CONQUERING CREATIVE CHALLENGES

Your biggest challenge, being a photographer, whether hobbyist or pro, isn’t technical or even organisational but creative. Too much of both the former can hinder true creativity, it’s true but true creativity, the kind that leads to your best work, isn’t about getting out and trying to capture something ‘original’ and it isn’t trying quirky techniques or filters.

It’s actually much more simple than that.

Photography, in its infancy was a means to ‘record’ real life. It wasn’t anything more than a tool of documenting observation. Of people. Of places. A moment in time before it changed and was lost. It was completely free and straightforward in its nature and its purpose.

I feel that so many photographers are so full of rules and techniques and concepts that they forget to just be in the moment. Just take a picture without having to pause to ensure ‘rule of thirds’ or ‘focus stack’ your way to sharpness.

The evolution of photography has taken it a long way from its beginnings and that growth has led to amazing developments in technology and knowledge which allows greater opportunities of the photographer but in the process we have lost the sense of spontaneity, of being in the moment, unhindered by composition choices or focal length.

I often envy street photographers. They have it as pure as it can be in modern times in regard to photography. Observe, capture, repeat. No deliberation. No hesitation. Just see, photograph and move on. It doesn’t matter if you get it perfectly sharp or framed. It’s all about capturing a moment.

I take time to apply that to work that way whenever possible and it’s such a liberating, freeing, thing to do for your creativity.

I wish more photographers would do this. Whenever I see or talk to others about lacking inspiration or motivation. The answer is not to be found on social media.

But it’s all about the light, right? Of course. Without good light we can’t begin to realise a strong image. But when that light is perfect, just take the picture. Don’t bother with long exposures, or stacking focus. Don’t hunt for foreground interest or change angles ‘just in case’ - just frame it, take the picture and move on. Job done.