Getting used to places you live or frequently visit might make you less likely to spot unique photo opportunities, but this doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
1
Experimenting With Different Camera Filters
I like experimenting with iPhone camera filters to get unique photos of places I’m familiar with. For example, one of my favorite hometown photo spots is a canal with lots of colorful buildings. Since I often use the Vivid filter here, I can experiment with the Dramatic filter for a change.
Playing with different filters also encourages me to explore styles I might not usually try, like monochrome. What’s particularly nice is that you can choose your usual filter later if the results aren’t what you were looking for.
Occasionally, I’ll go beyond my phone’s default options and use apps like VSCO to add unique effects to my shots.
2
Capturing the Seasons and Weather
If you live in a place with four distinct seasons, use this to your advantage. You could, for example, try a photo challenge where you capture one image of the same location for 12 successive months. At the end of the year, you can compare these.
Another option is to simply wait for different weather. While it rarely snows where I live, the same spots still look very different on a sunny day compared to when it’s raining. Since the daylight hours differ throughout the year, the lighting is also softer in the winter than in summer—which makes a big difference.
Special events and holidays bring even more opportunities. During Christmas, for example, my city is full of lights and decorations. National holidays often mean an abundance of flags, which also make great photo elements.
3
Making Use of Leading Lines
Leading lines are one of the simplest ways to instantly make your photos look unique and interesting. I often use roads, canals, and rows of trees in parks to create symmetry and guide the viewer’s eye.
You can use numerous other objects and compositions for leading lines, though. These include tunnels and walking paths if you’re on a nature trail. Besides using them for symmetry, leading lines can highlight two contrasting sides of your picture.
4
Highlighting Vibrant Colors
Using color theory plays a big role in my creative projects. When photographing familiar places, it can help me focus on specific aspects more closely. For example, if two buildings’ colors complement each other well, I’ll focus on that harmony in my shot.
Sometimes, I use the sky’s colors to my advantage. This is particularly helpful when capturing sunset photos with my smartphone; sometimes, the sky itself can be the most interesting aspect of a photo.
I also like to look for vibrant colors, whether from buildings, plants, bikes, or even objects like trash cans.
5
Waiting for the Right Subjects
Sometimes, a location looks nice but feels too static to photograph. In these situations, the best thing I can do is wait for something to pass by and use it in my frame.
Since I live in a bike-friendly city, I often include cyclists in my shots. I also watch for people in eye-catching outfits, cute dogs, boats, or birds to add life to my photos.
6
Shooting Through Objects and Shapes
I enjoy using nearby objects and shapes to frame my shots. For example, I might position my subject within an archway or capture it through branches or fences to create depth and perspective.
Photographing reflections of locations you’re familiar with is another way to create unique photos. I can also recommend using windows and even items like your hands to make your pictures more unique.
7
Getting Closer to Your Subject
I’m used to standing the same distance from many subjects I photograph with my smartphone, which can lead to monotonous results. To stop this from happening, I switch things up by simply getting closer to what I’m taking pictures of.
This isn’t always possible; you might have physical boundaries like roads and waterways. But if possible, moving closer helps the main subject fill more of your frame. Because of this, the user’s eyes will automatically be drawn in this direction.
This brings out details—like the texture of a building or the intricate carvings on a statue—that might otherwise go unnoticed. This sometimes also works with street-style smartphone photos.
8
Using Burst Mode to Tell a Story
Burst Mode is a great way to tell a story and take interesting photos in busy places. To take more dynamic burst photos on my smartphone, I normally visit somewhere I want to photograph beforehand and plan my images. If I’m spontaneously out and about, I’ll stop for a few minutes to observe my surroundings. When I’m ready, I’ll take numerous burst images until I’m happy with the story.
Besides telling an interesting story, capturing multiple shots is also ideal when I photograph fast-moving subjects. It helps me avoid blurry images and focus on the end result. Depending on your device, you can choose the number of photos within your burst sequences.
9
Using a Different Focal Length
I almost always take my photos at 1 x zoom on my smartphone camera, and if I capture the same locations, my results can start to blend together. To get out of a photography rut and make my photos more unique, I sometimes simply change the focal length.
To shake things up, I sometimes zoom out for a wider perspective or, occasionally, zoom in for a more intimate feel. I avoid excessive zooming to preserve image quality, but a slight adjustment—like zooming to 1.5x—can work wonders. Knowing when to zoom in and move closer helps use focal lengths more appropriately.
Sometimes, you only need to make simple adjustments to capture more unique photos of places you frequently visit. Thinking outside the box is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Start by trying different focal lengths and styles, and see whether this changes your perspective of familiar locations.