How do you find your subjects or locations?

msing · Apr 2, 2013

Greetings, everyone. I am new to photography, and I've been visiting this site for months now as it contains a wealth of information.
I'm into portraits and "vintage" photography, and I would like to ask for everyone's feedback/inputs on how they find subjects.

Sometimes friends or families just don't cut it, and you need someone that fits that person in the image that you have in mind. Or it may not even be a person...say you need a location, like an old house. How do you search for these subjects? Do you use social networks or forums such as this? Other methods you can share to a beginner like me? Thanks!

binga63 · Apr 2, 2013

you get off your butt and walk/drive .. look.. explore
don't expect to be spoon fed
the camera is a device to record people, places, events by being there not through others doing it for you
you are located in california, that state encompasses the whole gamit of places/scenes and people
mountain, beach, vintage, decay, urban, and you need to LOOK with your eyes

stevensondrive · Apr 2, 2013

It's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time WITH your camera. Sometimes it's dumb luck but often it takes planning and work. A beautiful ocean sunrise or a beautiful mountain sunset require you to plan ahead. But the rewards are an absolutely gorgeous photo. California is a beautiful state. You have lots of options.

2WheelPhoto · Apr 2, 2013

Ask models if you can shoot TFP

Mully · Apr 2, 2013

Look for historic places where you live ...that will keep you busy for awhile. CA is loaded with great places!

bentcountershaft · Apr 2, 2013

I use google maps a lot to narrow down my ideas or maybe to find a few highlights of a certain area.

o hey tyler · Apr 2, 2013

I get really drunk and have people drop me off in suspicious places. People generally come to me.

Ilovemycam · Apr 2, 2013

I like street mainly. I try to carry a cam a lot of the time and shoot what I like. You can research on the net whatever interests you as well. Make a calendar of things to shoot ech month. For me Oct is zoo month.

If your 'out there' as Jay Maisel says, 'things will happen for you.' That was what happned this day. I was fooling around with an ancient RD1 6mp rangefinder. Drove past a dump site. It looked good to shoot, so I parked my car. I walked over to the dump and saw an old tub with crud in it. A lady was walking around the dump with her kid and I asked her to sit in the tub and took some pix. It just happens. She is in now in a limited edtion book I'm doing.

"Of course it is all luck" Bresson

EDIT...I asked this gal if we could go to her place to shoot her inside. But she declined. So...you don't always get everything you want. Back 40 years ago people were not so paranoid about letting me in.

480sparky · Apr 2, 2013

Just keep your eyes open and pay attention.

KmH · Apr 2, 2013

+1 ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑

I kept a notebook in my car. As I was out and about I note potential locations, and would stop and look a location over closer if time allowed.

I always considered how light at the location would change throughout the year and during a day, and organized my 'location database' based mainly on the lighting and motif of the locations.
Location scouting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

12sndsgood · Apr 2, 2013

I got the impression the OP is looking for ways to find people to photograph and not places. Try places like social media. join sites like Model Mayhem where models are looking to have photos done all the time. ask friends of friends.

bentcountershaft · Apr 2, 2013

12sndsgood said:
I got the impression the OP is looking for ways to find people to photograph and not places. Try places like social media. join sites like Model Mayhem where models are looking to have photos done all the time. ask friends of friends.

Oh, that's easy for me. I just go to the basement where I keep them locked up.

KmH · Apr 2, 2013

How do you find your subjects or locations?

imagemaker46 · Apr 2, 2013

I went out for a walk last week downtown, spent an hour looking down back alleys. In the older parts of town there are amazing places off the main roads, the light finds a way into these alleys in great ways, reflections off windows and painted buildings, a lot of it is soft light. If the point comes and I need a different look to a background, I know where to find them, and chances are they have never been used before. Photography is about using your eyes even if you aren't holding a camera.