On The Importance of Developing Your Creative Vision

With all the cool technology spiraling around us, it is incredibly easy to get caught up in the numbers and specs of our favorite gadgets and devices. Moreover, we seem to always want the newest and the fastest of everything, standing on the flimsy rationale that they will make our lives so much better in every way imaginable.

For photographers, this rationale is a distraction at best, a monolith of an obstacle at worst. If you are unhappy with or uninspired by the photographs you are currently producing, the answer is not to buy new stuff; that will only serve to lighten your pockets, while providing no real solution to your ordeal. So, if your ultimate goal is to create photos that you (and your audience) truly enjoy, photos that grab the attention of all who view them, photos that encourage more than a passing glance, then learning to “see” may just be the shot in the arm that you need as a photographer.

Sight Beyond Sight

Most of us are so accustomed to looking at our everyday environment that it all manages to become very ordinary. We’re used to the same buildings, trees, sidewalks, fences, and other structures being there everyday and we fail to see these things in any other context. We don’t assign any other meaning to these things than what is on the surface. 

But the fact is, nearly everything we see possesses some degree of aesthetic appeal and is worth photographing. The key is to pay enough attention to a particular subject so that you can see more than what everyone else sees when they encounter it. Give a thorough visual examination to whatever it is you are looking at; find its particular charm, look for unique flaws. Study all the parts that make up the whole; instead of standing back and getting a shot of the whole car, move in and have a look at the hood ornament or the taillights or even the stitching of the upholstery. No matter what the subject is, give it a holistic treatment and maximize its potential.

It Starts at Home

Many photographers, when looking for inspiration, fall into the trap of thinking they have to travel to some exotic location to encounter anything worth photographing. While trekking the globe with a camera should be an opportunity any photographer would jump at, it’s not a requirement for great photography. In fact, there are likely to be a wealth of fascinating subjects right under your nose. Again, it’s about truly seeing and valuing what is around you. When was the last time you took a stroll through your own neighborhood or town just as the sun was rising? Or late at night? Or after it rained? Each of these situations is sure to provide you with a wide range of photographic opportunities.

Making Good

Just about anyone can become reasonably proficient at the technical aspects of photography; learn the rules of aperture and shutter speed and you’ll get a good exposure, learn the rule of thirds and you’ll get a good composition. Press the shutter and voila!. You’ve got yourself a photograph. Is that good enough, though? Will be satisfied with a ho-hum photo? 

Frankly, always following the rules gets boring. Your creative vision should come first. When you begin to apply a unique interpretation of the rules to your unique way of seeing the world around you, you will find yourself doing what all photographers aspire to do: making photographs.

None of this will happen overnight. Art takes time. Be patient with yourself and accept the pace at which you learn and develop. But rest assured, learning to see the extraordinary in the ordinary will expand your world and open up photographic possibilities in ways you couldn’t have previously imagined.