My personality tends towards analytical and cool more than than towards creative and passionate. Sometimes I worry that this means that I am in the wrong place in terms of photography. We speak of shooting emotion and story as an ideal, and we claim that this is equally as important as the technical aspects of a photograph, but often when I look through my own images I see few stories and fewer emotions. Instead I see stillness, abstract patterns, and careful and (perhaps overly) thought-through use of compositional elements such as balance, symmetry, leading lines and rule of thirds.
As I come closer to figuring out what my photographic style is, I realise that I worry unnecessarily, and that while I do not have the same style as photographers I admire, that is as it should be. Here is what I have learned so far about the style(s) of my photography and the stylistic tools I have at hand:
- I am not the right person to evaluate emotion and story in my own images. The memory of having been in the scene interferes with the interpretation of the photography.
- Story does not equal people and movement. Rather, the story is in the details, and a still and deserted scene may contain stories too.
- Compositional elements are not dry tools but conduits of emotion and story in their own right. A line leading towards the horizon may speak of longing to travel. A careful composition according to the rule of thirds frees the viewer to concentrate on the story.
- I struggle to explain why there is beauty in patterns. I should stop trying to explain it and settle for enjoying it.
- Light is emotional. Always.
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no explaining (or worrying) (or overthinking) needed. your work speaks for itself. the beauty, the stories.
and those five bullet points…spot on.
Aw, thank you x
It’s funny how insecurity works – I’m usually able to think my way out of it, but it keeps popping up again.
I believe thinking and reasoning can be a route to feeling and emotion just as valid an more visceral one. Whatever serves your purpose, pleases your eye and gives you satisfaction in the making, whether it goes through head, heart or both, I think all routes to creativity and artistic creation are valid.
That’s a great point! It really is a false dichotomy to speak of the heart as emotional and the head as detached and intellectual.
For me, enjoying it is the key!
Oh yes. Enjoyment is essential – I sometimes forget that; thanks for the reminder.
Oh Jenny. I love what you’ve discovered about your own style. I agree whole-heartedly. Your post has cause my brain to whir with thoughts about my approach as well. Thanks for stirring that up inside me.
Aw, I’m glad to hear it got you thinking; you could hardly give me bigger praise than that 🙂