The Familiar

As someone whose photography is invigorated by exploring new places, living in a small-ish town can be somewhat frustrating at times. While the rationale part of my brain knows there are a million opportunities to produce good photographs no matter how familiar your environment may be, my pessimistic side offers up the old chestnut, “been there, done that.”

That type of negativity is only reinforced when I discover I’ve taken the same photo of a particular rusty hinge on two separate occasions three years apart. It can be difficult to nurture your visual curiosity when you pass by the same locations when you’re dropping your kids off at band practice, going to the grocery store, or slogging through your commute.

Fortunately, this photograph is a personal testament to keeping my eyes and creativity open to fresh experiences in frequented spaces.

I’ve walked down this side street that divides the production space and warehouse of a local manufacturing company hundreds of times and never once “saw” the simplicity and symmetry of this outdoor staircase dividing the foundation and the upper floors of this structure. Maybe it was the lighting or the time of day I passed, but for whatever reason, this shot immediately popped.

In the future, before I throw cold water on photographically re-visiting a much-travelled locale, I’ll recall this photo and try to remember that the familiar isn’t necessarily something to avoid if you engage it with an open heart and mind.