opportunities & choices
opportunities & choices 35Making successful images requires both
inspiration and a grasp of the practicalities
that are needed to translate your concept
into a photograph. You must also be able to
communicate your intention to the viewer;
allowing your memories and
your experience of the
moment to color your
judgement of the image is a
common mistake. You need
to take a dispassionate look
at your photographs, trying to
imagine you are seeing them
for the first time. if you
remember a golden, late
summer’s afternoon, you
might feel the warmth and sunshine coming
through, because you were there to experience
it. But is this really reflected in your image, or
is your memory embellishing things?
A good understanding of technique will help
you master your vision and convey it in your
work, and this can be gained from workshops,
courses, and books. however, without motivation, a technician will never be an artist.
Knowing what you want to achieve is the first
step. study the style of photographers whose
work you admire. copying them can be useful,
as long as you regard it just as a starting point—
many of the greats have
done just that, before going
on to evolve their own style.
this chapter offers an
analytical approach to
themes, moods, and the
choice between black and
white and color. You’ll also
discover ways in which you
can exploit any unexpected
opportunities that arise, and
overcome the limitations that beset every
photographer, no matter how grand they may
be. clever use of settings will help you bring
a narrative element to your images, as will props.
even something as simple as a chair can be
used to enhance a story in different ways—
chosen perhaps for its distressed, rustic appeal,
or for its sleek modernity.Without
motivation,
a technician
will never be
an artist