Creating Art through Photographs
Photography can be used in so many different ways. It can document passing events, describe things more thoroughly, make you see things in a different light, and it can even be playful, fun, unique, and a type of art. Many amateur photographers start out with perfecting their shots of ordinary subjects. Whether your aim is to take pictures of landscapes, buildings, pets, or food, you usually begin with things like light balance, aperture, and framing. After a while though, you may begin to get the urge to begin to push yourself further in your art. Some people turn to photo editing software at this stage, but there are also a lot of ways that you can have fun with the photos you take, simply playing around with angles, perspective, distance, and your vision.
Have a Single Idea
While it is possible to stumble onto a great photograph accidently, most often it will take vision and the dedication required to pursue one great idea until you get it right. To that end, try to figure out what it is you want to accomplish with your photos. Do you want to be Humorous? Fun? Abstract? Whatever it is, you can better achieve your results by focusing on one single element, then continuing to reach for it.
For example, you may want to create some humorous shots by playing with distance. This may be something like a glowing sunset may inspire you to take some pictures of people interacting with this ball of light, using it as a kickball or something they can hold in the palm of your hand. To get the shot you want, you’ll need to play with distance, positioning, and angles until you find a shot that works with your vision.
Experiment with Angles and Distance
It’s amazing what a slight change in direction, angle, or distance can do for a photograph. Most people are so used to taking pictures head on, that they never stop to think about what will happen if you turn 45 degrees. Remember that once you have your vision, that achieving it may require you to move and think in different ways than you ordinarily might have when photographing something similar.
Make Micro Changes
If things aren’t opening up for you the way you want, don’t be quick to scrape your idea. Instead, spend some time making micro changes to your field. Make a tiny change in your aperture, your distance, angle, or lighting. And keep making those changes until you’ve exhausted them; one of those tiny changes may be enough to push your idea into being, but you won’t know if you don’t try.
Create Something Unique
Making the leap from documenting to creating with your photography can be big and scary. It can also be extremely fun and rewarding once you make it. Start thinking of your photography as an art form and developing your ideas; you never know exactly where this journey could end up taking you and your pictures.