Photographing with less
Minimalism, Marie Kondo, tidying up, goodbye things, less is more. You might have heard of these things if you have ever scrolled through Netflix or Youtube. You might have even come across a few articles on social media referring to decluttering or getting rid of your stuff, or simple living. Minimalism is becoming a social movement, culturally recognised. We have a lot of items in our lives that don’t bring value (daily joy). I would like to enlighten you if I may about adopting this movement into your photography and to try photographing with less.
What if we all had the same gear?
What if you had the same camera, lighting and subject matter as everyone else. A groundhog day for a photographer so to speak. If we all have the same gear what would make you different? “Imagine you had no way of visually showing someone any of your work, and they ask you to describe what you’re about, not your genre, but what is the essence of what you’re trying to achieve?” This quote from Katy Niker is something we should all think about and consider when pressing the shutter button. What is it that you're trying to achieve beyond visuals?
How putting down the camera made me a better photographer
Straight off the bat, this sounds counter-intuitive. After all its through practising and doing that progresses our skills as a photographer, this is true. In contrast, stepping away from the camera or putting it down, I have noticed something that wasn't there before and that skill helped improve how I photographed.
The ways of Zen photography
When most people think of the word Zen, a meditating monk in a monastery comes to mind, a practice of enlightenment, a person being in the present or someone without attachments. When I think of Zen, I think of a lifestyle that has profoundly influenced my photography practice. I would like to dive into the ways of zen photography and how it might enlighten your creative practice.
Nature for inspiration
I just read a book covering the benefits of nature and how it helps improve human health among many other claims. I’m sure many of you would question or speculate on the validity of these claims and I did too. One thing I did read that interested me, taking a walk in nature, away from the noises and sights of the city along with the absence of digital screens, improves creativity.
The secret to being a great photographer
Now there are so many ways and paths one can go down to make a great photographer. Everyone has their own style, process, history, personality and way they produce their work. But the one thing that great photographers have in common is determination, grit and perseverance.
Existentialism and photography
What gives your photography and for that matter your life meaning? Is it God, Family, Shopping, Money, Work, Fame, Football or Twilight fan fiction? You might already have your own purpose in your life that gets you out of bed in the morning, or you might be reading this post in hopes that you find meaning in your photography. Everyone strives to have meaning in our lives, and no one would consider this a fault in one's drive if you got up every morning in order to find it. We all crave it, and some of us even need a meaning to keep going. So how do we make our lives meaningful? How is existentialism and photography related?
What existentialism taught me about life and photography
From the philosophers, Jean-Paul Sartre & Albert Camus I've found myself questioning everything in my life regarding existentialism and photography, passion, knowledge, devotion & skill over the past two years, soul searching if you will. What I've learned is there is no purpose or meaning to something unless you give it one. Essentially existentialists believe that an individual has and can control their own free will to choose and act. People make decisions based on what has meaning to them, rather than what is rational. What I mean by this is if your photography makes you happy, then it makes you happy because you give it value and purpose in your life, and that it is of your own free will that you give photography these values.
Tame your ego to find meaning in your photography
"Nobody cares about your photography" - Ted Forbes.Did that upset you, did that hurt your ego? I’m sorry to say this but once you learn to tame your ego, this idiocracy for delusions of grandeur and entitlement the better. When we dampen our ego and accept what we have, and our current social status, we learn the work is more important than getting likes, and the tools we use.
Are you a photographer or just a camera operator
When I go to a photography exhibit or show, I find myself looking at similar work. Photographs made from an inkjet printer, that are just stylised archives. Be it a photo of a bird, a photo of a dress, subject or event. Whatever it is, it's just a photograph. A photograph that can be easily duplicated with the simple press of a button. A print on a piece of paper, nothing more, nothing less. But where is the artist's brush stroke? Where is the photographer's unique thumbprint, aside from on top of their shutter button?
Being original isn't easy
Quantity always trumps quality. In a book called Art of fear by David Bayles & Ted Orland. They write about an experiment. A ceramics teacher divided a class into two groups. One group would be graded on quantity and the other group on quality. The ones being graded on "quality" produced only one pot. While the "quantity" group was churning out
The internet is killing your photography
What I'm getting at is that the internet is most likely the course of your impotence when it comes to productivity. How many people pick up their smartphones and check something online or in an app in the morning. Instead of picking up a camera and getting a sunrise.
Adapt & endure
Adapt & endure - Out greatest strength is our ability to adapted and endure. We should seek to please a few, rather than the whole.
God complex
A god complex is a way to describe someone who might as well believe they are a god when it comes to a subject or profession they are engrossed in. Thinking they are superior to everyone else when it comes to their profession or subject they know about.
Show the world what you want
Show the world what you want - If you want to be known as a specialised photographer, you'll need to start presenting yourself as one. The advantage of doing this is over time if you are consistent your audience will get to know you for it.
You need to start now
The road to success is filled with no
