Snapshots of Random Objects

I was just discussing with a friend how important it is for photographers to try all different kinds of things all the time. And maybe even to never strive at specializing in one specific genre of photography. Ironically it seems like I’ve become more known for my street photography than anything else. True, I’ve said it and I’ll say it again: If I had to make a choice and limit myself to one specific genre, I would most likely choose street photography. That said, I photograph everything that moves me. Little details catch my eye every minute of the day, whether I carry a camera or not. Learning how to see photographically is a big part of my teaching during the week-long workshops, even if most students come for the street photography component which is definitely the main focus.

The world is too beautiful to limit your vision! Once you learn to see, you can never be bored again, no matter how mundane your surroundings may seem. Sometimes it’s about a color or a texture, other times it’s all about light and shadows.

We are surrounded by beautiful things, even ordinary objects deserve a chance to be photographed in their best light and be rendered extraordinary. Here are a few random things I photographed during my daily outings this past month. None of them have people in them! Do you have a favorite?

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks for reading by photography blog!

©Valérie Jardin

All images shot handheld with the Fuji x100s except for the blue striped umbrella which was part of a series shot with the Sony a6000.

14 thoughts on “Snapshots of Random Objects”

Pinkan on July 28, 2014 at 3:43 am said:

Bonjour Valérie, I just found your blog few months ago (a link from dps). Photography is a hobby to me and I used to take pictures of things or people that catch my eyes (especially in Paris, I live in banlieu parisien) but since I have family most of the time I take pictures of my family and friends. I was so concentrated on my family that I did not notice anything else around. Only recently that I eager to practice more to capture images like I used to. Your blog gives me courage and lessons.I wish I could join your workshop or photowalk in Paris (Ah oui, comme par hassard, je visite Trouville quelques fois dans l’année parce que grandtata habite là). Thank you for the lessons and inspirations!

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Marianne Biondo on July 27, 2014 at 8:47 pm said:

I haven’t commented for a very long time, but I follow your blog very closely. These photos reflect what I love best to capture: the everyday peace and beauty of familiar objects. Merci, Valerie. A favorite? The chessboard…

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Michaela van Riel on July 27, 2014 at 12:25 pm said:

Beautiful pictures! I really love those shots of all sorts of details.

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Ina on July 27, 2014 at 11:46 am said:

Exactly my idea of photographing: beforehand one can never know what one is going to shoot. Suddenly something just attracts your attention, it can be a detail or a beautiful lighting, and you need to take the photo of it. I like all of your pictures my favorites being the one with the green bottle necks and the one with the chess board. I like the depth of the field and the lighting on them.

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Rich Owen on July 27, 2014 at 5:45 am said:

I do enjoy gaining inspiration from other photographers such as yourself. But I do restrict myself these days to a couple of things. One, I have always been a documentary shooter and mostly of people. This translated well when I went fulltime late in life and was a freelance newspaper shooter for a small weekly. The paper ran a lot of color but I have restricted myself to black&white. The film type is what originally sparked my photo passion back in the late 1970’s. So it is what I stick with. I have even converted my Epson R2400 to a black&white printer with Piezography b&w inks since I no longer have a darkroom.

But I do enjoy most of your imagery even the color stuff. And the camera/lens Morten Rasmussen mentioned above I believe is an Olympus OM-10 with the Zuiko 1,4/50mm. My first “serious” SLR was the OM-10 with the Zuiko 1,8/50mm. Loved that camera and lens….

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Morten Rasmussen on July 27, 2014 at 4:41 am said:

A Zuiko 50 1.4, as the one in the picture above, sits on my Sony a6000 and sony a7!

Have you gotten yourself into shooting with legacy glass. If you haven’t: DON’T, it’s addicting as h…!

Love your pictures!

Happy shooting and enjoy summer!

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jmeyersforeman on July 26, 2014 at 11:10 am said:

great blog post! I love the books, if I have to pick one as a fav! I love seeing and photographing the details.

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Jeffrey Scott Leech on July 26, 2014 at 10:06 am said:

I agree 110% Valerie. The world is full of interesting things to photograph all around us. Look, see, look, see etc. etc. etc.

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Ludic on July 26, 2014 at 9:48 am said:

J’aime beaucoup le plateau et les pièces d’échecs. Je photographierai le mien prochainement : les cavaliers seront à l’honneur…

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Steve Brokaw on July 26, 2014 at 9:44 am said:

Valerie, well said. Like yourself I focus on one genre, but like to venture into street photography & everyday snapshots. Keeps the photographer fresh.

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Eugenia Parrish on July 26, 2014 at 9:34 am said:

You take the things our eyes slide over and make them interesting and beautiful.

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terrymjb on July 26, 2014 at 9:26 am said:

My favorites? The old canning jars and the food. You are so right about learning to see. It opens up a whole new world of subject matter, and maybe more importantly, it opens our eyes to the beauty of our every day surroundings and an appreciation for them. It would be fun to follow you around some day to find these treasures.

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Emilio Pasquale on July 26, 2014 at 9:16 am said:

Valerie, I have been following your blog for ages but am not sure if I’ve ever commented. Of course, plenty of likes. In fact, if they had a “love” button I would have clicked on that several thousands of times. (OK, maybe a slight exaggeration!) Your photography is amazing and always a delight for me. But this series has just opened my eyes. I am always complaining that I have run out of things to shoot. How can one’s focus be so narrow? How can anyone say something so stupid? I live about 30 minutes from the Las Vegas strip. And I don’t shoot street photography? And I rarely look at details but try to get everything into my photos! What about little corners of a scene? What about single objects? What about an old discarded mannequin? I was traveling today to a place I know of with green mountains and flowing streams and lots of nature. I am still going, but now I want to see, and shoot, details. I hate flower shots but who knows? Maybe I’ll even try my hand at it. You have really opened my eyes. With one little post. But then maybe this realization has been sneaking up on me for awhile and yours was the little push I needed. Thank you!

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poulthorsen on July 26, 2014 at 8:51 am said:

A lovely series. Thanks for sharing. Good inspiration.

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