Another common e-mail from beginning photographers:
"I live in (fill in the blank). It is just so boring here. I wish that I lived in New York like you so that I could capture all the excitement of the city."
My initial reaction to this is that if you can't find anything interesting to photograph where you are - you won't find it anywhere else. This goes along the lines of the end of the Wizard of Oz, everything was always there before you at home.
If you live in a small town - then photograph the people or places around you. Do it as best you can. Do it better than anyone ever did.
I guess I could be all wet about this - maybe there are places that are just so visually boring that no one could be inspired by them. But you've spent 16 years of your life in this place. You know it so well. Even if all you do is capture your complete alienation from the landscape - that would be something - wouldn't it?
What do you think?
