Photography

200 Things to Photograph When You’re in a Creative Rut

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At some point in our photography journey, we will pick up our cameras and feel stuck, uninspired and will struggle to find things to photograph.

This happens to me often, as photography is my career as well as my hobby and I find that getting paid for photography sometimes takes some of the creativity out of it.

Creative ruts are frustrating, but they’re also a natural part of any artistic journey.

When life sometimes feels monotonous, I’ve found that the key to breaking out of my rut is to simply pick up the damn camera and start exploring, even if it’s just in my house or the garden.

My advice for you if you’re in one of these ruts and can’t think of things to photograph, is to just photograph EVERYTHING.

And I mean, everything.

200 Things to Photograph When You're in a Creative Rut

You’ll develop some real artistry skills being able to create a great photo of any random crap you find round the house, I promise!

Not only will you develop some serious storytelling skills with your photography but finding things to photograph in a creative rut will help you appreciate the small things.

What things can I photograph when I’m feeling uninspired? When you’re feeling uninspired, try photographing everyday objects and scenes. Look for details like textures, shadows, and reflections. Capture things like rain droplets on glass, the way light filters through the blinds, or unique patterns in nature. Exploring these small moments can reignite your creativity and help you see beauty in the mundane.

To help you out, here’s a list of 200 things to photograph when you’re in a creative rut.

200 Things to Photograph When You're in a Creative Rut

Nature and the Outdoors

  1. Dewdrops on grass
  2. A single flower
  3. Tree bark textures
  4. Fallen leaves
  5. Shadows cast by branches
  6. Morning frost
  7. Squirrels
  8. Mushrooms
  9. Pebbles on a path
  10. Clouds (check out this guide to taking pictures of cloudy days)
  11. Reflections in puddles
  12. A bird perched on a branch
  13. Rain droplets on petals
  14. Fog rolling over fields
  15. Spiderwebs
  16. Contrasts between old and new growth
  17. Grass swaying in the wind (use a slightly slow shutter speed to show the movement)
  18. Ripples in a stream
  19. Sunlight filtering through trees
  20. The veins of a leaf
Dewdrops on grass closeup - 200 Things to Photograph When You're in a Creative Rut

At Home

  1. Steam rising from a cup of tea
  2. Shadows from window blinds
  3. The texture of a knitted blanket
  4. Books on a shelf
  5. Patterns in wallpaper
  6. A family pet
  7. The bubbles in a washing-up bowl
  8. The way light hits a vase
  9. A favourite pair of shoes
  10. Cooking ingredients on a counter
  11. A handwritten letter
  12. The arrangement of your keys
  13. Reflections in mirrors
  14. Candles burning
  15. The details of your favourite furniture
  16. Your workspace
  17. Shadows in a book
  18. The view from your window
  19. Patterns in your favourite mug
  20. A close-up of your plants
Shadows from window blinds

People and Portraits

  1. A loved one laughing
  2. Hands at work (knitting, cooking, writing)
  3. A faceless photo
  4. A child playing
  5. POV of your shoes in a pile of leaves
  6. Candid moments during a conversation
  7. A friend’s reflection in a shop window
  8. Silhouettes at sunset
  9. Eyes in extreme close-up
  10. Wind tousling someone’s hair
  11. Someone reading a book
  12. A portrait lit only by candlelight
  13. Happy (and frustrated) expressions during a board game
  14. A person’s shadow on a wall
  15. Profile views in soft lighting
  16. The wrinkles of an elderly relative
  17. Layers of clothing on a cold day
  18. A child’s tiny hands
  19. Family members’ unique habits
  20. A quiet moment of thought
200 Things to Photograph When You're in a Creative Rut

Urban/City

  1. Reflections in shop windows
  2. Wet cobblestones
  3. Street art and graffiti
  4. A busy market
  5. Doorways with character
  6. Vintage signs
  7. The view through a bus window
  8. People crossing a bridge
  9. Lights reflecting off wet pavements
  10. Contrasts between old and new architecture
  11. A lone bench in a park
  12. Cathedral
  13. Details of an iron fence
  14. Birds perched on rooftops
  15. Laundry drying on a line
  16. Patterns in brick walls
  17. Alleyways lit by lamplight
  18. Bicycles
  19. Clouds mirrored in skyscraper glass
  20. The stillness of an early morning street
200 Things to Photograph When You're in a Creative Rut

Food and Drink

  1. A perfectly plated meal
  2. Spices
  3. The fizz in a glass of sparkling water / fizzy drinks
  4. Freshly baked bread
  5. A fork resting on a plate
  6. Butter melting on toast
  7. Ice cubes in a drink
  8. The swirl of cream in coffee
  9. A colourful salad
  10. Steam from a saucepan
  11. The texture of a chocolate bar
  12. A slice of cake
  13. Condensation on a cold glass
  14. Layers in a trifle
  15. A spoon dipped in honey
  16. A baking tray fresh out of the oven
  17. A crumbly biscuit
  18. A line-up of wine glasses
  19. The colour of fruit peels
  20. The mess left behind after cooking
Slices of iced cake with edible flowers

Seasonal Themes

Spring

  1. Cherry blossoms
  2. Bees
  3. Butterflies on flowers
macro of a bee in lavender

Summer

  1. Waves crashing on the shore
  2. Colourful beach huts
  3. Ice cream
New Forest Photography - Hatchet Pond

Autumn

  1. Pumpkins
  2. Halloween outfit
  3. Piles of conkers
Mushroomhead pumpkin

Try the 30 Day Autumn Photo Challenge for more Autumn ideas.

Winter

  1. Close up of ice
  2. Bare branches silhouetted
  3. Christmas decorations
Macro photograph of ice and frost on leaves

Abstract and Experimental

  1. Shadows and light
  2. Water droplets on glass
  3. Motion blur from moving vehicles
  4. Reflections in sunglasses
  5. Light trails at night
  6. Cracks in pavement
  7. The swirl of paint in water
  8. Smoke from a candle
  9. Bokeh from fairy lights
  10. Colourful oil spills on water
  11. Rust patterns on metal
  12. Close-ups of fabric textures
  13. Soap bubbles on hands
  14. Layers of peeling paint
  15. Water splashing in a sink
  16. Frost on a car window
  17. Rainbow light from a prism.
  18. Ink bleeding on wet paper
Leaf in harsh shadows and light

Traveling and Exploring

  1. The view from a train window
  2. A lone tree on a hillside
  3. Boats in a harbour
  4. Signs in different languages
  5. Market stalls
  6. Street performers mid-act
  7. Shoes lined up outside temples
  8. Unusual landmarks
  9. The inside of an airplane wing mid-flight
  10. Footprints in sand or mud
  11. A train station at golden hour
  12. Locals going about their day
  13. Unique doors and windows
  14. The chaos of an airport terminal
  15. Sunset over distant hills
  16. A reflection in a car’s wing mirror
  17. Local food and produce
  18. Rolling waves in slow motion
  19. Old architecture
  20. Luggage stacked for travel
Spanish apartment photography

Miscellaneous Ideas

  1. Your favourite outfit
  2. A self portrait
  3. Modern technology (keep as a record for when it becomes retro)
  4. Local wildlife
  5. First light skies, before sunrise
  6. Something funny
  7. Your favourite hobby
  8. The pile of books you’re reading
  9. Shoes lined up by the door
  10. Random knick-knacks on shelves
  11. A cool staircase
  12. Rain bouncing off garden furniture
  13. Textures around your house
  14. Your child’s favourite toy
  15. A spinning record
  16. The cover of your favourite journal or book
  17. A campfire
  18. Dried flowers
  19. Your favourite colour
  20. A chalkboard menu
  21. Something cute
  22. Inspired by song lyrics
  23. A day trip
  24. Blank spaces
  25. Star trails
  26. Leading lines in nature
  27. A funny street name
  28. Black and white
  29. A day in the life
  30. Freeze action with a fast shutter speed
  31. Flowers from different seasons
  32. Fungi & Slime mould
  33. Close ups of bugs
  34. A place that brings you peace
  35. The milky way
  36. A local event
  37. A family tradition
  38. A mountain peak
  39. Tree in the fog
  40. String lights at night
  41. The beach at blue hour
  42. Flat-lay of your self care essentials
  43. Sharks at the aquarium
  44. Something sparkly
  45. An heirloom
  46. Pictures of confetti
  47. A before and after
  48. Using artificial light
  49. Freelensing
  50. Everything in focus
Pen Y Fan photography

200 Things to Photograph When You’re In A Creative Rut

Over the years, I’ve learned that inspiration often hides in plain sight.

By stepping out of your comfort zone and looking at the ordinary with fresh eyes, you’ll find that creative sparks are everywhere.

Use this list as a guide to challenge yourself, experiment with new perspectives, and rediscover your passion for photography.

You’ll likely find that once you start using some of the ideas from the list, that getting out of a creative rut will just come naturally.

If you need something more structured, why not try the 52 week photo challenge?

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