Photographing Everyday Objects

Photographing Everyday Objects shows that the everyday can be totally amazing.

Everyday you are presented with a zillion opportunities to capture something unique from the things that surround you that you have never really looked at before properly but can any simple, everyday object be a subject of creative and artistic photography? Absolutely.

Could the very same every day photography subject matter equally be boring with regimented forms, wishy washy light and an unexciting very predictable shot too? Absolutely.

The choice is yours entirely.

Take something as basic as a kitchen scene, peeling potatoes at a kitchen bench.

Depending on how you view it, it is either mundane, task orientated and boring, or an opportunity to capture the everyday as a moment in time in a perfectly balanced blend of form and composition with abstract shapes and colors that positively sing with impact.

Unconvinced? Try it and see for yourself. Either set your scene carefully or step back and view what is already there with a new perspective, for instance, incorporate some soapy bubbles, a corner of a pile of potato peelings, a shiny bench and a different viewpoint. Toss in a couple of brightly colored potato peelers. Switch your camera to macro and suddenly before you is a mix of abstract shapes and forms to rival any artwork.

Photographing everyday objects with impact and style - suggestions and ideas to try

• Turn off your flash


• Look for the spaces between the objects rather than the objects themselves


• View your scene through an object like a bottle, a sheet of cellophane, a metal screen with wide space


• Add a strong light source, or choose a position with strong light coming from one direction for drama


• Look for an angle that highlights dramatic lighting and shadows and you get a stunning mix of high drama.


• The garden opens a zillion opportunities


• Macro photos of flowers


• Bark of trees


• Peeling paintwork


• Close up corners of buildings,


• Abstract shapes formed by the light and shadow of leaves


• Boards on buildings


• Bubbles in the kitchen sink

The very best tip is to always, always, take your camera everywhere with you, there is no telling what fantastic photos await you and you just never know when inspiration will arrive.

Take every opportunity you can to do a bit of day dreaming and just let your mind go free and conjure up its own ways to find you photographs you will be proud to hand on your walls and show friends and family.