The Creative Eye

I don’t want to burst your bubble, but you know those pictures that just scream “creativity”?  The ones you look at and are amazed at how something so simple could have such an impact?  How did he/she even notice that pattern, that minute detail, or that perfect moment?  They are born with it.

Sorry.

But don’t panic!  Chances are, if you are reading this, you have that spark; you are a creative individual.  It’s that instinct inside you that made you pick up your camera and go looking to express yourself.  Now you just have to figure out how far the creative ladder you have climbed – all you need is a foundation.  Here are some suggestions on steps you can take to improve your creative eye.

The Physical

When you are shooting, there are physical things you can do to switch things up and kick your creativity into gear, such as:

Rotate Your Camera – It seems really basic and obvious, but when I look at my photos, 85% of them are portrait style; I completely ignore landscape.  Shooting vertically vs horizontally gives you a completely opposite feel and you will be surprised at how different a landscape may seem in a north-south orientation; likewise when shooting a portrait east-west.

Get Up and Get Down – If your knees are still in working order, there is no excuse not to change your levels of height.  Crouch, lie down, stand on a chair, climb a tree… whatever you have to do to change your perspective.  I love lying down and taking a picture that makes the world appear big.  They should make a movie out of it: “Honey, I Shrank the Photographer!” (Rick Moranis will not play me)  And while standing on a bench may draw attention to what you are doing, a higher vantage point can be quite advantageous.

Take Your Eye Off the Ball – In most cases, my eye is glued to my viewfinder whenever I am taking a picture.  In general, the quality of your shot greatly increases if you are looking right at it.  That said, taking your camera away from your face can have its advantages.  Your hands work a little differently when they are not close to your eyes, and you will get different angles, perspectives, and unique moments not captured from a stable standing position.  While I would not use this technique to shoot an entire wedding, I’ve had some great results that have made me very happy.  Even though your basic standing position provides the needed stability to take the majority of your shots, the nimbleness of being able to move your camera freely makes you more flexible and will vary the shots you can capture.

The Mental

Though its fun to think that all creativity comes from the heart, it is actually in the mind.  Here are a few more things to consider:

Get Some Class! – Or rather, take a class.  It doesn’t have to be about photography, and it might sound like an obvious place to start, but learning something that isn’t directly photography-related is a great way to stretch your mind a bit. Learn how to paint, pottery, cooking, creative writing… the list is really endless, so I will end it there.  How would a cooking class help you get creative with your photography?  Great question!  Glad to see you are thinking.  Cooking requires a certain amount of knowledge about the ingredients you are using and how they are combined in certain pans, bowls, and whatnot (ingredients = aperture, shutter speed, ISO; pans = camera).  Your brain has to process all these things to create something worth sticking in your mouth; you are training your mind to handle multiple information and getting your hands to carry it out properly.  In addition to the actual learning, food photography is a fun field of photography and may inspire you to create a food blog, or simply expand your photography repertoire.  Taking some sort of art-related class (even art history lectures) will help you set up shots better and make you more aware of the artistry out there.

Restrict Yourself – Unbridled creativity can be tough to reign in – if you had no restrictions whatsoever, where do you start?  Therefore, try giving yourself an assignment or project with very defined guidelines.  This will force your mind to work overtime to create within your set limits, giving you a solid place to start from.  You will have to think outside of the box to stay within the box (have I lost you yet?).

The Write Stuff – Journal your progress, ideas, and inspirations.  Often, you may get a great idea and tell yourself not to forget it… only to forget it the second you get home or grab your camera.  It may take some work and time, but putting down your thoughts and experiences online or in a notepad will further ingrain them into your skull and benefit you in the long run.  This does not have to be an essay; a quick paragraph or even jot notes is fine.  Write it all down and reap the benefits down the road.

The Emotional

Watch, Read, Write – If you want to get creative, let someone elses’ creativity work for you.  Watch a movie with gorgeous scenery, costumes, or special effects and let it inspire you.  Getting emotionally attached to a story line with beautiful cinematography will definitely spill over into your own work.  When you immerse yourself in someone elses’ greatness, chances are you will benefit from it.

Watch Yourself – If you feel like you are in a creative funk, chances are you have put yourself in it.  Are shooting the same things and post processing them the same way?  Perhaps you shoot jewelry all day, every day.  Time to go to a rodeo and shoot cowboys! (I don’t know where that came from…)  Try switching things up and getting that breath of fresh air.  You may even want to put the camera down for a bit for even more of a change.

Use It or Lose It – Are you frustrated about not being creative enough?  Hurt, angry, stressed?  Use those emotions and fuel them into your work!  You may come up with some dark and disturbing photos, but that’s exactly what you may need to get it out of your system!

If you are still following me at this point, let me just sum everything up: you are creative, and the fact that you are looking for answers means there is a good chance you will find them.  Switching things up and getting a little bit out of your usual routine or comfort zone is a sure-fire way to get things going for you.  I started a year-long photo blog and it is difficult, but it’s rewarding to put something out there everyday.  On top of that, it has stretched me and made me a better person and photographer.  If you have any ideas, questions, or concerns, please feel free to leave them here and I will get back to you.

Photo credits from top to bottom:

1. Gloel  http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloel/104952304/
2. ddulitz50  http://www.flickr.com/photos/darad/4124564005/
3. Photo-fenix.com  http://www.flickr.com/photos/impactmatt/4995288853/
4. liber   http://www.flickr.com/photos/liberato/2275622210/
5. Anna Denise   http://www.flickr.com/photos/ann-d/2228339101/
6. Express Monorail    http://www.flickr.com/photos/expressmonorail/3281752305/
7. Ferran   http://www.flickr.com/photos/ferran-jorda/2211185265/