[caption id="attachment_6610" align="alignright" width="300" caption="With so much photography out there, what should you be looking at? (flakphoto.com)"]
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It would be very easy for me to sit here and rant about how people take too many damn pictures with their digital cameras and spread them across the internet faster than the bubonic plague. Sadly, I think the diarrhea that is the world of online photo galleries has done more damage to society than the plague did in the 1300's. In today's world, bragging about being a photographer is like bragging about breathing So in a world full of people breathing, some more heavily than others, what will make you stand out? How can you rise to the top level and separate yourself from all of the other people with a functioning set of lungs? Sorry to disappoint you gear-heads out there, but the answer isn't going to be a new toy. No D3x, Tilt-Shift Lens, or fancy lighting setup/accessory is going to be your saving grace. Sure we could argue all day about the importance of gear, but this isn't a chicken vs egg debate in my opinion. Knowing the technical aspects of photography will help you make better decisions in a pinch and of course help you achieve better images, but it is utterly useless without a strong idea. So what photographers should you be looking at? Well wether you're new to photography or a seasoned pro in a rut, here are five quick tips to get the gears in your head turning.
1. Look at the Masters
Just like any other creative media, photography has a deep history of masters and pioneers who worked to advance the medium. I am not suggesting to look at Matthew Brady to learn how to make better portrait or war documentary photographs. Times have changed, but there is important historical context to be learned about photographers from the past. I mean they aren't called masters just because it sounds nice. Much of their work is in black and white, but that doesn't mean you should instantly switch all of your photography to black and white. It was a technical limitation at the time, but it is interesting to see how photographers worked around this and still created powerful images. Composition is a timeless aesthetic and I'll just throw out a couple names here if you are interested in portraiture: Arnold Newman and August Sander. I am not even that big on portrait photography, but I absolutely love the way those two photographers connected with and captured their subjects. So even though I am about to (spoiler alert) suggest sticking to looking at photographers in the same genre that you are interested in, inspiration can truly come from any source.
[caption id="attachment_6608" align="alignright" width="217" caption="Last photograph of Lincoln ever taken, by Matthew Brady"]
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2. Visit Galleries
If you live in the NJ/NYC metro area, you are very fortunate to be literally minutes away from a lot of art galleries. Take advantage of this. There is nothing quite like seeing printed photographs in person. Simply looking at photographs online does not do justice to good photography. As time goes on more people take printed images for granted, but to me they will always be more powerful than staring at a screen. Art will always be subjective. You should never feel like you have to "like" every single thing you see in a gallery just because it is in a gallery. There is much to be learned from artists who you don't "like," even if it is simply understanding why an artist chose their specific approach to express an idea. Much of the work out there today is conceptual, I would argue sometimes overly so, but this doesn't mean that it is totally useless. There is usually a strong social message behind much of the work that appears in popular fine art galleries and even if you disagree with that message, it will make you think about how you approach your personal work. Also don't limit yourself to just looking at photography. I have found inspiration in many paintings, sculptures, and installations.
3. Look at the work of contemporary photographers in your "field"
Even though I think there is something valuable to learn from many different types of photographers, it is often best to focus on the ones who are creating images in the field you are trying to pursue. If you are an aspiring wedding photographer, you should look at the work of other successful wedding photographers! It really isn't that complicated and again you don't have to "like" their work. You can even hate it, but take a logical approach, maybe there is something from their business model or advertising method that you could try. No matter how hard you try, there will always be someone out there who you view as "better" than you. Instead of letting this be a discouragement, use this as raw inspiration to make yourself better. Don't be afraid to dislike work either. If you think something is utter trash, use your right to discriminate what work that is beneficial for you to look at. If you truly dislike something so much, chances are you will spend more time criticizing it instead of focusing on your own personal growth.
4. Avoid "Camera Clubs"
I know I am going to get some flak for this tip, but let me explain. Camera Clubs have very specific guidelines by which they judge photographs. If you are interested in photographing in this particular manner, by all means join a camera club and follow the advice and methods of others. I am not personally opposed to this at all, but I think it is very limiting. Most of you out there would be much better suited finding "meetup" groups or hands-on workshops which are much more relaxed. Many of our customers that have attended our workshops/classes together have become friends and share ideas and critiques with each other. In my opinion this is a much better way to network with other photographers who share the same interests and enjoy the same type of photography that you do. Their input on your work will be much more valuable than some stranger who is using an archaic set of technical rules to judge your photography.
[caption id="attachment_6609" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Plenty of Art Galleries in NYC"]
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5. Don't copy!
Yes this entire post is about gaining inspiration from other photographers, but there is a big difference between using the work of others as inspiration and flat out copying. Copying someone's exact image or lighting setup can be a good technical exercise to learn the way light works, but it is never original and although potentially useful for educating yourself, work done this way should be for your eyes only. Presenting what is essentially someone else's photography as part of your portfolio is fraudulent and unrewarding. Of course it is natural to take some elements from photographs you see. After all when left to our own initial aspirations, no one is an amazing photographer at first. Chances are you saw something "better" than the photographs you had taken, and it made you want to improve. This core emotion is something photographers often lose sight of as their work improves, but its imperative if you wish to truly keep advancing your own work.
Bottom Line
Just like any other artist, a photographer needs inspiration to get their creative juices flowing. Sure you have your own ideas, they should always be paramount, but always be aware of what other photographers are producing. There is often a certain elitist attitude that comes handcuffed as baggage when you become a relatively "good" (not great) photographer. As photographers we suffer from the pandemic of worrying over wether everyone "likes" our photography. As photographers we tend to spend a lot of time thinking about how we are viewed by the rest of the world. On one level this is simply a natural reaction. After all photographs are a very personal creation, they are an extension of how your eye sees the world, but enough of the warm fuzzy stuff. Sometimes your photographs are just plain bad compared to how you want them to be viewed. They may be a big improvement for you, but lacking overall. Zack Arias does a good job explaining that at some point "everyone sucked" at photography. Never take critique of your work personally, it will never get you anywhere.