Sometimes we’ve recommended that you find your own photography style, but we haven’t delved too deep into it. We talked about unlearning photography or developing the photographic eye, but never proper photographic style. The day has come. And it is likely (very likely) that a debate will arise, which I now encourage, because the more diverse the comments, the more diverse they are, if they are born out of respect of course, the more enriching they are. Different points of view help to open the mind and find new paths and positions.
Have you ever heard a song for the first time and recognized the band or singer almost immediately?Surely this happened to you also with photography, if you are one of those who admire the work of different photographers, you will identify one of their images as soon as you see it, it is easy to recognize a photograph of Chema Madoz, or Elena Kalis, if you follow them, for example, the photographic style is what makes their photographs perfectly recognizable, by the type of photograph they make , how they use light, their use of color, or how the protagonist’s interaction with the environment works.
- There are those who think that the photographic style is a type of photography.
- Let me explain.
- If you focus on landscape photography.
- Then that’s your style.
- None of that.
- The question doesn’t go here.
- You can be a landscape photographer and not have your own style or photograph everything with a very defined style.
- Focusing on a theme has nothing to do with choosing or looking for a style.
You don’t have to. This may be advisable or positive, but it is not a necessity, in photography there are other aspects that are more necessary before you start looking for your style, in fact it is advisable not to look for it, but to find it. Maybe you’re wondering what the difference is, I’ll give you a simple example. Imagine crossing the sand of the beach with the obsession of finding a beautiful shell, you will only look at the sand, you will miss the landscape, the waves, the brightness of the sun in the water, the reflections, the birds that enter search for water or food, a sailboat sailing in the distance, how the waves against the rock, the drawing of the water on the sand , the paths of the footsteps?And on that, you’ll probably come home without the helmet.
However, if you enjoy the scenery, the walk, what surrounds you, one day you will find this beautiful shell to put on the table of your desk and you will have lived many experiences and sensations, in addition, you may have found almost as beautiful stones. like the shell, or the strange treasure, that you’ll end up loving much more.
The same thing can happen to you when you’re looking for your photographic style, if you’re obsessed with the idea, you run the risk of getting dark, frustrated, and maybe, if your passion isn’t strong enough, you’ll end up throwing in the towel. . The purpose of photography is not to find a style, it is to enjoy it and for others to do so as well. The style is found after a long journey, it is necessary a photographic maturity, a deep knowledge of oneself.
It’s kind of like celebrity, if you don’t know how to handle it well, it can be your worst nightmare. There are those who are so locked up in a photographic style that they end up exhausting and even bothering the staff. Or boring. Having a very defined style can generate some fear when capturing images that “come out” of this style. Afraid of what followers will think, if they are going to be disappointed, if they still admire the play. And fears, yes or yes, paralyze.
If you limit yourself to photography, if you approach a single type of photography to be true to your style, you’re likely to write the chronicle of an announced death. Having a style is good, approaching it isn’t. .
What if the Beatles had been true to their Love me do or She loves you style?Now we couldn’t enjoy a wonderful Let it be or Strawberry fields forever. That would have been a real punishment, a crime, wouldn’t it?? Well, you may not like this group, but you can find an analogy with another group that is more your “style” ;).
Styles evolve like people, when you find your own, don’t let it enslave you.
And now comes this part you were waiting for for the whole article. Although the initial impulse can no longer be the case, can it?We’ll see after that.
The style, which we have already talked about, is not sought, which is, nor is it something that happens overnight, nor in a week, the style is discovered at the same time that the photograph is discovered and requires that you have previously achieved other objectives, such as those that I present to you now.
If you know the parameters and need to readjust a thousand times, do not relax and all your attention will stay in the technical part, it will not serve you to have a style or if your compositions are not interesting or your Images are not exciting I tell them, from my own experience, that I was thinking about how to find my own style when I did not even properly control the triangle of light and my photos had no particular interest. , composition, work with light, etc. , once you get there, you will have half (or more) traveled, first forget about the theme “photographic style”.
Why did you get a camera out for the first time?What are you looking for with photography? If you’re not sure, you won’t be able to find your own style, you’ll change from side to side because you don’t even know what drives you to photograph, how can you always do it the same way?
Something that may seem so basic is one of the areas where we drink the most, live in a time when we run, run, act and think a lot but feel little how often do you connect?How many of you live “here and now”?Do you stop from time to time to listen to your heart, your fears, your desires and forget for a moment the “I must”?«. What seems to have nothing to do with photography is an essential exercise, self-style not only conforms to a discipline, it is part of the personality of the artist.
It’s an essential part of learning. Locking yourself in a technique is almost like locking yourself in a style and preventing it from growing and evolving, if you don’t try different things, you won’t know where your place is, and if you can’t find your place, you’ll barely find your style. Try, play, experiment, have fun.
Here’s another tip for getting into business just to find the style, but is it downtime?What are you going to find? Photography is taken by photographing. Having a photography project at hand will keep your creativity busy and your camera at full capacity. Don’t you leave it in a drawer #telopidoporfavor?
If you don’t know where to start with a project, here are the steps to follow, here are the mistakes to avoid and the ideas.
Maybe I should have put that point first, is it so fundamental, if you don’t have a real passion for photography, if all that moves you is state-of-the-art technology and you have an SLR in your hands more than a laptop. or video game and you’re only interested in the latest news, if you shoot to film worry more about the megapixels than you expect, if you’re lazy to manually photograph with the automatic, if your camera sees the light once a year, or if you don’t find reason to photograph, maybe you should rethought this love instead of walking in search of a style;) Or maybe you need some inspiration?
Finding your style doesn’t mimic someone else’s. It’s normal to observe and study other people’s work, know what you like and don’t like. Admire even. But your style should be yours and yours alone, but if you’re researching instead of walking slowly to find it, it’s easy for the act of forcing the situation to lead you to a simple imitation.
What can be useful is thinking about your favorite photographers and studying what they have in common, this will help you get to know each other better.
Accepting and thinking about criticism is always part of learning, some can be painful, but any criticism that comes to you constructively and respectfully, keep that in mind, from the outside it’s easier to see what we don’t see.
This exercise can help you get to know your work better, because you already have your own style and haven’t done it yet. Choose your favorite photos, print them out and put them together. Surely there is a link between them, something that appears in each of your favorite photos. Light, minimalism, order, chaos, emotion ?? No matter what they have in common, take note, here is the birth of your own style, exploit this part (without pressure?).
I have already advanced this last advice, do not look for it, let it be the one that finds you, eventually it will without you nodding, while you enjoy the road, the landscape and the experiences, enjoy photography without pressure, this freedom is the only way.
Hopefully this article will clarify some doubts and serve you to relax and enjoy a little more of this passion that unies us. If you think someone else might be interested please share it, and if you liked it please like it to see if we are on the right path Thank you and soon!