Sometimes it’s better to be a tourist where you are…

Jon Eland shares with us his passion for taking photos of the city he lives in – and of being a home tourist.

It’s five years since I first got involved in the Leeds group on Flickr.com; and throughout the time two things have held firm – a desire to develop my own photography by sharing with others and an absolute certainty that there is an almost unlimited number of opportunities for amazing photography in and around the city I call home.

When I started we talked of regular meetings where we would meet for coffee and then wander the city photographing what we happened upon; and of a ‘theme of the week’ – with photos to be taken within the borough limits.

I’ve since moved on – others took my place running both of these things, but I haven’t stopped taking images of the city – nor of persuading others to do the same. Just today I took part in one of the concluding events of the I Love West Leeds festival, where Simon and Claire Cliff invited all who wanted to look around their home town of Pudsey and record that they found interesting.

Around 2 years ago, I received an email ahead of an event I was organising. A researcher at the university, who wanted to come to the event and talk a little about his research material. Desmond Wee wanted to discuss the concept of being a tourist in your home city. He was a proper academic, writing about something I did most weekends. Sadly I couldn’t attend his presentation but I kept abreast of what he did – and spoke to others about the concept. Then, around a year later, I started to spot discussions here on the Culture Vulture about ‘home tourism‘ and spotted friends on Twitter, starting to to use the hash tag #hometourist.

Putting into words and thinking about why I do something isn’t natural for me; I’m more a ‘go do it’ type. But, the more I think about how great it is to stop and stand back and look again at the place you call home. How it is amazing to stop considering local as mundane and head out and visit places you’ve been putting off or those secret gems you’ve not seen for a while. As an example, I organised a recent photowalk around Otley, the town I work in. I walk here at least once a week. Not only did I find a side of the town I wasn’t really aware existed – but I also managed to happen upon an amazing place that would normally have been locked and sealed – but which was amazing once inside.

It’s the summer – and we’ll find ourselves wishing for a break from the mundane – we may even be recently back from a holiday and in post-vacation lethargy or, not able to take a break away from home. Indeed, you might be a fan of the staycation (honestly… really?) but – you are here – so why not find ways to look at these places with fresh eyes, spot the bits you often amble by and, if you find photography of interest, why not share them with us!

Yeah, this is a rallying call – go out and take photos of the local and the nearby and, if you want to – tell the world about it. Over on Exposure Leeds we’re aiming to do that – with a series of events and initiatives from now until September 4th that you’re all invited to take part in!