Pic: Damian Brandon
Photography is, in many ways, very technical. I remember starting my photography journey by learning the jargon of aperture, light temperature and inverse square law; moving on to a fascination with all the wonderful gadgets we can use – macro lenses, studio light triggers, filters, light meters and so on.
Some people are happy just to learn about the technical side, but for those who want to produce better pictures – the ones that stop people in their tracks, that encourage an emotion in their audience – then it’s important to get creative. After all, the expertise of a photographer is that they can see and present the world in a way most people can’t.
Being creative is something you can learn, and you’d be amazed how far you can push your photography if you practice, challenge yourself and take a few risks. So here’s some tips that should encourage your creativity:
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Learn your kit inside and out
I find the novelty of using new techniques or equipment exciting and disruptive at the same time. It’s exciting because I’m trying something new, but then it also means that I’m still trying to find out its limitations, suitability for certain jobs and I don’t yet know how to sort problems if something goes wrong. The upshot is that I concentrate more on getting used to the technique or gadget than on what’s happening in front of me. So before I go on a job, I test, test and test again. Whatever it is I am learning soon becomes familiar to me, and I become more confident in using it; ultimately, I can then concentrate more on the people I’m photographing. I can move them about, create more action in the shots, confident that I don’t have to worry about anything else. That confidence means you can use your knowledge to do new things, without worrying so much if things go wrong – by then, you’ll know your kit so much that you’ll know how to fix it.
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Think about your pictures beforehand and do lots of research
It really helps to visualise how you want your pictures to look, even when shooting events or travel. In truth, most great photographs take some planning, no matter how small. What will help you to visualise your image is to do lots of research beforehand. Personally, I hoard magazines and books so much that my living room has turned into a library! But that’s because I want to see how other people have interpreted things like street market life, tourist attractions, corporate and social events, or even studio portraits. I want to see what’s already been done and if I can do something different. Having that imaginary library in your head will mean you will not be caught out so much when a great photo opportunity appears in front of you. You will know the different ways to capture it when it arrives.
Pic: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Try different angles and viewpoints
Every time I go to work on an event, I see other people with cameras and they all do the same thing; put the camera at eye level, stand rooted to the spot and take a few snaps. For me, I am constantly moving; I bend down, grab chairs (or take a stepladder) to get a higher viewpoint. I tilt my camera to create some dynamism to the image. When you’re trying these new viewpoints, accept that some of them won’t come off. But the point of taking risks is that you learn from the mistakes to make better images later on. So don’t be afraid of getting on to the ground or up towards the ceiling – by moving about, you’re already doing more than the ordinary snapper.
