Introduction
In Part 1 of this series we tried to figure out what things might be interesting to take pictures of where you live, this time I want to talk about collections. A friend of mine was looking for some Stuttgart specific decoration for her walls at home and asked me if I may be able to help out. When going through my archive (read: Lightroom library) I noticed that several of these Stuttgart related pictures can be summarized in categories. It seems I actually started several collections – and subconciously so.
I will show you small collages of these collections I made and I am also curious to find out: what do you collect?
Neon Lights
I am a real sucker for neon lights. When I was in Hong Kong I tried to take pictures of every neon light I could find. Unfortunately it is mostly pawn shops these days that use them.
When going through my Stuttgart pictures I was surprised how many different signs I discovered over the years.
Architecture Details (Modern)
I love architecture photography and I am always looking for that one angle a building looks best from, like you would find it in a Wikipedia article or a magazine. Not living far away from it also allows you to wait for the best time and weather conditions to take a picture exactly like you imagine it (as already discussed in Part 1).
But how many such buildings do actually exist in a city? So to mix things up I also try to capture intricate details, always looking for new angles. And it is always the times I walk through the city thinking “I have already seen it all anyway” that I discover a new angle I didn’t think of before.
It is also fun to have your friends, family or colleagues guess where these not so obvious ones have been taken.
Architecture Details (Old)
Cities change over time. Old trams, buses and taxis are replaced with new ones, instead of neon lights and gas lamps there are LED panels being installed, old stores close, new ones open. Progress is inevitable.
This is the reason I am always drawn to taking pictures of old things. Old facades, signs of old shops that are long gone and no one bothered to remove, rundown places in general.
Old metal works
This is a bit of a sub category of the previous one. In the area I previously lived in these metal gates and railings seem to have been really popular at some point in time and many are still around. The thing is: you can never know for how long.
The railing on public stairs will be replaced some day and as they don’t make them like this anymore they will surely look different.
Some of these small things can even define an era. You remember the green/white german police cars? The yellow phone booths? One starts to wonder what will later be the definition of the times we currently live in.
What now?
In an old photography book I once read a suggested “assignment” was to take pictures of hub caps. I am not sure about the US, but here in Europe hub caps are not really a thing anymore in 2023.
Now if someone was to show me a collection of (well executed) hub cap pictures from 60s or 70s today, these would probably be quite interesting to me.
When assembling such a collection – and you may only do it for yourself or even find it to mundane to show anyone – keep in mind there is always change and what is mundane today might be very interesting tomorrow, because it is already gone.
So, what do you collect? Pictures of old bicycles? Mopeds? Phone booths? Lanterns? Old barns? Fences? Statues? Doors?
Please tell me in the comment section, I might discover something new to look for, the next time I am walking through the city.
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For about a year my friend and I challenged each other to choose a focal length and take pictures each month. It always surprised me how much fun it was and the quality of images we produced.
We did 16mm, 24, 28 35, 50, 85, 135 and 200. We repeated 2 or 3. Loved the process.
I know it’s not a subject (hub caps) but it pushed me to use lenses and be creative and have fun.
Still counts I say
There is a moment in a day when shadows are pararell to a street/square, it may be worth to check places nearby as this can give surprising results, especially when shooting from some height:)
Good insights. IMO some things that help photos pop in potentially boring or repetitive environments are 1) the use of human subjects doing novel or interesting things and 2) the use of shadows to give a feeling of depth. Also, I love how you capture architectural details. I’ve always found your ability to make unremarkable things look remarkable to be inspiring.
If something catches my eye and can’t run away fast enough I will probably take a photo. If it fits I clicks.
Loved this article Bastian!
This is such a concise and nostalgia spirited article which helps bring back the memories of why many of us first picked a camera! Also goes a long way to reimagine surroundings and self improvement we usually disregard.
I began a B/W photo collection a few years ago of the vintage glass street lights in & around Brussels street corners & alleys but sadly that zeal eventually fizzed out.
Brings back memories…
I love old street lamps, but I also find them very difficult to photograph!
very inspiring, thank you for another great article
Nice article, thank you.
Washing (laundry) lines… I’m got a massive soft spot for shooting them!
These days I find myself taking abstract pictures like stones, leaves, peeling paint on the wall, shadows, etc. Inspired by Aaron Siskind, Edward and Brett Weston, etc.
For me, it’s fun because you don’t have to travel hours. Just a quick walk outside home and you are ready to make some images.
I took lots of pictures of fire hydrants. It’s very different in each city in the US and Canada.
Just did that with some historic looking ones in Japan 🙂
Great eye!
Hey Bastian
Thanks for that.
Yup I agree with you.
There is soooo much out there to photograph and everyone can achieve different and amazing results.
Go out there an do it!
For those of you interested and to add to what Bastian has so graciously shared with us, check out my blog too for tips and tricks to photography.
https://www.obiphoto.com/blog