Education/Inspiration
OHHH SAY CAN YOU SEE?
By judith farber
Mar 1, 2008

Being a part of the Photoworkshop family for over 13 years, we've seen many photographers go from shooting snapshots to becoming successful in fine art.  It has been very rewarding to be a part of their journey. And now with the digital age, there's been a huge shift with new doors opening up to the mainstream population. Everyone has a camera and everyone is a photographer. But are they? I see more and more work today remaining as status quo. The purpose in joining the PWS site is not only to have the supportive camaraderie, but also to improve the craft. The biggest challenge in photography is translating what we see into images. Why do we become stuck producing snapshots? Snapshots are fine if all you want to do is continue on that road. But I believe that joining the PWS site has always been a call to challenge us to improve. We can hold onto the fun and the passion of shooting, but at the same time, create the work that elevates and refines our visual expression.

"space" Šjudith farber

If we keep doing the same mistakes over and over again, feeling stagnant, with no understanding of what we are doing wrong, and hearing the same feedback from critiques...where is the focal point of interest? The lighting is dull, the subject weak, too many distractions...so how do we move out of this comfort zone?
 
I focus and click the shutter. And more often than not, it results in a fairly adequately composed image. But most people are not born with the eye. But do not be dismayed, like everything else, it can become second nature with practice, patience, awareness and desire.

"line" Šjudith farber

There are a vast number of rules and guidelines that can be found online, in books and through workshops to assist with visual improvement. But then again, isn't it much the same information, just worded differently? And don't we already know the rules? (ex:  photo must be sharp, do not place the subject in the center, rule of thirds, etc). We can certainly learn by going this route of rules. But I strongly believe that rules are meant merely to jump start your own creative juices. Learn the basics so that we can unlearn them.
 
Our viewing world is 180 degrees of a zillion images and energies constantly moving in every direction. We live in a non-stop world of stimulation. The goal in photography is to zero in on that minuscule portion of what exists creating that minuscule depiction of life to tell a story. And not all of us can do this automatically. But to start from the beginning, with just the use of part of our body to assist in the process, we can eliminate some of the frustration.

"blur" Šjudith farber

Knowing that a camera's viewfinder is smaller than what our eyes actually see, we have to zero in and get to the level of a viewfinder's world. By using our thumb and forefinger to create a circle to see through, we have now created our own little viewfinder. So who needs a camera?

We have all done tons of photo assignments. But the reality is that this repetition still works in acquiring new skills:
1.    Get behind what attracted you to that scene, the emotional tie, the visual appeal.
2.    What is the main focal point?
3.    Stay with it for a while, and do not click the shutter, move around to find the best angle.
4.    Eliminate everything in the viewfinder that does not relate.
5.    Get in extremely close and personal. CROP TIGHTLY AND FILL THE SPACE AND FRAME and that means CORNER TO CORNER! As obvious as it is, what you see in the viewfinder will be your final image (using a telephoto lens brings you comfortably closer from afar). I also recommend for the beginning photographer to start off by creating great images before a dependency on Adobe Photoshop; that can come later.
6.    Keep everything as simple as possible. No distractions other than what will add strength and weight to the image. Show in the viewfinder ONLY that which pertains directly to the subject.
7.    Be very critical of your work with self-editing and be open for evaluation.

"realism" Šjudith farber

And let us not dismiss what we learned in school. Remember high school art classes? Some of those basic design principles can be a useful tool in our photographic expression. Since photography is an art, we might keep in mind words such as these as it relates to your personal vision:  BALANCE, HARMONY, SHAPE, LINE, SPACE and VALUE.

Balance or asymmetry, centers the interest with the use of a visual weight
Harmony uses various visual combinations that relate and connect to each other
Shape has the subject as human or organic
Line is the path that your eye follows
Space includes emptiness and depth
Value extremes of light and dark, opposites and contradictions using drama, low key/high key

We can add the addition of photographically inspired words, such as MOVEMENT, REPETITION, SATURATION, COLOR, DRAMA, SIMPLICITY, CONTRAST, BRIGHTNESS, HIGHLIGHTS, SHADOWS, EXPOSURE, NOISE, BLUR, SHARP, FOCUS, FRAME, ABSTRACT, EMOTION, REALISM.

"movement" Šjudith farber

So then how do we combine all this to compose exceptional photos? Perhaps it's as simple as keeping keywords in the back of your mind when shooting, or using them as self-assignments (shown here are images with keywords I chose taken with a 1 mg cell phone). When shooting or even viewing your work envision keywords that speak to you. The more we shoot, the more we learn. To be a photographer is to be a visual being. We need to be SHOOTING, DOING assignments, STUDYING photographers' work and ANALYZING what works and why. Find out what stimulates your excitement, which specialization will showcase your personal creativity and vision. Studying your favorite photographer improves your vision, using it as yet another learning tool, while not being a slave to their style.

We see photos and think, WOW what a great image, it really works! For an image stands alone. Other than in a learning situation, photographers commenting on their images so the viewer gets it, is not necessary. For there are no explanations in photography, as a picture is meant to tell a thousand words...silent words.
 

"value" Šjudith farber

After gaining a grasp of the basics of composition, the use of keywords, etc, then let it go. Good photography means rules are meant to be broken, yes, even snapshots can become an art form. With a little guidance and forethought, understanding that which makes a good photograph is the mixing of everything we've learned, heard, read and seen, along with our own visionary style to create inspiring images.

Now go out and raise the bar!

Judith is available to assist privately in helping to improve your eye. She will view and offer encouragement of your current work with suggestions guaranteed to enhance and jump start your photography.

For the basics, check out Photo 101

contact:  judith@photoworkshop.com
judith's portfolio  




© Copyright 2002 by Photoworkshop.com