The Pursuit of Personal Style

rbarker said:

The second method is more difficult. It entails defining and refining your personal philosophy until you really understand how you feel about the important elements that pervade everything, and then figure out how best to reflect that in your work. Then, it doesn't matter what the subject is, that same core emotion will be reflected in how you photograph it.

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This is where I've been in a last couple of years with photography, and I find it like running a marathon.

What is good about these threads, there is no answer - at least not 'one size fits all'. Each person will have to give some thought as to what it means to them.

Here is a link that I felt is a good illustration of how one artist reacted to his own journey... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5410362

That's a great piece Mike! I listened to that story on the way to work this morning - very appropriate to this thread I think.

- Randy

rbarker said:

The second method is more difficult. It entails defining and refining your personal philosophy until you really understand how you feel about the important elements that pervade everything, and then figure out how best to reflect that in your work. Then, it doesn't matter what the subject is, that same core emotion will be reflected in how you photograph it.

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Ralph, I agree with this so very much...it makes no difference what one is photographing when the core is recognized and embraced.

I think part of what is missing here is that many here have the luxury (or not) of ever having to sell what they do.

To be "honest" with their "style" for them may be relatively simple. Just do what you want. What moves you. And you are happy. The chances of being "discovered" and earning real money from this may be pretty small.

If one wishes to make a living at "art", or photography, one must be a little more conscious of the marketplace. I think it is still possible to have an identifyable style while being commercial, but I think it needs to consciously thought out at the same time.

Michael

This might be of interest to some of you re: this thread:

http://www.michaelandpaula.com/mp/letyoung.html

From someone who makes a living at photography too!

Best,

Will

blansky said:

. . . I think it is still possible to have an identifyable style while being commercial, but I think it needs to consciously thought out at the same time.

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Although my Method #1 description was a bit harsh on those who affect a personal style purely for marketing reasons, I don't disagree with your comment, Michael. The better commercial photographers I've dealt with have been able to translate their well-defined philosophy of life to everything they shoot, making even product shots reflect their feelings. Because those feelings were largely mainstream, the work still had broad appeal. In contrast, the more brooding or sullen "artist" may have more trouble achieving success as a commercial shooter, because what they are expressing probably doesn't really resonate for many people, even though some of those folks may find it "interesting".