Very Simple Attitude Required
Making photos is easy. It’s everything around it that’s difficult.
It’s experiences that lead to the moment of transcendence when in the middle of the blur around you and the chaos of living, something appears, ready for the viewfinder.
Photography is often perceived to be the world viewed through the simplistic lens of shutter speeds and aperture settings. The truth is that it has a greater depth extending into the world of human knowledge and experience. Getting beyond the fundamental skills reveals a universe where psychology, philosophy, mathematics, science, poetry, and a rich visual vocabulary converge to create stories, emotions, and connections.
Understanding the human psyche is paramount for photographers. Especially if you’re trying to capture photos that resonate on an emotional level, that are evocative. The psychology behind perception, attention, and emotion guides the viewfinder.
Philosophy wants us to question and reflect on the human condition. Through a study of psychology, photographers learn to fashion their work with greater depth and meaning. A philosophical underpinning elevates photography from documentation to a form of visual poetry.
Photography shares with poetry a reliance on rhythm, contrast, and imagery. Understanding the language of poetry—metaphor, symbol, and meter—can be inspirational for photographers to see beyond the literal, to capture not just images, but emotions and narratives, crafting photos that linger in the mind like verses of a poem.
A strong visual vocabulary is crucial in photography requiring an understanding of art history, visual arts principles, and the evolution of photographic styles. Building this vocabulary involves extensive exposure to a wide range of visual media, including paintings, films, and photographs. This enables photographers to use a rich palette of influences in their work.
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You should also consider subscribing to The Westerville News and PhotoCamp Daily. My Final Photo News also recommends Civic Capacity and Into the Morning by Krista Steele.