Wow, what unprecedented times we are currently facing. I hope that everyone reading this is healthy and safe. Are you washing your hands 100 times a day, practicing social distancing, and self-quarantine? We live in Germany and are now on day 7 of these practices, and I, for one, am going absolutely crazy. Now, don’t get me wrong… I am incredibly grateful for my health, the health of my family, and the fact that governments are being so diligent, but I am an extrovert!!! An extreme extrovert and this is hard, really hard.

Like everyone else, I have cancelled bookings and in-person classes for the next few months. I am staying motivated to do what I tell my students to do and “pick up my camera and take photos for 15 minutes a day.” Picking up my camera every day is imperative to my creativity and to remaining intuitive.  

I am in love with my camera.  I have a Canon 6D Mark II, and it’s incredibly easy to use. 

All that being said, what do I photograph during quarantine? 

Well, I have an older teenager and a young adult, both of who are often moody and really dislike having their pictures taken without a lot of notice, proper lighting, and the perfect backdrop.  

However, I have an amazingly willing dog.  

You’d be surprised at the catchlights you can get in an animal. They make a great subject to photograph during quarantine since they are always home with you! If you have a cat or dog at home, practice placing them in the light streaming through your windows or catch them as they are sunning themselves, don’t forget to use one of the rules of composition…perhaps the rule of thirds, the rule that states your eye naturally falls to the outer third of an image and is the most pleasing to the eye.

Another thing I enjoy doing is challenging myself to make ordinary objects look a little less boring.  Again, using the composition rules to help me do so.  

And knock on wood, so far, we are still allowed to take walks and be outside.  I have definitely been taking advantage of the quietness of the streets to capture shots that are usually too busy to catch. I’ve been taking walks on the river and using “golden hour” to capture some fantastic photographs during quarantine. 

So, while it’s not easy to be away from my students and clients, my online classes are helping, and I have found that this week of quiet has allowed me to challenge my creativity and create some beautiful images. What people, places, or things are you finding make good subjects to photograph during quarantine?

I hope that you stay healthy, enjoy your family, and pick up that camera!

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