Learning to shoot creatively

I've recently finished reading the books Understanding Exposure and Learning to See Creatively and I think I understand the basics of both - moreso for the exposure book however. Yet I still seem to have a problem in going out and finding that something to shoot and shooting in a good perspective. Any suggestions for getting this eye for photography - besides the age old just practice - b/c that hasn't seemed to work so far. Thanks

What I found to help me was to take the same shot from different perspectives. Since it costs nothing to take the picture, I would take several pics of each subject. I even took pics from perspectives that I didn't like. I was then able to identify perspectives that worked and didn't and that were more creative than others. I was amazed how lying on the ground could transform a fairly mundane subject into something more intriguing. That and practice were my biggest helps.

firstly, you need to know what interest you. such as landscape/animals/macros....etc. then go out and shoot away...as per the previous post...initially you may need to take a lot of pics of the same subject with different angles and composition. you will eventually figure a style or 'eye' that you will like.

eventually, you will get this eye and you will start seeing everything as if you are looking thru a viewfinder, even if you don't have your camera with you.

the main thing is establish what you like to shoot first. after awhile, you may need to give yourself challenges/topics to shoot.

hoped that was what you were asking or looking for.

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http://www.pbase.com/antidote3

The various photo challenges (i.e., "post your shots") can be useful. Instead of scanning your hard drive for something that fits, go out and shoot something specifically with the challenge in mind. Use it as a kind of photo assignment.

I think one of the problems everyone faces is the enormity of subject choices. There are so many possibilities, you can wind up not really seeing any of them. If you go out looking for something in particular, it can help narrow your focus. Then you can apply some of the ideas from the books you mention.

Another possibility is to go somewhere private, sit down, and spend some time evaluating and shooting things. These forums can be a great source of inspiration, but they can also put pressure on you. You see great landscape vistas, exotic birds/animals, fantastic architecture, great event shots, etc. You can easily get the impression you have to be somewhere important to get a good photo. There are great shots all around you. Before you go out chasing photo opportunities, spend some time in your back yard, or on the street where you live. You'll be more relaxed, and possibly more open to ideas.

Lastly pick something -- anything -- and try and shoot it from as many angles and camera settings as you can think of. Again, it helps if you can devote some uninterrupted time to this exercise. Try to capture the texture of your subject in some shots. Then color, etc. After doing this for a while, you might be surprised at the things you didn't see initially.

Tom

As the other posts state Perspective, Look LOW, get on the ground, Also Look up! at the details in old buildings, the tree tops, etc.. Lay on the ground. example, I wanted a picture of the ceiling of a RR roundhouse so I layed flat on my back in the center of the floor to get my shot, Sure my family quickly went the other way and other people stared at me but I got the shot I wanted! Look at postcards and think how you could capture it from a differnt perspective, BE DIFFERENT. It will come to you without you realizing it.
DON'T GIVE UP.

On of the things that might help you is to pay attention to others work. Go to a bookshop and spend some time browsing through the photography section, you'll find lots of artists who seem to see the world from totally new viewpoints. Take a moment to really look into the photos you like best, and try to identify what makes them so appealing.

This is not to say that you should copy them, but it will definelety make you aware of other choices regarding composition and perspective. When out shooting try to remember what made some of the photos you saw so appealing and get a feel to what the scene you're about to photograph requires requires. Absolutely do not be afraid to shoot from really "weird" angles, experiment, experiment, experiment

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Duarte Lourenço, Portugal

http://kidcabide.deviantart.com/gallery/

hi

The first thing you have to realise is nobody (not even the best) just switches on creativity and produces genius photographs to order.

Good pics can come from a variety of sources but only intermittently. Many people take thousands of shots to find just a few that are long term keepers. The trick is to try and arrange things so you get a higher success rate.

Personally, I have found that one can wander around for hours completely bereft of ideas or inspiration then by sheer luck hit upon a combination of subject and light that makes a picture out of nothing.

But chance favours the prepared mind so it helps to have a well practised bag of photographic tricks at your disposal that you can dip into when the perfect subject arrives. Knowing the effects of different lenses, shooting positions and angles, exposure, shutter speed and aperture etc etc gives you the best chance to maximise the opportunity.

But the larger question remains - how to start, how to find the opportunities. One of the problems is that we get paralysed by the sheer number of options. I think there are a few things you can do to provide a framework:

1. Look at pictures you like and compile a collection of inspirational shots of certain subjects or styles that move you. Then you can refer to them and concentrate your mind on a narrower range of possibilities.

You can find inspiring images by trawling through books, mags or online. Remember copyright obligations though!

2. Focus on a specific theme or subject for a while - try some of the challenges often run on these forums or go for a photo competition.

3. Try shooting a hundred shots using a specific technique (say narrow depth of field, motion blur etc). Concentrating your mind in this way can help.

4. Follow the light. Lighting is often what makes or breaks a shot. The same subject under different light often makes completely different shots.

Generally, it is a lot easier to get great shots early or late in the day. The low slanted light at these times provide shadows and shading to subjects that would be flat and uninteresting at noon. The lower light brings out the depth and colour in skies for instance.

5. Plan ahead.

Just rushing out when the sun shines rarely produces much dividend as you end up thinking" where to go, what to do".

It can help to identify a location in advance and make a trip of it. Again, it is just a trick to narrow the possibilities and concentrate the mind.

Good luck!

goldenkah2 said:

I've recently finished reading the books Understanding Exposure and
Learning to See Creatively and I think I understand the basics of
both - moreso for the exposure book however. Yet I still seem to
have a problem in going out and finding that something to shoot
and shooting in a good perspective. Any suggestions for getting
this eye for photography - besides the age old just practice - b/c
that hasn't seemed to work so far. Thanks

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