Photographers develop a personal style over time, by following a path that begins with learning the technical skills required to use a camera; secondly developing an awareness of how an image capture system responds in different ways to light, and thirdly sharpening an ability to identify things to photograph and foresee the finished result.
Good photography is not accidental. Good photography is contrived by a person with the ability to see the possibility of an outstanding image, and use the tools at their disposal to create that image; in exactly the same way that a sculptor might see the possibility of a sculpture in a piece of stone, and use the tools available (hammer and chisel), to create a contrived piece of artwork.
Photographic style can vary greatly from one photographer to another.
Style is how something is interpreted by the photographer in the way they create an image; whether through the use of the camera, lenses, filters, lighting, etc; or through techniques for processing the image after it has been taken.
Aspects of Style
Style is affected by the way in which the artist (photographer):
- Chooses what components to include, and what not to include in the image
- Organises the components in the image (which can be affected by the angle from which they are photographed; the distance, what parts are in sharp focus and what are not, what components are lit more brightly than others, etc)
- Uses colour
- Uses Light
- Captures or hints at movement (or lack of movement)
- Implies or evokes emotions
How to become more creative, developing your imagination, broadening your thinking:
- Study the work of others in books, newspapers, magazines, social media, web sites, galleries, museums, advertising materials
- Don’t try to be too analytical (feeling inspired by a photo is more important than being able to classify it into a category).
- Be sensitive and open to have an emotional reaction to a photo (Do not suppress your emotions); and recognise the positive or negative emotions when they emerge.
- Try imitating (reproducing) your own versions of images created by other photographers. Many artists are famously known to be influenced by other artists who came before them; but over time, their own unique styles evolved beyond those who influenced them.
- Consider blur, light intensity (dark or shade), etc.
- Take risks, think outside the box; ask yourself what you normally do then try to find a way to do it differently
