Creative Digital Photography – Is Your Photography “Up to Snuff?” by Dan Eitreim
Once we’ve moved past the initial basics of knowing the way our cameras operate… once the “photo bug” has bitten – we photo junkies all want even more creative digital photography. (Assuming you use a digital camera system – if not, you’ll want more eye popping film photographs! )
Let’s face it we’ve all been there. We look at the pictures we run across in books and magazines, then we look at our photos and something is missing. The beginnings are present, a good exposure setting, the right shutter setting, sharp focus and so on, but it just doesn’t compare.
Afraid You Don’t Have The “Creative” Gift?
Sure there are geniuses out there! Maybe a handful scattered throughout the world. Compared to them, our work can never compete. (No one else’s will either!) But usually, we aren’t comparing our work to that tiny bunch… we are typically comparing our photography to the standard production of average, everyday Joes who generally are NOT more creative than we are.
Generally, our first thought is that we just don’t possess the “creative” gift! As normal people do, we tend to discount our own work, and overvalue the artwork of others.
Creative digital photography can be TAUGHT.
The only difference between our work and theirs is that they’ve been taught how to put their creative vision into the camera – and we haven’t.
Keep in mind, creativity CAN be learned! And it’s fairly simple and FAST!
The secret is doing the same things they do. By that, I mean… When you shoot the same subjects, in similar conditions, with the same settings they are using, you will end up with the identical results.
It must happen! The camera is inanimate. It doesn’t care who pushes the shutter. It’s not going to work better for one photographer over any other. It doesn’t wonder who is studying the scene through the viewfinder.
If we copy the others correctly, we’ll be shooting the same quality work they are, in no time.
Here’s how…
When you discover a shot you admire, cut it out of the magazine and glue it into your photo notebook. You are keeping a photo notebook, right? Almost all of the top photographers do!
now, closely study the photograph. Attempt to figure out what the lighting situation was. What time of day it was shot, how many and directionality of the lights (reflectors and mirrors are light sources too ). Guess at the focal length of the lens. Did they use a tripod, what was the aperture, shutter speed and so on?
Now, record ALL this information in your journal.
Now it’s time to test.
Grab your camera and attempt to duplicate the photo. Test your theories on the way they got the photograph. The ideas that get you nearer to success, make a note of them in your notebook. Record the ideas that don’t work out too!
While you move closer and closer to the wanted finished result, you’ll be having a lot of fun and discovering a TON of new photography techniques.
Sooner or later, you WILL achieve the finished photo you wanted. It doesn’t take long. Paste YOUR shot in your journal, with all the assorted technical details. Now, you will forever be able to re-create that shot! Just by looking at your notes! You’ve now discovered the secret to being creative!
Every time gets easier.
Then, repeat the process with another photo you admire. Each time you do this exercise, you will add a new creative technique to your photo arsenal. And, it gets easier to do because you are building on what you’ve learned in prior experiments.
So, there is the formula for creative digital photography. Try it, you’ll like it. Before you know it, you will be creating digital photography any time you want.
About the Author
To learn more about creative digital photography, and get a FREE copy of my e-book: “7 Secrets To Creating Stunning Photos!” Check out my website at:
http://www.OnTargetPhotoTraining.com
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