As? Unlearning photography?You'll be wondering if you've got the wrong blog, you're looking for one where you learn photography, Photographer's Blog, to be more exact ? Well, you're not wrong. You are in the right place, what happens is that today I am going to talk about a subject that at first shocks but is very necessary.
Once you have passed the initial fever of immersing yourself in the ocean of photography , you have discovered your favorite photographers, you have been inspired by them when shooting and you see that in your photographs there is a bit of their essence, it is the right moment to unlearn photography .
WHAT DOES UNLEARNING PHOTOGRAPHY MEAN?
What does this mean? Why should you unlearn what you have learned? It is very simple. When you fall into imitation, when your photos have more essence of others than yours (something that is much more common than you can imagine), it is time to stop, take a step back and take a run, that is, find your own essence, your own style. Like any other art, photography breathes from your personality, your experiences, your emotions and feelings, not from the photographer you admire.
I have a clear favorite on Instagram, many times you have seen his photos as an example in articles that I share on the blog, it is about Emilio Chulia. I like his style and the type of photographs he takes so much that without realizing it, when I shoot with my mobile I end up looking for that style. It's funny because when I photograph with the SLR it doesn't happen to me...
Well, as much as I marvel at your gallery and admire your own style, I must find my own, find my way and photograph with my heart and not with your eyes. And if something similar happens to you (think about it because this is not something you easily realize) you should consider taking that step back.
BUT HOW DO I DO IT?
Once you have recognized "the problem" ;P it is time to put a solution to it. Be careful, that does not mean that you can never be inspired again by life in his work or that you throw away a good photo because it is of that style, but to find your own. What can you do to find your own style? Well, here are some tips.
1. Feel free. It's time to start skipping rules, aesthetics, composition rules and your own, those that you have imposed to look like Pepito or Pepita. Let your hair down and transgress the rules . You've already learned them, haven't you? No!? Ahem, ahem… Then you will have to take not one, but two steps back. Know the composition rules first (here are some basic rules and composition mistakes to avoid ). Only when you have learned to master them will you be ready to skip them.) And now yes, we can continue. Skip Them, Make Creative Photo Mistakes, have fun, experiment, look for a reason and propose to take ten completely different photos and I don't mean just change the perspective, but also the lighting, the shutter speed, the depth of field, the color, the movement, the decoration, etcetera, like if you want to shoot doing the bridge handstand ;P .
2. Do exercises. I suggest you do a lot of photography exercises (for example these 100 that we proposed to you from the blog). Practicing not only helps you improve the quality of your photographs, it also helps you discover what type of photography you like the most, with which you feel most comfortable, the one that allows you to combine your own style the most. Maybe you prefer short distances instead of big scenes, or discover your vocation for photography in landscapes , or even decide to dive into the , or even decide to immerse yourself in black and white.with no intention of return. The only way to find out where your place is is to visit it. The only way to decide to stay in it is by being there. Staying in the art of photographing your family will only limit you and prevent you from discovering new photographic worlds (and for the record that I am in love with portraits ? , but maybe you think that is what you like the most and you discover that you don't It is so, of course, to achieve that discovery you must explore.
3. Spontaneity. Sometimes your best photographs are not behind a great organization, or a very elaborate planning, much less behind an imitation. The moment is on countless occasions what is full of magic, beauty. Having your camera always at hand and shooting without thinking, with your purest instinct can give you your most beautiful images, the ones that are "yours", the ones that are full of your essence. Don't think about it too much and shoot (there will be time to put the straight lines in the editor ;P ). Here are two examples of spontaneous momentum.
4. Choose a theme. Think of a topic that inspires you especially. It can be music, the sea, pastries, hands or whatever you want. Think about it for a few days, you don't need to decide right now. Take your time and choose a subject that you want to dedicate time to, that you know inspires you, that other times you have wanted to photograph without coming to mind or without knowing why (maybe it gives you cracks in the wall, so go ahead). The choice is so personal that anything is worth it. Once you choose that subject, you have creative freedom to shoot. Don't think about anything or anyone else. Just the subject, your camera and you. Look for that theme wherever you go and try to tell through your camera what it is that inspires you, what stirs you inside, what makes you feel.
5. Park your fears. Your camera is a piece of equipment that has cost you its own, I know. Maybe you are afraid that it will break down and it will be difficult for you to get it out of the house. Have you thought about the amount of images you can lose if you overprotect it? It is one thing to take care of your team and quite another to lock it up and deprive it of spectacular situations and deprive yourself of having fun. Taking it to the beach or photographing weather phenomena (with minimal care) is not crazy, it is a necessity that your creativity has. Have you thought that maybe your photographic style is hidden behind the raindrops ? ? Your own style is not within the four walls of your house, there is your physical home, not your photographic stamp,Go out and discover the world so that the world can discover you.
6. Stop reading and go outside. You have already read enough, it is time for you to have a chat with your camera, a "one on one", tell it what you expect of it, that it be your faithful companion, your right hand, your instrument to create and go out into the street to find your inspiration. Have fun and don't stop feeling. Your seal will be more likely inside your heart than in your eyes, it's time to close your eyes and open your heart .
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