One of the tricks I try to employ when I’m out with the camera is trying to find unique ways to show the subjects I photograph in a more non-traditional way. By doing so, sometimes the ordinary can be the extraordinary. While this escalator at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver is certainly a beautiful element of the hotel, I would guess that few riders give more than a passing thought to it when they use it. I was captivated by the lines and tones of it when I visited in 2011, though. I decided to use a wide angle lens to let me get close and a long shutter speed to show the flowing motion of the steps. Both abstracted the escalator to a small degree and gives the viewer a chance to see something ordinary in a new way.
Or take this image of the pianist playing for the Saturday Tea attendees. I have more shots of him from a more traditional vantage point but the pictures are dull and lack visual interest. This photo, taken from the 7th level of the hotel looking down gives a new perspective to something we’ve seen before. (This is one reason that I find drone photography fascinating, though I have yet to try it for myself).
Going through my Lightroom catalog has given me one insight about all of this. I used to take a lot more chances with my photographs. These days, I think I’m far more likely to settle into making traditional images. They may be composed well with good light and my “hit rate” is a lot higher these days than it was back then. Still, I find that when I was experimenting more (and admittedly, failing more, too) I came away with more shots that I think were fun and unique. Something to remember next time I go out with the camera.