“I wish my photos were more creative.”

“I can’t seem to make my photos look interesting.”

“If only I lived in a more beautiful place, my photos would be SO much better.”

Does this sound familiar?

One of the biggest struggles photographers face is getting their photos to look more creative, more interesting.

I can relate to this too.

Since I started taking photos at 13, I’ve always worried that I’d turn into a bland photographer who takes cliché photos. I wanted to get into photography, but I did not want to just end up being “another photographer”, taking typical photos.

I wanted my photos to stand out.

I wanted my photos to matter.

I wanted to make a difference.

I can’t say that I have mastered top level creativity, but this fear of being a mediocre photographer has led me to find creativity-boosting practices and habits to develop my skills.

Today, I'm sharing my favourite exercise to work your creative muscle and improve your skills as a creative.

If you’re serious about improving your creativity, this simple (and fun) exercise is for you!

All you need is:

• a camera (any camera)
• the most drab, uninteresting and ugly environment as possible
• belief that everyone is creative (including you)

Here’s what you do:

1. Go take a walk with your camera in the most uninteresting place you can think of.
2. Next, from eye-level, take a generic photo of the environment you’re in. Don’t think too much about being creative.

For example, I chose Winnipeg, outdoors in early April.

The ugliest time of year in my city.

It’s drab, colourless and dirty from the snow melt. Nothing is in bloom, and all the pretty white snow is gone.

My first photo looked like this:

3. Next, tune into your creativity. Scan the area with your eyes. Look for something unusual or out of the ordinary, then zone in on it and take a photo.

(Quick tip: you’ll likely have to get closer, zoom in or change your angle.)

For example, after taking that first drab photo, I noticed a red leaf in the snow. I took a picture of it:

Suddenly, my photo in this drab area looks 100 times more interesting. I’m noticing and capturing a new perspective.

I did this two more times:

ugly, dirty sidewalk

close up of sidewalk with sunlight hitting the ridges

water, running down a dirty street

close up of sediments in the streams of water

What is happening?

I’m creating something beautiful out of something ugly.

This exercise is effective because it forces you to work harder at noticing irregularities in the mundane. This is where you notice good design or interesting light.

If I was in Hawaii, I wouldn’t have to work hard at taking pretty photos. The entire environment is pretty, handed to me on a silver platter.

I don’t have to work for it. It’s too easy. It doesn’t exercise my creative muscle.

Most people can be a fantastic photographer in Hawaii.

On the contrary, when I’m outside in Winnipeg at this time of year, I have to really push myself to find beauty in the ugliness.

I have to take more risks.

I have to try more unusual perspectives.

I have to study, experiment, observe.

And after all that effort, if I discover something unusual, surprising and captivating, it stands out!

It gets noticed.

It makes a difference.

And that’s how good photography comes to be.

Good photographers see things others don’t. The discoveries turn into photos.

It makes an impact.

It impresses.

It even inspires.

So I hope this inspires you to try this exercise. The more you practice this, the more you will accelerate your creative development.

It’s a great skill to have. And it’s completely attainable. Even if all you have is a phone camera.