Shoot the Ugly

Learn to shoot the ugly

I’ve heard this so many times: “There’s nothing interesting to photograph where I live.” And if I’m being honest, I’ve felt that way myself.

It’s easy to look around your neighborhood, your street, or even your own home and see nothing but the same ordinary scenes day after day. When you compare that to the stunning images you see online, it can feel like you’re at a disadvantage before you even pick up your camera.

But something shifted for me recently when I came across a documentary called The Colorful Mr. Eggleston, about the photographer William Eggleston. Watching it really opened my eyes.

Eggleston was known for photographing what many people would consider mundane—even ugly. At one point, he admitted he felt like there was nothing worth shooting around him. The advice he received was simple: go out and photograph the ugly. And that’s exactly what he did. The result? Images that changed how the world saw color photography and everyday life.

That idea stuck with me.

“Creativity isn’t about finding better things to photograph—it’s about seeing what’s already there.”

Photography has a relatively quick learning curve when it comes to the basics. Once you understand your camera, the real growth comes from practice—and not somewhere far away, but right where you are.

I’ve started challenging myself to shoot in places I once thought were boring. I live in a mobile home park, and while it may not sound inspiring, I always find something when I slow down and really look.

Sometimes creativity shows up in the simplest ways. It might be something as ordinary as a cracked egg on a kitchen counter. Look closer, and you’ll see texture, shape, color—even a sense of story.

You don’t need to travel. You don’t need perfect subjects. You just need to see differently.

Because the best photograph isn’t waiting for you somewhere else. It’s right where you are.

Click here to watch the latest video: Stop Waiting for the Perfect Shot — Shoot the Ugly