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Sometimes the best place to create a photo series isn’t far away—it’s right outside your door.

Photographing your own neighborhood can be a grounding way to build a personal body of work. Light, color, and texture—often overlooked—begin to reveal themselves when you slow down and truly look.

Here are a few ideas to guide you:

1. Work with available light
Pay attention to how light shifts throughout the day in your area. Early morning and late afternoon often bring a softness that adds mood to even the most ordinary corners.

2. Look for quiet moments
You don’t need dramatic scenes. A closed gate, an empty bench, or a shadow on the sidewalk can become a striking image if you pause long enough.

3. Embrace repetition
Try walking the same route multiple times and photographing what changes—or what doesn’t. Weather, time of day, or small seasonal shifts will keep things interesting.

4. Limit your gear
Using one camera and one lens can help you stay present and simplify your decisions. Let the constraints guide the feel of the series. My gear of choice for the below photos was the Nikon Zfc + 16-50mm Lens.

5. Shoot for tone, not content
Focus on how the scene feels rather than what it is. Pay attention to mood and color palette.

Below, I include some of images I captured over the weekend. My approach is minimal and quiet—allowing the environment to speak without interference.

As always, best of luck!

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All images distributed by Leticia Valdez Fotografia are professionally copyrighted works. These images cannot be used or altered for any purpose without permission. Copyright © 2024 Leticia Valdez Fotografia LLC.

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