4 Things That Every Photo I Take Is Built On
The image pictured below was originally just going to be my typical daily photo post on the blog and on my Facebook page. As I was processing it, however, my mind started to wander (as it so often does when I’m buried in Photoshop). There have been so many tips, tricks and suggestions made to me since I first started shooting, that I forget what they all are. However, I have taken them all to heart to the point that they have all mashed together and been ingrained in my photographic eye. As I started at this photo, I began to pick it apart and break it down into the various tidbits of tips that I’ve picked up over the years. Maybe you know them and use them already, maybe you don’t. Hopefully they can help you the same way that they’ve helped me. (note: every tip pertains to this photo and every photo I shoot!)
1. Be different. Be unique.
Today, we see so many photos. They’re all over Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+ and so on. I think it’s easy for photographers, especially newcomers, to get caught up in trying to be ‘better.’ I don’t think ‘better’ is what you should shoot for. Instead, be ‘different.’ So many people are doing the same exact things, trying to do those same exact things better than the rest. Why not create your own style? We all see the world in different ways, reflect that through your lens.
My photography professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania would always say something like this. He’d critique students’ work and would say something like ‘that’s a great shot, technically phenomenal, great lighting, but it’s just a beach.’ I used to think he was nuts. At the time, the photos he was saying that about, in my mind, were fantastic. But, that’s because we were chasing grades. To me, that shot was ‘A’ work, not art. As I’ve grown and became more of an ‘artist,’ I look back on his choice of words fondly because he was exactly right. Anyone can shoot a picture of a beach or a flower or a car or a sunset. Everyone who visits Cape Lookout shoots a photo of the lighthouse. Everyone who goes to the beach is going to take a photo of the sun setting over the water. The key is to somehow make your shot different. That’s where the artistic side takes over. You’re at the location at the right time and place, now make something unique.
2. Perspective, POV.
Change your perspective. Everyone takes a photo standing up. Sometimes all it takes is dropping down on one knee to create a completely different feel. Also, think about a different point of view. Shoot through something to frame your subject, place your camera at the level of your feet to create a sense of scale and bring depth and detail to the immediate foreground. The possibilities are pretty endless. To use the above photo as an example, don’t be afraid to go the extra mile to get something different. I could have stayed up on the beach and gotten a typical sunset. Instead, I kicked of my shoes, rolled my pants up and went into the water with my tripod. I may have gotten a little wet and cold, but in the end that’s just all part of the adventure of photography. Don’t be afraid to step off of the beaten path and into the tall grass. It’s fun!
3. Simple is good.
I read an article by Chase Jarvis that said, “almost every photo that is bad has too much information. Outside of technical basics, the number one reason that most photos fail is because there is no clear subject. Remove clutter, remove distraction. Tell one story, tell it well.” That has stuck with me and really helped mold my more recent work. I don’t think there is much more elaboration that I can add over what Chase said. Just keep it simple.
4. Patience
And finally, patience. I spend a lot of time sitting there, camera set up, remote in hand…waiting. I don’t want to snap off any random shot. In my mind’s eye I know what I’m looking for and I have to wait and see if the clouds move where I need them to. There is no worse feeling than shooting something then packing up and leaving only to look in your rear view mirror to see the scene has transformed into something completely different and amazing. Simply put, you must be patient.
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©2012 Zach Frailey, all rights reserved
