The Art of Photography - An Artist Inside You

KINSTON 10, Jamaica - June 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Photography; what is it and what does it mean? What does it mean to the photographer and most importantly, the subject? Myriad answers could be contrived based on the questions posed. It may be subjective, depending on a variety of factors, yet for me there is one protrusion which is fundamentally evident, 'It Is Preservation'. The preservation of moments, emotions and all that exists which was not meant to be ceased;indefinitely.That's what it does; it retains the past and taunts the future. Such a gift, yet it is that which many philosophers have despised on the premise of its nature; like the mind it brings the past to the future.

Everyone believes that they can take a picture, hence that makes them a photographer. Sure, anyone can take a photo. Synonymously, anyone can paint, but will that painting be something of an avant garde degree or of prime standard? Though such is dependent on the observer and one's perception of acceptance, question is... will your work separate you from the herd?

Photography is art, being artistic is not a skill, it is a talent. A skill is inculcated, facilitated and developed by man. Talent on the other hand can be described as being innate, instilled by God. A person cannot be taught creativity, no one teaches creativity, what you believe to have been taught was already innate to you. You however, can be taught the process to exude creativity, but that process is not what gives you creativity.

The quintessential photographer bears many accolades, he is not just an artist or visual composer but also a technical savant and lighting director.

Talent is not what operates a DSLR camera in manual mode, those are skills inculcated, facilitated and developed. You were not born with the knowledge of operating a camera, however it could easily be proven from an early age that you possessed artistic abilities without the interference of mankind's notions and precepts. This is where skill meets talent, hence photography is at the apex of artistic composition. In no other facet of still artistry is the skill required to operate tool, combined with talent as exhaustive and immense as with that of photography.

An artist picks up a brush, mixes his paint, selects surface and constructs his composition. The brush and paint represent his tool. Simple tools which do not require any form of advance understanding to operate.

A photographer picks up his camera, turns it on, selects his composition, frames shot, sets his ISO, adjusts F. Stop, increase-decrease shutter exposure time, adjust focal length (exclusive of lighting setup)...snap!

Of course the principal factor between the two would be the time it takes to construct the image. There are many strengths and weaknesses with both aspects. However an artist mainly operates on the basis of pure talent, without the requirement of skills. It is worth understanding therefore, that even if a person is a talented artist with an abundance creative thoughts, it is no good to him as a photographer if his skills of operating a camera are inadequate.

Similarly, a person who lacks creativity/artistry but is highly skilled with the understanding and operation of a camera may often end up in what is known as, "photographer's rut/block" having few or no ideas of his own to construct compositions.

Do not allow yourself to be defined by the parameters of mankind, good taste is what keeps you average and undervalued. If you want to exude excellence, keep that quote in mind. It came to me whilst observing the work of some of two of the world's most accomplished and creative photographers, Seb Janial & Karl Taylor.

Create your own sphere of excellence and let others marvel in awe. Step outside the sphere of social conditioning and precepts of mankind which has taught you, "Yes, this is how things work and this is what defines true standards of perfection." Nonsense! It is those standards that have worked to inadvertently limit you your entire life, those cultured beliefs have restrained you like reins to a horse. If you allow yourself to be defined by the standards others have set for you, or that which you have been taught, then I'm sorry, you've been deposited deep in the rabbit hole of societal conditioning. Enlist your mind to think in an unorthodox manner, do not allow yourself to be confined and confused like rats in a labyrinth.

There is a creativity in you, whether born of talent or inculcated skills.
Therefore my fellow reader, the secret to the creativity and excellence in you is already within you, even if it is NOT a God given talent.

Strip back the layers and at the core of the best photographers and you will find: Diligence in assimilation of information, amalgamation of ideas, a lack of good taste (Uncultured Perspective) and for some, there is the addition of talent.

Source

Photography - courtesy of http://www.lexonproductions.com (Jamaica Wedding Photography (http://www.lexonproductions.com))