Skip to main content

A man is reflected in a window as he walks in downtown Toronto.Fernando Morales/The Globe and Mail

The fact that we are so familiar with the places we live makes it harder to find inspiring subjects to photograph. Our cities are part of our own visual memory, but finding exciting and interesting new ways to shoot them is not an easy task.

A good starting point is to think about light – how it reflects off the world around us and how it interacts with the objects you want to photograph. Selecting the best time to shoot your pictures should be your first thought.

For this assignment, I went out early in the morning to shoot around downtown Toronto. The early morning light is softer. Low-angle light bounces off glass buildings and delivers lots of detail in highlights and deep blacks in the shadows.

After finding your light and an interesting scene, it's time to work on the composition. Look at the lines in the scene and take note of how your eye follows them though the image. Find a balance where your image won't be too busy, but will catch the curiosity of the viewer.

Finally when you have the exposure and composition set, just wait for the right moment – when someone walks through the frame or a bird takes flight – and it will all come together.

Interact with The Globe