Before You Go Out In The Field - Essential Photography Rules - Part 1

In life, we never know what is around the next corner. Photography is a very skillful talent. The best photographs are ones that are untouched, and raw. They grasp the real world no matter how ugly, unique or compelling it may be. The best way to achieve creative and imaginative photography is to expect the unexpected the very best pictures are those that are not propped.

A lot of up an coming photographers do not have a grasp on the imaginative aspect of photography. They feel that they need to have everything set up perfectly to achieve the best shots. This is really not true; hopefully this article will help you to see the reasons why.

When I first started out, I was in a similar mind set. Over the years I have taught myself to be more flexible and create my own view. In order to attain an artistic vision it helps to have some that has experience guide you. I hope that I can achieve that with this writing.

It would be nice to be able to teach everyone these concepts in one short article, however there is much to learn so I will break it down into sections. In order to become a more creative, productive photographer there are some key techniques that should be learned.

In order to be more creative with your photography you need to have a broad imagination. I will discuss six important aspects to help build you creativity and broaden your vision.

• The very best photographers have creative technique. They have grasped the ability to move ahead of the norm and into creative interpretation.
• In order to achieve the very best images, creative art, you need to see beyond the basic image. Expect the unexpected is a great term when discussing these skills.
• The art of photography is a life long experience. Once you have the necessary skills, you can broaden your creativity by adapting quickly and adjusting to every new environment.
• It is very important that you expand on your horizons. What this means is go beyond your normal vision. Try new things, and go beyond your comfort zone.
• At any moment you may experience a chance opportunity. Grasp these rare occurrences with open arms and you will be amazed at the creative images you can find.

With creativity there is no 'Right' or 'Wrong'

While creativity can be taught and I will help you achieve unique ways to elevate your imagery, it is important to understand that everyone's view is different. A perfect example of this is viewing a public setting where there are a number of photographers. They are all taking their own shots, and there are 100's of pictures of the same event or item. You will notice that there many differences between all of the various shots, even though they are of the same thing. The best of the best have a creative knack, maybe they have angled off another item such as a mirror or a window. Maybe they have incorporated the background aspects into the main focus area. Either way the best of the best can easily be selected out of a number of photos of the same thing.

There is no better place to see these results than in sporting events. We have all witnessed the 100's of photographers lining the sidelines of big sporting events. For the most part they all have the same angles, and same view point. But there are a select few that actually make it to print. Pick up any sports magazine, or local media outlet and you will be amazed to see the same names over and over. The reason for this is they have the ability to be unique, to be creative and to capture what others can not.

Creativity And Creative Techniques

So, hopefully I have your attention now, and you realize the importance of what we are speaking about. The art of photography is quite methodical. You can teach a person the proper techniques, and the student can take numerous courses and self study. But if they are not learning to see beyond the objective vision they may very well just be an average photographer. This really no different than the scratch golfer that spends hours and hours a day on the range. Photography also must be practiced to achieve the highest results. Always look outside the box, grasp that uniqueness in your imagination.

Many photographs whether they are in Sport Illustrated or National Geographic have their own extraordinary vision. A high percentage of us have viewed these magazines and some of the shots are just awe inspiring. Funny thing is if you talk to these experts, they will tell you that there is really no effort involved. This is because they have the creative skills necessary to excel in their field.

Many students often ask me if they need to have the top of the line cameras. As with any art, the artist loves their toys. For photographers this can be various lens, screens, maybe even a tripod. My answer to most that ask if they need the very best of the business is no you do not. It is very important that you have the proper camera for the various things you may be shooting. What comes to mind is having the proper lens on your camera in order to achieve close up shots, wide angle, or other viewpoints that are required. Always remember it is the photographer that gets the shot, the camera is just the tool used to get it.

The second part of this article is in Before You Go Out In The Field - Essential Photography Rules - Part 2