When I mention my interest in photography, people often inquire, "What specific type of photography?" My initial response is that my goal is simply to capture shots in focus! However, it becomes crucial to enhance my skills if I want to excel in this field. It's like getting into a car, turning on the sat-nav, but not setting a destination to guide you!
Many social media experts recommend selecting a subject, or perhaps a few, and dedicating myself to them. This approach allows my photography to evolve, and I can explore the intricacies of the chosen topic(s). Nowadays, it's effortless to find inspiration from others' work as long as I avoid plagiarism. I won't be the first person to capture images of the architecture in London or any other city. My objective is to be innovative, imaginative, and perhaps even a little inspiring.
So, what comes next?
With all these considerations in mind, I am going to focus (pun intended) on the following:
Architecture: 
I don't have to talk to a building and ask it to smile. Every day, we walk around towns and cities looking at buildings at eye level, which is natural enough, or we'd all walk into each other. There are several Instagram tags and Flickr groups based on looking up. It's nothing more complicated than walking my commute or shopping trip, taking time away from the myriad of Starbucks or Pret signs, and looking up! I'll be surprised to see the rich history my local high street has locked away.
Street photography: 
Street was really out of my comfort zone, but I have become a lot more relaxed now. I started off walking the streets with a big camera and an even bigger lens. Pointing what looks like a bazooka at somebody, any natural pose goes out of the window. It also made me a bit lazy as I was able to stand in one place and zoom in on the subject. Consequently, I bought a smaller camera purely for street photography (my excuse, and I'm sticking to it) and now I can blend in with the sightseers and shoot away.
Portrait: 
This is going to be a real challenge. Making the subject feel at ease in a 1-2-1 situation while dealing with the technical aspects of the photo shoot will be testing, but the thing about tests is passing them. I've got two willing models with my kids, which is always handy. I can also unbox the studio lighting I bought last summer!
Printing:
We all capture wonderful images, and our phones are capable of taking shots to be proud of. Some may appear on social media, but most remain stored in iCloud, Google Photos, or on our computer hard drives. Printing and framing pictures can be incredibly rewarding, potentially even more so than receiving likes on Instagram or Facebook. You don't need the latest SLR or mirrorless camera to take great shots. Some photographers exclusively use mobile devices for shooting and editing, producing fantastic results. So, what are you waiting for?
Finally, the last thing I see before leaving my house is my favorite photo of my children eating ice cream when they were younger. This ensures that I start my commute with a smile.
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