I am a member of a camera club and often get involved in discussion about photography. Amongst the great photographers and enthusiasts I occasional hear muted cries from fellow members bemoaning these lack of photo-taking opportunities.

The comments are usually in response to seeing some great pictures taken by a fellow member.

"If only I lived in a place like yours" is the regular cry. Or perhaps "I wish I lived near to some beautiful countryside like you". There are alternatives centring on not having willing models, lack of good weather or perhaps inspirational difficulties.

The truth is far simpler. Great images are rarely born from a lucky break, although they can be. Living near to a good photo opportunity helps but doesn't guarantee success

Inspiration is the key.

Nobody said that people have to take photographs of things close to them. There are ways and means of travelling further afield. But for those that wish to say at, or near to, home, follow some simple advice:

- open your eyes and look around: don’t be lazy - have a look around at the subjects around you; there is always an image to be had, you might just need to work to get it

- same subject, different angle: take a familiar subject and get a different perspective - change your viewpoints, get higher or lower, get close or further away, even change the background, setting or props to make your usual subject a bit more "unusual"

- Same angle, different delivery: give that subject a makeover! - how about changing the lighting (flash, coloured gels, candlelight, natural light) or perhaps changing the effect (filters to change the colour or appearance)? Think about what would complement your subject - use soft focus, for example, to create a romantic aura or a star filter to brighten highlights.

Don't be constrained but what you see around you. Look deeper to find an alternative image.

It takes a bit of work but it's worth it

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com.

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