Standing Out in a SEA of Similarity
Written and Photographed By: Farrah Fox
With the accessibility and easy use of digital cameras in this modern age, it seems almost anyone can buy a decent DSLR and suddenly become a photographer. In the past, cameras were complicated and difficult to work and not only were the cameras expensive, but so was getting the film developed. But now, almost every family owns some sort of digital camera that can take relatively good pictures. But being a photographer isn't just about the equipment you buy or the lenses you own. I read a really awesome quote the other day from a photographer named Peter Adams. He said "Photography is not about cameras, gadgets and gismos. Photography is about photographers. A camera didn't make a great picture any more than a typewriter wrote a great novel." The camera you own isn't responsible for churning out good pictures. It's about the time you put into practicing your art and the passion that you have for it. No matter what sort of camera you use, if you know how to use it and if you possess the ability to capture what you see, any picture can turn out good. The goal is standing out from everyone around you. Being experimental and taking risks with your photography is what will make you different and will make your name well-known. The risks that you take may not please everyone and you might lose some fans while you develop your style. But once you've established your look, it should be as if anyone can recognize your photography without even seeing your name, just as anyone can recognize an amazing singer's voice without seeing their face. Take chances, be different, be bold. Look at other people's work, figure out what you love, and create your own composite style from everyone else's that you see. If you're passionate about photography, go after it and stand out from the rest. Don't stick to the traditional - create something new.
With the accessibility and easy use of digital cameras in this modern age, it seems almost anyone can buy a decent DSLR and suddenly become a photographer. In the past, cameras were complicated and difficult to work and not only were the cameras expensive, but so was getting the film developed. But now, almost every family owns some sort of digital camera that can take relatively good pictures. But being a photographer isn't just about the equipment you buy or the lenses you own. I read a really awesome quote the other day from a photographer named Peter Adams. He said "Photography is not about cameras, gadgets and gismos. Photography is about photographers. A camera didn't make a great picture any more than a typewriter wrote a great novel." The camera you own isn't responsible for churning out good pictures. It's about the time you put into practicing your art and the passion that you have for it. No matter what sort of camera you use, if you know how to use it and if you possess the ability to capture what you see, any picture can turn out good. The goal is standing out from everyone around you. Being experimental and taking risks with your photography is what will make you different and will make your name well-known. The risks that you take may not please everyone and you might lose some fans while you develop your style. But once you've established your look, it should be as if anyone can recognize your photography without even seeing your name, just as anyone can recognize an amazing singer's voice without seeing their face. Take chances, be different, be bold. Look at other people's work, figure out what you love, and create your own composite style from everyone else's that you see. If you're passionate about photography, go after it and stand out from the rest. Don't stick to the traditional - create something new.