Solitude in Photography

PHOTO CHALLENGE | Take photos that represent solitude in photography, think widely about this prompt, get creative, and show us what you shoot!

Be sure to post your final images by the weekend.

It’s quite a misconception that all photographers are charismatic, outgoing extroverts. Often the artistic process unfolds in the lonely hours of any given day. Solitude and discipline can direct artistic productivity, and though solitude can be challenging and lonely, the decision to work alone is also one to turn and face the feelings inherent within us all.

“Being ignored is a great privilege. That’s how I think I learned to see what others do not see and react to situations differently. I simply looked at the world, not really prepared for anything.” - Saul Leiter

Solitude is most obviously expressed in photography through emotion or loneliness, but that feels narrowing to the breadth that solitude can bring to photography. There’s a sense of singularity, minimalism, simplicity, isolation, and rawness to a photo representative of solitude. There’s no reason to confine the notion into a small box.

• Start by asking yourself what your intention is.

• Create mindful compositions, envision your shot before taking it.

• How do you respond to the scene you’re documenting?

• How is the light affecting your scene? How can you better use it to your advantage?

• There’s beauty in mystery, it’s okay for some details to not be so obvious.

• How do your subjects fit into the environment?

• Be aware of colors.

Countless photographers have visually explored the ideas of thoughtfulness or alienation, but solitude remains an intriguing and enigmatic concept nonetheless. Think of the way in which we regard photographs; the viewer and the picture converse in a silent, singular language of their own.

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” - Ansel Adams

Alone with a camera, the photographer’s existence can be quite a solitary one. Despite interacting with your subjects and surroundings, much of the work made by photographers requires a great deal of patience, silence and observation. If you’re looking to showcase that singular experience, what do you see, what does that look like to you?

Tips on Editing

• Do you feel that the picture looks the way you experienced the moment? If not, maybe you need to make changes to the light and contrast. It may be underexposed, and you need to tweak the exposure. It all depends on your vision of the scenery.

• Select a color palette that recreates the vision you had when you captured the photos. You can start the color editing with color temperature and tint. Play with the colors and choose if you want more or less intensity. Most importantly, don’t let any one color distract from the overall mood and intention of the photo.

• Now pinpoint what the "hero" or the main subject is in the photograph. What was your vision for the picture? Where do you want the viewer's eye to go? What was the reason you captured this view? The eye tends to look at the brightest areas in the photo, so maybe you need to darken other parts of the photograph to tell the story.

• Final effects. Are there any other components to tweak, add or take away, that enhance the depth and mood of your image? Stepping away for a few minutes can help give you clarity necessary to color correct, adjust exposure, and create a finished image. Look at the vignetting, shadows, and other details that resonate with you.