Willing to Go: Capturing the Photos No One Else Can Get

 The one piece of advice I give my students who are tired of taking the same photos as everyone else.

Eye-level with a strike: The split-second before this cottonmouth struck my lens because I was willing to do exactly what everyone else wasn't. | Photo: TJ Waller

Beyond the Camera: The Secret Isn't in Your Bag

Every time I’m out in the field with a group of students, one question always eventually comes up. They look at the back of my screen, then look at their own, and ask: "How do I make my photos look 'different' than everyone else's?" They’re usually looking for a technical secret—a specific aperture setting, a magic focal length, or a trick in post editing. But the truth has nothing to do with the gear in your bag or what editing software you use and everything to do with your will—your adventurous side.

The Willing to Go

When they ask me how to break away from the pack and stop taking the same "standard" shots as the person standing next to them, I give them my now semi-infamous answer every single time:

"To be willing to go where no one else wants to go, and willing to do what no one else wants to do, will produce the photos no one else can get."

I’m not just talking about hiking an extra mile or waking up at 3:00 AM. Sometimes, it means getting eye-level with the things most people are running away from.

Putting "The Will" Into Practice

Take the shot above, for example. Most photographers would have been happy with a safe distance and a long lens. But I wanted the perspective that only comes from being right in the middle of the tension. So, I got down on the gravel to capture the perspective most people only see in nightmares or horror movies.

When people see a water moccasin, their knee-jerk reaction is usually to head the other direction. To get this shot, I did the opposite. This isn't just a photo of a snake; it’s a photo of the exact second it decided to strike my lens. My entire focus was on that white-lined mouth and the split-second of action. This is what it means to be willing to do what others won't.

Going to the Extremes

The split-second a grenade leaves the tube. I didn't get this shot by staying in the truck; I got it by being in the trench when the "safe" choice was to be anywhere else. | Photo: TJ Waller

A good photojournalist understands this concept at their core. They constantly go where most folks avoid. When I went to Ukraine to photograph the war, some of my friends thought it was admirable, others said, “That’s so you,” but most people just thought I was crazy.

Developing the "Willing" Mindset

But how can I call myself an “elite action photographer” if I’m not willing to put my money where my mouth is and do exactly what I teach my students?

Yes, war is an extreme example, and I know most photographers are unable to do that due to “life’s obligations” here at home. But it’s the mindset I’m talking about. Whether you are in a conflict zone or your nearest National Park, if you have that “I am willing to do things differently” attitude, your shots will reach a level others will gawk at.

The Real Takeaway

The lesson here isn’t that you have to fly to a conflict zone or lie in the dirt with a venomous snake to be a "real" photographer. The lesson is about your threshold for discomfort. Most people stop when they get a "good enough" shot from a comfortable standing position. An elite photographer only stops when they’ve pushed as far as the situation—and their will—allows.

The "willing to do" in action. I let this bobcat get inside 10 feet of me to capture this level of sharp, detailed facial intensity. Most photographers would have remained at a safe distance & reached for a longer lens; I chose the ground-level stare-down. |
Photo: TJ Waller

If you want your work to look different, you have to act different. Whether it’s getting a little muddier, staying an hour longer after the sun goes down, or choosing the difficult, gritty angle over the easy one, that is where the unique frames live. Stop looking for technical secrets and start looking for the spots everyone else is running away from.

Stop Taking "Safe" Photos.

Are you tired of coming home with the same images as everyone else in your photography group? It’s time to stop looking for magic settings and start developing the "will" to capture the extraordinary.

Whether you want to master action photography or just learn how to find those "unwilling" angles in your own backyard, I’m here to show you how. Visit TJ Waller Photography to book a private lesson or join my next field workshop.

Let’s go find the shots no one else can get!

About the Author

TJ Waller - With over 50 years behind the lens, TJ is recognized as one of the elite action photographers in Florida and the nation, specializing in capturing the intensity of professional sports, rocket launches, and frontline environmental reporting.

He also operates specialized workshops for photographers looking to master the art of action photography. Visit TJ at his website at TJWallerPhotography.com.

If you are in need of a highly skilled and experienced freelance action photographer who can capture the essence of any fast-paced event, TJ is confident that his expertise and dedication will make him a valuable asset to your team.