Some of the best advice I have ever received for photography is to change how I see. Initially, I was not sure what was meant by that advice, but as my photography has grown and continues to grow, this has become one of the most valuable things that have helped my photography progress.
I have come to realize that the camera should simply be the tool that executes what you are seeing with your eyes. Advancing your skill set and making meaningful images that impact the viewer does not come with having the latest and greatest gear as is it will not what move your photography forward. I have many friends in the photography world that are masters at learning the menus and settings, but cannot see the image as it unfolding in front of them.
What will help make immediate impacts in your imagery is not searching for subjects, but for seeing light. An image should already be visualized before raising your camera to your eye. Then and only then can you begin the creative process of composing, removing distracting elements that may weaken the image and story being told. Train your visualization, not a gear obsession.
Ask yourself this question – “Where is the light doing something special and unique?” Not – “What should I be photographing?”
Look for reflections, glow, shafts of light illuminating something, softness and or contrast. Let the light guide your images and stay in the moment. Often photographers may get in and get out to quickly not letting the moment evolve. New combers to photography generally come and don’t stay in one place very long, making a click, then leaving, where more experienced photographers will let things evolve and allow the light to dictate life as it moves through the light.
When you can’t change tools, you must change how you see. Many legendary photographers spent decades working with minimal gear because they understood that consistency of vision matters far more than variety of equipment and how much of it they have.
Once you find interesting light, move forward with finding something interesting to use with that light. Changing your vantage point can also contribute to how you see differently. Get high, go low, do a vertical versus a landscape and just bring a new perspective to how someone, not just you, can see the ordinary differently.
How many times have you seen an image of something you may have photographed and it looks entirely different than your own image. You wonder how they may have been able to make such an intriguing shot. The is because they have developed the most important skill a photographer can have before you ever lift your eye to the camera, visualize the image in your minds eye before you ever go click. only then can you change how you see.