Bring a camera on a familiar route and the small details become harder to overlook: a painted gate, the pattern of branches against a wall, a bright coat disappearing around a corner.
Give yourself permission to come home with very few photographs. A shot list can make you march past whatever the light is actually doing. One loose theme, such as reflections or unexpected color, is plenty if you enjoy having a starting point.
Stop somewhere out of the way before composing a photograph. Keep crossings, cycle paths and narrow sections clear, and do not step backward into a route you have not checked. Respect people's privacy and any local photography rules, particularly around homes and children.
On returning, choose a single picture you would like to keep. You might remember the outing more clearly through one ordinary scene than through a folder full of almost identical views. The camera is simply another reason to pay attention to the place you already pass through.
Everyday Motion
Ideas to make a little room in your day.
