We’ve often encountered a juncture in our lives where we have hit a photography block. Whether an enthusiast or a professional, photography blocks have been unkind to us all. Days turn into weeks and months before you finally discover your footing with the medium or when the creative juices begin to ebb and flow. I have been in the boat that you have, and trust me, it is the worst one can feel. But fret not, dear reader, because we have a solution to help you during these troubling circumstances: revisiting the same location. When we say this is one of the best cures, we mean it. This has been my trial and test method, and it brings me joy to share it with you. Let’s break down how revisiting the same location impacts your photography for the better.
Revisiting The Same Location Makes You Attuned
One of the biggest perks of revisiting the same location is that it attunes you to who or what is around you. When submitting my final photography portfolio, my batch mates and I were asked to choose a location for our photography project. The location, of course, had to be a place with some history and story. And so, the closest to me was a religious site, a place throbbing with unseen narratives. The only key to making an excellent story is patience and perseverance. While there, I learned anyone can choose an unfamiliar, far-flung place, but your actual test comes from revisiting the same location. When you are bound to one place, what can you do to make the narrative exhilarating? With time, one overcomes ‘the lack of things to photograph’ and becomes one with the pulse of the place and its people. Sometimes, the practice becomes a great way to look within, too.
How You Become a Better Photographer By Revisiting The Same Location
In addition to being more perceptive of the stories around you, revisiting the same location is a great way to learn more about the steps that help to build a story. For instance, if you know at 4pm, the sunset casts a beautiful light on the water, then you can plan your shots accordingly in advance. When I photographed the premises of the holy site, I realized my story only talks about what goes inside but not the chaos of the world outdoors. There, I found how people would have a blast consuming the best meals around the place. Since the crowds just started to flow in the evenings, I chose to post at 7pm, and I was welcomed by some of the most expressive people I have ever met. Little things like understanding the light and how a space functions will help you hone your skills.
You Just May Be Documenting History in The Making
This may be rare, but it is entirely possible, depending on the location you revisit. The place I chose happens to be of massive interest to developers. The holy site is located inside the sea, and because of this reason, millions come to visit the iconic place, sometimes barefoot. The only access is through a course, a concrete path built decades ago. However, the place is such a prime commercial area, with galleries and offices thriving close to it. In hopes of catering to more affluent folks, the government built a flyover bridge near the sea to cater to their needs. While it doesn’t directly disrupt the religious place, it blocks the promenade, where individuals often come and look at the setting sun or pay their respects from a safe distance. So, if you photograph your community or landscapes, you may be one of the few people with a chronology of the glorious past.
Becoming a Better Judge of Your Photographs
One of the hardest things a photographer has to do is to cull the images to find a few gems. I know so many photographers with over a decade of experience in the art, but when it comes to choosing what’s best, they tend to feel attacked. Your sentiments are valid, as you have spent hours making the images from a place of love and admiration. But, when you revisit the same location repeatedly, you will better judge what works and what needs to be chucked. To do this, you need to list images you like and those that need work. This process helps you know what you have and must gather. Gradually, you will begin to discover photographs that work better in the morning light or find individuals who make better subjects. One can also experiment with angle and gear to achieve a different image. After a week or two, you know which images must come together when you sit at the edit table.
In conclusion, revisiting the same location makes you see the world differently. For instance, Eugene Atget’s photographs of his adored Paris are some of the most crucial documents about the old city. Similarly, Ansel Adams’ images of Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada portray the intricacies of the vast landscapes. Sometimes, this principle can be applied to photographing the same subjects repeatedly. For instance, Masahisa Fukase’s Sasuke series is a captivating ode to his cat Sasuke, whom he took everywhere. As these photographers have illustrated, revisiting the same location or subject is not monotonous. In fact, it is the most demanding task a photographer can assign themselves. So, will you dare to do this and open new horizons?