Magical "Perfect Image" Land

Yeah, about that. It's a myth.  It's a lie.  It simply doesn't exist.

Some of the best images I've ever taken have been in the unlikeliest of places.  You wouldn't know that to look at them, but that's kind of the point of learning how to see.  I still get a kick out of giving the "back story" of some of my images, and watching the eyes of the listener get big as they realize that no, that image wasn't taken in Magical "Perfect Image" Land where conditions were custom-designed just for this shot.  No, in fact, it was taken right in front of the local grocery store, who had racks of flowers on display.

I know I emphasize this a lot, but it bears repeating.  There is no such place as "Magical 'Perfect Image' Land."  It simply doesn't exist.

Here's another example.  

I discovered this tree as a result of just walking around.  The background was pretty ugly, but I really liked the patterns and textures in this particular tree... so I just cropped in tight and filled the frame with the tree... which was around long before the Civil War, and was probably had a front-row seat to it.

These are some of the most famous columns in the country.  They are columns that grace the front of the United States Supreme Court building in Washington DC.  Everyone else was wandering around, gawking at the protesters (there are ALWAYS protesters there, it seems), but I ventured up the steps to where the columns were... and just started looking around, exploring different angles, looking at the light.

So get the idea out of your head that there is some kind of special place that allows OTHER photographers to get great shot, and by golly, someday YOU'RE gonna find it TOO.  It doesn't exist.  Walk around.  Look around.  Explore.  It's actually all around you.