The Art of Being Creative

Technical Foundations For Making It My Own

As photographers, we have a tendency to place ourselves in a corner by merely capturing moments. While that is an essential part of what we do, it limits our ability to make our images our own. A friend said to me the other day that even when I shoot situations that are everyday and ordinary, she can still see my style. I believe her words were “…everything you shoot has a certain Zac quality to it.” One of the greatest things about art in any form is that two people can be given the same assignment and in the end will surprise you with two completely different results. That fact alone gets my blood pumping. But the question I often hear is, “How do I make it my own?”

For me, when I’m putting together my plans for any shoot, I start with the camera. More specifically the lens. What millimeter lens, what f/stop, what ISO/ASA speed and what shutter speed am I looking for? Then I ask, what angle do I like to see when using the chosen lens and parameters? Do I want natural or studio light?
Of course, if you already know what to expect from the camera or lens, you can answer these questions more effectively. So how do I know what to expect from the camera? The simple answer is experimentation. Pick one lens, one f/stop, one ISO/ASA speed, and the corresponding shutter speed for proper exposure. Then get out and shoot 100 images. Next, study those images and make lists of what you like and dislike about those settings.

When you feel you understand the relationship between light and camera, as well as composition and depth of field within those parameters, it’s time to make a change and do it again. Start with the f/stop and shutter speed. It doesn’t matter how you change your f/stop and shutter speed as long as you meter for proper exposure and leave everything else alone. Shoot 100 images and study them just as you did in the first step.

Once you feel you have a good grasp of what you like to see, repeat the steps above while changing the ISO/ASA speed and so on. Make one change, take 100 images, study and make lists, then repeat. Tedious, I know. But you will start to see patterns of what you like emerge and that will start you on the path of knowing how to answer the first list of questions without having to look through the camera.

My challenge is this. Get out and spend time with your camera. Practice, make mistakes, and learn. If it doesn’t work, then shoot it again and again until you find what you’re looking for. Knowing what your equipment can do and what you like is foundational to making your art your own.

By: Zac Seewald -Photographer