On Being Different
BONUS PHOTO CHALLENGE | Write out a list of words that describe your photos. Consider pieces of your story, your photography, what you like, or who you are that you can share to personalize your work (use this info for bios, captions, and when discussing your photography). If possible, print out 6-9 photos to see in person how you feel, take note of what your response is. You will undoubtedly have a better handle on what you like and dislike, what you might want to change, and even note the quality of your photos in print. Keep in mind where you’re printing, sometimes the results don’t do justice to your work, so be kind!
Share these images on our group Facebook page and tell us your findings.
You’ve probably heard me say it a number of times, seek inspiration. Learning what inspires you can help in so many ways, can broaden your horizon for opportunities, to see what’s out there, evaluate the market, and so on.
However, inspiration can be a bit of a double-edged sword. Constantly looking at other artists work pushes your mindset from being inspired to being uncertain about your own style. With inspiration in mind, but not pushing out your own aesthetics, now is the time to go your own way.
As you’ve developed your portfolio, you should have an idea of what you enjoy shooting, where your comfort zone is, and maybe even what you’re good at. Do you have a niche?
Note your through-line(s)
Looking at a selection of images and try to identify similarities that stand out (color tones, light, contrast, abstract subjects, composition, mood, etc).
Tell your story
When creating an online presence (your portfolio), people need/want to get to know the person behind the camera. Caption your photos with a little bit of heart, share images of your favorite things, and put your spin on the overall feel of your work.
Look at the bigger picture
Just like seeing your through-line and telling your story, it helps to see a multitude of your photos at a glance (Instagram anyone?) and observe your immediate response to the images before you. I’d even suggest printing out a few to see them in person, you can also use an app like Planoly to create a grid of images like you’d want to use on IG.
Practice : The three images to the left are the range of subjects I shoot on a regular basis. There’s a photo of myself on a mountain with wildflowers (take by my son), a pear tree in my garden, and a stack of books. All images were taken at different times, show a range of cool and warm tones, and all with varying stages of light.
With those details in mind, what are the through lines you notice?
Photographers that stand out in today’s over-saturated photography community can be very difficult to find. There are, however, many photographers that have incredibly unique aesthetics and skills that make truly one-of-a-kind images. Each of these photographers have leaned fully into their unique style (both in taking photos and in editing) that makes them easily identifiable and notably “different”.
Alexey Titarenko | A German photographer that specializes in B&W landscape photography and photojournalism. Alexey has an ethereal quality to his images, explores long exposures in unlikely places, and his featured work really shows his creativity and uniqueness.
Jamie Beck | I’ve long since been a fan and follower of Jamie’s work. She’s one of few photographers that has experienced and continues to shoot on old film cameras as well as modern digital cameras. She is knowledgable technically and creatively, while shooting in a unique styled fashion that she edits to have a timeless, vintage feel.
Trey Ratcliff | Mostly a landscape photographer, Trey has some of the most colorful and unique perspectives in photography. He definitely stands out from his travels, his compositions, and variety. I also enjoy his social media content that ranges from simple captions to making you feel apart of the experience.
Marc Adamus | Marc absolutely slays me with his landscape photos. I often feel myself underwhelmed by the same stunning landscape photos of famous landmarks that so many photographers take to put themselves on the map (sad, but true). It’s not often to come across someone who takes unbelievable landscapes and truly stands out.