This week, I invite you to photograph your neighbourhood. Personally, I’ve always found difficult to take pictures where I live because I get caught up in my daily routine.
However, since the first lockdown I’ve learned to appreciate the simple pleasures of life. For example, I discovered many hidden gems in my neighbourhood such as Tower Hamlets cemetery as well as getting to know my neighbours.
In addition, this assignment is fantastic to challenge your automatic settings. For instance, rather than just walking from A to B you will have the opportunity to share your unique vision of what makes you’re neighbourhood so special.
In other words, what gives your neighbourhood a specific character?
Can you find the details which reveal what’s special about the place you live?
What do you like the most about your neighbourhood?
To start with, I recommend you sharing what you like the most about your neighbourhood.
My favourite place in my neighbourhood is Regents canal, especially the portion that goes along Victoria Park. For instance, on a sunny morning, I like to sit by the lock and watch the boats passing by. Sometime, there is an heron resting on the bank.
What about you? What is your favourite spot in your neighbourhood?
Document Your Neighbourhood
In winter 2019, I run a street photography workshop with a lovely group around the area of Bethnal Green. The aim was to connect with the community, photograph the neighbourhood, and have fun.
You could document certain themes you find interesting in your own area such as:
- Ethnic communities
- Urban landscape
- Street art
- Local markets
Practice your composition and colours
The best way to photograph your neighbourhood is to focus on your composition and colours.
Whether you’re taking a picture of your local grocery store, or pub always ask yourself:
“What is my colour palette? Do I need to subtract or add anything to my composition?”
When photographing your neighbourhood in colour keep in mind that colours are a corner stone of your compositions otherwise you may as well shoot in B&W.
Tip:
- Combine Warm (Red) and Cool (Blue) colours to create interesting compositions.
You can also use complementary colours to experiment with your photography.
When complementary colours are placed next to each other, it creates a very strong contrast. As a consequence, the colours appear brighter and more vivid.
Using complementary colours in photography helps to create more captivating compositions.
The main complementary colours are:
- Green & Red
- Orange & Blue
- Yellow & Purple
Find Inspiration
Photography is a language, and the best way to improve your visual vocabulary is to find inspiration in other photographers.
Finding Vivian Maier is an extraordinary documentary about a mysterious master of photography who will inspire you.
Finding Vivian Maier on Amazon Prime
Photograph Your Neighbourhood Assignment
For this week’s assignment take a series of 5-7 photographs of your neighbourhood.
Tip:
- Choose if you want to shoot in colour or B&W and stick to it to create an harmonious body of work.
- Don’t feel obliged to include people – do whatever you want!
- Keep in mind that what you might find banal can be very exotic for someone else.
Have fun!
Pierre