Shooting with Intention
This is the story of a morning. En route, nature, fog to sunshine, simple beauty.
PHOTO CHALLENGE | Go out for a photo walk, if you don’t have an intent beforehand, look around and see what stands out to you. Once you have an idea in mind, create a focal point (color, season, time of day, weather, ritual, something you love, etc) to guide you from one photo to the next.
LOOK FOR THE DETAILS
Color, shape, & texture
Micro and/or macro scenes
Mood or feeling
Movement
LR TIPS
Practice small HSL adjustments to color correction, desaturate loud colors, and create consistent color tones.
What is your relationship with photography? Why do you feel compelled to take photos?
I find that being intentional every single time I pick up my camera gives focus, direction, and a stronger end result. There are a lot of articles out there on this topic, and I found the results to be lacking—”tell the story” they say, but how?! What it comes down to, is that this topic is centered on what the viewer sees and their mindset, it is hard to break down into words. But, let’s give it a try!
The idea of intention behind visual storytelling comes from photojournalism, from photographers who specialize in technical accuracy and telling the story of an event, weather, natural disaster. Instead of setting up tripods and waiting for the best light, they go on location with the intention of getting a story to share on the news. I read a story of a photographer doing this very thing years ago, and I remember her saying that she wanted to show what the flood damage had done, she wanted to tell its story. Her words have stuck with me all these years, and the single act I credit to my own intentional storytelling mentality.
Intentional photographers carry an idea or concept all the way through from its abstract state to a final printed image. - Ted Forbes
As a photographer who pushes technical boundaries, I love using this concept, but with time on my side. I’m often not in a rush to take a few dozen photos, I have time to wander, to think, to wait and see.
Slow down. Take your time. Observe.
When you’re on location and ready to shoot, before you look through the lens, look at your surroundings, take it all in before you take any photos.
What is it that you actually see?
What stands out to you? Color, shapes, textures, the effects of rain, sunlight—work at highlighting your focal point.
What do you feel?
If you could only take one photo at the moment, what would it be?
Intention ultimately comes down to a few key things: the photographer’s taste and style, experience, and how you want your work portrayed. You may not be printing your work (although it doesn’t hurt to see how they turn out and have some test prints on hand), but the intention is still the same. In time, you’ll find that you’re already picturing what photos you’ll take before even getting on location.
