Why your hometown isn't boring

Street Journals Episode 9

Your hometown is not boring.

In this episode, I give you some advice on how to photograph in smaller towns. There is a thought among street photographers that the only good street photographs are made in big cities. I aim to disprove that theory!

One thing you can do if you live in a “small town” is search for certain things that interest you in the environment. It could be a structure in a building, the way a lamp post casts light on the floor or reflections caused by a window in the local pub.

Another thing to prepare yourself for street photography in small towns if you are big city-based is to go off the beaten track. Forget the busy main road, try and find quiet spots in side roads, clearings and squares. You will find yourself thinking more actively about composition, light and subject rather than taking the “easy” shots just because they are there.

In this video, I visit a small town along the Kentish coast called Whitstable. I know Whitstable quite well and knew of the huge oyster farm that exists and the area around the harbour. I started out wandering around the big oyster farm and restaurant area and decided it wasn’t particularly interesting. However, I moved over to the harbour area and took some of my favourite images.

I spoke to the older gentlemen for a short while after I took his portrait. His name is Derek and he has worked on the Harbour for 70 years. I tend to not ask people for street portraits but he caught my eye. Thank you for the portrait, Derek!

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[MarcGruenwerth]

Super underrated video. Thank you for making this ! I love shooting „boring“ places. Thanks a lot for the insights

[tomgoggin]

That was really good. I'm a huge fan of small town photography.

[joe_a_photo]

The portrait of the old man was by far my fav

[TheMusicrunner]

Love the way you approached the old man and asked for a portrait! Great video.

[kannonfps]

recently i realised that my city wasnt boring but i was actually afraid of taking photos in my own city (cause you know you know people around here)
i lack of self confidence and i think if i like citys like bruxelles that much is actually because no one know/care about you/, it's far from home, it's brand new, it's exciting

when you try to do street photography in your hometown you take the risk of seeing people you know (yes it's a risk for me don't judge me ... )
and since you live here or maybe always lived here it's actually hard to find your own town interesting or exciting as much as a big city with big building, super busy area etc

i aslo feel like in this new "era" we are putting so much pressure on ourself cause we want great shot that we feel like our city/town doesnt deserve it

but i don't know why, i feel like i could get my best shot out there if i actually went and shoot

and you know what, this comment will be a reminder for me, so let's do it, i'll try to create an entire project/book or smth about this little town
don't know how long it's gonna take for me to be "brave" enough to face people i know that would ask me wtf i'm doing but f*ck it

let's have some fun

[tonyallen]

Excellent video, Sam. I totally agree with you. It’s not the location that makes the difference. The biggest key element for me is the light. If you have great light you can make pictures anywhere. Give me a lone person in great light over a flat day standing in an overcrowded Oxford street any day. BTW I hope you got an ice cream from that van. He does the best ice cream in the world. I love Whistable. Beautiful place!

[TyrellCorpNAFO]

A fresh and efficient video. Thanks ;)

[sergejkurakin]

Thank you! Really good message and some inspiration in it!

[karlnewholmphotography]

Thanks for the video Sam. It’s always a treat when you find an interesting environment and you can couple that with an interesting subject. After spending a couple of weeks in London, I’m finding my hometown of Vancouver to be a bit “boring.” Your video is helping me to remember that it’s practise and my ability as a photographer to take good photos, not necessarily where I live. Thanks again. Karl

[piszczello]

I have heard this sentiment quite a bit, and I honestly disagree with it. I think it's fine to spend a day or two in those small towns and take some photos, but it's a different story if you live there. After a week or two so you essentially exhaust a lot of photo opportunities, as not much happens and it's all repeated. I live in Cardiff, which is not a small city by any means, but it is very flat, with little interesting architecture and not many places to play around with light and shadow. Street photography is definitely doable here, but it's so much harder to catch an interesting frame than other big cities. I wonder what your perspective would be on Whitstable after spending a few months there with a camera.

[christoombes]

Just came across your channel, subscribed and recognized a couple others on here that I follow. Great content thanks for sharing your journey 👍 @followcsp on insta