurs and professionals know that there are more casual, stress free and FREE ways to learn about photography, but I think James nailed the purpose of the Photo Walks.

For me the Photo Walks have not only been about the community, meeting new people and celebrating London, but they have been about exploring and finding the hidden beauty in the city. My favourite example of this was the Watson Park Walk I participated in a few months ago. A route that I have travelled a thousand time before but when out with my camera, other people and taking the time to slow down I found places, sights (and sounds) that I had never experienced before.

For some residents London only offers the beautiful places highlighted in travel magazine or in the local news, for others there is far more beauty that is discovered when the time is taken to explore, take in and appreciate the Forest City.

Over the past month  I have received several email from active photo walkers asking me where I have been? I haven’t been around much in terms of the photo walk and I thought that rather than sending our a similar email many times I would just provide a general update.

In the past month’s I have been very busy and have been neglecting the photo walk, not by choice but by necessity.  Things such as helping family members move, other community projects (ChangeCamp and Nuit Blanche and PARK(ing) Day) and personal issues have kept me away from the photo walks.

On the one hand I have really missed planning and taking part in the walks as they offer a great opportunity to explore London and meet up with so many great people. However, on the other hand, missing the walks has helped to push the London Photo Walk in the right direction.

Where We Are Going (I Hope)

With myself not being available (and James not being available on occasion) the walks still have continued.  Thanks to the dedication of some of the photo walkers in London, the walks have continued and have been as successful as ever.  Two examples are the Watson Park Walk, which I attended but did not organized. This walk has been one of my favourites over the past year.  The other example is today’s World Wide Photo Walk. Because of personal items, both myself and James have been unable to plan or attend today’s evening walk, no worries as Chris Baldwin and Donnie Currie have taken control.

These two examples are just a small hint as to where I believe the London Photo Walk should be going.

There is no doubt that I sill plan on organizing and participating in a monthly walk, but the intentions are, over the coming months, that the London Photo Walk website will be fully open to have people suggest/organize walks that they would like to lead and that this information can post automatically, there by essentially allowing photo walks to happen, any time and any place.

When I first suggested having a photo walk I did so out of a very selfish manner. As many know, I had just purchased my first digital camera and wanted to learn from other people how to use it. Quickly the Photo Walk developed to a great community event that presents the opportunity for anyone to come out and explore the city with other members of the public in a relaxed environment.  Although planning the photo walks has been great, the logical next step is to give the London Photo Walk to community and let them run with it. More details will be coming over the next couple of months.

I’m excited as where this can take us.