The Out of Place Guide To
PHOTOGRAPHING PLACES
Daniel Lyttleton & Chris Neophytou
Step 1:
Go there In one way or another you have to experience the thing you want to photograph, you have to be there. This is an important part of photography and in many ways something that makes it different from other mediums such as writing or painting.
Image: Daniel Lyttleton
This part of the photogrphic process is linked to ideas about truth and authenticity. The camera is sometimes seen as a mechanical and seemingly objective tool for recording the world. The main thing is to be there with your camera and take pictures.
Step 2:
Think about place We all have ideas about what a place is but when we try and define it, sometimes our ideas become unclear. There are a lot of books and essays you could read that discuss the topic but it isnt always neccesary to do this.
Image: Grant Archer
One thing we suggest is to consider the boundary of your place. This doesnt have to be an exact thing but where one place ends and another begins is an interesting idea in itself. Your idea could be quite small like a single house or big like a whole city. Secondly try to remember you can’t photograph everything, and even if you could you’d have a tough time presnting all that material.
Step 3:
Look slowly Often we think we know what things look like, we have an idea of them in our head. Sometimes when you look at things carefully they are actually quite different to how we imagine them.
Image: Chris Neophytou
Take your time, walk slowly and take note of the smallest details. Small details can help to reveal the character of a place. Photograph the things you see the way you see them. Enjoy the act of looking.
Step 4: Identify landmarks
Image: Daniel Lyttleton
Many places are associated with some kind of landmark, so much so that they are often named after them. For example, in the UK there are hundreads of places named after rivers. But it could be a building, monument or any kind of natural landmark. Some places have famous landmarks and it is easy to fall into the trap of focusing too much on them. Instead phtograph around them, alow them to creep into your images without being the main focus. This makes for more interesting photographs that tell us more about the place.
Step 5:
Talk to people It is often said that a place is the product of the people that inhabit it. In truth it is both the place and the people that influence one another.
Image: Chris Neophytou
Talking to people is a way of learning about the area, each person is unique and has a story to tell. It’s kind of like research and an opportunity to learn about the place and its people. Photographing strangers maybe daunting if youre not used to it but be brave, be polite and give it a go. The people you meet are part of your experience, try and photograph them the way you see them.
Step 6: Notice objects We think some of the best objects to look for are ones that are quite clearly out of place but at the same time feel very much a part of the place. All these objects have a story and can tell us alot. You can use recurring objects as a motif in your series of pictures.
Image: Daniel Lyttleton
Things that seem out of place make great pictures because they ask a question. Sometimes questions are more interesting than answers.
Step 7: Let the place influence you It is too easy to approach a place with preconceptions and you can get stuck if the place doesnt meet those expectations. We reccomend going with the flow. Be guided by your experience and trust your instincts. Your photos dont have to be an objective survey, they can be personal and expressive.
Image: Chris Neophytou
Sometimes its best to shoot first and think later.
You can send your photos to info@outofplacebooks.com outofplacebooks.com
