“Turbulence and Stability”; The rough, rocky shoreline of Georgian Bay, Image #SL9622
As I was processing this image this morning, I couldn’t help but think about all of the little decisions that went into why it looks the way it does. The tone, the composition, the angle, the use of elements, the subject matter, the processing, the lighting, the environment, the region, the place…. all of these things are factors that we develop as photographers as we continue to make more and more images. They develop into our tastes, our styles, and our preferences.
It makes you think about how each and every photograph is not simply influenced by the moment before us, but an influence of all the photographs that had come before it. That influence can range from rather subtle to glaringly obvious. However we try to define why we did what we did, we cannot deny that all of our previous photographs contributed in some way, in some small or large part, to that moment of the shutter click.
There is also an influence of photographs that we didn’t make ourselves. Photographs we have observed from others, inspirations, photographs we liked, photos we didn’t like. Sometimes this can be a positive influence, but it can also be quite negative. Imagine if you just simply copy another photograph. Knowing that photographs are these accumulations of the ones before it, doesn’t it feel personally empty? I know it does for me, because I have done it. Those photographs just don’t hold the same importance to me versus one developed from within. The historical connection is broken.
I think therein is part of the difficulty in teaching composition. It is impossible to impart on someone all of the influences you have had in your own photographs. The successes, the failures, the turns we take in one direction vs. another all contribute to the next decision we will make.
Like most decisions in life, our past experiences influence how we react to any particular situation. Each photograph is truly a reflection of the subject and the photographer. Each photograph becomes an accumulation of being ourselves.
Do you notice this in your own work?
I agree- composition is such an ephemeral thing- yes, you can learn the ‘rules’ of composition but I think over time it becomes almost an instinctive thing- you subconsciously and consciously ‘build’ a composition in your mind as well as viewfinder- its a magical, almost spiritual thing in my opinion.
I tend to agree Matt. I think it is important not to apply such “rules” in a formulaic manner, but more of an instinctive one.
Very interesting Mark and clearly shows that the photographic process goes way beyond just taking the picture.
This is an area photography, and life in general, that I am becoming ever more interested in. In many ways the technical side of photography is relatively easy, but the emotional aspect is where the real quality is created within our images.
The final image must reflect what we ‘saw’, and ‘seeing’ for me includes an awareness of all our senses. Very often when photographing a scene I will jot down my emotional feelings as well, happy, sad, excited etc.
Additionally, I will note things like, ‘salt spray on my face’, ‘wind through my hair’. I know this all sounds a bit arty but it works for me, it gives me the emotional ‘tools’ when it comes to sitting down to finally process the image.
Love photo by the way, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Best regards,
– Phil
Very well said, Mark. I couldn’t agree with you more, and now that you mention it, I do notice this in my own work. I just hadn’t been able to articulate it before now, and honestly I think this is the best and most concise explanation of this phenomenon I’ve seen.
I think that is a great explanation of why many people can go to the exact same place to take photographs and no two will look exactly alike and also why nobody could have gone there and come back with the exact same image you did. Even had they managed to put the tripod into the same holes and use the same lens, there are so many processing decisions that what we end up with is truly our own!
One of the benefits of having a photography blog and offline photo archives is the ability to go back and trace your own growth and progress over the months and years. Often I can see or remember what the influences were in my work at those moments in time. Sometimes change or progress is so slow and gradual it’s only apparent when viewed from afar.
“Each photograph is truly a reflection of the subject and the photographer.”
I would only add to your statement above “…at that moment.” As I grow older it becomes more apparent the flow of change, even if slow, is as constant as the tides.
Another wonderful post, Mark. I love how low the clouds appear and how they compliment the rocks in this photo.
Very good point Earl. Each photo is symbolic of our growth as photographers and people, which I hope are constantly changing processes. Thank you very much Earl.
Quite right. Composition is an evolving skill and as such is an accumulation of all past photographs that we have taken or witnessed. And I agree with Monte, the evolution comes from an extended circle of influences. My 12 year old daughter is a budding photographer and over the years since she first started shooting I have watched her sense of composition evolve into something quite beautiful and very much her own. I made a conscious decision not to teach her about composition (in terms of rules-of-thirds etc) because I wanted to see how it might naturally progress. Obviously, being only 12, it is still development-in-progress but it has been a fascinating journey for us.
Thanks for sharing that great example with your daughter Cedric. Perhaps in some ways her development as a photographer also comes through in your own work.
I think you can include the influence of writing from other photographers, or philosophers, or poets, conservationists, authors. The sharing of your thoughts has as big an impact on me as does your wonderful images. I have archived images that are my attempts at copying other images and yes the mean very little to me other than the practice it produced. So, when our images are the “one developed from within” it resonates with me. Love this image!
Thanks Monte!