Everyone picked something up during 2020

From Couch to Curtain Call: How 2020 Turned Us All Into Photographers

When the world hit pause in 2020, millions of us discovered we had something we'd forgotten existed: time. With nowhere to go and endless hours to fill, people picked up cameras — some for the first time, others dusting off equipment that had been gathering dust for years. What started as a way to document our suddenly smaller worlds became an unexpected creative renaissance.

The great outdoors became our studio

It began with landscapes. Suddenly, local hiking trails that we'd driven past for years became destinations. Golden hour wasn't just Instagram terminology anymore — it was a daily appointment. People learned about the rule of thirds while capturing sunsets from their own backyards. Mountain peaks, ocean horizons, and city skylines became the subjects of thousands of new photographers discovering that the world had always been this beautiful — we just hadn't been paying attention.

Then came the wildlife

As we ventured deeper into photography, our subjects got more challenging. Bird photography became the unexpected hobby of choice for many new enthusiasts. Armed with telephoto lenses and newfound patience, photographers learned to sit quietly for hours, waiting for the perfect shot of a cardinal or the graceful flight of a heron. The technical skills required — understanding shutter speed for motion, depth of field for isolation, and the art of tracking moving subjects — pushed amateur photographers to grow rapidly.

Finding beauty in unexpected places

But not everyone had access to pristine landscapes or exotic birds. Some of the most compelling photography emerged from the most unlikely subjects: stray cats in urban environments, alley scenes, abandoned lots, and forgotten corners of cities. These photographers discovered that compelling images weren't about having the perfect location — they were about seeing differently. A cat lounging in dappled sunlight between parked cars could be just as striking as any wildlife preserve.

The return to live performance

As venues slowly reopened, many photographers found themselves drawn to a new challenge: capturing live theatre. After months of static subjects, the energy of live performance was magnetic. Theatre photography demanded everything they'd learned — the patience from bird photography, the composition skills from landscapes, and the ability to find beauty in challenging lighting conditions. Working with moving subjects under stage lights, often without flash, pushed photographers to master their craft in ways that no other genre could.

More than just a hobby

What started as a pandemic pastime became something deeper for many. Photography taught people to slow down, to notice details, and to find extraordinary moments in ordinary days. Whether they continued with theatre work, returned to nature photography, or simply documented their daily lives with more intention, the skills and perspective gained during those months of exploration lasted long after the world reopened.

The cameras may have come out of boredom, but they stayed out of passion. In learning to capture the world around them, photographers discovered they were also capturing something within themselves — a new way of seeing that no amount of time indoors could take away.