If you spend enough time on the internet, you might begin to get the impression that you have to be at epic locations to get portfolio-worthy images. But travel is expensive and time-consuming, and all those locations have been shot to the point of nearly being cliché. Instead of dropping a bunch of money to travel to a faraway location, give the "boring" hometown photography challenge a try instead.
Coming to you from Wahid Fayumzadah, this great video shows him challenging himself to get worthwhile shots around his relatively normal hometown. Personally, I think this is a great exercise. Having grown up in rural Ohio, it was a rare occasion that my eyes were presented with a tailor-made shot. More often than not, it took a bit of creative perspective and searching to find interesting locations and images. And while it took me more effort to find worthwhile photos than if I had grown up somewhere a bit more visually stimulating, I'm actually thankful that I didn't, because it forced me to develop my eye and the ability to find shots no matter where I am, a skill that has become quite useful later in life, particularly when I don't have a choice where I'm shooting. Check out the video above for the full rundown and give the challenge a try yourself this weekend.