If you’ve ever wondered what to take photos of, this is for you.
See, I used to think photography was pointless. I remember saying, “I don’t want a camera. Photos are dumb.”
Then I broke my back in a BMX crash.
I got a new camera - where do I start?
And in that enforced pause, something extraordinary happened: I started to notice things I hadn’t before.
Light glinting off metal rails, the way a shadow crept along the pavement, the quiet rhythm of life happening without me.
I picked up my first real film camera, a Nikon F65 35mm film camera, and everything changed.
At first, I didn’t know what to take photos of. I just pointed the camera at whatever made me pause. Mostly, it was my friends riding bikes, laughing at nothing, living in that pure, unselfconscious joy.
It wasn’t long till I discovered that magazines – those same magazines I rushed to purchase the moment they were released – would accept (& publish) my photographs and stories. Woah, this is incredible, I thought!
That's what to make photos of; Life!
Years later, I recently upgraded my hard drive system, moving decades of photographs into a new digital home.
As I reconfigured old catalogues, dragging files into their new places, something miraculous happened: I was swept back. Really back.
Each photograph was a time machine. I could feel the morning air, the weight of the camera in my hands, the excitement in my chest when I pressed the shutter. I remembered exactly who I was with at the time, and how we were feeling.
Some images made me laugh; others made me ache a little with nostalgia.
The slow, deliberate act of shooting photographs, choosing the frame, considering the light, waiting for the right moment, had preserved more than a scene.
It had preserved the feeling of the scene, the essence of that fleeting slice of life.
And that’s the secret of photography: it’s never just about what you photograph. It’s about the intention behind it.
About slowing down, noticing, and choosing to remember.
Why even take photographs?
The question, really, isn’t just “what to take photos of,” it’s why you take photos at all.
Are you documenting memories, exploring creativity, or building something bigger with your craft?
Here at Loop Art & Photo Space, we help you answer that question.
Through mentorships, one-on-one sessions, and immersive classes, we guide you in discovering your “why.”
Whether it’s the thrill of capturing a friend mid-air on a bike, the serenity of a quiet street at dawn, or the subtle story of a cup of coffee in your kitchen, we help you slow down, see clearly, and make photographs that matter.
Revisiting those old catalogues reminded me that photographs are living things. They change depending on who’s looking at them, how much time has passed, and what you yourself have become.
And in that slow unfolding, the photograph becomes a bridge, not just to the past, but to the present, to the lessons learned, and to the next image you’ll create.
Taking photos of moments
So, the next time you wonder what to take photos of, remember: it’s less about filling a frame and more about filling a memory.
More about noticing the moments that might otherwise slip by, and trusting that your camera can hold them.
And if you ever want a guide along the way, a companion to help you navigate your own creative path, that’s exactly what we do at Loop.
We help you slow down, see deeper, and create photographs that aren’t just seen, they’re felt.
Because when you photograph with intention, every image carries a little bit of magic, and sometimes, it can transport you back to a moment you never want to forget.