Sometimes photographers can get in a location rut. Often we become accustomed to working in a studio, shooting familiar landscapes, or looking for wildlife in places where we have seen them previously. Occasionally, to improve our photography, it can be helpful to go outside our personal “location comfort zone”.
Travel photographers seem to thrive when regularly visiting new locations. That’s logical since they want to showcase as much of the world as possible. Landscape photographers also go to new locations often to record different vistas, even though they may have favorite spots where they return multiple times. But many of us usually stay pretty close to our familiar surroundings. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; after all, some of those photographers become expert in a specific location.
Making the occasional foray beyond the familiar can lead to some very interesting developments. For example, I recently had the opportunity to travel to a location over 1,200 miles from my home area. Not only were the surroundings very different (palm trees vs. maples, ocean vs. mountains) but even the weather was drastically different in unexpected ways, adding some problem-solving challenges to my typical photography routines. When I returned home and reflected on my photographs, I was amazed at how much I had learned about myself as a photographer and my relationships with location and subject.
Contending with unfamiliar weather patterns gave me a better appreciation for mundane materials in my camera bag, such as plastic bags and lens cloths. A photo of a “dramatic sky” is very different by the ocean than it is in the mountainous forest. It is harder to scout locations in an unfamiliar place so flexibility and spontaneity become more important. And, just like any other photo expedition, sometimes you miss a great shot because things happen so fast.
The lessons learned in different locations will vary with each photographer. You can do some preparations, but new locations will present challenges that you may not expect that must be solved on the fly. The individual growth also depends on the openness of the photographer. When you have the opportunity, be willing and ready to travel outside your normal comfort zone. You may be surprised by your photographs and your development as a photographer.