Out of Control – Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

The easiest thing in the world as a photographer is to repeat yourself. I know this all too well — I tend to fall back on what I’m best at, and in doing so, I stop challenging myself. But here’s the thing: I’ve learned to do something about it.

To avoid falling asleep creatively, I deliberately force myself to change the way I work — sometimes by switching lenses, other times by using a completely different camera setup. I do this intentionally. Suddenly, I have to think differently: how do I solve the task in front of me in the best possible way?

Of course, the results aren’t always great — but that’s actually the point. By making mistakes, we move forward. We grow. We sharpen our skills and open the creative side of ourselves that comfort usually keeps hidden.

On a recent trip to Nepal and India, I spent several days working only in manual mode with a 35 mm manual lens. It was a liberating experience. Every shot demanded full attention — I had to be precise with focus, careful with composition, and constantly aware of the histogram. It was a beautiful exercise in mindfulness and control — or perhaps, in learning to let go of control.

So what’s the moral?
Let’s throw away the comfort zone. Let’s push ourselves into corners we wouldn’t normally reach — because that’s where real growth, creativity, and inspiration live.

by Christian Nørgaard,

Photographer and Founder of Better Moments