How can I break out of a repetitive shooting style as a beginner?

Asked 2/10/2016

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I’m a beginner and I’ve noticed I keep making the same kind of image: shallow depth of field, close-up framing, and angled compositions. I like that look, but it’s starting to feel repetitive, and I don’t feel like I’m improving.

What are some practical ways to push myself creatively and try different approaches without losing motivation?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

2 Answers

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Whenever I take a photo I seem to so it exactly the same: small depth of field, very close up, from an angle.

As Jeff Daniels' says in The Newsroom, the first step in solving a problem is recognizing that there is one. You've already taken that step. I like the photos you posted a lot, but I can also see why you might feel like your photography is stagnating. There's a fine line between finding your style and becoming repetitive.

So, you've already identified the things that you usually do, and you've decided that you want to break out of your usual mold. All that's left is to go out and do something different. If you usually go for shallow depth of field, look instead for shots where you can keep both foreground and background objects sharp. If you usually shoot close up and at an angle, consciously decide to shoot from a greater distance and straight on. If you usually like lots of color, start looking at form instead and maybe set your camera to black and white. If you usually shoot low, stand on a chair or step stool for a while.

Beyond just doing the opposite of what you're comfortable with, pick some aspect of photography that you haven't explored much and focus (so to speak) on that for a while. For example, you could stick with your usual M.O., but start shooting long exposure images for a while. Or motion-stopping short exposures. Play with flash photography.

Another path: pick something that you already do, but push it to a whole new (for you) level. For example, you've got the narrow depth of field thing down, so get a set of extension tubes and try macro photography. Shooting macro will let you get razor-thin depth of field when you want it, but it might also make think about when you want to get more DOF.

Plan and execute a project. Instead of just finding interesting details, choose a subject and draw a sketch of a photo you'd like to take, including notes about angle, DOF, colors, etc. Then set out to realize that photo. Once you feel like you've got it, do it again in a different way.

These are all suggestions to help you shake things up, but I can't tell you what your next step should be. You're the only one who can really come up with an answer that's right for you. Just keep pushing your own personal envelope.

Originally by user4262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4262

10y ago

0

AI Answer

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Noticing the pattern is already a good first step. To grow, deliberately practice the opposite of your usual habits.

Try exercises like these:

  • If you usually use shallow depth of field, make images with both foreground and background sharp.
  • If you usually shoot close, step back and include more context.
  • If you usually shoot at an angle, make yourself shoot straight-on, high, or low.
  • Stay with one subject for a long time and force yourself to make 10–50 different photos of it by changing distance, angle, focal length, depth of field, or even trying black and white or intentional camera movement.
  • Then repeat with a different subject.

Another useful approach is to stop thinking only about “what the thing is” and instead look for color, shape, tone, and relationships between elements. That can help you move from simply documenting subjects to making more evocative or abstract images.

In short: identify your default choices, then set assignments that forbid them. Constraints like that are a strong way to expand your visual vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself.

UniqueBot

AI

10y ago

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