Iris explores how stepping into unfamiliar territory can spark fresh ideas, shift your style, and help you see the world (and your work) in a whole new way.
A change in scenery is widely considered to result in a change of perspective. Whether it’s jetting off to the other side of the world or just spending the weekend in a nearby town, artists may benefit from this change to challenge their creative practices and promote a new outlook on their work.
For one photographer I spoke to, simply deciding to bring their camera on a trip ended up reshaping their whole creative outlook. Max Sullivan is a photographer who does commissioned work alongside building a following on social media. He recently spent months alone in the rural bush of New Zealand.
“I was actually debating whether to take it or not, as I was weighing up whether I wanted a break. But I thought, I’m going to places most people I know have never seen. How could I not bring it?”
At home in the UK, their work had leaned towards urban photography, candid shots of life in busy cities like Bristol, crowded frames full of concrete and people. Venturing into rural New Zealand presented Max with a whole new way of working.
“It kind of forced me to think differently. I was standing in places where there were no crowds, no obvious subjects. So I had to look harder. I had to learn to find the photo, instead of it finding me.”
New places disrupt old patterns. They can push you out of autopilot and ask you to really look again. Suddenly, it’s not about chasing the perfect shot; it’s about discovering what you hadn’t noticed before.
“I definitely noticed my style shifting.
“Back home, I’d been more into portraiture. So I brought a big lens with me, thinking I’d focus on wildlife or people.
“But by the time I made it to the South Island, I was obsessed with landscapes. You’re standing in front of a mountain with huge clouds rolling past. It’s like, how can I not take a photo of this?”
This kind of creative evolution rarely happens when you’re in the same place every day. Familiar environments come with familiar habits: the same streets, the same angles, and the same go-to subjects. But a new setting gives you a chance to hit reset — to experiment without expectation.
Creativity aside, a change in environment can lead to unexpected projects.
Louis Quail is an experienced and renowned UK-based documentary photographer. He discussed the idea of moving abroad for photography on a more practical basis:
“If you’re dedicated and you’re prepared to travel and live out of the bag or live in places. I think there are still opportunities and different ways of going about it. London and Great Britain are oversupplied with photographers. But if you go to someone, become a specialist in a field, and you work in certain parts of Africa or certain Turkey or the Middle East, I think it develops you.”
Of course, changing your environment won’t automatically make you a better photographer. But it will give you space — space to think, to see, and to shoot differently. Familiar environments come with familiar habits: the same streets, the same angles, and the same go-to subjects. But a new setting gives you a chance to hit reset — to experiment without expectation. Max confirmed:
“It developed my eye.
“Even if my technical skills didn’t improve massively, my way of seeing definitely did.”
So if you’re stuck in a creative rut or still trying to figure out what your ‘style’ is, don’t hang around expecting a eureka moment to come to you. Go find it. Whether it’s a new country, a new city, or just a new neighbourhood, stepping outside your usual environment might be the best thing you can do for your photography.
Because doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results has never been a recipe for success.