Many of us have dreamed of changing or inspiring the world with our art. However, that’s easier said than done. It can be incredibly difficult to stand out from the crowd when everyone’s striving for uniqueness. A change in perspective—figuratively and literally—can help.

The ‘Unspectacular Subject Photography’ Facebook group is dedicated to amateur photos that take extremely ordinary subjects and showcase them in a different light. We’ve collected some of their top photos to share with you. Scroll down to check them out! It’s perfect proof that you can photograph even the most mundane, everyday things and make them look magical.

#1

The table at some restaurant. I don’t even remember where, now. Like a little island under a strange sun.

Image credits: Heather Feller

#2

A tiny skyline on a stump

Image credits: Melissa Bradley

#3

Image credits: Debbie Joplin

The Facebook group itself is fairly new as far as online communities go. It was created in late July 2022. In less than two years, the ‘Unspectacular Subject Photography’ project drew in just shy of 92k members.

It continues to grow to this day. Just in the last week, 6k new Facebook users joined.

#4

Tomato on the glass table.

Image credits: Alexandra Holyk

#5

Love this WEBsite! Spider triplex. Lower units have more square footage. Upper unit has a better view.

Image credits: Lanny M Thompson

#6

Puddle and Pollen.

Image credits: Yolanda Brown

The members of this community are incredibly active. At the time of writing, they made a whopping 10k posts in the last month alone. It just goes to show how many creative people are out there! What also helps is that the Facebook group sets a low barrier to entry.

Not all of us live right next to spectacular views of nature that we can photograph. But all of us are surrounded by lots of simple and common items.

#7

Image credits: Moony 冷たい愛

#8

Raindrops caught in a spider’s web.

Image credits: Emily Pierce

#9

Image credits: Stuart Innes

The beauty of the idea behind the group lies in this exact simplicity. You can take a simple leaf, traffic cone, cup of coffee, or spiderweb and turn it into a brilliant photography subject. By changing the perspective and lighting, you can turn something (allegedly) unremarkable and unspectacular into eye-catching art. 

#10

Interesting light distribution from the bathroom door.

Image credits: Angela Miller

#11

Mother Nature patiently breaking down a boot.

Image credits: Susan Mehi

#12

Image credits: Deborah Smith

The fact of the matter is that there are no real shortcuts to being a world-class photographer or artist. At the end of the day, what truly matters is your unique style and way of seeing the world, not your gear.

High-quality photography equipment can certainly help you get the results you want; however, it won’t take captivating photos for you. Your vision and input are what truly matter. The quality of your tools only augments what’s already there.

#13

Maybe too spectacular, but too cool not to post- ghost leaf I found yesterday.

Image credits: Haley Michelle Jimenez

#14

This was a lucky shot! Prism was a refraction off a crystal in the window opposite this wall.

Image credits: Kusala Tibbetts

#15

Sidewalk garden, no help from humans needed.

Image credits: Yolanda Nunn

Crafting and refining your unique photography style will take years of dedicated work. Not to mention that you have to be willing to experiment and open to failing with grace.

You might start out copying the photos of the artists you admire. Eventually, if you want to be known for your art, you’ll have to make the leap and start doing things differently and gently adapt the subject matter to your perspective and ideas.

#16

Image credits: Mal Cole

#17

Image credits: Ben Everatt

#18

A pic of neon lights reflecting off of a puddle I took at Bonnaroo a few years back.

Image credits: Tyler Brooks

Getting your art noticed is a huge deal. Many of us would love to have a respected career that’s purely dedicated to our creative passions and pursuits. However, it requires lots of dedication… as well as consistent effort.

Unless you are extremely lucky, your photos won’t go viral overnight. You need to slowly refine your skills over weeks, months, and years.

#19

Some sort of melon and idiot smashed at the beach

Image credits: Syndee Holt

#20

Abstract in rainy day…

Image credits: Janet Park

#21

Inside the upside down.

Image credits: Damien Keeton

On top of that, you need to find some way to showcase your work so that it fits your image as a photographer. Some folks like posting their work on social media, or they create impressive portfolios on their personal websites. Others might decide to avoid digital life altogether and focus entirely on having their photos displayed in galleries.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. You have to see what combination of approaches works best for you and your work.

#22

Unspectacular sea fan coral found in Cancun. They were all over the beach!

Image credits: Ee Laine Lam

#23

Image credits: Amber Amber

#24

Image credits: Tom McGuire

No matter what kind of artist you are, you’ll eventually have to deal with a lot of frustration. For example, the results you’re getting don’t match your expectations. What really helps here is to have a growth-oriented mindset and to pace yourself in a realistic way.

Progress, very often, isn’t linear. You have to accept that you’ll have bad days or even weeks when you’re unhappy with your work. It’s how we deal with this frustration that reveals our character as artists.

#25

Image credits: Deborah Smith

#26

Just some snow on a tree, making it look like a bad 2D paper cutout

Image credits: Andraz Antonic

#27

Image credits: Eli Iskat

A major pitfall to avoid is perfectionism. With a subject as subjective as photography, there’s no such thing as ‘perfection.’ You cannot expect to be artistically satisfied with every shot you take.

Nor can you expect absolutely everyone to ‘get’ the ideas behind your snaps. It takes a lot of courage to look at a photo you took, label it as ‘good enough,’ and then share it with the world.

The feedback that you get from other people can be incredibly valuable for your personal growth. But it takes humility to accept constructive criticism for what it is.

#28

iPad screen after it collided with a concrete floor.

Image credits: Debra Hoddinott

#29

Image credits: Ewa Kryston

#30

Image credits: B.j. Busutil

Which of the photos that we featured in this list caught your attention the most, dear Pandas? Which ones did you genuinely enjoy and why? What’s your personal relationship with photography like? What subjects do you tend to take pics of the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

#31

Image credits: Beto Lofer

#32

I took a pic inside of something. Guess the fruit.

Image credits: Khalabiza Balabiza

#33

This was while getting my roof fixed, I thought it was a very interesting change of perspective.

Image credits: Fai Indie

#34

These were on the side of my shed. I went back 10 minutes later and they had all dispersed.

Image credits: Ülle Morgan

#35

Food Cart Cuisine a la Puddle.

Image credits: Carol L. Watts

#36

During my walks, I took this picture under a Pylon in Bredhurst Woods, Kent.

Image credits: ᛞᚨᚾᛁᛖᛚ ᚨᛪᛖ-ᛖᚤᛖ

#37

Girl with a bright umbrella (taken with iPhone through the windshield in the rain)

Image credits: Yuri Pyshnoi

#38

Image credits: Jake R. Petersen

#39

Apple at Sunset.

Image credits: Ken Wight

#40

Some like online meetings… some don’t

Image credits: Jake R. Petersen

#41

Image credits: Jan Schellink

#42

Image credits: Angie Harris

#43

Ball bearings in a stainless steel bowl.

Image credits: Rob Wood

#44

 don’t know how many photos I post, since none of them made it to the algorithm. But please enjoy this cool pattern from a close-up shot of a tree trunk. I will post the wider photo in the comment.

From my 5-6 am morning photo walk.

Image credits: Rakka Gustyan Pratama

#45

Image credits: Barbara Reiter

#46

I don’t know what happened… I was just taking a photo of the garden through the window.

Image credits: Chris Famer

#47

Fixer upper.

Image credits: Thomas Fouts

#48

It’s a blizzard here today. Snow drift art. By, Old Man Winter.

Image credits: Mary Margaret

#49

Chlorophylligree.

Image credits: Rand Om Rich

#50

Image credits: Corina Angela

#51

Just a phone snap of a Raven from Hawk Hill above Golden Gate Bridge.

Image credits: Donald Kinney

#52

Image credits: Debbie Joplin

#53

Image credits: John Pullen

#54

Mother and child.

Image credits: Pierre Vanmeerhaeghe

#55

Nails in a utility pole.

Image credits: Linda Geer

#56

Image credits: Angie Steve Walker

#57

Under the hydrangeas’ skirt.

Image credits: Susan Howard Hill

#58

Sweet potato in Target bathroom stall. Seattle, Washington. December 2023.

Image credits: Clara Valdes

#59

Image credits: Sebastian Syrinx

#60

Image credits: Belinda Young

#61

Image credits: John Springer

#62

Spotted on my morning walk. I have so many questions…

Image credits: Susan Mehi

#63

Image credits: Francesco Marzetti

#64

Blowing the snow off my deck and all these cute little frozen paw prints remain.

Image credits: Sheamen Sky Nielsen

#65

Unspectacular coloured bubbles.

Image credits: Melissa Blackstock

#66

Image credits: Joe Taylor

#67

One of the kids left their Barbie in the back yard when we lived in Kansas. I woke up the next day to this sight after it had snowed all night.

Image credits: Cindy Mims

#68

The ice on my deck kinda looks like some sort of floral print

Image credits: Lauryn Ogden

#69

Image credits: Carol L. Watts

#70

Image credits: Jennie Kyles

#71

Clear umbrella is an underrated tool.

Image credits: Dee Campbell

#72

Pretty boring moss caterpillar.

Image credits: Hayley Whalvin

#73

Image credits: Eleanor Monroe

#74

Image credits: Anne Covington Bryant

#75

The reflection of a Ferris wheel in a mud puddle.

Image credits: Niki Andreach

#76

Image credits: Jeremy Fennell

#77

Back of an old dump truck. I think.

Image credits: Jeanette Foreman

#78

Image credits: Aldo Haan

#79

Image credits: Brian Flynn

#80

Mannequins on a rooftop in Mexico City.

Image credits: Andrea Graw Weinbaum

#81

Asclepias syriaca???
I was very surprised then, why didn’t anyone like it? and I was immediately attracted! Most likely, people who saw this every day were not so keen on the search for beauty. They had it just like that, without searching… and at that time I was looking for something beautiful… I searched and found it. And my soul became calmer then…

Image credits: Світлана Соломахіна

#82

Image credits: Debbie Joplin

#83

My unspectacular photo for this morning. No editing.

Image credits: Kevin Ness

#84

Image credits: Stephanie Striffler

#85

Some weeds at my Moms house. I liked the way the light hit them.

Image credits: Jeanette Wilson

#86

Image credits: Debbie Joplin

#87

Image credits: Debbie Joplin

#88

Image credits: Debbie Joplin

#89

Image credits: Joe Dempsey

#90

Image credits: Marion Callaghan

#91

Image credits: Berkana Branwen

#92

Image credits: רם עמיר

#93

Runes in the reeds…

Image credits: Matt Skidgel

#94

Image credits: Becky Huyser Humes

#95

Cracked windshield.

Image credits: Debbie Winters-Collins

#96

Image credits: Christopher Kane

#97

Air deposition waves from a vent.

Image credits: Lotte Har

#98

Image credits: John Pullen

#99

Old crops, that cast their reflections in a flooded field at sunset.

Image credits: Amber Braxton

#100

Hit and run at the grocery store …. For those from the South, that is salt on the floor.

Image credits: Mark Fisher

#101

Image credits: Thøm Null

#102

Image credits: West Bones

#103

Image credits: Anil John Nayar

#104

Image credits: Susan Niles Redwine

#105

Image credits: Natalia Charogianni

#106

Image credits: Beaney Berlinsky

#107

Set my phone down on a ringbound journal and accidentally took a pic. Liked the abstractness and colors.

Image credits: Priscilla Shales-Landry

#108

Image credits: Jesse Haug

#109

Image credits: Carol L. Watts

#110

I dare you. I challenge you to a Man In The Moon Selfie through a toilet tissue tube.
I’ll go first. Believe me you’ll get in some funny positions trying to find the right lighting effects.

Image credits: Sara Bryant

#111

Image credits: Rittik Paul

#112

Image credits: Lee Stokes

#113

Image credits: Rico La

#114

Image credits: Chris Famer

#115

Image credits: Linda Hodges Sthreshley

#116

Image credits: Mark Greenberg