Is This Your Most Difficult Photographic Assignment?
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IMAGE SOURCE : ADOBE STOCK
In the many decades that I have been making images, I have learned a couple of things that have not changed. Photographers are very comfortable behind the camera. Photographers hate being the subject of a photograph.
This is readily verifiable. Go stand in front of a mirror and ask if you like being the subject of a photograph. The answer, by a substantial lead, is NO.
Becoming a better photographer means undertaking challenges and surmounting them, so that is the purpose of this article. Except for the odd family snap and presuming you don’t have some kind of selfie malignant narcissism, there are very few images of you.
Given your commitment to photography, who better than to make an image of you? Or more specifically, a series of images of you. Yes indeed neighbours, we are talking about MANY images of you, perhaps even TWO!
Your Assignment
You need to make an assessment of the things that you are or do that give you pleasure. There’s going to be something. We already know of one, and that is photography. So your first image is easy. Take your camera and stand in front of a mirror and make your own image.
See! That was so easy and an ideal first step.
The idea behind this assignment is to make images that include you that tells a series of stories about you. Like what you may ask?
Perhaps you have children or grandchildren. Be IN the photograph with them. Maybe you are a pet person. Be in the photograph with your pet(s). Perhaps you paint? An image of you working at your easel tells a story. Perhaps you are a musician. Make an image of yourself making music. Let’s say that you love fishing. Make an image of yourself fishing. Self timers and remote releases work a charm for this kind of thing. Or maybe you are a committed gardener. Maybe you ride horses, or a bicycle or a motorcycle. Maybe driving your car is a great pleasure. Perhaps you are a sporting person, so make images of yourself enjoying your sport(s) of choice.
IMAGE SOURCE : ADOBE STOCK
If we are photographers, we are not one dimensional beings. We have things that please us, inspire us and tell our own stories. Go capture them. No one else is going to do as good a job as you will. What are you afraid of?
Some Tips
Relax and have fun. A club member that I know is a music connoisseur and made a self portrait of himself lowering the stylus onto a record. It is a wonderful shot and tells a great story about this person. Your own stories can be compelling, just be cool.
You don’t have to look at the camera. While you may have all kinds of skills when it comes to posing others, you may be uncomfortable doing it yourself. So don’t. Be in the moment of what you are doing, and use a remote to trip the shutter from time to time. You already know that metering works and autofocus works, so there is really no stress.
IMAGE SOURCE : ADOBE STOCK
Wrapping Up
Many photographers run at the sound of this assignment. Don’t be that person. Accept the challenge and the opportunity to tell your own story and get to it. Even if you choose not to share your work, (that would be a shame), the learning that comes from doing is powerful and to some extent quite magical. Get to work!
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