HOW TO FIND YOUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE (AND NOT GET LOST IN THE ATTEMPT)

Sometimes we have recommended that you find your own photographic style, however, we have not really delved into the subject. We have talked about unlearning photography or developing the photographic eye, but never properly the photographic style. The day has come. And it is probable (very probable) that debate is created, something that I encourage from now on, since the comments, the more diverse, if they are born from the respect of course, more enrich. Different points of view help open the mind and find new paths and postures.

WHAT IS THE PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE?

Have you ever heard a song for the first time and recognized the group or singer almost immediately? Surely it has happened to you with photography. If you are one of those who admire the work of different photography artists, you will identify one of their images as soon as you see it. It is easy to recognize a photograph of Chema Madoz, or Elena Kalis, if you follow them, for example. The photographic style is what makes their photographs perfectly recognizable, by the type of photography they take, how they use the light, the use they make of color, or how they work the interaction of the protagonist with the environment.

WHAT IS NOT THE PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE?

Some people think that the photographic style is a type of photography, I explain, if you focus on landscape photography, because that is your style. No, nothing like that. The matter is not going here. You can be a landscape photographer and not have your own style or photograph everything with a very defined style. Focusing on a topic has nothing to do with choosing or finding a style.

IS IT NECESSARY TO LOOK FOR YOUR OWN STYLE?

Not necessary. It can be recommended or positive, but it is not a necessity. In photography there are other aspects that are more necessary than looking for your style. In fact, it is advisable not to look for it, but to find it. You will be wondering what the difference is. I will give a simple example. Imagine that you go on the sand of the beach with the obsession of finding a beautiful shell. You are only going to look at the sand, you will miss the landscape, the waves, the brightness of the sun on the water, the reflections, the birds that approach in search of water or food, a sailboat sailing in the distance, how the waves against the rock, the drawing of the water on the sand, the paths of the footsteps ... do I continue? And on top of that you are likely to go home without the shell.

SEARCH OR FIND?

However, if you enjoy the landscape, the promenade, what surrounds you, one day you will end up finding that precious shell to put on your desk table and you will have lived a lot of experiences and sensations. Moreover, you have found stones almost as beautiful as the shell, or the occasional treasure, that you end up liking much more. The same can happen to you when looking for your photographic style. If you become obsessed with the idea, you are likely to be obfuscated, frustrated and, perhaps, if your passion is not strong enough, you end up throwing in the towel. The purpose of photography is not to find a style, it is to enjoy it and let others do it too. The style is after a long journey, a photographic maturity is necessary, a deep knowledge of oneself.

CAN IT BE INCONVENIENT TO HAVE YOUR OWN STYLE?

This is something like fame, if you don't know how to manage it well it can be your worst nightmare. There are those who enclose themselves so much in a photographic style that it ends up running out and even boring the staff. Or getting bored. Having a very defined style can generate a certain fear when it comes to capturing images that "come out" of that style. Afraid of what the followers will think, if they will be disappointed, if they will continue to admire the work. And fears, yes or yes, paralyze. If you limit yourself when photographing, if you close to only one type of photograph to be true to your style, you are probably writing the chronicle of a death foretold. Having a style is fine, close to him no. What would have happened if the Beatles had been faithful to their style of Love me do or She loves you ? Now we could not enjoy wonderful Let it be or Strawberry fields forever.It would have been a real shame, a crime, don't you think? Well, you don't like this group anyway, but you can find an analogy with another group that is more of your "style";). Styles evolve as people do, when you find yours, don't let it enslave you.

HOW TO FIND YOUR OWN STYLE?

And now comes that part you've been waiting for the whole article. Although the initial craving may not be the same, can it? We will see after this. The style, we have already spoken that is not sought, that is found. Nor is it something that happens overnight, not in a week. The style is discovered at the same time as the photography is discovered and requires that you have achieved other objectives before . Like the ones I present to you now.

1. LEARN PHOTOGRAPHY

If you are waiting for parameters and you have to readjust once and a thousand times you will not relax and all your attention will remain in the technical part. Nor will it help you to have a style if your compositions are not interesting or your images are not exciting. I tell you from my own experience, I was thinking about how to find my own style when I didn't even control the light triangle correctly and my photos had no special interest. First focus on learning to photograph in manual , to compose, to work the light, etc., once you get this, you will have half a way (or more) traveled, before, forget about the theme «photographic style».

2. BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT MOVES YOU WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING

What moves you? Why did you take a camera for the first time? What are you looking for with photography? If you are not clear about this, you will not be able to find your own style, you will be hitting back and forth because you do not even know what moves you to photograph, how will you always do it in the same way?

3. KNOW YOU WELL

Something that may seem so basic is one of the aspects in which we limp the most. We live in an era of haste, of running, of acting and as much thinking but feeling little. How many times do you connect with yourself? How many do you live here and now? Stop from time to time to listen to your heart, your fears, your desires and forget for a while about "I have to ...". This may seem that nothing has to do with photography, is an essential exercise. The proper style is not only limited to a discipline, it is part of the personality of the artist.

4. TRY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES AND THEMES

It is an essential part of learning. Locking yourself in a technique is almost like locking yourself in a style and preventing you from growing and evolving. If you do not try different things you will not know where your site is, and if you do not find your site, you will hardly find your style. Try, play, experiment, have fun.

Experimenting with overexposure

5. CARRY OUT DIFFERENT PROJECTS

This is another tip to immerse yourself in the activity than to find the style. But is that in inactive periods ... what will you find? Photography is taken by photographing. Having a photographic project in hand will keep your creativity busy and your camera at full capacity. Do not leave it in a stored drawer #telopidoporfavor If you do not know where to start with a project here you have steps to follow, here mistakes to avoid and here ideas.

6. FEEL PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Maybe I should have put this point first, it is so essential ... If you do not feel true passion for photography, if the only thing that moves you is the cutting-edge technology and it does not matter to you to have an SLR in the hands of a laptop or a video game and you are only interested in the latest news, if you shoot for shooting worrying more about the megapixels than what you are telling, if you feel lazy to shoot in manual existing the automatic, if your camera sees the light once a year, or if you do not find reasons to photograph, maybe you should rethink this hobby instead of looking for a style;). Or maybe you need some inspiration ?

7. DO NOT IMITATE

Finding your style is not imitating someone else's. It's okay to observe and study the work of others, to know what you like and what you don't. Admire even. But your style must be yours and only yours. But if you dedicate yourself to looking for it instead of walking slowly until you find it, it is easy for the fact to force the situation to take you to mere imitation. What can be useful is to reflect on your favorite photographers and photographers and study what they have in common. That will help you get to know you better.

8. ACCEPT AND ANALYZE THE CRITICISMS

Accepting and reflecting on criticism is always part of learning. Some can be painful, but any criticism that comes to you constructively and respectfully, keep that in mind. From outside it is easier to see what we do not see.

9. STUDY YOUR WORK

This exercise can help you to get to know your work better, because you still have your own style and have not yet noticed. Choose your favorite photographs, print them and put them together. What do they have in common? Surely there is a link between them, something that appears in each and every one of your favorite photos. The light, the minimalism, the order, the chaos, the emotion ...? Whatever they have in common, take note, here is the birth of your own style, exploit that part (without pressure ).

10. DO NOT LOOK FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE

This last tip I have already advanced, do not look for it, let it be he who finds you. It will end up doing it without you noticing, while enjoying the road, the landscape and the experiences. Savor photography without pressure, this freedom is the only way. Hopefully this article has clarified some doubts and has served to relax and enjoy a little more of this passion that unites us. If you think someone else might be interested, share it, please, and if you liked it, click on "Like" to find out if we are on the right path. Thank you and see you soon!

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