Four big myths about photography
[I’m still deviating from my “usual” discussions of erotic photography. As I said last time, this is where my head has been lately - thinking about some things I learned long ago about photography and art in general. I thought I would share them with you.]
Last time I wrote about finding your voice and your own style. Most artists go through a phase where they are copying, to some extent, a style they like. Eventually their own style emerges.
For photographers, there are many misunderstandings about getting better. And there are a few myths that may hinder the development of your own style and finding your voice.
Here are four of the biggest myths.
1. You shouldn’t make photographs that have been “done” before.
Ha! Don’t make me laugh! If this myth were suddenly true, photography would come to a screeching halt! You can, and should, photograph things that have been photographed before. Seek ideas from the work of other photographers, preferably photographers better than you. If you can imitate a photo that inspires you, or even copy it exactly, you are on your way to developing your art and finding your own voice.
2. Studying the works of past masters will keep you from developing your own style.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Studying the masters will inspire you to develop your own ideas, style and direction.
Don’t fall into the childish idea that you wont study the works of the great photographers because you want to “do everything” yourself and get all the credit for your accomplishments. If that’s how you approach photography, your photographs will forever look amateurish and your style undeveloped.
Imagine someone who wants to be a physicist but has this attitude. Instead of studying physics, they sit in a room, waisting time developing the law of gravity, unaware that it is explained in every beginning college physics textbook.
Don’t waste your precious time. Study the great photographers, or at least photos that you like, and build on what they have done.
3. You must travel to exotic lands and find subjects that have very restricted access by other photographers or your photographs will be boring.
I’ve got news for you: it’s not what or where you photograph, it’s how and why you photograph.
I once saw an exhibition by a woman who got interested in photography when she was a bored housewife. For her exhibition, she didn’t travel to the jungles of Bali to take pictures of subjects that had never been photographed before. The photos in her exhibition were all taken in her house, the subjects were household items. The photos were meticulous in their composition, detail and lighting. They were beautiful and touching. They told of her daily life and her passion for elevating common items to fine art.
4. Good photography is a matter of talent and instincts.
This is perhaps the most damaging myth of all, and is pervasive in all art. But in photography it’s particularly ubiquitous, and singularly damaging to developing photographers. Photography has been called the great democratic art form. Anyone can take a picture. It’s so easy, especially with today’s inexpensive, automatic, computerized cameras. It’s easy to believe that good photographers are good because they have “talent and instincts.”
“Talent” and “instincts” are traits that are useful to becoming a photographer. Other useful traits are powers of observation, attention to detail, and curiosity. But these traits do not make a good photographer any more than a sense of rhythm, a good ear for tones, and good manual dexterity make you a good musician.
Just like all other art forms, good photography is primarily a matter of commitment, experience, practice, study and plain old hard work. The most accomplished photographers have one thing in common: single-minded determination.
One thing I learned long ago is that there are no part-time photographers among the world’s elite. That tells you something about the power of determination and work.
- RAP
