5 Techniques to Keep Creative Juices Flowing
We all love to capture images that affect people on an emotional level. In order to do this, it is necessary for us to harness both the technical side of photography and the creative aspects of art and the visual mediums. Sometimes, it can be difficult to find a creative idea, we try and we fall short. It can be frustrating and disheartening to try to come up with something original and high quality. For those of us who find ourselves in a slump from time to time, here are some tips and techniques you can consider that might get you over the slump.
The Magic in the Field of View
As photographers, we have to keep in mind that people will only see what we allow them to see. The world of photography lives in the field of view. Therefore, when creating images or frozen moments of time, the viewer will only see what we allow them to see. Most photos tell some sort of story, a timeline, or through-line for the viewer to interpret. Creativity lay in finding another way to tell the story. A striking photo can be one in which something is missing that is expected or something is included which is not expected. By looking at the components of the image as a story and then controlling how much of that story is told through the lens, we end up discovering something magical. Oh would that this would be the rule instead of the exception!
Rules are Meant to Be Broken…Sometimes
Creative shots can and do follow the basic rules of photography. Things like headroom, nose room, the Rule of Thirds, diagonal lines, composition, and cropping can all work together to create a really interesting and unique image. However, there are times when you should break the rules. In fact, if you find yourself at a creative plateau, you might consider simply throwing away all or some of the normal rules. You might simply end up with a bunch of gunk, but you might stumble upon something really nice as well. Experiment with bending and breaking some of your normal rules as look at the results, if nothing else, you might find inspiration for a great idea.
Get Out of your Comfort Zone
If you normally shoot a certain style of photography, something like landscapes, then you might consider switching things up a bit and take some time to shoot something other than landscapes. Human beings are creatures of habit and as such, we tend to continue to do the same things much of time. If you take yourself out of your normal comfort zone, you will be forced to look at things a bit different. It might even be that you find inspiration in the unfamiliar territory that will be able to transfer back to your area of passion. Pushing your boundaries and limits is a great way to get your creative juices flowing.
Lose the Lights
It is easy for photographers to start to depend upon external lighting sources to create our images. We are constantly looking for ways to get just the right exposure and just the right lighting. Experiment with using a single light source instead of the entire kit. Think in terms of shadow. The use of pools of shadow, varying degrees of light and light angles can add a great deal of drama to your images. Taking time to think your shots through and using shadow and light to reveal what you desire is a great exercise that can lead to some very awe-inspiring photos. While this type of shooting is very specific, similar to film noir lighting, you can learn a great deal about painting with shadow and apply it to another area.
Play with Speed
One of the camera settings that many photographers tend to use sparingly is the shutter speed. However, if we use this tool properly, we can achieve some very compelling images. Slowing down the shutter speed for longer exposures can produce striking results. Try locking down your camera on the tripod at night outside your home with all of the outdoor lights turned off and setting your shutter speed for 30 seconds. Turn on a handheld flashlight and start your exposure while you point the flashlight at various areas of your home. The result will look very different from what you might expect. Think about what settings you could change to make the image even more dramatic, consider adding a color gel over the flashlight. Play with it. You can achieve similar results by speeding up the shutter with fast motion events. Try to freeze the wings of a hummingbird, or the blades of a helicopter in flight. Play with it.
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