Question: Were your favorite photos planned, or were they captured during an unexpected moment? You probably answered “yes” to both, but if you don’t always have your camera, you may miss out on those once-in-a-lifetime shots.
A good rule of thumb is to keep your camera with you at all times, but I must admit that I don’t always follow it. However, I just happened to have my gear with me during my morning commute. It was a clear day, no fog in sight, and I noticed that the clouds were dappled with orange light. It was one of those rare mornings when the air was so crisp and the sky was so colorful that I wished I had the day off to take photos instead.
During the drive, I wondered where the sun would be by the time we reached the wide-open view of the San Francisco bay, and I hoped that traffic would be light enough to make it in time. I quickly pulled out my camera (luckily, I wasn’t driving that day), put on a longer lens and kept my eyes to the sky. When we reached Candlestick Point, I was absolutely delighted with the sight before me. The rays were golden, the clouds were breaking—but clustered together with shades of light—and the bay shimmered. I snapped away, considering myself very fortunate that I had my camera with me.
While you can travel great distances in hopes of capturing award-winning photos, sometimes the best photo opportunities are found right outside your own door (or in my case, outside the passenger window). Often we miss out on these shots because it’s a routine view, so we don’t think to bring our camera or be on the lookout for great shots.
I once received a photo submission from a photographer who lived in China, and I was very interested to see how he photographed his own country. As I opened the package, I was hoping to see images of natural local treasures. However, to my disappointment, he didn’t include any images of China; instead, he submitted common views of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park from a recent trip to the United States. This actually happens more often than you might imagine.
Why not take more photos closer to home? After all, you know your hometown much better than a tourist ever would, and I don’t mean just for the secret photo spots either. As a native, you’re more familiar with the color of leaves and blossoms at certain times of the year; you know when and where the light will hit a certain subject; you’re familiar with the weather and where the sun and moon will rise and set. Use this to your advantage!
Also, when great opportunities present themselves, make the most of your knowledge as a native. For example, when the Queen Mary II was scheduled to sail underneath the Golden Gate Bridge earlier this year, I went to a lesser-known spot to avoid the huge crowds. From previous experiences, I was able to anticipate what angle the sun would be at, so I positioned myself to capture the ship and the bridge bathed in light. 
When I travel, I admit that I take more photos than when I’m in San Francisco, but that’s just because I usually have more time when I’m on vacation! When I visit my native hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, I have a greater appreciation for the plethora of waterfalls and how different the light looks from California’s—I’ve never taken so many photos of Tennessee now that I’ve moved away, but I didn’t take nearly as many when I lived there. Go figure!
It may seem like common sense to tell a photographer, “Don’t forget your camera,” but believe me, it’s worth repeating: You can’t frame a memory. So whether you’re on the road or at home, keep your eyes and ears out for unique local events, and don’t forget to grab your camera as you’re running out the door. Challenge yourself to capture a local photo opportunity—who knows, you may just get the best shot of your life!
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